Savings accounts are one of the most important cornerstones for a successful business. Different types of savings offer advantages for businesses to earn more interest and to capitalize on other perks for business owners. Understanding your savings options is instrumental in making a wise decision when you open a business savings account.

Regardless of your savings needs, a savings accounts provider can work with you to choose the best savings options for your specific situation. An experienced accounts provider can offer you concise savings accounts information so you can find savings accounts that best fit your needs. When researching your savings options, you should:

1. Know current APY rates to choose from savings options that can yield the most interest.

2. Choose savings that offers the options and tools suitable for your specific needs.

3. Open a business savings account with a reputable financial institution.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take advantage of special business savings accounts

Business savings accounts are made to grow your capital securely. From online savings accounts to money market options, take advantage of business savings to grow your capital.

I recommend: Capital One offers a business money market account without fees and with competitive APY rates. All deposits are FDIC insured. KeyBank offers different savings options for small business owners. From high-yielding savings accounts to traditional savings options, KeyBank provides ways that you can access your money while gaining interest.

Open savings with the best options

From IRAs and certificates of deposit to traditional savings accounts, choose the savings account that offers the best options for your personal or professional needs.

I recommend: Open a savings with ING Direct for easy online access to savings options at competitive rates. Link your ING Direct savings to your accounts at other banks to make easy transactions. Bank of America offers savings choices to meet your unique savings needs. From money market savings to high-yield CDs, Bank of America offers the tools you need to manage your business savings accounts securely and easily. UnivestDirect offers online business savings options that are easily accessible and are FDIC insured.

Partner with a reputable financial institution when you open a savings

Open a savings with an established and reputable financial institution that offers the best customer service and the tools you need to manage your savings. Consider online banking options as an easy way to remain current with the state of your savings accounts.

I recommend: Partner with Wachovia for your savings account needs and to access CD options. From high-performance money market accounts to health savings accounts, Wachovia offers competitive rates. Or check out the savings site at Wells Fargo for the options you want and the tools you need. Wells Fargo offers different savings options at competitive rates and free online access to your accounts.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  To easily find information on available savings in your area, use a savings accounts directory to locate the best savings possibilities for your business.

Learn how you can make your money work for you by educating yourself on savings accounts basics. Savings accounts are specialized banking accounts in which you hold the money you don't plan on spending immediately. The money you need to keep your business up and running should be kept in a checking account. The savings account is the place to grow your money and to hold reserves for unforeseeable circumstances.

Start your savings account small, particularly if you have no savings to date. Place a percentage of your income into savings every month. Pay yourself first by doing this before you pay any other bills. Whenever you come into any extra income, place the same percentage of that money directly into savings. You'll be surprised to see how quickly that money grows.

1. Learn what to expect from your savings accounts.

2. Understand the jargon that goes with bank savings accounts.

3. Compare savings account rates offered by various institutes.

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The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Educate yourself on business savings accounts

Bone up on the benefits of opening a savings account. In order to determine which account is best for your professional financial needs, you need to understand the reason for opening such an account.

I recommend: FinancialPlanningGuide.org explains the importance of savings accounts and walks you through the benefits of such accounts. FinancialPlanningAdvices.com provides an overview of high interest savings accounts.

Know the jargon before you apply for a savings account

Speak the banking language before you navigate this foreign land. As with any business, the banking industry has its own jargon, and by better understanding those terms, you'll be better able to choose a savings account that puts your money to work for you. Learn that APR is the annual percentage rate, for example, or find the meaning of obscure terms such as 'accord and satisfaction,' which simply means 'paid in full.'

I recommend: Check out e-wisdom.com for an explanation of terms for savings accounts so you can better understand what you're comparing when searching for a savings account. AllBusiness.com hosts a banking terminology guide that allows you to look up the terms you need more information on.

Compare savings accounts interest rates before you open a bank savings account

Examine the interest rate and the terms of each savings account before you make any decisions. Determine if online banking is an option for you or if you need a brick and mortar building in order to have immediate access to your funds. Also look for how frequently your interest rate is compounded. Most are compounded annually, but a semi-annual or a quarterly compounded interest rate will yield higher returns on your money. Look for high-yield interest rates, which is the bank paying you to keep your money there. But be aware that most such accounts require a minimum balance and various regulations regarding how often and in what way the account is accessed.

I recommend: SavingsAccounts.com posts the interest rates that several of the more well-known financial institutes offer for savings accounts so you can make an informed decision. It also has a featured institute worth checking into. Bankrate allows you to compare various savings account interest rates from multiple financial institutions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Talk to several business bankers to discover how to become a preferred customer of the bank. Most banks offer a higher savings account rate of interest for such preferred customers.

As a business professional you know it is important to stay up to date with the latest information about savings accounts education and training. Regardless of the type of business that you own, you know that you must apply for a commercial savings account and it needs to be the appropriate one for your company and your needs.

When looking at savings account rates and business savings accounts, consider all of your financial needs. You may need more than one type of savings account, and it is essential to compare savings accounts before finding the perfect one for your business’s needs. Before you open a bank savings account, consider the following:

1. Financial institutions offer educational articles and tips for anyone who is considering opening an online savings account.

2. Money and financial professionals are ideal sources for bank savings and savings account rate training guides.

3. There are different types of business savings accounts that will fit your company’s needs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Educate yourself on current savings account rates and types for your business

Before you open a savings account, check out the current rates offered by banks in your area. The rates will help you to decide what type of account is sure to meet your financial needs. Financial institutions are a great source for information and training materials.

I recommend: Before you apply for a savings account, check out Union Bank of California for information on how to choose a savings account. Bank of America also offers tips and educational tips to find the best savings accounts for your business.

Seek out advice from financial industry professionals before you open an online savings account

Instead of asking your friends or fellow business owners for advice on the perfect high interest savings accounts to fit your needs, take the words of a credited financial source to heart. Financial professionals offer expertise and knowledge about the banking industry that cannot be found in other sources.

I recommend: Small Business Bible offers informational resources for small business owners of all types. Check out Informed Banking for information on how to choose a savings account for your business, in addition to a host of other business banking resources.

Gather information to educate yourself on the different types of savings accounts for business

Whether you need high interest savings accounts or simply to compare savings accounts for your business, it is important to gather information about the different types of savings account for your business.

I recommend: United States Small Business Administration to find the perfect account for you and your business. Check out MoneyInstructor.com for general information about savings accounts that are available within the banking industry.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be sure to educate yourself on Health Savings Accounts for your employees, they are an ideal resource for extra health care needs.

Savings accounts are the safest way to earn money, but they are also the slowest way. Savings accounts provide a specific interest rate for consumers that is compounded daily. The amount of interest earned on the account is determined by the average balance of the account. All savings accounts are insured by the FDIC for up to $250,000 until 2010, when the rate will be reduced to $100,000. Savings accounts also provide a way for quicker access to finances than other financial products such as CDs, stocks or mutual funds.

Action Steps
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Annual percentage yield

The annual percentage yield is the rate calculated for savings accounts during one year, taking into account any compounded interest.

I recommend: Bank Rate provides information on how to choose a high-yield savings account and the benefits of these accounts.

Average daily balance, average balance

The average balance of a savings account is calculated by adding the full principal of the account each day, then dividing it by the number of days in a statement period to determine interest earned.

I recommend: Street Authority provides a detailed explanation on how to calculate the average daily balance of a savings account.

Balance

The balance of a savings account is the amount of money in the account at any given time. Some savings accounts may require that a minimum balance be kept to avoid being charged fees.

I recommend: Farmers State Bank provides information on the types of savings accounts the bank offers, including those that don't require a minimum deposit.

Custodial account

A custodial account is a savings account for a child. It remains in the child's name, but is controlled by a parent or guardian until the child is of legal age. Custodial accounts can be known as UGMA (uniform gift to minors) or UTMA (uniform transfer to minors).

I recommend: Fairmark provides the basics on how custodial accounts work, the transfer process and what state regulations apply to these accounts.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is a federal agency that serves to protect depositors in the event that a bank fails. Savings accounts are protected up to $250,000.

I recommend: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation provides information on insured deposits for consumers and the rules that apply to individual and joint accounts.

Interest rate

The interest rate on a savings account is the rate in which an account earns money. This number is expressed as a percentage and does not reflect compounding.

I recommend: Money Rates provides updated information on the top 200 banks that offer the best interest rate for savings accounts.