Several banks are still paying close to 5% for your cash, one month after the Fed cut rates --[Reported by Umva mag]

One month ago, the Federal Reserve cut its interest rates, lowering bank account rates. Find out how you can still earn a good rate for your savings.

Oct 18, 2024 - 18:59
Several banks are still paying close to 5% for your cash, one month after the Fed cut rates --[Reported by Umva mag]

The offers and details on this page may have updated or changed since the time of publication. See our article on Business Insider for current information.

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate products and services to help you make smart decisions with your money.

A smiling woman sits sideways on a gray couch in her living room. She's looking at a laptop on her lap, searching for banks paying 5% interest a month after Fed rate cuts.
One month after Fed rate cuts, you're still able to get high rates for your bank accounts.
  • The Federal Reserve cut its interest rates one month ago, on September 18.
  • Since then, interest rates for bank accounts have fallen across the board.
  • The highest interest rates are now in the 4% to 5% range, which can still help you build savings.

One month ago, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 50 basis points — the first Fed rate cut since early 2020. In response, bank account interest rates have fallen across the board.

That being said, you can still find good interest rates for high-yield savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, and even checking accounts, especially if you're willing to open an account with an online bank or credit union. Here's where nationwide rates stand for savings accounts, CDs, and checking accounts now that the dust has settled on the Fed rate changes.

Top high-yield savings accounts are paying in the 5% APY range

Savings account rates have fallen somewhat since the Fed rate cut, but you'll still be able to find high-yield savings accounts that offer competitive rates, especially if you're willing to go with a smaller online bank. 

Pibank, Newtek Bank, and LendingClub still offer savings accounts with over 5% interest, with the highest-yielding savings account interest rate standing at 5.50% APY.

High-yield savings account rates at bigger banks — such as Ally, Synchrony, and BMO Alto — have fallen below 5% interest, but they're still significantly higher than average savings account interest rates.

Keep in mind that high-yield savings accounts offer variable interest, which means your rate could change at any time. If you don't want to switch bank accounts every time your rate falls, you might prefer an account with a lower interest rate that has fewer restrictions or more interesting perks, such as a savings account with buckets.

Money market accounts, which are generally tiered-interest accounts, have fared similarly to high-yield savings accounts. A few accounts, like the Vio Bank Cornerstone Money Market Savings Account, still offer interest rates over 5.00% APY, but you're more likely to find money market accounts with a lower APY range.

Nationwide CDs are offering 4% to 5% APY

CDs have been hit hardest by the Fed rate cuts, likely because most have a fixed interest rate. This means that CD interest will stay the same for its entire term length, no matter how the economy changes. Since the Fed is expected to keep cutting rates, you can expect short-term CDs to have higher rates when comparing short-term CDs versus long-term CDs.

The best CDs offered nationwide are offering around 4% to 5% APY. There are outliers like Nuvision Federal Credit Union 8 Month Certificate Special which pay more interest, but most of the best short-term CDs sit between 4.50% APY and 5.00% APY, while the best long-term CDs hover around the 4% APY mark. CDs might still be worth it if you're hoping to lock in a good rate, though.

Many of the highest interest rates on CDs are currently being offered by credit unions, not banks. While many credit unions limit who can join by where you live or who you work with, there are many with great rates that anyone in the U.S. can join by becoming part of specific associations.

High-yield checking account rates earn up to 7% APY

The best high-yield checking accounts have been impacted the least by Fed rate cuts.

There aren't a whole lot of high-yield checking accounts to start with, and most of them come with strict requirements, such as being unable to earn a high interest rate past the first few thousand dollars you put in the account. You'll still be able to earn up to 7% APY in a high-yield checking account at some banks and credit unions, but expect that rate to come with a catch.

Comparing the highest bank accounts

If you're deciding where to put your savings, we've provided a chart showing some of the highest rates available for each type of account to help you decide what works best for your savings goals.

AccountAccount TypeAPYDrawbacks
Pibank SavingsSavings Account5.50%Smaller bank that's hard to transfer money in and out of
Newtek Bank Personal High Yield Savings AccountSavings Account5.25%Smaller bank with no checking account
LendingClub LevelUp Savings AccountSavings Accountup to 5.15%High rate dependant on monthly direct deposit amount
BMO Alto Online Savings AccountSavings Account4.60%No checking account
Vio Bank Cornerstone Money Market Savings AccountMoney Market5.05%Smaller bank with limited access to funds
CFG Bank High Yield Money Market AccountMoney Market5.00%$10 monthly service fee for accounts with a balance under $1,000; limited access to funds
Nuvision Federal Credit Union 8 Month Certificate SpecialCD5.50%Can only keep up to $5,000 in the CD; one CD per member
Vibrant Credit Union 6 Month Certificate SpecialCD5.00% to 5.25%Need to also have a savings account with Vibrant Credit Union with $100,000 in it to qualify for best rate
Newtek Bank 6 Month CDCD5.05%Minimum opening deposit of $2,500
OnPath Rewards High-Yield CheckingChecking Accountup to 7.00% *Only applies to daily balances up to $10,000, and you must meet qualification requirements
Genisys Credit Union Genius High Yield CheckingChecking Accountup to 6.75%Only applies to daily balances up to $7,500 and you must meet qualification requirements
Read the original article on Business Insider





The following news has been carefully analyzed, curated, and compiled by Umva Mag from a diverse range of people, sources, and reputable platforms. Our editorial team strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information we provide. By combining insights from multiple perspectives, we aim to offer a well-rounded and comprehensive understanding of the events and stories that shape our world. Umva Mag values transparency, accountability, and journalistic integrity, ensuring that each piece of content is delivered with the utmost professionalism.