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.
Robinhood
9.4
Excellent
Get a free stock when you successfully sign up and link your bank account. T&Cs apply.
Excellent for: Casual investors already using Robinhood APY: Up to 3.25% 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 3.25% annual percentage yield (APY), as of January 2026, 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
Get a free stock
Excellent for: Casual investors already using Robinhood APY: Up to 3.25% 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 3.25% annual percentage yield (APY), as of January 2026, 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.
Excellent for: Active and professional traders APY: Up to 3.14% (Pro); Up to 2.14% (Lite) 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 3.14% APY on USD cash balances above $10,000, while lower NAV accounts earn a blended rate. IBKR Lite accounts earn up to 2.14% APY on balances above $10,000. 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 3.14% (Pro); Up to 2.14% (Lite) 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 3.14% APY on USD cash balances above $10,000, while lower NAV accounts earn a blended rate. IBKR Lite accounts earn up to 2.14% APY on balances above $10,000. Cash below $10,000 does not earn interest, and rates are blended based on account value.
Deposit or transfer $100,000+ to earn a 4% Match Bonus, or $2,000+ to earn a 3% Match Bonus. Plus: Get a $100 transfer fee reimbursement on your first brokerage transfer of $2,000 or more. T&Cs apply.
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.
Annual fee
$0 per month
Minimum deposit
$0
Signup bonus
Get up to 4% match bonus
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
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.
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.
Excellent for: Hands-off investors and automated portfolios APY: 3.25% base (3.90% 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 3.25% (3.90% 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: 3.25% base (3.90% 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 3.25% (3.90% 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
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 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 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
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
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.
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.
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.
Yes. Interest earned in a sweep account is typically taxed as ordinary income.
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.
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