A bank account earns 5% annual interest, compounded annually. If the initial deposit is $1,000, what is the balance after 3 years?

Sun, 03 May 2026 21:50:12 +0000

**A bank account earns 5% annual interest, compounded annually. If the initial deposit is $1,000, what is the balance after 3 years?** Curious about how small savings can grow with steady returns? This question is surfacing more often as rising interest rates spark interest in traditional finance—especially among everyday Americans looking to grow their money safely. The simple calculation behind a bank account earning 5% annual interest, compounded once each year, reveals how even modest deposits can gain meaningful momentum over time. Interest compounds when lenders add earned earnings to the principal, allowing growth to accelerate beyond initial contributions. For someone starting with $1,000, understanding this growth timeline isn’t just academic—it’s practical financial planning. What makes a 5% annual interest rate so notable right now? In a post-pandemic era of fluctuating markets and slowly rising rates, banks have responded by offering better returns on routine savings accounts to retain customer loyalty and reward stability. Though this specific 5% rate is rare across all checking or savings products, it reflects an average benchmark popularized by fintech comparisons and monthly earning projections from brokerage and deposit accounts. The compounding frequency matters: with annual compounding, earnings from interest aren’t added back monthly, yet over three years, the effect remains notably impactful. To compute the final balance, imagine $1,000 growing at 5% per year, compounded once annually. After year one: