What's the catch with high interest savings accounts?
Like traditional savings accounts, some financial institutions may limit the number of withdrawals and transfers you can make from a high-yield savings account each month. Exceeding this limit could possibly result in fees or restrictions on your account.
Some disadvantages of a high-yield savings account include few withdrawal options, limitations on how many monthly withdrawals you can make, and no access to a branch network if you need it.
While you can grow your money daily and take on zero risk with high-yield savings, they are not the best way to grow your wealth long-term. The rate of inflation can be higher than the yield you earn over time, so it's better to not keep piling cash into your savings and instead invest your money.
Losing money in an HYSA is rare, but it can happen.
This type of deposit account is available through many banks and credit unions, particularly online financial institutions. An HYSA works like a traditional savings account, except it offers a much higher annual percentage yield (APY).
As of April 2024, no banks are offering 7% interest rates on savings accounts. Two credit unions have high-interest checking accounts: Landmark Credit Union Premium Checking with 7.50% APY and OnPath Credit Union High Yield Checking with 7.00% APY.
Most experts suggest that you should keep between three and six months' worth of expenses in your emergency account at all times. So, if you have $4,000 per month in expenses, you should have between $12,000 and $24,000 in liquid savings at all times.
High-yield savings accounts usually require a minimum balance, give just a fixed amount back on any money you put in there, and may have penalties and charges for certain transactions or movements.
All of your high-yield savings account interest is taxable. Your financial institution will send you a Form 1099-INT once you earn more than $10 in interest.
When your savings reaches $100,000, that's a milestone worth marking. In a world where 57% of Americans can't cover an unexpected $1,000 expense, having a six-figure savings account is commendable.
If you put $10,000 into a high-yield savings account, you can earn from $300 to $420 in a year — assuming your variable high-yield savings rate remains above 3.00%. Several banks are offering rates between 4.35% to 5.27% APY.
What happens if you put 50000 in a high-yield savings account?
How much of a difference does this make? If you deposit $50,000 into a traditional savings account with a 0.46%, you'll earn just $230 in total interest after one year. But if you deposit that amount into a high-yield savings account with a 5.32% APY,* your one-year interest soars to over $2,660.
The rate environment is favorable
In fact, rates on high-yield savings accounts are currently hovering around 5%, and you may be able to find something even higher if you shop around for an online bank. On a $10,000 deposit, that would equate to $500 after one year.
Millionaires Like High-Yield Savings, but Not as Much as Other Accounts. Usually offering significantly more interest than a traditional savings account, high-yield savings accounts have blown up in popularity among everyone, including millionaires.
- Northern Bank Direct – 5.60% APY.
- Apple Federal Credit Union – 5.40% APY.
- Expedition Credit Union – 5.40% APY.
- NexBank – 5.40% APY.
- CIBC Agility – 5.36% APY.
- TotalDirectBank – 5.35% APY.
- CFG Bank – 5.31% APY.
- Rising Bank – 5.31% APY.
You can find 6% CD rates at a few financial institutions, but chances are those rates are only available on CDs with maturities of 12 months or less. Financial institutions offer high rates to compete for business, but they don't want to pay customers ultra-high rates over many years.
| Account Name | APY (Annual Percentage Yield) Accurate as of 4/22/2024 | Minimum Account Opening Balance |
|---|---|---|
| UFB Secure Savings | 5.25% | $0 |
| EverBank Performance℠ Savings | 5.15% | $0 |
| CIT Bank Platinum Savings | 5.05% (with $5,000 minimum balance) | $100 |
| Wealthfront Cash Account | 5.00% | $1 |
| 0.46% APY | 5.30% APY | |
|---|---|---|
| After 1 Year | $46.00 | $530.00 |
| After 5 Years | $232.13 | $2,946.19 |
| After 10 Years | $469.64 | $6,760.37 |
How much is too much savings? Keeping too much of your money in savings could mean missing out on the chance to earn higher returns elsewhere. It's also important to keep FDIC limits in mind. Anything over $250,000 in savings may not be protected in the rare event that your bank fails.
A money market fund is a mutual fund that invests in short-term debts. Currently, money market funds pay between 4.47% and 4.87% in interest. With that, you can earn between $447 to $487 in interest on $10,000 each year.
Pros and cons of a high-yield savings account
A high-yield savings account offers a higher rate of return on your money compared to standard savings accounts. But some of these accounts charge fees, have minimum balances requirements, and offer variable interest rates that can go up and down over time.
Is there anything better than a high-yield savings account?
For example, if you open a three-year CD with 1% APY, it will keep that same interest rate for the entire three years, no matter what happens to interest rates overall. CDs typically offer higher interest rates than high-yield savings accounts — but they work a bit differently.
- Leverage tax-advantaged accounts. Tax-advantaged accounts like the Roth IRA can provide an avenue for tax-free growth on qualified withdrawals. ...
- Optimize tax deductions. ...
- Focus on strategic timing of withdrawals. ...
- Consider diversifying with tax-efficient investments.
A money market account gives you more access to your money in the form of direct checking and ATM withdrawals, but it will generally provide a lower interest rate. A high-yield savings account pays a much higher interest rate, but you have transfer limits and few, if any, accounts let you directly spend money.
Most American households have at least $1,000 in checking or savings accounts. But only about 12% have more than $100,000 in checking and savings.
Kevin O'Leary: By Age 33, You Should Have $100K in Savings — How To Get Started. If you're just starting out in your career, $100,000 might seem like a lot of money. After all, the median salary of a 20- to 24-year-old, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, is just $37,024.
