How Savings Account Compound Interest Works
Most savings accounts compound interest daily or monthly. Using the formula A = P(1 + r/n)^(nt), a $10,000 deposit in a high-yield savings account at 4.5% APY compounded daily grows to $10,460 after one year, $11,502 after three years, and $15,669 after ten years. The difference between daily and monthly compounding on savings is typically small — about $1-3 per year per $10,000 — but it adds up over decades.