*What Banks Really Do With Your Money* (Cont'd) Ah, this part sweet me pass. Let me tell you how Nigerian banks make you their business partner—without telling you. When you deposit money in the bank: 1. *They use it to give loans* at interest rates between 18% and 30% per annum. 2. *They invest in Treasury Bills*, government bonds, and foreign exchange markets. _(By the way FG T-Bills subscription will be opening on 4th of June. Consult your nearest bank for info)_. 3. *They create investment portfolios*, and sometimes even buy properties. They then return to you: ° 1%–5% interest. ° Minus ₦6.98 SMS charge. ° And tell you “Thank you for banking with us.” Let’s do quick maths: ° Your ₦1 million earns *₦10,000–₦50,000* per year in interest. ° That same ₦1 million earns the bank up to *₦300,000* from loans and investments. ° You get the crumbs, they get the cake, the bakery and the change. 🙆 In fact, the only time your money is safe in the bank is when you’ve locked it in a savings app with high interest (like FairMoney, Moni, Palmpay, PiggyVest SafeLock), not your regular savings account that earns less interest than your prayers to heaven. *The Better Way – Make Your Money Hustle* Let me break it down like portable’s Zazu dance steps. You need to *put your money to work*. Here are *better alternatives* to “just leaving it in the bank”: 1. *Fixed Savings Plans* ° Use savings platforms like *FairMoney (24%)*, *Moni (21%)*, *Palmpay (20%)*, or *PiggyVest SafeLock (17%)**. ° Lock funds for set periods and earn far more than your bank will ever offer. You might not beat inflation but you are still in the race 😞 2. *Mutual Funds* ° Money market funds from investment houses like *Cowrywise*, *RiseVest*, or *Chaka* offer up to 13–16% per annum. ° Capital is pooled and invested in safe instruments like treasury bills. 3. *Agritech Platforms* ° Platforms like *ThriveAgric* and *FarmCrowdy* offer 15–25% returns per farming season. *Caveat:* _Just make sure you research to avoid scams. Shine ya eye like NEPA light when the transformer no normal._ 4. *Dollar Investments* *With naira doing zanku every day, dollar-denominated investments help preserve value. * Platforms like *Bamboo*, *Trove*, or *Chaka* let you buy into U.S. stocks and ETFs (I no dey endorse ooo, I just dey suggest) 🙊 5. *Real Estate Crowdfunding* ° No need to buy land in Lekki with ₦200 million. ° Start with as little as ₦50,000 on platforms like *Coreum*, *InvestNow*, etc. _Drink Star and shine your eyes bobo. Read terms & conditions like say you dey prepare for WAEC._