What is Account Balance
An account balance refers to the amount of money held in a financial account, such as a checking or savings account. The balance can fluctuate over time as money is deposited or withdrawn from the account. A positive balance indicates that the account holder has money available, while a negative balance indicates that the account holder has overdrawn their account and may incur fees or penalties. Checking account balances can be checked online, by phone, or by visiting a bank branch. The account holder should regularly monitor their account balance to ensure they have enough funds to cover their expenses and avoid overdrafting.
In cryptocurrency, account balance refers to the money held in a crypto wallet after all debits and credits are accounted for.
Account balance refers to the amount of money available in a financial account and can vary depending on the type of account.
- Checking account: It is a type of account that is commonly used for day-to-day transactions such as paying bills and making purchases. The account balance in a checking account can frequently fluctuate as money is deposited and withdrawn regularly.
- Savings account: It is a type of account that is intended for long-term savings. The account balance in a savings account usually remains relatively stable, as money is deposited more often than it is withdrawn. Savings accounts typically offer a lower interest rate than other types of accounts.
- Money Market Account: A money market account is a type of savings account that typically offers a higher interest rate than a traditional one. This type of account also often comes with check-writing privileges and ATM access.
- Certificate of Deposit (CD): A certificate of deposit is a type of account where the account holder deposits money for a fixed term, and in return, the bank pays a higher interest rate. The account balance in a CD is fixed for the term of the CD, and early withdrawals are subject to penalties.
- Investment account: Investment accounts, such as 401(k)s, IRAs, and brokerage accounts, are used to invest and grow money over the long term. The account balance in an investment account can fluctuate greatly depending on the performance of the investments held in the account.
- Cryptocurrency account: The account balance on crypto wallets, both on decentralized exchanges and centralized exchanges and on non-custodial wallets, remains stable and only changes when crypto assets are transferred in or out or when the price of crypto assets changes. Thus, a crypto wallet with 10 BTC may show different price values without withdrawals or deposits, fluctuating according to the market value of BTC.
Difference Between Available Balance and Current Balance
Available balance and current balance are two terms that are often used to refer to the amount of money in a current account.
A current account, also known as a checking account, is a type of bank account that is typically used for day-to-day transactions such as paying bills and making purchases. Account holders can add or remove funds as needed, and the account balance can fluctuate frequently.
The available balance refers to the amount of money the account holder can spend or withdraw. This balance considers any outstanding checks, debit card transactions, or automatic payments that have been made but still need to clear.
On the other hand, the current balance refers to the total amount of money currently in the account. This balance only considers outstanding transactions that have cleared. Thus, a current account is sometimes called ledger balance, depending on the financial institution.
For example, if an account holder writes a check for $100 and the account's current balance is $500, the available balance would be $400 ($500 - $100) until the check clears. The current balance will be $500 until the check is cleared and the account is debited $100. But the account owner may be unable to perform transactions worth $500 when the $100 check is processed.
When managing a current account, it is important to be aware of the difference between the available and current balance, as this can prevent the account holder from inadvertently overdrawing the account and incurring fees.