Benefits of a Savings Account
Savings accounts are key to a healthy financial strategy by offering benefits like a stable, predictable return, high liquidity and the backing of federal deposit insurance (look for the FDIC stamp of approval for banks and NCUA for credit unions). A savings account is a type of account offered by a bank or credit union that enables you to put your cash to work by paying interest earnings on the deposits you hold within them. Savings accounts typically offer higher interest rates than checking accounts, which are used for paying daily expenses through payment methods like debit cards and checks. Savings accounts are used to secure cash and protect wealth without sacrificing access to funds.
High-Yield Savings Accounts vs. Traditional Savings Accounts
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Tips for Using High-Yield Savings Accounts
What if you could earn more money from a savings account without doing too much more than what you’re already doing?
That’s the real benefit of a high-yield savings account (HYSA).
As the name implies, a HYSA offers just that — an opportunity to earn a higher yield, meaning more money, on your balance than that offered by a traditional savings account.
The better earning potential makes HYSAs a great option for storing your emergency funds or savings for various short-term goals, like a new car, a future vacation, or a down payment on a home.
There are plenty of HYSAs out there to choose from, but not all are created equal. Click the button below to read on about how to use a high-yield savings account to grow your money faster.
More About Savings Accounts
What Types of Savings Accounts Are Available Through Savebetter?
Available savings products include high-yield savings accounts (HYSAs) and money market deposit accounts (MMDAs), which pay interest at rates well above the national average of that of a traditional savings account.
SaveBetter also allows customers to individually own or jointly own a savings product with another customer, such as a family member. A joint savings account can be a powerful tool for growing wealth, because you and a loved one can pool cash together to boost interest earnings. Moreover, a joint account and an individual savings account are covered by separate federal deposit insurance, even at the same bank.
What Is a Savings Account?
A savings account is a type of deposit account offered by financial institutions like banks and credit unions. Customers can hold cash in a savings account and earn interest on their funds while retaining their liquidity, meaning they can still quickly access their reserves in the event, say, unexpected expenses suddenly arise.
Depending on the institution, the deposits in a savings account may be federally insured, such as through the FDIC (for banks) and the NCUA (for credit unions). Deposit insurance allows a saver to recoup cash held in a financial account in the rare event that the bank or credit union fails.
How Does a Savings Account Work?
The interest that savings accounts earn is determined by their interest rate and the amount of money they hold. The interest rate is typically advertised in terms of APY, or annual percentage yield. This value tells you how much interest the account pays on a yearly basis, factoring in how frequently interest is compounded. (The term EAR, or effective annual rate, is synonymous with APY.) Different banks and savings accounts may offer different compounding periods, but evaluating APYs allows you to compare rates in a consistent way.
If the savings account balance changes — say you withdraw funds to cover an expense — then your prospective interest earnings are affected. Maintaining or adding to your savings account balance, conversely, ensures that your savings grow. And time is on your side: left alone, a savings account’s earnings will grow in value thanks to the power of compounding, like a snowball rolling down a mountain.
Many banks encourage savings account holders to use this type of deposit product as a stable stash for cash rather than, say, a vehicle for day-to-day spending like a checking account. They do so through minimum balance requirements and limits on how many withdrawals or outbound transfers you can make per month. Banks don’t usually issue debit cards to make point-of-sale purchases directly from savings accounts, either.
SaveBetter does not impose the traditional restrictions on savings accounts. There is no minimum balance requirement, customers can open savings accounts with as little as $1, and there are no limits on the frequency of withdrawals.
How to Open a Savings Account
The process to open a savings account directly at a bank or credit union can vary, but usually it involves the customer providing personal information that is used to verify their identity. Some institutions allow customers to apply entirely online.
Opening a savings account through SaveBetter is a simple process that you can complete online in just a few minutes. When you set up a SaveBetter account, you actually create a single portfolio that can hold as many savings products as you want, from as many banks as participate in our unique online savings marketplace. There’s just one application process that happens at signup. SaveBetter’s single unified account dashboard then shows you all your deposit products and their balances and performance in one place.
How to Choose a Savings Account
The interest rate.
Usually expressed as in terms of APY, or annual percentage yield, a savings account’s interest rate tells you how much a bank pays you to safeguard your money. The higher the APY, the more performant the savings account. Unlike fixed-term savings products like CDs, a savings account is likely to offer an interest rate that is subject to fluctuation, often based on prevailing market conditions.
Fees.
Nobody likes paying fees, so choosing a savings account with few or no fees attached ensures that the earnings you’re getting from interest aren’t chipped away by charges by the bank. Some to watch out for: fees for going below a minimum deposit balance, and fees for exceeding the limit on monthly withdrawals. Savings accounts through SaveBetter don’t charge either kind of fee.
Withdrawal limits.
It’s common to see banks put a limit of six withdrawals or outbound transfers per month on savings accounts. Exceeding that may incur charges. But it’s not an industry wide practice, so you should investigate what if any withdrawal limits are placed on a savings account you’re considering. Again, withdrawals from savings accounts through SaveBetter are not capped.
Deposit insurance.
One of the most important benefits of a savings account is the protection it offers, through the stability of the bank itself, and the deposit insurance that is backing that institution. Savings accounts with FDIC member banks and with NCUA insured credit unions offer coverage on up to $250,000 in deposits. Not every bank or credit union is FDIC or NCUA insured, though; it’s critical that you confirm your cash would be covered before opting for a savings account.
The bank behind the account.
While it’s not a factor that likely affects the function of a savings account itself, the values and mission of the bank behind it may be of importance to you. For instance, there are banks that are dedicated to community development, that have minority ownership, and that support causes like youth education. And many customers take into consideration what a bank stands for when choosing to bank with them.
What do the best savings accounts have in common?
Here’s a shortlist: A competitive interest rate, low or no fees, deposit insurance coverage, and no withdrawal limits or minimum balance requirement.
Find and Open Online Savings Accounts, All Through the Convenience of Savebetter
With SaveBetter’s unique online marketplace, you can compare and access an exclusive selection of federally insured savings accounts with competitive interest rates and flexible features, all with a single one-time registration, all in one portfolio.
The savings accounts offered through SaveBetter are a great alternative to the standard savings account you may get through a local brick-and-mortar bank, which in addition to offering a paltry interest rate may also put limits on the frequency of withdrawals. SaveBetter exclusively selects higher-earning savings accounts from its network of partner banks.
What Is SaveBetter?
SaveBetter brings together high-yielding savings products offered by a network of U.S. financial institutions. It’s your destination to discover competitive savings products and start saving wisely. Select and fund multiple savings products from different institutions and manage them all from one account.
Safety
Funds deposited into any of the savings products available through on SaveBetter are always held by a federally insured financial institution. A very easy and safe way to diversify your deposit portfolio. We use a host of cybersecurity measures to protect your funds and sensitive information.
Choice
Savings products from our network of financial institutions offer flexible terms and some of the most competitive interest rates. You can easily find the right product or mix of products for you.
Convenience
One account to hold all your deposit products. Simplified statements. Easy access to manage your funds – all through a streamlined digital platform.
How SaveBetter Protects Your Money and Personal Information
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
All participating banks are members of the FDIC. Deposits in participating banks are insured by the FDIC up to the limits of federal law. The standard insurance amount is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each deposit account ownership category.
Click to learn more about FDIC insuranceNational Credit Union Administration
All participating credit unions are insured by the NCUA through its Share Insurance Fund. Deposits in participating credit unions are insured by the NCUA up to the limits of federal law. The standard insurance amount is $250,000 per depositor, per insured credit union, for each deposit account ownership category.
Click to learn more about NCUA insuranceCybersecurity is a top priority at SaveBetter
We invest in a variety of technologies to protect our customer’s data, privacy and transactions. These include Multi-Factor authentication, encryption, and Cloudflare advanced internet protection and monitoring. We are a SOC 2 certified organization, which means we have met the requirements outlined by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) to ensure that we have the controls in place to keep customers' data secure and private.
Click to learn more about SOC 2 certificationOpen an Account in 3-5 Minutes
Select
the right product for your savings goals.
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with an email address and password, then verify your identity and bank information.
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the savings products you add to your new SaveBetter account.
Why SaveBetter Is, Well, Better
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FAQs
SaveBetter is a digital platform that gives savers unparalleled access to a variety of deposit products through the convenience of a single account, helping you unlock the growth potential of your cash savings.
SaveBetter customers use the platform to fund federally insured deposit products offered by numerous U.S. banks and credit unions with a wide range of maturities and APYs (annual percentage yield), allowing you to build a savings strategy to suit your earning and liquidity needs.
SaveBetter is not a bank. It provides the digital “storefront” where banks and credit unions can promote their deposit products.
SaveBetter is operated by SaveBetter LLC, a 100% subsidiary of Raisin GmbH, a trailblazer for open banking in the deposits and investments space. In the U.S., Raisin helps banks and credit unions improve their deposit funding by offering national reach for their retail deposit products, and provides savers with better access, more choice and higher convenience when evaluating savings products from FDIC insured banks and NCUA insured credit unions.
Your SaveBetter account gives you access to savings accounts and certificates of deposit offered by a variety of banks and credit unions with the security of federal deposit insurance. These products include:
High-yield Savings Account (HYSA). As its name indicates, this account type functions like a traditional savings account — with typically no restrictions on depositing and withdrawing funds — but earns interest (or dividends in the case of credit union savings products) at rates that are higher than the national average for standard savings accounts.
Money Market Deposit Account (MMDA). Also known as a money market account or MMA, this type of savings account offers a varying rate that allows you to earn interest (or dividends) on your funds with maximum flexibility for withdrawals. Like a HYSA, an MMDA offers features of a traditional savings account with typically higher returns.
No Penalty CD. Through the flexibility of a No Penalty CD, you can lock in a competitive rate for a fixed term with the option to make a full withdrawal at any time beginning seven (7) calendar days after funding without having to pay a penalty for the early termination.
Fixed Term CD. With this longstanding savings vehicle, funds are held for a fixed term, and a competitive APY (annual percentage yield) provides safe, predictable earnings. In contrast to No Penalty CDs, typically you are charged a fee if you do not complete the full term of the Fixed Term CD.
Interest (or dividend in the case of credit union savings products) is compounded daily and posted to your account monthly.
The short answer is yes!
For SaveBetter customers who hold savings products offered by one of our partner banks, funds are insured by the FDIC up to the maximum amount in accordance with and as permitted by law at each bank holding their funds. The standard deposit insurance coverage limit is $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, per account ownership category. Ownership categories as defined by the FDIC include single bank accounts (owned by one person/depositor) and joint bank accounts (owned by two or more persons/depositors). Revocable trust accounts and some types of retirement accounts (e.g., IRAs) are among the other ownership categories covered by FDIC insurance. All deposits you have at a bank — whether made through SaveBetter or otherwise — count toward the deposit insurance limit. If funds held at a bank in a certain ownership category exceed the coverage limit, then the amount in excess of the limit will not be insured.
If you hold a savings product offered by one of our partner credit unions — making you a member of the institution — funds are insured by the NCUA through its Share Insurance Fund. According to the NCUA, each credit union member has at least $250,000 in total coverage. The Share Insurance Fund insures individual accounts up to $250,000. Additionally, a member’s interest in all joint accounts combined is insured up to $250,000.
At SaveBetter, cybersecurity is our priority. SaveBetter is a SOC 2 certified platform, meaning it has been validated by outside auditors across five (5) key information security principles. We also use a variety of measures to protect our customers' data, privacy and transactions, including:
• User authentication. The SaveBetter platform uses multi-factor authentication combined with leading authentication technology to validate our customers’ identities.
• Data encryption. Your personal information is encrypted in-transit and at rest using advanced cryptographic security algorithms.
• Site protection. Cloudflare™ advanced internet protection technologies are implemented to protect SaveBetter.com from malicious actors, botnets and denial of service attacks (DDOS).
• Monitoring. An always-on information security monitoring platform detects and alerts us to information security events.
• Assessments. Our platform undergoes vigorous security assessments and testing throughout the lifecycle of application development, from architecture planning to production phases.
Cloudflare™ is a registered trademark of Cloudflare, Inc.
A. Check out our savings marketplace and choose a product in which you would like to deposit money.
B. Create your username and password.
C. Complete an application and, after successful identity verification, link a bank account from which to fund your first savings product.
D. Start earning interest as soon as your money is received by the bank or credit union offering the savings product you selected.
Any questions or concerns? Email us at [email protected].
All deposits and withdrawals are completed within one to three (1-3) business days. After the initial deposit a withdrawals limitation for the first few business days may exist.
Business days are Monday through Friday excluding U.S. bank holidays.
For products offered by banks, all necessary registration is handled when you become a SaveBetter customer. One of the many benefits of our platform is that you can open a single account and earn competitive interest rates from banks in the SaveBetter network. When you select and fund a savings product offered by a credit union, there is an additional step of becoming a member. SaveBetter makes that process quick, easy and free. You still have one SaveBetter login and can view all your savings products in one convenient dashboard.
The current APY for your savings products can always be viewed on the Account Overview page when you are logged in to SaveBetter. This information also appears on monthly statements.
You cannot currently link your SaveBetter account to a third-party app, but we may offer this feature in the future. For now, you will not be able to link your selected savings product to a third-party app even if the bank or credit union offering that product does so outside of the SaveBetter platform.
The SaveBetter name and logo are trademarks of Raisin US LLC. The Raisin Solutions US name and logo are trademarks of Raisin GmbH, used with permission. All other trademarks, logos, marks, and brand names are the property of their respective owners - used with permission
© 2023 Raisin US LLC. All rights reserved.
APY means Annual Percentage Yield. APY is accurate as of {todayDate}. Interest rate may change after initial deposit. Minimum opening deposit is $1.00.
Customer funds are held in various custodial deposit accounts. Each customer authorizes the Custodian Bank to hold the customer’s funds in such accounts, in a custodial capacity, in order to effectuate the customer’s deposits to and withdrawals from the various bank and credit union products that the customer requests through SaveBetter.com. The Custodian Bank does not establish the terms of the bank or credit union products and provides no advice to customers about bank or credit union products offered through SaveBetter.com. Central Bank of Kansas City, Member FDIC, d.b.a. Central Payments is the Service Bank. Lewis & Clark Bank is the Custodian Bank.