Starter Saver

Give your savings the best start with a high-interest savings account for members under 30.

Starter Saver

Every journey begins with a single step; make it the right one with our Starter Saver.

Under 30 and ready to save? Starter Saver makes it easy to grow your money with our highest variable interest rate on balances up to $50,000 – no strings attached. Whether you’re earning your first pay, working towards a big goal, or planning ahead for your kids, we’ll help you get ahead faster.

Under 30? Get a head start.

High variable interest. No strings attached.

  • Available to members aged under 30
  • Enjoy our highest variable interest rate
  • No monthly account fee
  • No minimum deposits
  • No regular deposit requirement
  • No intro rates that vanish
  • Your deposits up to $250K are protected under the Australian Government Financial Claims Scheme
  • Organise your savings with up to 9 account buckets
4.50
%
p.a.
Portion of account balance up to and including $50,0003
Interest rates
Portion of account balance up to and including $50,0003 4.50%p.a.
Portion of account balance over $50,0003 3.50%p.a.
Interest rates effective date Interest rates effective 1 September 2025
Interest rates type

Variable

Other information

Please note: The interest rate(s) applicable are dependent on the relevant interest rate tier(s) based on account balance, as set out in the above table. For example, an account balance of $120,000 would earn interest of 4.50% p.a. on the first $50,000 and 3.50% p.a. on the remaining $70,000.

Who can apply for membership?

Eligibility criteria
  • Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident under the age of 30.
  • Be a current or retired employee of an Australian university OR be studying or have graduated from an Australian university OR be immediate family to a UniBank member.
What you need to apply
  • An Australian residential address.
  • Identification documents with your full name, date of birth and address, such as a birth certificate or driver’s licence or passport, AND Medicare card.
  • Tax residency information.
If you are applying for a child under 18
  • Parents or legal guardians must be a member of the Bank in order to open a membership and account on behalf of a child.
  • The parent or legal guardian must provide a current passport or birth certificate for the child.

Under 13 years old

  • A membership and account can be opened by a parent or legal guardian on behalf of the child.
  • The child can become a signatory to the account when they turn 13 years of age.
  • When the child turns 18, all rights and responsibilities will be transferred to them.

13-17 years old

  • A membership and account can be opened by a parent or legal guardian on behalf of the child, or by the child themselves.
  • For a child aged 13-17 to open a new membership and account themselves, they will need to provide either a birth certificate or a passport.
  • The child can be a signatory to the account if they are 13 years of age or older.
  • When the child turns 18, all rights and responsibilities will be transferred to them.

How do I apply?

Apply via our online form.

When you open a Starter Saver account as a new Member of the bank, you’ll automatically get an Everyday Direct transaction account too.

Log in to Internet Banking. Navigate to "Self Service" and select "Open New Account."

Select "Apply" under the Savings Account section and choose the account you wish to open.

Visit us in person or contact us and we’ll send you an application form.

You'll need to take this approach if you're opening an account for a child under 13.

Why Choose Starter Saver?

High-interest

Our interest rates are consistently competitive to support your financial goals.

Save on fees

Pay no monthly account fees on Starter Saver accounts. Refer to Fees and Charges for more.

A great start

The perfect account to help you, your child or grandchild with a kick-start on the road to savings success. 

Not the right option?

Rewarding dedicated savers with bonus interest each month4 simply for sticking to your goals and meeting deposit and withdrawal conditions.

A flexible savings account that lets you dip in and out of your savings and still earn a good variable rate – no fuss, no hoops to jump through.

Providing a guaranteed return on investment if you’re able to lock your deposit in for a fixed term from 3 to 36 months.

FAQs

How do I open a Starter Saver account?

You can open a Starter Saver account as a member or a customer of the bank. Members can quickly and easily open a Starter Saver account through Internet Banking. If you want to become a member, find out more here. If you prefer to open an account as a customer, complete the customer application form.

How do I access my Starter Saver account?

We provide flexible and simple banking options, giving you the freedom to bank your way at a time that works for you. Find out more about ways to bank with us.

How secure are my savings?

Your deposits with us are protected under the Australian Government Financial Claims Scheme, up to a limit of $250,000 for each account holder at the Bank. For more information please refer to the Financial Claims Scheme webpage.

How can I deposit and withdraw funds?

You can access your money anytime, anywhere:

Is there a monthly account fee on Starter Saver accounts?

You’ll pay no monthly account, overdraw or electronic transfer fees on your Starter Saver account. Other fees and charges may apply. Please see our Fees and Charges for more information.

Is there a bonus interest rate for Starter Saver?

You’ll receive interest at the great variable rate for the tier(s) your account balance falls within. There’s no bonus interest rate for Starter Saver.

How much can I deposit into a Starter Saver account?

There’s no maximum deposit limit3 for a Starter Saver account. You can save as much as you want and will receive interest at the variable rate for the tier(s) your account balance falls within. Deposits over $5,000,000 (in aggregate across all your savings accounts) are subject to acceptance at the bank's discretion.

Can I open an account in joint names?
An account can be opened with a maximum of two account holders who both need to be members. If you choose to open an account jointly where both account holders need to authorise withdrawals, both members will need to either visit their local branch together, call the contact centre with both members present, or complete and sign the Transaction and savings account application form for the account to be set up.
What happens when I turn 30 years of age?

You’ll automatically be moved from your Starter Saver account into an Essential Saver account and your savings balance will be transferred across. You won’t have to do anything.

If you’re a full-time student at an Australian university, you can continue using your Starter Saver account until you graduate, even if you’re 30 years or older, at which time you will be moved into an Essential Saver account.

If your Starter Saver account has any third party access, the third party will be removed as part of the transition to the Essential Saver account. For members who have guardianships or power of attorney, these stay in place after the transition to the Essential Saver account.

Tools and resources

Ways to get in touch

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Phone

Overseas? +61 8 9421 8737 Phone enquiries are available 8am to 7pm weekdays, and 9am to 3pm Saturday.

An icon of a message with a padlock on a phone representing the secured message option for contacting us.

Message

Message us in Internet Banking or the Mobile Banking App.
Just log in and tap the envelope in the top right corner.

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Enquiry

We aim to respond within 1 business day.

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Locations

Our offices are open 9am to 5pm, weekdays.
List of public holiday closures