It has been more than four months since I last updated my little interest rates table. During this four-month period, the rate picture of online banks has changed a lot, going down 5% something to mostly in the neighborhood of 3% APY, as the Fed cut interest rates every time they met. However, the latest reduction of a quarter of a percentage point at the end of last month could be the last one by the Fed in the current round of rate cut. And because of the relatively small cut (only 0.25%), no bank, as far as I know, has followed suit. One bank, E-Trade Financial, even raised the rate on their Complete Savings Account a couple of days ago. So I feel it’s time to take a look at where everybody stands on the rate ladder.
Last update: May 22, 2011 For more information on each bank, be sure to check out Best Online Savings Account page and Best Interest Checking Accounts and the Online Bank Interest Rate History for latest rates.
| Bank | Savings
APY | Minimum | Checking
APY | Minimum |
| EverBank Money Market | 1.26%* | $1,500 | 2.51% | $1,500 |
| Discover Bank | 1.15% | $500 | N/A | N/A |
| Zions Bank Savings Account | 1.01%* | $100 | 0.41% | $1,000 |
| FNBO Direct Online Savings | 1.00% | $1 | 2.25% | $1 |
| Ally Bank Online Savings | 1.00% | $500 | N/A | N/A |
| Sallie Mae High-Yield Savings | 1.10% | $1 | N/A | N/A |
| ING Direct Orange Savings | 1.00% | $1 | 1.00% | $1 |
| DollarSavingsDirect Savings | 0.90% | $1,000 | N/A | N/A |
| HSBC Advance Savings | 0.80% | $1 | 2.25% | $1 |
| SmartyPig Savings | 1.35% | $1 | N/A | N/A |
| WT Direct High Yield Savings | 1.01% | $10,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Bank of Internet Money Market | 0.80% | $1 | 1.05% | $1 |
ShoreBank Direct Online Savings | 1.07% | $1 | N/A | N/A |
| Bank of America Fork SaveSmart Direct Savings | 1.00% | $1,000 | N/A | N/A |
| American Express High Yield Savings | 1.15% | $1 | N/A | N/A |
| 1st Constitution Direct Super Savings | 0.45% | $10,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Provident NJ Direct Savings | 0.40% | $50 | N/A | N/A |
| CNB Bank Direct High Yield Savings | 1.15% | $1 | N/A | N/A |
| Savings Square | 0.65% | $1 | N/A | N/A |
| First Trade Union Bank High & Mighty Savings | 1.05% | $2,500 | N/A | N/A |
| First National Community Bank Online Savings | 0.50% | $1 | N/A | N/A |
| Chesapeake Bank Clear Sky Savings | 1.15% | $1 | 2.50 | $1 |
| Redneck Bank Money Market | 1.50% | $1 | N/A | N/A |
| Darby Direct Savings | 1.25% | $1 | N/A | N/A |
| Danvers Bank Online Savings | 0.50% | $1 | N/A | N/A |
| IGoBanking Savings | 1.01% | $1 | 1.00% | $1 |
| Century Bank Direct Online Savings | 0.85% | $1 | N/A | $100 |
| E*Trade Complete Savings | 0.30% | $1 | N/A | $5,000 |
UFB Direct US Savings | 1.13% | $1 | 0.01% | $50 |
| Intervest National Bank Savings | 0.80% | $500 | N/A | N/A |
| Centennial Bank Savings | 0.85% | $500 | N/A | N/A |
| Goldwater Bank Savings | 0.50% | $1,500 | N/A | N/A |
| Flagstar Bank Express Money Market | 1.11% | $1 | N/A | N/A |
| Evantage Bank Money Market | 1.50% | $1 | N/A | N/A |
| Virtual Bank Money Market | 0.80% | $100 | N/A | N/A |
| Presidential Bank Premier Savings | 0.50% | $5,000 | 1.00% | $1,500 |
| Heartland Bank Direct Performance Savings | 0.95% | $500 | N/A | N/A |
| Amboy Direct Savings | 1.00% | $300 | N/A | N/A |
| Citi Bank Ultimate Savings | 0.10% | $1 | N/A | N/A |
| Emigrant Direct Savings | 0.80% | $1 | N/A | N/A |
| E-Loan Bank Savings Plus | 0.65% | $5,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Salem Five Direct Money Market | 1.25% | $1 | 0.85% | $1 |
| Univest Direct Online Savings | 0.35% | $1 | 0.25% | $1 |
| Doral Bank Direct Savings | 0.50%* | $250 | N/A | N/A |
| OnBank Money Market Savings | 0.25% | $1 | N/A | N/A |
| Seacoast Commerce Bank Money Market | 0.25% | $2,500 | N/A | N/A |
| KeyBank Money Market Savings | 0.30% | $1 | N/A | N/A |
| AmTrust e-Savings | 0.50% | $1 | N/A | N/A |
| Provident Direct High Yield Savings | 1.25% | $1 | N/A | N/A |
| Corus Bank Money Market | 2.00% | $10,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Venture Bank Wise-Choice Savings | 1.43% | $1 | 3.3% | $1 |
| Umbrella Bank Money Market | 1.25% | $1,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Tennessee Commerce Bank Savings | 2.30% | $1 | N/A | N/A |
| Countrywide Bank | 1.05% | $10,000 | N/A | N/A |
*3-month bonus rate.
Any other better deal out there?
Update: I eventually opened an account at DollarSavingsDirect.
I went to Capital One’s website and the savings rate of 3.75% requires $10k deposit not $1.00.
Yes. Look at Money-Rates.com they are listing a bank paying 4.65% on a bank money market account. Thank goodness rates are going up again
RD: You are right. The minimum is indeed $10,000 instead of $1. I have corrected the post.
Marley: Thanks for the information. I will take a look at Money-Rates.com. Hopefully, rates will soon start to go up. But don’t expect bank to raise their rates as quickly as they drop rates.
countrywide has a savingslink account offering 4% interest rate.
https://bank.countrywide.com/landing/sl2.aspx?src=HLSLA001D002&tier=10000
zw: Thanks for the information. I have updated the table. I am considering getting a Countrywide account
Hi,
These is a wonderful information. Gathering all bank rate interests and many more, this might be a tough job still you are doing well. Keep up the good job.
I just opened a money market account at OnBank with a 3.49% yield.
gulf coast bank is offering 5.51% on checking with balances below 25,000 – you must do at least 12 check card transactions – i have had this account open for 2 months and earn 110.00 a month on interest
http://www.gulfbank.com/
gulf coast is offering 5.51 percent interest on checking accounts!!
http://www.gulfbank.com/
We use the ING Direct Orange account but I am surprised that there are so many with much higher rates. Thanks!
FYI – Gulf Coast says you “must be a resident of Louisiana”
Thanks Marc for the information. I didn’t realize there’s a residency requirement.
$100 Chase checking offer. I saw this online and thought I’d share: Chase has a new checking offer! Get $100 when you open a Chase Checking account, you’ll need to make 5 debit card purchases or set up direct deposit. The offer is good until December 31, 2009 and you can apply online or get a coupon to take to a branch.
Here’s URL:
https://www.chase.com/ccp/index.jsp?pg_name=ccpmapp/shared/marketing/page/108847_genblg_bonus&ID=0000010269&MSC=c1234
And here’s the bonus information:
Bonus/Account Information — Offer valid 10/15/09 – 12/31/09. To qualify for the bonus you must open a new Chase CheckingSM account with a $100 minimum deposit of new money (money not currently held by Chase or its affiliates). Also, within 60 days of account opening you must initiate a monthly direct deposit which includes payroll, pension, Social Security or other government benefits, or make five debit card purchases. The bonus will be automatically deposited into your new account within 10 business days after the initial direct deposit or five debit card purchases have posted to your account. Bonus is not considered part of minimum opening deposit. Limit one checking account-related reward/premium per customer, per calendar year. Offer not available on account conversions or in combination with any other offer. Offer not available to existing Chase checking customers. Employees of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and our affiliates are not eligible. Checking account must remain open for a minimum of six months or the bonus will be debited from the account at closing. Account is subject to approval. Bonus is considered interest and will be reported on IRS form 1099-INT.
Last year, we published a list of the best checking accounts paying as much as $220 for new customers to sign up. And periodically we have featured banks offering the best checking accounts paying as much as 5.01% APY interest on checking account balances up to $25,000.
For 2010 we’ve divided this list into two parts: 1) the best checking accounts from banks offering attractive deals for new customers, and 2) the best checking accounts if you are looking for high interest rates.
http://ratenerd.com/best-checking-accounts-to-start-2010-2379
As a FYI, on a CapitalOne InterestPlus Savings account. If you are a Costco member, you can get a slightly higher rate by opening the account through Costco’s website. (www.costco.com and click on services then High Yield Savings Account
and CDs. It will take you to the CapitalOne Costco page. (You will have to provide your Costco membership number during the application process).
As of today, the public rate for the CapitalOne InterestPlus Savings account is 1.60% whereas if you get it through Costco it is 1.65%. (Not a huge difference, but hey, every little bit counts).