Why you should open a high-yield savings account this March (2024)

FAQs

Why should you have a high-yield savings account? ›

High-yield savings accounts reward you with a higher interest rate than traditional savings accounts, making your money grow faster as it sits in your account. The interest rate that these accounts offer is noted as APY, or annual percentage yield. The higher your APY, the faster your money grows.

The products featured on this page have annual percentage yields, or APYs, of up to 5% or more. That is many times more than the national average rate of 0.46%. Because of the recent Federal Reserve rate increases, APYs are going up, making now a good time to open a high-yield savings account.

Is my money safe in a high-yield savings account? Putting your money in a federally insured high-interest savings account is safe. Funds at covered banks are insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., or FDIC.

Aside from the higher interest rate, high-yield savings accounts work the same as other savings accounts. You deposit money into the account, and, in return, the bank pays you interest. You can make withdrawals as needed, though your bank may charge a fee if you make more than a certain number of withdrawals per month.

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.

The bottom line is that it's wise to keep a meaningful amount of money in a high-yield savings account, but these accounts aren't the best place for most people to store 100% of their idle cash.

Safety: As noted, most high-yield savings accounts are either FDIC or NCUA insured for up to $250,000. Moreover, as deposit accounts, they're not susceptible to the ebbs and flows of the market, so there's little to no chance you'll lose the money you deposit into one.

However, your savings can lose purchasing power over time because of inflation. For example, if your high-yield savings account pays 2 percent and the annual inflation rate is 6 percent, your money has lost 4 percent of its purchasing power.

CDs typically offer higher interest rates than high-yield savings accounts — but they work a bit differently.

Are high-yield savings accounts safe in a recession? ›

It's safe from the stock market: If a recession causes short-term market volatility, you won't lose money on your high-yield savings deposits, unlike investing in the stock market. The APY will be working for you regardless (though it could be lower than the rate you had when you opened the account).

With a high-yield savings account, you can expect relatively easy access to your money. Some financial institutions may limit how many free transfers and withdrawals you can make each month, but liquidity generally isn't an issue. That makes a high-yield savings account a good place to store your emergency fund.

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.

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.

Emergency fund

For example, if your average monthly expenses are $3,000, you'd want to save at least $9,000 to $18,000. If you can rely on a partner's income if you lose your job, you might get away with the lower end of that range. But it doesn't hurt to play it safe and aim higher.

What are the disadvantages of a high-yield savings 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. But for most people, these aren't major issues.

Opening a high-yield savings account could allow you to earn more interest from your savings. If you stash $10,000 in a high-yield savings account for one year at 4.50% APY, you can earn $450. The longer the money sits in your account, the more interest you'll earn.

Saving is generally seen as preferable for investors with short-term financial goals, a low risk tolerance, or those in need of an emergency fund. Investing may be the best option for people who already have a rainy-day fund and are focused on longer-term financial goals or those who have a higher risk tolerance.

For savings, aim to keep three to six months' worth of expenses in a high-yield savings account, but note that any amount can be beneficial in a financial emergency. For checking, an ideal amount is generally one to two months' worth of living expenses plus a 30% buffer.