What do funds placed in banks primarily earn?

Funds placed in banks primarily earn interest. When individuals deposit money into a savings account, fixed deposit, or similar banking instruments, the bank uses that money to lend to others or invest. In return, the bank pays a portion of the earnings generated from these activities to the depositors in the form of interest. This interest is typically calculated over time and credited to the depositors’ accounts based on the amount and duration of the deposit.

Principal refers to the initial amount of money deposited, but it does not represent earnings; it's simply the original sum. Dividends are associated with ownership in companies, not bank deposits, as they are payments made to shareholders from a corporation's profits. Fees might be charged by banks for various services but do not represent earnings on deposited funds. Therefore, the primary way in which money earns income in a bank setting is through the accumulation of interest.