Secure your financial future using an online savings account. Learn the ins and outs of interest rates and compare top online banks.
December 21, 2025
Interest is the fee for using someone else’s money. When a person
borrows money from a bank, the bank charges them interest (also expressed as an APR, or annual
percentage rate).
When a person stores money with a bank, the bank pays them interest
(also known as APY, or annual percentage yield). Learn more about what is annual percentage yield (APY) here.
Interest usually accrues daily or monthly with a savings account and
is paid at the end of the month. Let’s say you deposit $5,000 in a savings account with 1% interest
that compounds daily.
At the end of day one, your savings would grow by 1/365 of 1%, or
13.6986c, and you would now have $5,000.136986 (or $5,000.14 after rounding up the cents column).
Celebrated investor Warren Buffett famously said that his “wealth
has come from a combination of living in America, lucky genes, and compound interest.” By compound
interest, he was referring to the phenomenon of earning interest on interest.
Let’s go
back to our example. On day one, you earned interest on $5,000. On day two, you would earn 1/365 of 1%
interest on $5,000.136986, which is 13.7005. Read this last sentence closely, and you’ll notice you
earned 0.0019c more on day two than you did on day one.
This might not seem like a big deal, but keep on earning compound interest over months and years, and it starts to make a huge difference. You’d earn $50.25 interest in year one, year two $50.76, and by year five - $52.30. The more you deposit in your savings account and the higher the interest rate, the more interest you earn.
.20210301120023.jpg)
When considering a savings account, you may well ask: What’s the catch? Or, What does the bank want in return? The answers are: there is no catch, and all the bank wants in return is for you to deposit as much money as possible for as long as possible.
Banks make a small amount from fees, but their primary revenue source
is using deposits from some customers to lend money to others. Ever wondered why banks charge more for
loans than they give to depositors? That’s because the difference between the rates is their profit
margin.
Let’s say the bank pays you 1% interest on $200,000 of savings and charges 5%
interest to someone else for a $200,000 loan. The bank earns 4% annual interest on $200,000, plus/minus
other fees and costs.
People with memories of the 2008 financial crisis might naturally be suspicious toward banks. In the years following the crisis, hundreds of banks became insolvent, and a portion could not pay the full funds owed to depositors. In 2018, the banking sector returned to full health, and not one bank declared insolvency.
In the wake of the financial crisis, the US Government raised the Federal Deposit Insurance Commission’s insurance limit from $100,000 to $250,000 and put in place new rules to ensure the FDIC always has sufficient reserves to be able to cover all depositors in times of crisis. Today, all depositors are insured for at least $250,000 at each bank where they have an account. Joint accounts offer even greater protection, with a $500,000 limit.
There is no such thing in life as a 100% iron-clad, risk-free place to store your money. However, compared to investments like stocks, bonds, and property, savings accounts come with far lower risk and a far lower minimum deposit.
Haven't opened an online banking account yet? Check out this article.
One of the great things about online banks is that they let you apply for and open a savings account from home. Just fill out a few details about yourself to open an account, wire in an initial deposit, set up a recurring deposit, and check in every so often to see how much you’re earning.
Online banks have grown in popularity in recent years, and all this competition is great news for consumers. Before opening a savings account, don’t forget to make a comparison. We recommend comparing online savings accounts by APY, fees, minimum requirements, customer service, and other features, such as whether they offer a hybrid checking-savings account.
Of course, the most important thing to compare is the APY or annual
percentage rate. Today’s APYs vary from as little as 0.01% to as high as 2.25%. The higher the rate, the
greater the likelihood that minimum requirements such as a minimum balance are attached.
Before going for a high rate, don’t forget to double-check what’s required of you. Top online banking companies can offer significant advantages in this
regard, often providing better rates and lower fees than traditional banks.
What is the difference between a Savings and Checking account?
A checking account is a bank account you can write checks from, withdraw cash, or send money from. This would be your bank account for daily transactions. A savings account is where you can store funds for a later date, usually with a financial goal in mind. Savings accounts generally have less flexibility when it comes to accessing your cash.
What is a high-yield savings account?
High-yield savings accounts are slightly different from traditional savings accounts, as they reward you with a higher interest rate, allowing your savings to grow even faster over time.
The interest rate with these accounts is called an APY, or annual percentage yield. The higher your APY, the faster your money grows.
What is a Health Savings Account?
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is similar to a personal savings account, with the main difference being that the funds within it can only be used for qualified healthcare expenses. While HSA’s have some advantages, such as tax-free interest, they are also tricky to qualify for, as you need a high-deductible health plan to be eligible.
Can I have a savings account in more than one bank?
Yes, but managing multiple accounts can get confusing and complicate your financing.
Can you wire money from a savings account?
In short, yes. However, there are some fees, regulations, and minimum transfers to consider. If you are looking to transfer funds easily, try comparing these hand-picked money transfer services.
Nadav Shemer is an insurance expert at BestMoney.com, with a background in financial journalism, hi-tech, and startups. He has covered business, tech, and energy for various publications and enjoys exploring the latest innovations in insurance to help readers make informed decisions.
