Not all deposit money is created equal. When applying for a mortgage, banks often want to see that at least part of your deposit comes from genuine savings—money you’ve steadily put aside over time. But what counts as “genuine”? And how much do you actually need? In this article, we break down the types of savings banks love to see, which sources don’t qualify, and what to do if your deposit is mostly gifted or inherited. Understanding how genuine savings work can give you a stronger shot at mortgage approval—especially if you’ve got less than a 20% deposit.