Can you take money out of a high-yield savings account?
But with a high yield savings account, you can withdraw or transfer your funds whenever necessary. A CD is a better option if you know you won't need your funds for a specific period of time. But if you need the flexibility to access your savings, a high yield savings account could be better.
Unlike CDs, which are locked in for a fixed term, you can withdraw and transfer funds in an HYSA without any penalty. That could be helpful if you're nervous about an unexpected expense. Many accounts provide optional access to an ATM card, though the number of transactions or amounts you can withdraw may be limited.
- Fluctuating rates. APYs can change over time. ...
- Withdrawal limits. ...
- Minimum balance requirements. ...
- Effort to withdraw money. ...
- Lower returns than investments. ...
- Saving an emergency fund. ...
- Short-term savings.
Losing money in a high-yield savings account is rare, but it can happen. If you're looking for safe ways to grow your money and protect your savings, a high-yield savings account (HYSA) can be a great option.
If you put $10,000 into a high-yield savings account with a 5.00% APY, you'll make $500 in interest in a year. If you deposit $10,000 into a high-yield savings account with a 5.00% APY at age 20, you'll earn nearly $80,000 in interest by the time you turn 65.
If you deposit $1,000 into a high-yield savings account with a 4.5% APY, you'll earn just over $45 in interest after one year. At 5% APY, you'd earn about $51.
While high-yield savings accounts offer high APYs and zero risk, they're not the best way to grow your wealth long-term. That's because your APY can go up and down, and your yield may not outpace the inflation rate.
You won't lose flexibility: High-yield savings accounts won't limit your flexibility. Unlike CDs, for example, you'll still be able to withdraw funds or add additional ones as needed. This is vital when depositing a five-figure amount of money.
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.
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.
How much will $20,000 make in a high-yield savings account?
APY = Annual Percentage Yield. APYs are subject to change at any time without notice. In one year, the top high-yield savings accounts could earn roughly $1,000 in interest on a $20,000 deposit.
While high-yield savings accounts offer higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts, they may not outpace inflation, potentially eroding your purchasing power over time. As a result, they're not typically recommended for long-term wealth-building or retirement savings.
“In simple terms,” says Richiest's Ashley, “the money you earn from a high-yield savings account is usually taxed just like your regular income. “This means that the interest you make on these accounts gets taxed by the federal government and, depending on where you live, your state government too.”
As easy as it is to withdraw money from a high-yield savings account, there may be limits to the number of withdrawals allowed per month or year. Going over that limit can incur extra fees. Some banks may even close the account if the withdrawals become excessive and don't meet the terms set by the bank.
The main benefit of a high-yield savings account is earning a much better interest rate than you might with another savings option. Rates on these accounts can easily beat rates offered by traditional brick-and-mortar banks.
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.
You can live off interest alone, but you need to be careful about understanding your expenses and your current and future assets. Investment returns are not guaranteed, and the more risk you take on to achieve a higher return, the greater your probability of losing some of your investment.
Starting amount | APY | Interest earned in a year |
---|---|---|
$5,000 | 5.31% | $272.66 |
$5,000 | 5.26% | $270.02 |
$5,000 | 5.05% | $258.97 |
Your high-yield savings account should contain enough to cover a job loss or other unexpected expense, but anything above that could grow faster in a certificate of deposit (CD), money market account or the stock market.
What are the cons of a high-yield savings account? Variable rates. Interest rates on these accounts can and do fluctuate, which means the APY you started with could potentially drop. Keep your eye on such changes and remember that the money is yours; at any time, you can move it to a bank that offers a higher rate.
Is there a penalty for withdrawing from a high-yield savings account?
Typically, no monthly fees. No penalties for withdrawals.
You won't lose interest on the money you withdraw before the end of the month, but it won't continue to earn interest after you withdraw it. The interest already earned on the money will be paid to you as part of the normal interest payment on the first calendar day of the next month.
The rate environment is favorable
On a $10,000 deposit, that would equate to $500 after one year. That's a substantial amount of interest, and it dwarfs the minimal 0.46% that most savers are currently getting with their regular savings accounts.
While the principal in your high-yield savings account won't fluctuate with the stock market, you can lose money if the bank charges high fees or fails to maintain the minimum balance. Diana Kelly Levey is a freelance writer with more than 10 years of experience in personal finance.
Your best bet if you have extra cash is to put it in a high-yield savings account that can increase your savings but give you the option to withdraw the money if you need to. By law, consumers can withdraw or transfer cash out of a high-yield savings account up to six times per month without paying any fees.