
Is That Sky-High Savings APY Too Good to Be True?
A high APY can give your finances a real boost. Here's what to check before you commit to a new account.

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NerdWallet’s writers and editors offer insights on deposit accounts. Get clear answers to your questions and learn the fundamentals of banking.
Aim for about one to two months’ worth of living expenses in checking, plus a 30% buffer, and another three to six months' worth in savings.

The FDIC insures $250,000 per depositor, per institution and per ownership category. Learn how to protect your money if you have more than that.

Fill in the recipient and your address; for bills, include an account number; sign it; keep proof of payment.

Aim for about one to two months’ worth of living expenses in checking, plus a 30% buffer, and another three to six months' worth in savings.

The FDIC insures $250,000 per depositor, per institution and per ownership category. Learn how to protect your money if you have more than that.

Fill in the recipient and your address; for bills, include an account number; sign it; keep proof of payment.

About 20% of all banks belong to FedNow’s network, but FedNow isn’t consumer-facing. Your bank decides if you can make instant payments.

See if your bank participates in Zelle’s peer-to-peer transfer network.

Online bank transfers let you move funds from one bank account to another.

Aim for about one to two months’ worth of living expenses in checking, plus a 30% buffer, and another three to six months' worth in savings.

The FDIC insures $250,000 per depositor, per institution and per ownership category. Learn how to protect your money if you have more than that.

Fill in the recipient and your address; for bills, include an account number; sign it; keep proof of payment.

Opening a savings account for your child is a good way to introduce saving and budgeting concepts.

Aim for about one to two months’ worth of living expenses in checking, plus a 30% buffer, and another three to six months' worth in savings.

The FDIC insures $250,000 per depositor, per institution and per ownership category. Learn how to protect your money if you have more than that.

The team is made up of seasoned writers and editors who cover personal banking deposit accounts, such as checking, savings and certificates of deposit, as well as related banking services, such as overdraft programs and ATM networks.

A high APY can give your finances a real boost. Here's what to check before you commit to a new account.


The Premium Savings Account has a great rate and solid bonus, but its slow transfers left me unsatisfied.


Make sure you can qualify for the bonus, and consider whether you want a relationship with the bank.


Ally has a solid savings account, though other banks with similar features offer better rates.




Your ordinary income tax rate applies to bank account interest. Try our calculator to see the after-tax rate of return.


Your personal savings rate is the percentage of income you set aside for savings.



Ally's saving rate is solid but lags behind the top of the market.


Three strategies helped me boost my savings during the current high-rate environment.


Venmo came out as the favorite payment app among surveyed Nerds, but Zelle was preferred for some specific uses.


High-yield savings rates mostly outpaced inflation in the past three years.


Savings buckets separate your savings into clearly named goals.


The online platform works with banks and credit unions to give users access to competitive savings accounts and certificates of deposit.


Based on data collected by NerdWallet writers, the average overdraft fee is $17.


Wells Fargo bonus offers pay up to $325 for opening a new checking account. Requirements and deadlines apply.


Learn what bank account bonuses offer aside from cash, and the less obvious pain points to consider.


I talked to financial experts about the emotional side of merging money with my fiancé. Then I created a system.


How one Nerd paid for all of her holiday expenses with bank bonuses, and how you might do the same.
