How Does Interest Work?
Interest is the fee for using someone else’s money. When a person borrows money from a bank, the bank charges them interest (also expressed as an APR, or annual percentage rate). When a person stores money with a bank, the bank pays them interest (also known as APY, or annual percentage yield).
Interest usually accrues daily or monthly with a savings account and is paid at the end of the month. Let’s say you deposit $5,000 in a savings account with 1% interest that compounds daily. At the end of day one, your savings would grow by 1/365 of 1%, or 13.6986c, and you would now have $5,000.136986 (or $5,000.14 after rounding up the cents column).
Celebrated investor Warren Buffett famously said that his “wealth has come from a combination of living in America, lucky genes, and compound interest.” By compound interest, he was referring to the phenomenon of earning interest on interest. Let’s go back to our example. On day one, you earned interest on $5,000. On day two, you would earn 1/365 of 1% interest on $5,000.136986, which is 13.7005. Read this last sentence closely, and you’ll notice you earned 0.0019c more on day two than you did on day one.
This might not seem like a big deal, but keep on earning compound interest over months and years, and it starts to make a huge difference. You’d earn $50.25 interest in year one, year two $50.76, and by year five - $52.30. The more you deposit in your savings account and the higher the interest rate, the more interest you earn.
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Why Do Banks Pay Interest?
When considering a savings account, you may well ask: What’s the catch? Or, What does the bank want in return? The answers are: there is no catch, and all the bank wants in return is for you to deposit as much money as possible for as long as possible.
Banks make a small amount from fees, but their primary revenue source is using deposits from some customers to lend money to others. Ever wondered why banks charge more for loans than they give to depositors? That’s because the difference between the rates is their profit margin. Let’s say the bank pays you 1% interest on $200,000 of savings and charges 5% interest to someone else for a $200,000 loan. The bank earns 4% annual interest on $200,000, plus/minus other fees and costs.
Are Savings Accounts Safe?
People with memories of the 2008 financial crisis might naturally be suspicious toward banks. In the years following the crisis, hundreds of banks became insolvent, and a portion could not pay the full funds owed to depositors. In 2018, the banking sector returned to full health, and not one bank declared insolvency.
In the wake of the financial crisis, the US Government raised the Federal Deposit Insurance Commission’s insurance limit from $100,000 to $250,000 and put in place new rules to ensure the FDIC always has sufficient reserves to be able to cover all depositors in times of crisis. Today, all depositors are insured for at least $250,000 at each bank where they have an account. Joint accounts offer even greater protection, with a $500,000 limit.
There is no such thing in life as a 100% iron-clad, risk-free place to store your money. However, compared to investments like stocks, bonds, and property, savings accounts come with far lower risk and a far lower minimum deposit. Wondering if a savings account is worth it? Savings accounts are also safer than just storing the money under your mattress, and they offer higher yields. (In fact, storing money under the mattress actually loses money over time because the value of money increases through inflation while the money stored under your mattress won’t earn you a cent).
How to Open an Online Savings Account
Haven't opened an online banking account yet? Check out this article.
One of the great things about online banks is that they let you apply for and open a savings account from home. Just fill out a few details about yourself to open an account, wire in an initial deposit, set up a recurring deposit, and check in every so often to see how much you’re earning.
Online banks have grown in popularity in recent years, and all this competition is great news for consumers. Before opening a savings account, don’t forget to make a comparison. We recommend comparing online savings accounts by APY, fees, minimum requirements, customer service, and other features, such as whether they offer a hybrid checking-savings account.
Of course, the most important thing to compare is the APY or annual percentage rate. Today’s APYs vary from as little as 0.01% to as high as 2.25%. The higher the rate, the greater the likelihood that minimum requirements such as a minimum balance are attached. Before going for a high rate, don’t forget to double-check what’s required of you. Top online banking companies can offer significant advantages in this regard, often providing better rates and lower fees than traditional banks.
Explore Leading Online Banks
1. American Express High Yield Savings
Opening an American Express High Yield Savings Account allows you to earn interest at a rate higher than the national average, with no minimum balance or monthly fees. You also benefit from 24/7 customer service and the security of FDIC insurance up to $250,000.
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2. Discover®
Opening a Discover Online Savings Account offers a high interest rate that is over five times the national average, allowing your savings to grow more quickly. Additionally, there are no fees or minimum balance requirements, making it a convenient and cost-effective option for managing your savings.
For more details, you can visit the Discover page on online savings accounts.
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3. SoFi®
Opening a SoFi® savings account offers competitive interest rates up to 4.00% APY*, significantly higher than traditional savings accounts. There is no minimum balance or account fees. Additionally, it provides easy access to your funds and is FDIC insured.
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Have you considered a CD account?
If you think a regular savings account isn't the right choice for you, you should consider using a Certificate of Deposit, or CD account. CDs are increasingly popular and for a good reason. They are savings funds that promise a higher, fixed rate of interest in exchange for locking your money away for specific amounts of time. Here’s everything you need to know about choosing a CD.
FAQs
What is the difference between a Savings and Checking account?
A checking account is a bank account you can write checks from, withdraw cash, or send money from. This would be your bank account for daily transactions. A savings account is where you can store funds for a later date, usually with a financial goal in mind. Savings accounts generally have less flexibility when it comes to accessing your cash.
What is a high-yield savings account?
High-yield savings accounts are slightly different from traditional savings accounts, as they reward you with a higher interest rate, allowing your savings to grow even faster over time.
The interest rate with these accounts is called an APY, or annual percentage yield. The higher your APY, the faster your money grows.
What is a Health Savings Account?
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is similar to a personal savings account, with the main difference being that the funds within it can only be used for qualified healthcare expenses. While HSA’s have some advantages, such as tax-free interest, they are also tricky to qualify for, as you need a high-deductible health plan to be eligible.
Can I have a savings account in more than one bank?
Yes, but managing multiple accounts can get confusing and complicate your financing.
Can you wire money from a savings account?
In short, yes. However, there are some fees, regulations, and minimum transfers to consider. If you are looking to transfer funds easily, try comparing these hand-picked money transfer services.
Still can't decide? Explore leading online banks here.
*SoFi Disclosures
1. Up to $300 Bonus Tiered Disclosure
New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.
SoFi members with Direct Deposit can earn 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 4.00% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Direct Deposit will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/3/2024. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
2. APY disclosures
SoFi members with Direct Deposit or $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn
1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Only SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/3/24. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
3. Fee Policy
We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
