(Reposting 4/10/24 with updates, please let me know what else needs an update)
Here’s a list of the best high interest savings accounts. Get up to 5.50% APY with a basic savings account or up to 5.80% with a basic CD. There are also accounts with requirements that pay even more. We don’t receive any commissions for any of these, and ALL banks are included in this list.
Contents
Best Basic Savings Rates
Leaving money in a regular bank account will usually get you a terrible interest rate. With a little research, we can find accounts that offer competitive rates. These are all ordinary savings accounts with no hoops to jump through, and they are FDIC/NCUA insured up to $250,000 (please verify insured status for yourself with FDIC and with NCUA before using a bank or credit union).
Here are the best options available, rated in APY from highest to lowest:
- MyBankingDirect – 5.55% APY savings
- Flagstar – 5.55% savings (minimum $25k, guaranteed for 5 months)
- Poppy Bank – 5.50% premier savings (rate guaranteed for 3 months)(minimum $1,000)($25k monthly withdraw limit)
- Western Alliance – 5.36% high yield savings (review)
- Brio – 5.35% high yield savings (minimum $5,000 to open)
- Brilliant Bank – 5.35% APY surge money market (minimum $2,000 to avoid fee)(see this comment)
- Climate First Bank – 5.34% checking or money market (MM is guaranteed until June 1, 2024)
- Ivy Bank – 5.30% savings ($2,500 minimum; nationwide except for CA)
- Ivy Bank – 5.66% indexed savings account ($2,500 minimum; nationwide except CA)(review)
- Vio Bank – 5.30% APY money market
- TAB Bank – 5.27% savings
- TotalDirectBank – 5.26% money market (balances $2,500-$500,000; not available in FL)
- CFG Bank – 5.25% APY high-yield money market (must maintain minimum $1,000)
- Dime – 5.25% Blue savings (not available in NY, CA)
- Evergreen Bank – 5.25% high yield online savings
- Newtek Bank – 5.25% savings
- Jenius Bank – 5.25% savings
- Fierce – 5.25% cash account (requires iOS app)($30 Swagbucks bonus)
- UFB – 5.25% APY savings account (see this comment and this)
- Republic Bank – 5.21% APY money market (minimum $2,500)(nationwide except IL, IN, WI, MI)
- Upgrade – 5.21% APY everyday/premier/performance savings (minimum $1,000)(see this comment)
- Modern Bank – 5.20% high yield money market (minimum $100,000)
- PopularDirect – 5.20% APY savings (see this comment)
- Comenity ‘Bread’ – 5.15% APY savings
- EverBank (TIAA) – 5.15% APY yield pledge savings
- Western State Bank – 5.15% APY money market (our review)
- Pacific Western – 5.15% savings ($5,000 minimum)
- Customers Bank – 5.14% savings ($25k minimum)(auto-adjusts with fed rate)
- Credit Karma Savings – 5.10% APY (our review)
- Public – 5.10% high yield cash account
- Bask Bank – 5.10% APY savings (our review)
- BMO Harris – 5.10% alto online savings (select markets)
- Primis Bank – 5.07% APY savings and checking (review)
- CIT Bank – 5.05% platinum savings ($5,000 minimum)
- BankPurely – 5.05% APY money market (minimum $25,000)(see this comment)
- Salem Five Direct – 5.01% APY eone savings (see this comment)
- CIBC – 5.01% APY savings (minimum $1,000)
- Betterment – 5.00% saving account (our review)(temporary .75% boost to 5.50%)
- Quontic – 5.00% money market
- Laurel Road – 5.00% high yield savings
- Webull – 5.00% cash management account
- Blupeak – 5.00% money market ($300 bonus)
- mph – 5.00% savings
- Dollar Savings Direct – 5.00% APY savings (see this comment)
- Merchants Bank – 5.00% APY money market
- One Finance – 5.00% savings ($5,000 minimum, $100,000 max)(review)
- VirtualBank – 5.00% APY eMoney Market
- Wealthfront – 5.00% APY cash account (signup bonus)
- Lending Club Banking – 5.00% APY savings
- Northern Bank Direct – 4.95% APY premier money market
- NASB – 5.00% APY Interest Savings (check incognito) ($25,000 minimum) (see this comment)
- Redneck Bank / All America Bank – 4.90% APY money market, up to $100,000 (review)
- First Foundation – 4.90% APY money market
- Wise – 4.85% interest feature
- Valley Direct – 4.75% APY savings (12,000 MyPoints signup bonus)
- Sallie Mae – 4.75% APY money market
- Synchrony – 4.75% APY savings
- Milli – 4.75% savings account (requires mobile app)
- Styl Bank – 4.75% APY
- FNBO Direct – 4.75% online savings
- Vanguard – 4.70% Cash Plus account
- Empower/Personal Capital – 4.70% APY cash account (our review)
- PNC – 4.65% high-yield savings (select areas)
- Usalliance – 4.65% APY high dividend savings
- Prime Alliance – 4.50% savings (minimum $10,000)
- Citizens Access – 4.50% APY savings account
- U.S. Bank – 4.50% elite money market (minimum $25,000); valid through 6/13/23
- Colorado Federal – 4.45% APY savings
- Apple Card/Goldman Sachs – 4.40% savings (our review)
- Marcus Bank – 4.40% APY savings
- Live Oak Bank – 4.40% APY savings
- Presidential Bank – 4.37% money market Advantage Checking ($25k-$250k)
- Barclays – 4.35% APY savings
- Mysavingsdirect – 4.35% APY savings (see this comment)
- B1 Bank – 4.35% APY
- Citibank – 4.35% APY savings (not available in all states) (our review)
- Synchrony Paypal version – 4.30% APY savings
- Discover – 4.30% APY savings when signing up via this link (standard account 4.25%) (review)
- Third Federal – 4.30% online savings plus (minimum $5,000)
- SFGI – 4.26% APY savings
- Capital One 360 – 4.25% APY savings
- American Express – 4.25% APY savings account
- E*Trade – 4.25% APY savings
- Elements Financial – 4.25% high yield savings ($10,000 minimum)
- Ally Bank – 4.20% APY savings or money market
- Mutual One – 4.07% premium savings
- Fidelity Bank – 4.00% savings
- First Foundation – 4.00% APY savings
- Northpointe – 3.25% APY ($25,000 minimum to $3,000,000 maximum)
- Alliant Credit Union – 3.10% APY savings
- PenFed – 3.00% APY premium savings
- Fidelity – 2.72% cash management account
- T-Mobile Money – 2.50% APY savings for anyone (4% on up to $3,000 for T-Mobile customers; our review)
- Chime – 2.00% savings
- American Express – 1.00% APY checking account (our review)
- Yotta – .00% savings (plus you get lottery earnings)
Other Basic Options
- Maxmyinterest – 5.36% max savings (see this review first)
- Climate First Bank – 5.34% 6-month no penalty CD
- Robinhood – 5.25% APY for those with Gold membership ($5/month; our review)
- My eBanc – 5.01% APY money market (minimum $100,000)
- M1 Finance – 5.00% APY savings account ($95/year)(our review)
- Morgan Stanley – 5.00% APY Preferred Savings Program
- Merrill Edge Preferred Deposit – 4.71% savings (initial opening needs $100,000)
- USAlliance – 4.80% 11-month no penalty CD
- Marcus – 4.60% APY 13-month no penalty CD
- SoFi Savings – 4.60% with monthly direct deposit of any amount (our review)
- J.P. Morgan Premium Deposit – 4.40% ($100,000 minimum initial deposit)
- Ally Bank – 4.25% 11-month no penalty CD (review)
- Customers Bank – 2.00% APY checking (requires 2 bill payments, otherwise rate is 1%)
- Current – 4.00% APY savings on balances up to $2,000/$6,000 (our review)
- CIT Bank – 3.50% 11-month no-penalty CD
All of these rates will fluctuate over time, and we’re constantly updating this list. There is an advantage to a bank who has a proven track record of giving good interest rates since some of the top rates might be ‘bait-and-switch’ soon to be lowered. Banks like CFG, Discover, Marcus, Ally and some others have been known to offer competitive interest rates for many years. Their rates will also fluctuate but will likely always be a good rate. See also What’s The Best Simple High-Yield Savings Account?
Another thing to keep in mind is that while most banks automatically increase your rate as interest rates increase, some don’t. We wrote data points on which do and which don’t here. Keep that in mind when choosing a bank.
Most of these are savings accounts, with a few checking accounts mixed in. We wrote about options for getting a high yield on your checking account in this post.
Alternative High-Yield Options
- Government Series I Bonds are currently offering 4.30%, you’re limiting to purchasing $10,000 annually (our review)
- U.S. Treasury Bills (our review)
- Brokerage Money market funds and Bond funds
- U.S. Series EE Bonds
- CD Annuities
- Vanguard VMFXX – 5.26% (more options)
- Fidelity SPAXX – 4.97% (more options)
- Schwab SNVXX – 5.07% (more options)
- SGOV etf treasury fund
- Interactive Brokers – 4.83% for IBKR Pro (minimum $10,000)
Best CD Rates
Nationwide CD Offers:
11 Months or Less
- Eagle Bank 5.60% 6-month CD (not in CA, NV, or VT)
- NASA FCU 5.50% APY 9-month CD (review)
- Signature FCU 5.55% 3-month CD (join via ACC)
- Newtek 5.55% 6-month CD
- One American Bank 5.01% 11-month CD ($5k minimum)
- Gateway First 5.50% 7-month CD
- My eBanc 5.49% 6-month CD (minimum $50,000)
- Jovia CU 5.30% 8-month CD ($5 to join)
- Heritage Bank 5.30% 6-month CD
- Quorum FCU 5.25% 7-month CD (join with ACC membership free)
- Hanscom FCU 5.25% 6-11 month CD
- Presidential Bank 5.25% 7-month CD
- Credit Human 5.25% 6-11 month CD (join via ACC)
- Synchrony 5.15% 9-month CD
- Bask Bank 5.15% 6-month CD
- BMO Alto 5.15% 6-month CD
- Everbank 5.15% 9-month CD
- CIBC 5.11% 9-month CD
- Brilliant Bank 5.10% 3-month CD
- Elements CU 5.05% APY 8-month CD
- Brilliant Bank 5.05% 9-month CD
- Cit Bank 5.00% 6-month CD
- America First 5.00% 6-11 month CD
- Prime Alliance 4.95% 6-month CD
- Interior FCU 4.54% 6-month CD (free to join via Wildlife Fed.)
- M&T Bank 4.75% 8-month CD
- Bellco CU 4.75% 6-month CD ($5 to join)
- Alliant 4.75% 6-month CD
- Chase 4.50-5.00% APY 2-Month CD ($100k Minimum for 5%) (review)
- Ally Bank 4.40% 8-month CD
12-18 Months
- Schwab up to 5.50% APY brokered CD 12-months (review)
- Vanguard up to 5.30% APY brokered CD 6-18 months (review)
- Fidelity up to 5.25% APY brokered CD 6-18 months (review)
- Merchants Bank 5.92% flex CD 12/24/36 month (rate changes, tied to fed rate) (our review)
- Amboy 5.38% variable rate 2-year CD
- Northern Bank Direct 5.40% 12-month CD
- NexBank 5.40% 12-month CD (minimum $25,000)
- State Bank of Texas 5.40% APY 12-month CD (minimum $50,000) (our review)
- CIBC 5.36% 13-month CD
- Brio 5.35% 12-month CD
- Comenity ‘Bread’ 5.35% APY 12-month CD
- Climate First Bank 5.34% 15-month flex CD
- CFG 5.31% APY 12-month CD
- Colorado Federal 5.30% APY 12-month CD
- PopularDirect 5.30% APY 12-month CD ($10,000 minimum)
- My eBanc 5.30% 12-month CD (review)
- Quontic 5.30% 12-month CD
- First Internet Bank 5.26% APY 12-month CD
- T Bank 5.25% 13-month CD
- Seattle Bank 5.25% APY 12-month CD
- CFG 5.31% APY 12-month CD
- Limelight 5.20% 12-month CD
- Live Oak Bank 5.20% 12-month CD
- Bask Bank 5.20% 12-month CD
- Alliant 5.15% 12-month CD (5.20% with $75,000)
- USAlliance 5.15% 12-month CD
- All in CU 5.12% 12-month CD (join with ACC membership)
- Forbright 5.10% 12-month CD
- Sallie Mae 5.10% 12-month CD
- LFCU 5.09% 1-year CD (join with $10 HOFLC)(see also this post)
- Pacific Western Bank 7/13 month CD 5.05%
- Consumers CU 5.00% 13-month CD
- Marcus Bank 5.00% APY 14-month CD
- Citizens Bank 5.00% APY 12-month CD
- Alliant 5.00% 18-month CD
- Andrews FCU 5.00% 12-month CD (join with $8 ACC donation or use code ANDREWS)
- Capital One 5.00% 12-month CD
- Barclays 5.00% 12-month CD
- Salem Five Direct 5.00% 6-12 month CDs
- Ivy Bank 5.00% 12-month CD
- Quorum FCU 5.00% APY 15-month CD (new money only)
- Connexus CU 4.96% APY 17-month CD (minimum $5,000)(join w/ $5 donation)
- TIAA 4.90% APY 12-month CD
- Discover 4.80% APY 12-month CD
- Union Square CU 4.80% 12-month CD
- Valley Direct 4.80% 12-month CD
- Signature FCU 4.75% 12-month CD (join via ACC)
- Modern Bank 4.75% APY 18-month CD
- Inova FCU 4.75% 12-month CD (join with $5 Tru Direction membership)
- Discover 4.70% APY 12-month CD
- Ally Bank 4.65% 14-month CD
- Cit Bank 4.65% 13-month CD
- DCU 4.60% 12-23 month CD
- PenFed CU 4.50% APY 12-month CD
- Ally Bank 4.45% APY 9/18-month CD
- American Express 3.75% APY 12-month CD
- Citibank 2.71% APY 12-month CD
19+ Months
- Chartway CU 5.30% APY 13 or 23-month CD
- Pelican State CU 5.27% 24-month CD
- Farmers Insurance FCU 5.00% 3/6/9/12/18/24-month (membership via ACC)
- Comenity ‘Bread’ 5.00% APY 24-month CD
- Credit Human 5.00% 18-23 month CD
- Connexus CU 4.76% APY 24-month CD (minimum $5,000)(join w/ $5 donation)
- BMO Alto 4.50% 60-month CD
- NASA FCU 4.45% APY 49-month CD (review)
- U.S. Bank 4.40% 19-month CD
- PenFed CU 4.45% APY 24-month CD
- Fidelity Bank 4.35% 25-month CD
- Capital One 4.10% 5-year CD
- American Express 4.00% 24-month CD
Best Business Savings Rates
- U.S. Senate FCU (USSFCU) 5.18-5.28% APY 24-month CD (join with ACC membership free)
- First Internet Bank – 5.06% APY 12-month CD
- Credit Karma – 5.00% savings for Quickbooks customers
- Wise business – 4.85%
- Live Oak Bank – 4.00% business savings
- TAB Bank – 4.00% money market
- Lending Club Banking – 3.60% APY business savings (review)
- [CT, MA, RI, PA] Owners Bank – between 3.50% and 5.01%
- Newtek Bank – 3.50% business savings
- NBKC Bank – up to 3.25% business CD
- First Internet Bank – 3.25% APY money market savings ($4,000 minimum to waive fee)
- Panacea/Primis – 3.00% business savings
- Bluevine – 4.25% APY business checking (requires $100k and $5k spend to waive $95 fee)
- Bluevine – 2.00% APY business checking (up to $250,000; requires receivables or debit spend)
- NBKC Bank – 2.00% business money market
- American Express Business – 1.30% APY checking account (up to $500,000; plus 30k bonus)
- Paramount Bank – 1.10% business money market ($5,000 minimum to avoid fee)
- Axos Bank – 1.01% APY business checking (up to $50,000)
- Lending Club Banking – 1.50% APY tailored checking (review)
- Newtek Bank – 1.00% business checking
- Usalliance – rate varies from .05% to .60% depending on deposit amount
- Axos Bank – .20% business premium savings
Mega High-Interest (Nationwide)
Aside from basic accounts offering competitive interest rates, there are ultra high-yield options which are more involved and take time and patience to deal with. Bear in mind, all of the best options have velocity limits, sometimes it’s $5k, $10k, $15k, or $20k. You’ll never be netting more than $1,000 in annual interest from any of these accounts, and it’s usually much less than that. Someone who is impatient or doesn’t have spare time would best use a standard high-interest savings account options and forget about the velocity-limited accounts.
Below you’ll find all mega high interest accounts which are available nationwide, and in the next segment we list the regional options.
- Andrews FCU 6% APY Kasasa Cash Checking
- Juno – 5.00% or 5.12% APY (not sure) on up to $5,000
Securityplus FCU 6.00% APY 8-Month CD, Max $50,000 (Plus $100 Referral Bonus)- Fitness Bank 6% APY on up to $25k When You Have An Average Of 10,000+ Steps A Day
- OnPath FCU 7.00% checking on up to $10,000 with qualifications (details here)
- Elevault 5.13% (max $50,000; iOS only)
- Kanza Bank 6.00% on balances up to $20,000
- Pelican State Credit Union Kasasa Checking Account – 6.05% APY On Balances Up To $20,000
- Presidential Bank 4.625% APY Checking On Up To $25,000 (With Requirements)
- Genisys Credit Union 5.25% APY High Yield Checking Account – Up To $7,500
- The Bank Of Denver – 5% APY On Balances Up To $15,000
- Aspiration Spend & Save: 3%-5% APY On Balances Up To $10,000
- Hanscom Federal Credit Union 5% APY, On Up To $6,000
- Elements Financial 5% APY Checking Account, up to $20,000, with requirements
- Service Credit Union 3% APY On Balances Up To $3,000 + 5% savings account on up to $500
- Bank of Missouri 3.05% APY on Balances Up Too $15,000 (nationwide)
- Porte Bank 3% APY On Balances Up To $15,000 + $50 Referral Bonus
- Western Vista Credit Union Rewards Checking 3.00% APY On Balances Up To $15,000
- Varo Money Savings Account – 5% APY (balance less than $5,000)
- Orion Federal Credit Union Premium Checking 6% APY On Balances Up To $10,000 (DD Not Required)
- Consumers Credit Union 4.09% APY On Up To $10,000 Rewards Checking
- T-Mobile Money Review – Earn 4% APY On Balances Up To $3,000 (Requires T-Mobile Account)
- Liberty Federal CU (Evansville): Vertical Dividend 3.45% APY Account, Balances Up To $20,000
- Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU) – 2.50% Rewards Checking Account Review, up to $10,000
- Signature FCU Rewards Checking 3.50% APY on up to $20,000 [Nationwide]
- MarketUSA Federal Credit Union 3% APY Rewards Checking – Available Nationwide
- Lake Michigan Credit Union: 3% Reward Checking Account On Up To $15,000
- Blue Federal Credit Union 2% – 4% APY on up to $15,000
More Restrictive Options:
- H-E-B Netspend 6% APY Savings Account On Balances Up To $2,000
- Blue Federal Credit Union 4.99% APY Account (Up To $1,000)
- Premier Members Credit Union Reverse Tiered Money Market Account – Up To 2% APY on $2,000
- DCU 6.17% APY on balances up to $1000
- Netspend Prepaid 5% Interest Rate on up to $1,000
- KaiPerm Credit Union 6% APY Account On Balances Up To $1,000 (Membership Restricted)
- Workers Credit Union – .56% to .85% APY savings rate, special rate of 3.61% on first $1,000
Mega High-Interest (Regional)
Below are the regional accounts we’ve reviewed on the site. There are many more as well.
- Maryland: First Financial FCU 6.09% 9-Month CD
- Parts of Nebraska, Iowa: Metro CU 6.00% 13-month CD
- Texas, Oklahoma: Union Square Credit Union 4.50% APY On Balances Up To $25,000
- North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee: Truliant FCU 6.25% CD
Louisiana, Arkansas: CNext Bank 7.00% APY Checking Account On Up To $30,000 - Ohio: Buckeye State Bank 5% APY On Balances Up To $15,000
- Iowa: Advantage Credit Union 6% APY 12 Month CD
- Parts of Texas: Keystone 6% on up to $50,000
- Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana: Origin Bank Performance Checking: 6% APY, Balances Up To $40,000
- Texas, Nevada, Michigan: InTouch Credit Union High Yield Checking Account – 6.17% APY On Balances Up To $30,000
- Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, South Dakota: Iowa State Bank 3.25% APY on up to $25k
- Arkansas, Indiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Michigan: United Federal Credit Union: Ultra Checking Account – Earn 3% APY On Balances Up To $15,000
- Maryland, Delaware: Destinations Credit Union: 3% Reward Checking Account, Up to $10,000
- Wisconsin, Illinois: Landmark Credit Union 7.50% APY High Rate – Balances Of Up To $500
- Virginia, North Carolina: Beacon Credit Union 5.05% APY On Balances Up To $2,500
- Wyoming, Nebraska: Meridian Trust Federal Credit Union 3% APY On Balances Up To $15,000
- Illinois, Iowa: South East National Bank 3% APY On Balances Up o $10,000
- Arkansas, Mississippi: First Financial Bank 4.33% APY on Balances Up To $15,000 – Direct Deposit Not Required
- Parts of Arizona, California: Meriwest Credit Union 2.50% savings account on up to $5k [must be opened within 30 days of joining]
- Arizona Branches: Sunwest Credit Union 5.12% APY 12-Month CD (Unlimited)
- Alabama: Guardian Credit Union 4% APY On Balances Up To $30,000 Ultimate Checking Account
- Florida: Liberty Savings Bank 1% APY On Balances Up To $25,000; 1.5% Savings Account On Up to $50,000; $25 Referral Bonus
- Georgia (partial): MidSouth FCU 5% APY Checking Account on up to $10,000
- Illinois: Hometown Community Banks 4.01% APY Checking Account (10 Debit Card Transactions Required)
- Indiana: Interra Credit Union 5% APY On Balances Up To $10,000
- Iowa Premier Bank 5% APY Checking on Balances up to $5,000
- Kansas: State Security Bank 3% APY On Balances Up To $10,000 – Direct Deposit Not Required
- Louisiana: Bank of Ruston: Priority Checking Account 3% APY On Balances Up To $15,000
- Louisiana: La Capitol Federal Credit Union 4.25% On Balances Up To $5,000 – Direct Deposit Not Required
- Louisiana: Bank of Montgomery (BOM) 4.07% Premium Account On Balances Up To $15,000
- Maryland: Freedom Financial Credit Union 3% APY on balances up to $10,000
- Michigan: First United Credit Union 4% APY + $50 Bonus ($10,000 Limit)
- Michigan: Consumers Credit Union 4% APY
- Michigan (nationwide?): Chief Financial Credit Union 5.00% APY – No Direct Deposit Required
- Michigan: Arbor Financial CU 4% Checking On Balances Up To $15,000
- Michigan: Financial Plus Credit Union 4.15% APY On Balances Up To $10,000
- Michigan: Adventure Credit Union – 4% APY On Balances Up To $10,000
- Michigan: Kellogg Community Credit Union 4% APY Checking Account On Balances Up To $15,000
- Michigan: AAA High-Yield Checking – 2.85% On Balances Up To $10,000
- Michigan: Dort Federal Credit Union 6.5% APY On Balances Up To $10,000
- Minnesota: St Paul Federal Credit Union 4.99% On Balances Up To $20,000
- Missouri: Legacy Bank & Trust i-Profit 4% APY on Up To $10,000
- Missouri: Ozark Bank 3% APY Checking on Balances up to $10,000
- Missouri: Hawthorn Bank 3.01% APY On Balances Up To $30,000
- Nebraska: Liberty First Credit Union 3% APY On Balances Up To $30,000
- In parts of New York: Solvay Bank 4% APY Checking on Balances up to $15,000
- New York: Apple Bank Youth (6-17) Savings Account: 3% APY On Balances Up To $10,000
- Ohio: Bridge Credit Union 10% APY Account On Balances Up To $1,500 (Lots Of Monthly Requirements)
- Oregon: Oregon Community Credit Union (OCCU) – 5.25% APY On Balances Up To $500 Ignite Savings Account
- South Dakota: Reliabank Ultimate Checking – 3.51% APY On Balances Up To $25,000 – Direct Deposit Not Required
- El Paso, Texas only: Evolve FCU Rewards ePriority Checking Account – 3% APY On Balances Up To $10,000
- Texas: Neighborhood Credit Union 4.25% APY On Balances Up To $50,000 + $200 Bonus
- parts of Texas: Education Credit Union 6.10% APY on up to $50,000
- Washington: STCU 5.09% APY on balances up to $500 with no requirements
- Washington: Canopy Credit Union offering 6.17% APY on first $25k
- Washington, Oregon, Idaho: Gesa 7.00% APY on $500 in Savings (no requirements) and $5,000 Checking (requirements) (our review)
- Wyoming: WyHy FCU 3% APY SmartReturns Checking Account On Balances Up To $15,000 – Direct Deposit Not Required
- Select counties: Uncle Credit Union 6% on up to $25,000 with qualifications (join via FFA)
Why do the “poor red states” get the best interest rates while those with money to burn in affluent blue states get ~4%? Makes no sense.
Interesting point! I never noticed but maybe there’s a pattern there. I will poke around!!
Either way, I’m sure you know there are a lot of hacks to get around geofences, plus money market fund/bonds can get close if you are willing to give up some liquidity.
Probably because those “red” states need money, and people with investable money need to be incentivized with high interest rates to look past what the “red” states will be funding with that invested money.
Highly recommend Wealthfront savings – I’ve been a client for years and they regularly index their APY (currently 5-5.5%). They also have one-day transfers (which is important to me) and their customer service is top notch – really helpful when we purchased a condo recently and needed assistance with several wires. [removed]
My only concern is they don’t have push notifications for many transactions, such as debit card purchases. It may be lame, but I like notifications (push, not text or email). Mainly for debit card purchases and money being taken out of my account via other ways.
If you have TBILS and SGOV on the list, you may as well list BOXX
I dont know if this is right place to ask this but this site seems to get most of the traffic. Being retired, and no regular pension, nor taking SS yet, most of my income comes in December when I did some Roth conversions.
I got letter from IRS saying I owe penalty for not paying estimated payments throughout the year based on my income, but I really had no income until December, so how could I pay payments before then>
Anyone else run into a situation like this?
You might be able to get your 2023 penalty abated.
thanks for info Mothman. Yes, was going to do this again so will plan better this time. But i think I should get a one time forgiveness.
I am not an accountant, but if most of your income is received in December, I think you should annualize your income when filing taxes, so that your tax duty for each quarter is based on the actual income received in that quarter. Otherwise, by default your income is assumed to be eventually distributed throughout the year, and you would be penalized for not paying sufficient taxes for the first three quarters.
KubKadet
Dumb question, but how do you annualize your income when filing? I always just plug in what’s on my W2. I was penalized last year because my comp time was paid out.
I also would like to know how to annualize income
Annualized Income Installment Method Definition, When to Use It (investopedia.com)
I am guessing this is what Shawn and Mothman are referring to
If you use TurboTax, there will be a question asking you if you want to annualize your income, which comes much later under “Other Tax Situations” with prompts like “If you received your taxable income seasonally or irregularly during 2023, you may be able to lower your underpayment penalty by annualizing your income. In order to do this, you’ll need precise records showing when you received your income and paid your expenses during the year…“.
If you answer Yes, TurboTax will take you to the relevant screens for you to enter your numbers for each quarter. Basically, you will need to keep track of your income/capital gains/deductions/… and their dates, summarize them by quarter, and manually enter them into TurboTax accordingly.
but I would have to annualize this during the year, far before tax time, to know what the payments would need to be/
Once you know your approximate taxes, you can make a 4868 Extension Request payment just before you file. As long as you owe less than $1k on the 1040 you should be within the safe harbor rules and not owe any penalties. Failing that, you can use form 2210 to annualize your income and minimize any penalties when you do file.
Thanks for all the great help. I figured there would be people here to answer my question and I was right.;
My Banking Direct is a pain to open.
It takes ages and is overly complicated.
You have to setup the external bank twice, send documents, etc… etc…
The longest process ever.
I wish I didn’t sign up with them.
I had a different experience. Very easy to open and you can get by the 9 days hold by initiating the deposit from your other bank. So far so good
Flagstar and MBD was a pain for me as well. Took several days, and they want lots of document including a “physically signed form”. But my friend was able to sign up without having to send in anything. I guess it depends on the person.
Updated, thanks all (update #123)
Citi dropped to 4.35% (from 4.45%)
I don’t know about all but know Ally is 4.20% Not 4.25% anymore & Capital One also is 4.25% Not 4.30% so these 2 are my updates for you,
The Ivy index savings has really aged nicely.
On top of their 5% APY cash account, Wealthfront just introduced their automated bond ladder. If you open an automated bond ladder account by 6/30/2024, Wealthfront will waive it’s annual 0.25% advisory fee for the first 6 months.