Savings accounts are a great way to store money that you can use later. Let’s say you want to save money in case of an emergency, or you’re thinking about buying a home and need a down payment, or there’s a vacation you want to plan ahead for. These are all perfect reasons for opening a savings account. This article will go over some of the best savings accounts to open because they have great annual percentage yields (APY), and are easy to use online and in person.
Citi Accelerate
With branches in 42 US states, Citi Accelerate is a large bank with plenty of benefits to customers. You’ll get access to over 60,000 Citi and no-fee ATMs, along with 24/7 customer service and no minimum initial deposit when opening a savings account.
One thing to note about Citi Accelerate is that they charge a $4.50 monthly fee if you go below $500 in your checking account. But with a 0.5% APY, this a savings account worth looking into.
Chime
Chime is an online-only financial institution and has a few great features: an easy-to-use app, no fees, and a 0.5% APY. When you open a savings account with Chime you also get a free checking account as well. So for those of you who want to avoid going into a retail branch and prefer the convenience of online banking, this is the one to go with.
Depositing cash into a Chime checking or savings account is super easy too, as their Green Dot network is available at Walgreens, CVS, and Family Dollar. Another good feature is that there’s no minimum balance required and Chime gives you the option to round up to the nearest dollar on purchases so the difference can be deposited into your savings account.
SmartyPig
Sallie Mae is probably better known as a loan provider, but they also have a savings account with no minimum deposit and the highest APY around. SmartyPig is an online savings account that’s best used for vacations, holiday shopping, and other similar purchases.
One thing to note about SmartyPig is that although their APY starts at 0.7% for balances under $2,500, it decreases to 0.55% on balances over $50,000. So it’s a good idea to open a savings account here if you want to maintain a balance between these amounts.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that Sallie Mae doesn’t have branches where you can make deposits, and there’s no ATM card with SmartyPig as well. But many people see this as a good thing because you’ll be less tempted to spend money in your savings account.
Keep That Money
Each of these savings accounts is worth looking into, no matter if you’re trying to save for retirement, want to plan a vacation somewhere, or want a little extra money to spend over the holidays. Take a look and see what account best matches your needs.