What should I do with uninvested cash in my brokerage account?

A sweep account is one of the easiest ways to earn interest automatically, but money market funds and high-yield savings accounts may offer higher returns if you're willing to manage transfers manually.

Are sweep accounts FDIC insured?

Bank sweep accounts are FDIC insured up to federal limits through partner banks. Money market sweep vehicles are not FDIC insured but are generally considered low risk.

Are sweep accounts safe during market crashes?

Sweep accounts are designed to hold cash, not market securities. Bank sweeps remain protected by FDIC insurance, while money market sweeps may experience minimal fluctuations.

Are sweep accounts taxable?

Yes. Interest earned in a sweep account is typically taxed as ordinary income.

Sweep Account: What It Is and Top Picks in 2026

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Cash sweep accounts let you earn interest automatically on uninvested cash sitting in your brokerage account. Instead of leaving money idle between trades, a sweep account moves it into an interest-bearing vehicle — no manual transfers required.

For investors who want every dollar working as efficiently as possible, sweep accounts offer a simple, hands-off way to boost returns on cash you’re not actively investing. Make the most of your uninvested cash.

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Who should (and shouldn’t) use a sweep account

Sweep accounts are a good fit if you:

Frequently hold cash between trades
Want idle money earning interest automatically
Prefer convenience over manually chasing rates
Already use a brokerage that offers competitive sweep yields

You may want to skip a sweep account if you:

Keep most of your money fully invested
Are comfortable manually moving cash into money market funds or high-yield savings
Want the absolute highest yield available at all times
Don’t want to pay membership or platform fees

What is a cash sweep account?

A cash sweep account is an automated feature brokerages offer that moves uninvested brokerage cash into an interest-bearing account, typically a bank deposit account or money market sweep vehicle.

This “sweep” usually happens at the end of each business day. When you need cash to place a trade or make a withdrawal, the funds are automatically swept back, keeping your money liquid while earning interest in the background.

Feature	Sweep account	Money market fund	High-yield savings
Automation	Automatic	Manual	Manual
Typical APY	Medium-High	High	Medium
Risk level	Very low	Low (not FDIC)	Very low
Liquidity	Very high	High	Medium
Best for	Idle brokerage cash	Yield maximizers	Emergency funds

Top brokerage sweep accounts in 2026

Many brokerages offer sweep accounts, but rates, access and restrictions vary widely. The following are some of the top sweep account options available today.

Bonus highlight

Robinhood

9.4 Excellent

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Excellent for: Casual investors already using Robinhood
APY: Up to 3.60%
Cost: $5/month (Robinhood Gold required)
FDIC insurance: Up to $2.5 million
⚠️ Watch out for: No interest without Gold membership

Robinhood's sweep account integrates seamlessly into its mobile-first trading app, making it easy to earn interest on uninvested cash without any setup friction.

The platform offers a competitive 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY), but only for Robinhood Gold members. Without Gold, uninvested cash earns no interest. FDIC insurance is provided through partner banks, covering balances up to $2.5 million.

Annual fee	$0 per year
Minimum deposit	$0
Signup bonus	N/A

Excellent for: Casual investors already using Robinhood
APY: Up to 3.60%
Cost: $5/month (Robinhood Gold required)
FDIC insurance: Up to $2.5 million
⚠️ Watch out for: No interest without Gold membership
Robinhood's sweep account integrates seamlessly into its mobile-first trading app, making it easy to earn interest on uninvested cash without any setup friction.
The platform offers a competitive 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY), but only for Robinhood Gold members. Without Gold, uninvested cash earns no interest. FDIC insurance is provided through partner banks, covering balances up to $2.5 million.
Pros

Simple, fully automated sweep

High FDIC coverage

No minimum balance
Cons

Monthly Gold fee required

Only available in taxable accounts

Available asset types	Stocks, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Futures, Event contracts, High-yield cash account
Account types	Brokerage
Annual fee	$0 per year
Minimum deposit	$0
Signup bonus	N/A
Cash sweep APY	3.60%

Annual fee	$0 per year
Minimum deposit	$0
Signup bonus	N/A

Read review

Interactive Brokers

9.4 Excellent

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Excellent for: Active and professional traders
APY: Up to 3.38% (Pro)
Cost: $0
FDIC insurance: Up to $5 million
⚠️ Watch out for: Eligibility limited to certain IBKR Pro accounts and IRAs; No interest on first $10,000

Interactive Brokers' sweep program automatically moves uninvested cash for IBKR Pro clients across multiple FDIC-insured banks, providing coverage up to $5 million for individual accounts and $10 million for joint accounts. Lite accounts earn interest on cash above $10,000 but do not have access to the FDIC sweep program.

IBKR Pro clients with a net asset value (NAV) above $100,000 earn the maximum 3.38% APY on USD cash balances above $10,000, while lower NAV accounts earn a blended rate. Cash below $10,000 does not earn interest, and rates are blended based on account value.

Annual fee	$0 per year
Minimum deposit	$0
Signup bonus	N/A

Excellent for: Active and professional traders
APY: Up to 3.38% (Pro)
Cost: $0
FDIC insurance: Up to $5 million
⚠️ Watch out for: Eligibility limited to certain IBKR Pro accounts and IRAs; No interest on first $10,000
Interactive Brokers' sweep program automatically moves uninvested cash for IBKR Pro clients across multiple FDIC-insured banks, providing coverage up to $5 million for individual accounts and $10 million for joint accounts. Lite accounts earn interest on cash above $10,000 but do not have access to the FDIC sweep program.
IBKR Pro clients with a net asset value (NAV) above $100,000 earn the maximum 3.38% APY on USD cash balances above $10,000, while lower NAV accounts earn a blended rate. Cash below $10,000 does not earn interest, and rates are blended based on account value.
Pros

Automated cash management for Pro accounts

High FDIC coverage (Pro only)

Integrated with IBKR trading platform
Cons

No sweep program or FDIC protection for Lite accounts

No interest on the first $10,000 of cash

Confusing APY structure

Available asset types	Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Futures, Forex, Treasury Bills, Precious metals
Account types	Brokerage
Annual fee	$0 per year
Minimum deposit	$0
Signup bonus	N/A
Cash sweep APY	2.38%

Annual fee	$0 per year
Minimum deposit	$0
Signup bonus	N/A

Read review

Webull

9.4 Excellent

Get 12 free shares by joining Webull. Select Go to site, then make a first deposit of $100 or more to get 10+2 free shares, each worth $3-$300, randomly drawn from the pool of NVDA, TSLA, SPCX and AAPL, minimum $36 in the pocket, plus 1-month complimentary Webull premium. T&Cs apply.

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Excellent for: Tech-savvy traders and active investors
APY: Up to 3.35% (Premium required); 0.5% standard
Cost: $3.99/month (Premium)
FDIC insurance: Up to $5 million
⚠️ Watch out for: Best rate requires paid subscription

Webull Cash Management automatically sweeps uninvested cash into interest-bearing, FDIC-insured accounts, earning up to 3.35% APY with Webull Premium or 0.5% without. Funds remain fully liquid, and the platform provides desktop, mobile and web access along with advanced trading tools.

FDIC coverage is up to $5 million across multiple banks, helping safeguard large balances.

Finder Reward

Get $160 from Finder Become a Finder member, open a new Webull account as a first-time customer and make a single first deposit of $1,000 or more by October 31, 2026 to get $160 from Finder. Keep your deposit in your account until the reward is paid. Stack this offer with Webull's offer: Make a first deposit of $100 or more by January 6, 2027 to get 10+2 free shares, each worth $3 to $300, randomly drawn from the pool of NVDA, TSLA, SPCX and AAPL, plus 1 month of complimentary Webull Premium. Offer ends October 31, 2026.

Separate T&Cs apply.

Annual fee	$0 per month
Minimum deposit	$0
Signup bonus	Get 12 free shares by joining Webull

Excellent for: Tech-savvy traders and active investors
APY: Up to 3.35% (Premium required); 0.5% standard
Cost: $3.99/month (Premium)
FDIC insurance: Up to $5 million
⚠️ Watch out for: Best rate requires paid subscription
Webull Cash Management automatically sweeps uninvested cash into interest-bearing, FDIC-insured accounts, earning up to 3.35% APY with Webull Premium or 0.5% without. Funds remain fully liquid, and the platform provides desktop, mobile and web access along with advanced trading tools.
FDIC coverage is up to $5 million across multiple banks, helping safeguard large balances.
Pros

High APY possible with Webull Premium

Access to advanced trading tools and multiple platforms

Cash remains fully liquid
Cons

Premium required for top APY

Available asset types	Stocks, Bonds, Options, ETFs, Futures, Money market funds
Account types	Brokerage, IRA
Annual fee	$0 per month
Minimum deposit	$0
Signup bonus	Get 12 free shares by joining Webull
Cash sweep APY	3.35%

Annual fee	$0 per month
Minimum deposit	$0
Signup bonus	Get 12 free shares by joining Webull

Go to site

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eToro

8.2 Great

Get up to $500 in free assets plus up to $300 in crypto when you open, verify and fund a new account. Bonus amounts depend on your deposit. T&Cs apply. T&Cs apply.

Go to site

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Excellent for: Options traders looking to earn interest on idle cash
APY: 3.25%
Cost: $0
FDIC insurance: Up to $5 million
⚠️ Watch out for: Must qualify for an options account; eligibility varies by state

eToro's High Interest Cash Program lets eligible users earn 3.25% interest on uninvested cash in an options account. There is no minimum deposit, and funds remain fully liquid, so you can withdraw anytime. Interest is paid monthly directly to your account.

Cash is held at one or more FDIC-insured banks, with coverage potentially up to $5 million per customer.

Annual fee	$0 per month
Minimum deposit	$0
Signup bonus	N/A

Excellent for: Options traders looking to earn interest on idle cash
APY: 3.25%
Cost: $0
FDIC insurance: Up to $5 million
⚠️ Watch out for: Must qualify for an options account; eligibility varies by state
eToro's High Interest Cash Program lets eligible users earn 3.25% interest on uninvested cash in an options account. There is no minimum deposit, and funds remain fully liquid, so you can withdraw anytime. Interest is paid monthly directly to your account.
Cash is held at one or more FDIC-insured banks, with coverage potentially up to $5 million per customer.
Pros

High APY with no minimum deposit

Funds remain fully liquid

Potential FDIC coverage up to $5 million
Cons

Only available for options accounts

Certain states have stricter eligibility

Available asset types	Stocks, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Investments
Account types	Brokerage
Annual fee	$0 per month
Minimum deposit	$0
Signup bonus	N/A
Cash sweep APY	3.25%

eToro securities trading offered by eToro USA Securities, Inc. (‘the BD”), member of FINRA and SIPC. Investing involves risk, and content is provided for educational purposes only, does not imply a recommendation, and is not a guarantee of future performance. Finder is not an affiliate and may be compensated if you access certain products or services offered by the BD.

eToro USA LLC and eToro USA Securities Inc.; Investing involves risk, including loss of principal; Not a recommendation

Annual fee	$0 per month
Minimum deposit	$0
Signup bonus	N/A

Go to site

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Wealthfront

9 Excellent

Get a $50 bonus when you sign up and fund a taxable automated investing account with at least $500. T&Cs apply.

Go to site

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Excellent for: Hands-off investors and automated portfolios
APY: 3.30% base (4.20% for new clients for 3 months)
Cost: $0
FDIC insurance: Up to $8 million
⚠️ Watch out for: Promotional APY is temporary

Wealthfront's Cash Account sweeps uninvested cash to FDIC-insured program banks, offering a base APY of 3.30% (4.20% for new clients for the first three months). Cash remains fully liquid with free instant withdrawals to eligible external accounts.

The program provides up to $8 million in FDIC insurance for individual accounts, using multiple banks to maximize coverage. Integrated automated investing tools make it easy to move money to long-term goals quickly.

Annual fee	0.25%
Minimum deposit	$500
Signup bonus	Get $50

Excellent for: Hands-off investors and automated portfolios
APY: 3.30% base (4.20% for new clients for 3 months)
Cost: $0
FDIC insurance: Up to $8 million
⚠️ Watch out for: Promotional APY is temporary
Wealthfront's Cash Account sweeps uninvested cash to FDIC-insured program banks, offering a base APY of 3.30% (4.20% for new clients for the first three months). Cash remains fully liquid with free instant withdrawals to eligible external accounts.
The program provides up to $8 million in FDIC insurance for individual accounts, using multiple banks to maximize coverage. Integrated automated investing tools make it easy to move money to long-term goals quickly.
Pros

High FDIC coverage (up to $8M)

Automated cash sweeps with optional investment transfers

Free instant withdrawals to eligible accounts
Cons

Promotional APY is temporary

Available asset types	Stocks, ETFs, High-yield cash account
Account types	Brokerage, IRA
Annual fee	0.25%
Minimum deposit	$500
Signup bonus	Get $50
Cash sweep APY	3.30%

Annual fee	0.25%
Minimum deposit	$500
Signup bonus	Get $50

Go to site

Read review

Moomoo

9 Excellent

Up to $1,000 in Nvidia stock plus 8.1% APY on uninvested cash for 2 months, then it reverts to 3.35% APY. T&Cs apply.

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Excellent for: Active traders seeking promos and analytics
APY: 3.35%
Cost: $0
FDIC insurance: Up to $1 million
⚠️ Watch out for: Must meet qualifying deposit or transfer requirements

Moomoo sweeps uninvested cash to FDIC-insured program banks, offering a promotional APY of 8.1% for two months before reverting back to a competitive 3.35% for qualified users. Cash remains fully liquid and can be used for trading or withdrawn at any time, with no minimum deposit required and no cap on interest earnings.

The program provides up to $1 million in FDIC insurance per account, protecting funds across participating banks. Users can earn interest while keeping their cash ready for trading or withdrawals with zero account fees.

Minimum deposit	$0
Signup bonus	Get up to $1,000 in Nvidia stock plus 8.1% APY on uninvested cash

Excellent for: Active traders seeking promos and analytics
APY: 3.35%
Cost: $0
FDIC insurance: Up to $1 million
⚠️ Watch out for: Must meet qualifying deposit or transfer requirements
Moomoo sweeps uninvested cash to FDIC-insured program banks, offering a promotional APY of 8.1% for two months before reverting back to a competitive 3.35% for qualified users. Cash remains fully liquid and can be used for trading or withdrawn at any time, with no minimum deposit required and no cap on interest earnings.
The program provides up to $1 million in FDIC insurance per account, protecting funds across participating banks. Users can earn interest while keeping their cash ready for trading or withdrawals with zero account fees.
Pros

High APY

No cap on interest earnings

Cash remains liquid and easily transferable
Cons

FDIC coverage lower than some competitors

APY only for qualified users

Available asset types	Stocks, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency
Account types	Brokerage
Minimum deposit	$0
Signup bonus	Get up to $1,000 in Nvidia stock plus 8.1% APY on uninvested cash
Cash sweep APY	3.35%

Minimum deposit	$0
Signup bonus	Get up to $1,000 in Nvidia stock plus 8.1% APY on uninvested cash

Read review

How to open a sweep account

Opening a sweep account is usually quick and straightforward — often taking less than a few minutes if you already have a brokerage account.

Visit your chosen broker’s website.
Open or log in to your brokerage account.
Navigate to cash management or sweep settings.
Enable the sweep feature (some accounts do this automatically).
Review rates, fees and terms.

Once activated, the sweep runs automatically in the background.

Compare top brokerage account cash sweep rates

Broker	Max APY	Typical APY	Key requirement
Robinhood	3.35%	0%	Gold membership
Interactive Brokers	3.10%	2.38%	$10k+ balance
Webull	3.35%	0.5%	Premium plan
eToro	3.25%	3.25%	Options account
Wealthfront	3.90%	3.30%	None
Moomoo	3.35%	3.35%	Limited promo

Benefits of a sweep account

Fully automated: Cash is swept without manual effort.
Improved cash efficiency: Idle funds earn interest.
High liquidity: Cash is typically available immediately.
Risk management: A safe place to park money during volatile markets.
FDIC protection: Bank sweep programs offer federal insurance.

What to watch out for

Fees can reduce returns: Membership or advisory fees may offset yield.
Tiered APYs: Advertised rates may require large balances.
Promotional yields: High rates often expire.
Opportunity cost: Sweep APYs may trail top money market funds.
Access limitations: Some sweeps apply only to certain account types.

Bottom line

Sweep accounts are best viewed as a cash efficiency tool, not a growth strategy. If you regularly hold uninvested cash in a brokerage account, a sweep account can quietly boost returns with zero ongoing effort.

That said, investors focused on maximizing yield may earn more by manually using money market funds or high-yield savings accounts. Compare APYs, fees and restrictions carefully — especially tiered rates and promotional offers — to find the sweep account that fits your investing style.

Frequently asked questions

Thank you for your feedback!

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Matt Miczulski

Investments editor and market analyst

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Matt Miczulski is an investments editor and market analyst at Finder. With over 450 bylines, Matt dissects and reviews brokers and investing platforms to expose perks and pain points, explores investment products and concepts and covers market news, making investing more accessible and helping readers to make informed financial decisions. Before joining Finder in 2021, Matt covered everything from finance news and banking to debt and travel for FinanceBuzz. His expertise and analysis on investing and other financial topics has been featured on Yahoo Finance, CBS, MSN, Best Company and Consolidated Credit, among others. Matt holds a BA in history from William Paterson University. See full bio

Matt's expertise

Matt has written 295 Finder guides across topics including:

Trading and investing
Broker and trading platform reviews
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Sweep Account: What It Is and Top Picks in 2026

Cash sweep accounts allow you to earn interest on your uninvested cash.

Who should (and shouldn’t) use a sweep account

What is a cash sweep account?