Animal Crossing: New Horizons' Latest Update Lowers Bank Interest Rates

There's a brand new Animal Crossing: New Horizons patch out today. While this update introduces new characters Leif and Redd, it also reduces the interest rate that you'll earn through storing your money in the ABD bank system.

This new patch is update 1.2.0 for New Horizons, and it's been introduced to bring in the special Earth Day event, which kicks off today. But when you launch the game and check your mailbox, you'll find mail from the Bank of Nook, letting you know that the interest rate for the bank where you store your Bells has been reduced from what it was previously (0.5%).

As an apology for this, you'll be rewarded with a home rug in the shape of a bag of Bells. Tom Nook would love this. There hasn't been a reason given from Nintendo as to why they've reduced the interest rate on your savings in the ABD system, but if we had to hazard a guess as to why, it's likely to prevent time-travelling cheaters from accruing millions of Bells through jumping forward years upon years, and then claiming their interest on any savings.

Also coming with the big 1.2.0 update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons, there's the Nature Day event, which celebrates Earth Day. This event has Leif the sales sloth visiting your island to sell bushes and shrubberies to you.

Elsewhere, Redd the pirate may also appear just off the shore on his pirate ship. When he does rock up in your island, he'll be selling you prized treasures and works of art, which you can then display in the new art exhibition at Blathers' museum, also included in the new update.

For more on Animal Crossing: New Horizons, head over to our guides section.