Checking and savings accounts are popular options for keeping money safe. Both are deposit accounts protected by deposit insurance, but savings accounts are meant to hold money to accrue interest, and checking accounts are for spending.
What’s the difference between checking and savings accounts?
Checking accounts are designed for everyday spending. They come with a debit card and offer a convenient way to make purchases, withdraw cash, transfer funds and deposit money. They offer ATM access through a debit card and don’t have transaction limits.
Savings accounts provide a safe place to store your money while earning an annual percentage yield (APY), which means your balance passively earns interest. Most savings accounts limit you to up to six transactions per month. They don’t come with debit cards or checks, but some accounts might offer an ATM card.
Quick view: Checking vs. savings accounts
Checking | Savings | |
---|---|---|
Best for | Spending | Saving |
Interest | Sometimes, average rate 0.08% | Yes, average rate 0.43% |
Debit card | Yes | No |
Checkwriting | Yes | No |
ATM access | Yes | Sometimes |
FDIC insurance | Yes | Yes |
Minimum deposit | Typically between $0 and $100+ | Typically between $0 and $500+ |
Transaction limits | No | Yes, typically up to 6 per month |
Common fees |
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Checking vs. savings account: Which is better for me?
Checking accounts are meant for frequent transactions and everyday use. Savings accounts are more restrictive but let you passively earn on your balance.
Pick a checking account if …
- You need unrestricted access to your money
- You plan on making multiple transactions per month
- You want features like overdraft protection and bill pay
- You want a debit card to make purchases
Pick a savings account if …
- You have funds you don’t need to access daily
- You’re looking to save money and earn interest
- You want to limit your spending
If you’re not sure which to choose, there are also hybrid accounts, like the SoFi® Checking and Savings account, which is a checking and savings account in one. A money market account is another option to consider. They earn interest like a savings account but often come with a debit card and checkwriting privileges like a checking account.
Are checking accounts and savings accounts safe?
Checking and savings accounts are both safe as long as the bank or credit union is federally insured through the FDIC or NCUA. This federal insurance protects deposit accounts up to $250,000 if your bank fails or goes bankrupt.
However, a checking account may be more vulnerable to fraudulent activity because it comes with a debit card. A thief can steal your card information to withdraw funds or rack up unauthorized purchases. That’s why it’s considered best practice to keep just one or two months’ worth of expenses in a checking account and the rest in savings.
Should I open a checking and savings account at the same bank?
Opening both accounts with the same institution offers convenience, but it may not be the best idea for everyone.
Pros
- Banks may waive monthly fees if you have multiple accounts
- Overdraft protection may be available when you link both accounts
- Possible discounts on other products through loyalty or relationship programs
- View both accounts under one online banking platform
- Instantly transfer funds to and from both accounts
Cons
- May be tempted to transfer funds out of savings and into checking
- Up to $250,000 insurance at a single bank per account holder — not per account
How to choose a checking account
Checking accounts are made for everyday use, so comparing their fees and functionality is key in choosing the right one.
- Opening deposit. Many require an opening deposit, often $25 to $100.
- Monthly fee. You may have to pay a monthly maintenance fee to keep the account open, which is often around $5 to $25 per month, but there are a lot of free checking accounts.
- Interest bearing. There are interest-bearing checking accounts, which can earn interest on your checking balance. The rates are typically lower than savings accounts, but it’s better than nothing!
- Extra features. There are checking accounts with rewards, overdraft protection, bill autopay, perks for setting up direct deposit and even sign-up bonus incentives.
How to choose a savings account
The number one factor in choosing a savings account is how much it can earn over time.
- Interest rate. The average rate on a savings account is 0.43%, but that doesn’t mean all accounts meet or exceed the average. Many high-yield savings accounts have rates much higher than the national average.
- Opening deposit. You may be required to meet an opening deposit requirement, often around $25 to $100 or more.
- How the interest accrues. Many savings accounts are compounding, which means you’d earn interest on the whole balance, including previously earned interest. But some are simple interest, which means you won’t earn interest on your interest, just on the funds you’ve deposited.
- Transaction limits. Most savings accounts limit transactions up to six times per month. However, the regulation that required this limit is currently suspended, so some accounts don’t have this limitation.
- ATM access. There are savings accounts with ATM cards, offering the ability to withdraw funds via ATM.
Compare checking and savings accounts
Use the tab to narrow down top checking and savings accounts by fees, opening deposits and APY. Select Compare box on up to four providers to see features side by side.
Bottom line
Open a checking account to get easy access to your money or a savings account to earn interest and limit spending — or open both to cover all your financial bases.
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