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What is a Zero Balance Account?
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
A zero balance account, or ZBA, is a financial account that is used to make payments, but does not maintain a running balance. An example of this type of account would be a business checking account that is used to pay vendors of the company, but only contains enough funds to cover the checks that are issued. Generally, the funding is obtained from a different account under the control of the business.
There are several reasons to use this type of account. One of the biggest advantages of maintaining a balance of zero in the checking account is that the resources of the organization can be held in other financial accounts that pay more interest. This means that the organization's funds are earning money for the company, and are only being moved into the checking account just before the checks are due to be presented for payment. As a result, the company may earn a significant amount of interest income over the course of the calendar year.
Another reason for maintaining a zero balance account is that it is much easier to track the transactions associated with the account. In an age where debit cards are often tied to checking accounts, a zero balance approach helps to ensure that any use of these cards is done only with authorization ahead of time, and when funds are available to be transferred into the account to cover the charges. This level of money management can make is less likely that money needed to cover operational expenses will be used for incidental purchases.
The zero balance account is a good tool for managing resources when the amount of income a company has is close to the amount of debt that needs to be discharged in the short term. It is important for the company to maintain the account at the same institution as the master interest bearing account, however, because this ensures that funds can be transferred in real time or at least on the same business day. Businesses should keep in mind that fund transfers between accounts are subject to the terms of usage in effect for the particular financial institution.
Malcolm Tatum
After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including SmartCapitalMind, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.
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Malcolm Tatum
After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including SmartCapitalMind, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.
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![A zero balance account, or ZBA, is a financial account that is used to make payments, but does not maintain a running balance.]()
By: Minerva StudioA zero balance account, or ZBA, is a financial account that is used to make payments, but does not maintain a running balance.
Discussion Comments
What happens if it's time for payments and there isn't enough money in the ZBA account? Does it overdraft like other bank accounts?
I'm guessing that people set up automatic transfers where a certain amount of money is transferred to the zero balance account on the same day every month. Because I can't imagine people having to deal with this constantly. It would be easy to forget.
@candyquilt-- I don't think that's the right way to explain a zero balance account (ZBA). A zero balance account is just a corporate checking account that only has money periodically for corporate payments. It's mostly used to make it easier to keep track of payments. Since the money transferred to a ZBA is just enough to cover the payments, there isn't anything left over. Calculating disbursements for that month or period becomes very easy this way.
Like the article said, the other great part about the ZBA is that it's basically impossible for the money to go elsewhere, such as a personal purchase. This is often an issue with corporate accounts where disbursements are made directly from the master account. So it's difficult to keep track of where all of the money is going.
So a zero balance account is like using a savings account, except that money can be withdrawn at any time, right? Because the money is growing from interest in another account but can be used any time to make the necessary payments.
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