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Money market accounts and savings accounts are two popular options for saving and growing your money by earning interest.
Money market accounts and savings accounts are two popular options for saving and growing your money by earning interest. Although these accounts have a few things in common, there are some important differences between money market and savings accounts that may make one a better option than the other.
The best choice will depend on how much funds you have to deposit and your goals. Read on to find out everything you need to know about the most common money market vs. savings accounts.
Offered by both banks and credit unions, a savings account is a great way to save and grow your money. Opening a savings account is very simple, and it can usually be done in a single short visit. Once your account is established and funded, you will begin earning interest.
Savings accounts usually have limited withdrawal options. Depending on the financial institution, you may not be given a debit card, ATM card, or check-writing access. Withdrawing money from a savings account is typically done by transferring money to a checking account.
You may also be able to wire money to an account with another institution or submit a withdrawal form to obtain cash.
Savings accounts are insured by the federal government for up to $250,000. They will either be insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) if the account is with a bank or by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) if the account is with a credit union.
Money market accounts are offered by banks and credit unions and work similarly to savings accounts. They are special accounts that usually allow you to earn more interest on your money than with a savings account.
Money market accounts make it very easy to make withdrawals. If you open a money market account, you will most likely receive a debit card and be able to write checks from it. These accounts are subject to federal transaction limits, however, and the number of in-person transactions you can make may be limited to six per month.
An important thing to consider before opening a money market account is that you may be required to maintain a minimum balance. The amount will vary depending on the financial institution. Like savings accounts, money market accounts are also insured for up to $250,000 by either the FDIC or NCUA.
If you’re thinking about opening an account for your savings, it’s important to understand the key difference between money market and savings accounts. Depending on your needs and goals, one account may be a better option than the other.
The amount of interest you will earn with a money market account may be higher than with a savings account. A money market account may require a higher minimum balance, however, to earn the most interest or avoid a monthly fee. Because of this, a savings account may be a better option for those with smaller account balances.
Money market accounts typically have higher minimum deposit requirements than savings accounts, and you may need a higher minimum balance to start earning interest and dividends. Savings accounts tend to have lower opening requirements and minimums.
Savings accounts typically do not offer a debit card or check-writing access. When you need to access the money in your account, you can transfer funds to your checking account. You can also receive cash directly from your savings account by submitting an in-person withdrawal form.
With a money market account, however, you will be issued a debit card for the account so you can easily make ATM withdrawals. You will also have check writing access.
You can usually make no more than six in-person withdrawals from a money market account per month, but you may make more withdrawals if you use an ATM.
With a savings account, there is often a fee if you go over a certain number of withdrawals, or transfers, per month.
Whether you should open a savings account or a money market account may depend on factors such as your initial deposit and your goals. Here’s a quick recap of the difference between money market and savings accounts for you to consider before you make up your mind.
Although savings accounts and money market accounts will meet the savings needs of most, there are some additional savings options to consider.
A certificate of deposit (CD) is a way to earn interest on a deposit you make with either a bank or credit union. With a CD, you deposit a specific amount at a fixed interest rate for a specific period. The period could be six months, one year, five years, or something else.
If you withdraw the money before the end of the period (the maturity date), you will incur an early withdrawal penalty. Although CDs do offer higher interest rates than savings accounts, access to your money is restricted.
A high-yield checking account is similar to a regular checking account, except that it offers interest on the money in your account. Some financial institutions refer to them as “reward accounts.”
High-yield accounts usually have specific requirements that you will have to meet to keep and use the account, like a minimum balance requirement, direct deposit of your paycheck, or something else. A financial institution may even require that you have other accounts with it to qualify.
If you’re still weighing up money market vs. savings accounts, Baton Rouge Telco offers both types of accounts with a competitive APY.
Our money market account doesn’t have any monthly fees, and you can conveniently make up to six withdrawals per month. A low minimum deposit of $2,500 is all that’s needed to get started. Click below to learn more about our money market accounts.
Federally insured by NCUA. Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government – National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), a U.S. Government Agency.
