December 2023: Best Savings Accounts from Our Partners

Having a savings account as a part of your finances helps to build up funds to cover as planned as unexpected expenses in the future. It will give you financial stability, plus you will earn some interest on your deposit.

1. A savings account is a bank account where you can store your money and earn interest on it. This type of bank accounts is insured by the FDIC. That means you won't lose your money if your bank fails.

2. Savings accounts are inexpensive and easy to use. You will need a small amount, around 25 dollars, to open an account. Some banks do not require any opening deposit. As for the fees, you can avoid most of them as long as you're avoiding withdrawals from your savings account. Monthly fees are often waived if a minimum balance is maintained.

3. Many savings accounts come with interest rates (APY) that will help you to accumulate a little more cash over time. The average interest rate on savings accounts is 0.09% APY. However, many banks offer savings accounts with rates well above that average - up to 2.00% APY. Online institutions tend to offer higher interest rates than brick-and-mortar banks. So, it is worth shopping around for the best deals when you are after a savings account.

Checking Account vs. Savings Account

You may already have a checking account and may think that having a savings account is unnecessary. However, you can actually benefit from having both types of accounts.

Checking accounts are convenient for everyday spending, bill payments, and direct deposits, but they are terrible places to save. First of all, you have unlimited access to your money and can spend them quickly. Secondly, money in a checking account rarely earn interest. And to top it all, checking accounts are ripe targets for thieves.

Savings accounts are good for long-term investment. They are not good for everyday transactions as there is a limit to how many transactions you can perform a month and the transactions themselves can be costly. Consider savings account as an investment in your financial stability or as an emergency fund. Plus, if you are expecting a big-ticket purchase in the future, it will be easier to save money using a savings account, than a checking account. Another good feature of savings accounts is APY. You are actually paid interest on the money you have in your savings account.