The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) quarterly authorised deposit-taking institution (ADI) statistics to June 2020 show a massive spike in bank deposits since March. 

From March to June, when pandemic fears were at its peak, household deposits (household cash in term deposits, savings accounts etc.) rose by 6.4%, or $64 billion, indicating a stockpiling of cash. 

Over this same period, the household savings rate increased from 6% in the March quarter to 19.8% in the June quarter, the largest single increase in the history of the series.

Looking for a place to store cash? Below are a handful of 6-month term deposits with some of the highest interest rates in the market.

Provider

At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

Term Deposit - 3 months

    At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]1000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
    • Competitive interest rates on all term lengths
    • Deposits covered up to $250,000 under Government's Finance Claims Scheme
    • Loyalty bonus at renewal
    Disclosure

    Personal Term Deposits - 6 months

    • Competitive interest rates on all term lengths
    • Deposits covered up to $250,000 under Government's Finance Claims Scheme
    • Loyalty bonus at renewal
    Disclosure
    At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]1000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

    Fixed Term Deposit - 6 months

      At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

      ME Bank Term Deposit - 6 months

        At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

        Term Deposit - 6 months

          At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
          • $0 monthly account fee
          • Choose your own term with options from one month to five years.
          • Guaranteed rate of return
          Disclosure

          Term Deposit - 11 months

          • $0 monthly account fee
          • Choose your own term with options from one month to five years.
          • Guaranteed rate of return
          Disclosure
          Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

          All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product. By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here. Rates correct as of April 21, 2025. View disclaimer.

          Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

          Amid the huge number of Aussies putting more money in their bank accounts, deposit and savings rates have continued to decline in September, as they have done previously

          Term deposit rate changes 

          A large number of banks have continued to cut deposit rates throughout September, with a few increases scattered here and there. 

          As of August 2020, the average term deposit rate across all terms was just 0.75% p.a, with no single term above 1% p.a on average. 

          This average has fallen slightly to 0.73% p.a in September. 

          The most high profile deposit rate change this month is that of ANZ, which cut various deposit rates by up to 45 basis points, while increasing others by up to 25. 

          Westpac (as well as its subsidiary banks St. George, BankSA and Bank of Melbourne) also cut numerous term deposit rates by up to 15 basis points. 

          ANZ generally has the lowest rates among the big 4's term deposits, according to the table below. 

          Provider

          Annually$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

          Term Deposit - 12 months

            Annually$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]50000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

            Term Deposit (>$50,000) - 12 months

              Annually$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

              ANZ Advance Notice Term Deposit - 12 months

                Annually$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                Term Deposit - 12 months

                  At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                  Term Deposit - 6 months

                    At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                    ANZ Advance Notice Term Deposit - 6 months

                      At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                      Term Deposit - 6 months

                        At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]50000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                        Term Deposit (>$50,000) - 6 months

                          Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                          All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product. By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here. Rates correct as of April 21, 2025. View disclaimer.

                          Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                          Other key term deposit rate changes to occur in September include:

                          • Judo Bank: Decreased term deposit rates by up to 10 basis points
                          • BOQ: Decreased term deposits by as many as 10 basis points
                          • UniBank, Teachers Mutual Bank: Decreased term deposit rates by up to 35 basis points 
                          • ME: Decreased term deposit rates by up to 10 basis points
                          • Qudos Bank: Decreases rates by up to 0.15 basis points
                          • Greater Bank: Decreased term deposit rates by up to 15 basis points
                          • AMP: Decreased term deposit rates by up to 25 basis points 
                          • RACQ: Cut term deposit rates by up to 30 basis points 

                          The infographic below showcases how much deposit rates have changed over the last 18 months or so. 

                          Savings account rates 

                          While savings account rate cuts aren't as frequent as term deposits, there have still been a few significant changes over the past few weeks. 

                          On Wednesday, Neobank Volt, which is still in the beta stage after months, cut the total interest rate on its savings account by 20 basis points from 1.65% p.a. to 1.45% p.a.

                          Earlier in the month, the RAMS Saver account was cut again to 0.90% p.a in total, after being cut from 1.10% p.a the month before. 

                          This is a far cry from the +3% p.a. interest rate this account had as recently as 2019. 

                          The CUA eSaver Reward account was cut to a maximum rate of 1.45% p.a. after having a total rate of 1.70% p.a in April. 

                          The table below features savings accounts with some of the highest non-introductory and introductory interest rates on the market.

                          Provider

                          010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
                          • Deposit at least $1,000+ each month from an external source
                          • Make 5 or more eligible transactions. Grow your savings balance each month
                          Disclosure

                          Savings Maximiser

                          • Deposit at least $1,000+ each month from an external source
                          • Make 5 or more eligible transactions. Grow your savings balance each month
                          Disclosure
                          4001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
                          • Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
                          • No account keeping fees
                          • No minimum balance
                          Disclosure

                          High Interest Savings Account (<$250k)

                          • Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
                          • No account keeping fees
                          • No minimum balance
                          Disclosure
                          000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
                          • Deposit $500+ per month from an external source to earn the bonus interest.
                          • Tiered rates apply to savings balances.
                          Disclosure

                          Save Account

                          • Deposit $500+ per month from an external source to earn the bonus interest.
                          • Tiered rates apply to savings balances.
                          Disclosure
                          4000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
                          Disclosure

                          Savings Account

                            Disclosure
                            Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                            All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product. By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here. Rates correct as of April 21, 2025. View disclaimer.

                            Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning