When GXS Financial institution launched late final yr, there was little incentive to enroll as a result of the deposits have been restricted to solely $5,000. Nevertheless, now that GXS has raised the deposit cap to $75,000, is it value switching over?
The brief reply is – sure – particularly should you’re searching for a financial savings account that has the next options:
- affords a gorgeous 3.48% p.a. rate of interest in your money
- no want to keep up a minimal stability
- no lock-in interval
- no hoops to leap by way of for greater curiosity i.e. no wage crediting / GIRO / invoice funds / bank card spend wanted
- no tiered curiosity
Observe how the curiosity is utilized out of your very first greenback to the final, as an alternative of the standard tiered curiosity ranges that we’ve seen the native banks go for.
With the above options, these of you who’re bored with having to leap by way of hoops to earn your bonus curiosity can try GXS for a fuss-free various.
Who’s GXS?
GXS is the brand new child on the block – a digital financial institution owned by Seize and Singtel – and obtained their license from the Financial Authority of Singapore (MAS) in December 2020. It launched its financial savings account late final yr, however as a result of GXS had a $50 million regulatory cap on retail deposits imposed by MAS in the course of the lender’ first two years of operation to safeguard shoppers’ pursuits, it needed to restrict to solely chosen Seize / Singtel clients and a most of $5,000 per person.
The GXS’ financial savings account presently affords an rate of interest of three.48% a yr on “Financial savings Pockets” (a function that jogs my memory of Hugo’s Cash Pots). Whereas I think about this might be decreased in time to return – particularly if the Fed begins ceasing its rate of interest hikes – , it nonetheless doesn’t cease us from milking the great charges whereas it lasts.
What’s extra, one other game-changer is that GXS credit your curiosity each day, as in comparison with each month. This lets us profit from a fair greater (and quicker) fee of compounding because you’re incomes curiosity on curiosity – plus, you may really feel shiok each day while you log in and see “free cash” being credited into your account 😛
Within the coming months, GXS has mentioned they may even be launching a debit card with rewards and cashback to entice clients to spend by way of their financial savings account. Those that spend with GXS on Seize and Singtel (consists of Singtel Sprint) may even get bonus factors, though the main points on GXS reward program remains to be scarce at this level.
How one can get entry?
In the event you’re questioning how to enroll, all it’s essential do is to obtain the GXS app and register. Slots are on a first-come-first-served foundation, and there’s no referral code for now.
Observe that you just’ll should be a minimum of 16 years previous to be eligible, and signing up is a mere matter of minutes (you’ll want your cell quantity, SingPass and e mail).
You possibly can then fund your account both by way of PayNow (every particular person can solely have 2 financial institution accounts for PayNow – 1 linked to your NRIC/FIN and one other linked to your cell quantity) or by direct financial institution switch. I opted for the latter, and obtained the cash throughout the similar minute.
Be sure you transfer your cash out of your Essential Account and into your Financial savings Pockets so as to get the three.48% p.a. curiosity!
Is it value switching to GXS?
I can hardly consider people who would not profit from GXS proper now.
Since most of us have already got greater than 1 financial institution financial savings account, there’s actually nothing stopping you from signing up for one more one – except you discover it too troublesome to handle your money in a number of totally different locations.
In any other case, 3.48% p.a. credited each day is an actual game-changer. Right here’s the way it stacks up in opposition to the opposite choices I’d in any other case take into account for placing my money in proper now:
- vs. different digital banks: GXS 3.48% p.a. is greater than Belief Financial institution’s 2% (non-union members) and a pair of.5% (union members) p.a. rate of interest
- vs. fastened deposits: at 3.48% with zero lock-up interval, this beats all the opposite fastened deposits proper now (whose charges vary from 2.9% – 3.88% with minimal sums and lock-in intervals).
- vs. MAS T-bills: the newest tranche got here in at 3.85% p.a. for six months. In the event you missed that, otherwise you’re not a fan of locking your cash up for six months, then GXS’ could be a extra preferable possibility.
- vs. money administration accounts: the charges are comparable or barely decrease, however the distinction is that your deposits at GXS are insured by SDIC (whereas money administration accounts are NOT insured by SDIC). Money administration merchandise like MoneyOwl’s Clever Saver (4%) or POEMS (>4%) are nonetheless a sound consideration for folk with money to spare, so I embrace them right here although it isn’t an apple-to-apple comparability or an equal product.
As a skeptic, I examined out by transferring $10 first to verify the quantity went by way of appropriately, earlier than transferring the entire supposed sum. I additionally examined out the withdrawal operate, as a result of the very last thing any of us would need (whereas pursuing excessive curiosity) is to have our cash caught, is not it!
What ought to I take advantage of GXS for?
With the enticing 3.48% p.a. curiosity proper now and the dearth of hoops to leap by way of, I’d say GXS is amongst the best option for recent graduates and younger working adults proper now – particularly for folk who wrestle to hit the minimal spend requirement on their playing cards.
By way of funds, you may as well park your short-term emergency funds right here (e.g. 3-6 months) for liquidity with out sacrificing curiosity, and even your funding war-chest whereas ready for alternatives within the inventory or choices market.
Don’t overlook, GXS Financial savings Pockets function additionally makes it an ideal match so that you can put your short-term financial savings right here, similar to funds that you just’re saving up for an upcoming buy e.g. wedding ceremony, dwelling renovation, a brand new furnishings, and many others.
However earlier than you rush to open a GXS account in your aged mother and father, do be aware that GXS remains to be a comparatively new financial institution in spite of everything, and since transactions are largely on-line, chances are you’ll not wish to be further diligent for scams and malware that would acquire entry to your telephone and liquidate your funds. On this sense, the native banks have stricter rip-off controls in place.
Will YOU be placing your cash into GXS?
The battle is on – let’s see how the native banks reply from right here!