Compare Savings Accounts in Hungary

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16 live offers compared from 8 providers, from HUF 0. Updated daily.

What is a savings account in Hungary?

A savings account (megtakarítási számla) is a bank product that pays interest on money you set aside, while keeping the funds available when you need them. In Hungary these sit alongside current accounts and fixed deposits, and are usually offered in Hungarian forint (HUF), though some banks also run euro-denominated savings pots. Unlike a fixed deposit, a savings account normally lets you add or withdraw money without breaking a term, which makes it the natural home for an emergency buffer or a house-deposit fund.

How the Hungarian savings market works

Retail savings in Hungary are dominated by the large universal banks, but rates are heavily shaped by the National Bank of Hungary (Magyar Nemzeti Bank, MNB) base rate, which fed unusually high forint deposit returns during the recent inflation cycle. Many headline rates are promotional: a bank may pay an elevated rate for the first three to six months, or only on new money, then drop to a modest standard rate. Digital challengers such as Gránit Bank and Revolut have pushed traditional banks to publish more competitive online-only savings offers.

Benefits of a savings account

Liquidity — You can usually access your money on demand, unlike a term deposit that penalises early withdrawal.

Deposit protection — Balances are covered by the National Deposit Insurance Fund (OBA) up to the equivalent of EUR 100,000 per depositor per bank.

Inflation cushioning — During high-rate periods, forint savings rates have helped offset the erosion of purchasing power better than a plain current account.

Automation — Standing orders let you sweep a fixed sum from your salary account each month.

How to choose a savings account

Look past the promotional headline and read the standard rate that applies after the intro window ends. Check whether the top rate is limited to new money, to a balance cap, or to customers who also hold a current account and pay in a salary. Confirm the compounding frequency, any account-keeping fee, and how quickly withdrawals settle. If you may not touch the money for months, compare the savings rate against a fixed deposit, which often pays more for locking funds away.

Leading providers in Hungary

OTP Bank is the largest retail bank and a default choice for many savers. K&H Bank, Erste Bank Hungary, Raiffeisen Bank Hungary, UniCredit Hungary and CIB Bank all offer tiered and promotional savings products. Gránit Bank has built a reputation as a digital-first bank with keen online savings rates, while Revolut is popular for its app-based savings vaults among younger, internationally minded customers.

What a savings account costs

Most Hungarian savings accounts have no monthly fee and no minimum balance, so the real cost is the gap between the advertised promotional rate and the ongoing standard rate. Watch for charges on frequent transfers out, and note that interest income is subject to personal income tax and the social contribution tax (szociális hozzájárulási adó) unless held in a tax-advantaged wrapper. Compare the net, after-tax return rather than the gross rate.

Protections and regulation

Banks offering savings accounts are licensed and supervised by the MNB, which acts as both central bank and financial regulator. Deposits are guaranteed by the OBA up to the EUR 100,000 equivalent per person per institution, so spreading very large balances across two banks can extend cover. Providers must publish an EBKM (egységesített betéti kamatláb mutató), a standardised annualised deposit rate indicator that lets you compare offers on a like-for-like basis.

Common questions

Is my money safe? — Yes, up to the OBA limit of the EUR 100,000 equivalent per depositor per bank. Can I lose the promotional rate? — The intro rate typically reverts to a lower standard rate after the stated period, so diarise the end date. Should I use forint or euro savings? — Forint accounts have paid higher nominal rates, but a euro account removes currency risk if you plan to spend abroad. How is interest taxed? — Interest is taxable in Hungary unless held in a qualifying tax-advantaged account, so always compare net returns.

Savings Accounts in Hungary — FAQ