Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I know what kind of interest I have?

  If you are not sure what kind of interest your loan has, check your loan documents or contact your lender.

  (Source: Banzai)
  

• Is Simple or Compound Interest Better?

  It depends on what you need! If you are saving money in an account or being repaid for a loan, compound interest may be a good choice for you.

  If you are borrowing money, you may be able to pay less over time with simple interest.

  (Source: Banzai)

• How do you calculate interest on a savings account?

  The simplest way to calculate interest is to use an online savings calculator like this one. But if you want to do the math yourself, you can plug your information into the compound interest formula of A = P (1 + r/n)^(nt).

  (Source: Banzai)

• How does compound interest work?

  Compound interest means that the money you earn in interest also earns interest, rather than just the principal. Basically, the amount of interest you earn will grow every time interest is added (or compounded) rather than staying the same. This makes it ideal for savings accounts. The formula for calculating compound interest is A = P (1 + r/n)^(nt). The variables for this formula are:

  • A = Total amount
  • P = Principal or staring amount
  • r = Annual interest rate
  • n = Number of times interest is added per time period
  • t = Number of time periods

  (Source: Banzai)

• What is an average interest rate?

  Interest rates vary greatly depending on the type of account, supply and demand, and what the Federal Reserve sets. For a typical savings account, you could expect anywhere from 0.01-0.08%. For a high yield savings account, on the other hand, it’s not uncommon to see interest rates of 0.2%-0.6%. A CD (certificate of deposit) can earn 0.07-1.2%, or even higher, depending on the length and financial institution.

  (Source: Banzai)