Savings accounts Savings accounts are the most popular form of investment for college. Students usually run a custodian account, in which the parent signs for the student, and all the money is in the student's name. Another type of account is an educational account, in which parents still have full control over all of the money, but it must be spent on the child's education. According to Citibank Financial Officer Vivian Chu, parents have full control over the account, as long as they spend the money on their child's education. These accounts vary from bank to bank, but the main premise is usually the same.
Parents deposit the money in the student's name and have total control over it.
The money deposited gains interest at the current interest rate, which currently is about 2.1 percent. Savings accounts are usually for long term savings. Parents usually do not put too much money in saving accounts for their children because most of these accounts transfer all the rights to the money to the student once the students becomes 18. This means students can spend the money in whatever way they please when they turn 18, which sometimes does not matches the parent's wishes. Parents have to be in charge of the account because of legal issues.