What Is Compound Interest and How Can I Earn It?

You might have heard of the term compound interest before and the benefits it can have on your finances. A compound interest account is any account that pays you interest on your principal and interest, not just your original deposit.  The interest you earn on your balance is rolled into the existing amount, increasing your new current balance and making your money grow faster.  In addition, if interest is compounded more frequently, the more your money will grow.

In particular, a higher-than-average interest rate on a Certificate of Deposit (CD)1 or savings account1 is a great way to help you maximize your earning potential and expedite your savings.

Examples of Compound Interest

1. Savings Accounts1, Checking Accounts1, and Certificates of Deposit (CD)1

When deposits are made into an account that earns interest, and the interest you earn is added to your principal balance, your principal balance grows, allowing you to grow the amount of interest you earn on the balance because you earn interest on your interest. To help maximize what you earn, consider opening a First Bank consumer high-yield savings account (HYSA)1 or high-interest CD1. Our higher rates will help you grow your savings faster than other traditional savings products.

2. 401(k)2 and Investment Accounts2

If you have a 401(k)2 or an investment account2, you might notice that you’ve been earning interest on your balances. Consider having a portion of your paychecks allocated toward your 401(k)2 or have dividends from stock2 reinvested. This will help grow your balances quicker and, in turn, earn you more from your interest compounding.

3. Credit Cards

Unlike an interest-earning account that has the interest compounded, compound interest can also negatively affect you, like when you carry a balance on your credit card each month. Generally, each month when you carry a balance, your credit card charges you interest, and generally that interest is compounded (or added) to the credit card balance. If you continue making purchases on your card, not only will you owe more money on your credit card, but generally, the amount of interest you need to pay each month will grow.

Compound interest is a great way to give your savings a boost and can be a powerful motivator to help you start paying off debt faster. If you have questions about opening a First Bank CD1 or HYSA1, contact us. We’d be happy to help.

You may also be interested in:

What is CD Laddering?

CD laddering is the process of spreading cash across various CD maturity terms and rates. Learn more about CDs and laddering to elevate your savings strategy.

Top Reasons to Open a Savings Account

Regardless if you’re just starting out, starting over, or are somewhere in between, it’s important to include saving for the future as part of your financial plan. Designed to safeguard your money until you need it, a savings account is a secure place to deposit your money while building up your savings over time.

Are CDs a Good Place to Put Money?

If you’re looking for a place to build up emergency savings or lock in higher fixed interest rates for a specific goal, then a Certificate of Deposit (CD) is an ideal choice. Regardless of where you are in your financial journey, it’s wise to set money aside to save for a rainy day or a short-term savings goal.