Best Savings Rates

Savings rates, money market rates, and certificate of deposit rates from online banks continue to move higher in 2017. A few months ago we reported that the highest savings rate was at 1.30 percent. Now the top rate is 10 basis points higher, at 1.40 percent.

10 basis points might not sound like much of an increase over the summer, but rates have moved even higher since the beginning of the year. Back in January 2017, the best savings rate was at 1.15 percent, 25 basis points lower than the best rate now.

Again, the rates we are talking about are rates from online banks. Don’t expect to see the same rates from their brick-and-mortar counterparts. For example, DollarSavingsDirect is currently offering a savings rate of 1.40 percent while Chase Bank’s current savings rate is a measly 0.01 percent.

What does the future hold for online savings rates?

Even with the increase in rates in 2017, it’s no secret that deposit rates are low, historically speaking, but the good news is online savings rates are expected to continue to move higher. A lot depends upon the Federal Reserve increasing the fed funds rate in the coming years

The Fed’s own projections are for a higher fed funds rate over the next three years. The Fed is expected to increase the rate once more in 2017, which will put the rate in a targeted range of 1.25 percent to 1.50 percent. If this increase happens, we expect online savings rates to move above 1.50 percent, possibly as high as 1.65 percent.

Online Savings Rates 2018

Looking forward to 2018, the Fed has projected a fed funds rate between 1.90 percent and 2.60 percent. Online savings rates would increase to a range of 2.00 percent to 2.75 percent, depending on where the fed funds rate actually ends up.

Online Savings Rates 2019

The fed funds rate is forecasted to be in a range of 2.60 percent to 3.10 percent. Online savings rates would be in a range of 2.75 percent to 3.25 percent.

These forecasts are based on the Fed’s June projections for the fed funds rate and will change. The next time the fed is expected to release new projection materials will be in March 2018.

Savings rates, money market rates, and CD rates continue to march slowly higher as we head into the second quarter of 2017. The best savings account rate available this week is from PurePoint Financial at 1.24 percent with an APY of 1.25 percent. PurePoint’s current savings rate is more than double the current national average of 0.56 percent.

Last month, prior to the Federal Open Market Committee’s fed funds rate increase, the top savings rate was at 1.14 percent with an APY of 1.15 percent. The FOMC increased the fed funds rate 0.25 percent during the middle of March to a range of 0.75 percent to 1.00 percent.

The FOMC’s next meeting is scheduled for May 2nd and May 3rd. All though the FOMC has said they are looking to have two more rate increases in 2017, it’s unlikely a fed funds rate increase will come during the May meeting. The CME Group’s FedWatch Tool puts the chance of a rate increase at only 6.4 percent as of April 2nd.

The next fed funds rate increase is likely to come during the Fed’s June Meeting on June 14th and 15th. There is a 58.7 percent change the rate will be increased during the June meeting, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch Tool.

A fed funds rate in a range of 1.00 percent to 1.25 percent will likely push the highest savings rates towards 1.50 percent. The highest 1 year CD rates available right now are already at 1.50 percent. The next rate increase will likely put the top 1 year CD rates closer to 1.75 percent.

The good news is that deposit rates are finally headed higher and will continue to move higher in the coming years. As long as economic growth moves higher and the economy doesn’t fall into a recession, rates will move higher.

Variable deposit rates continue to inch slowly higher this week. The best savings rate available is at 1.25 percent with a yield of 1.26 percent. The best money market account rate available is slightly lower at 1.24 percent with a yield of 1.25 percent.

Listed below are the best savings rates and money market rates available in our database for November 27, 2016.

Best Savings Rates

1. Popular Direct 1.25% Yield 1.26%
2. Synchrony Bank 1.04% Yield 1.05% (tied for 2nd place)
3. AloStar Bank of Commerce 1.04% Yield 1.05% (tied for 2nd place)
4. Goldman Sachs Bank USA 1.04% Yield 1.05% (tied for 2nd place)
5. Barclays Bank 1.00% Yield 1.00% (tied for 3rd place)
6. Ally Bank 1.00% Yield 1.00% (tied for 3rd place)
7. Radius Bank 1.00% Yield 1.00% (tied for 3rd place)
8. iGObanking.com 1.00% Yield 1.00% (tied for 3rd place)
9. FNBO Direct 0.95% Yield 0.95% (tied for 4th place)
10. CIT Bank 0.95% Yield 0.95% (tied for 4th place)
11. Discover Bank 0.95% Yield 0.95% (tied for 4th place)
12. Colorado Federal Savings Bank 0.85% Yield 0.85% (tied for 5th place)
13. My Savings Direct 0.85% Yield 0.85% (tied for 5th place)

Best Money Market Account Rates

1. EBSBDirect 1.24% Yield 1.25%
2. EverBank 1.11% Yield (promo rate)
3. Dime 1.09% Yield 1.10%
4. firstcentral.direct 1.04% Yield 1.05%
5. Capital One 1.00% Yield 1.00% (tied for 5th place)
6. California First National Bank 1.00% Yield 1.00% (tied for 5th place)
7. Pacific National Bank 1.00% Yield 1.00% (tied for 5th place)
8. ableBanking, a division of Northeast Bank 1.00% Yield 1.00% (tied for 5th place)
9. Sallie Mae 0.90% Yield 0.90%
10. Synchrony Bank 0.85% Yield 0.85% (tied for 7th place)
11. Ally Bank 0.85% Yield 0.85% (tied for 7th place)

Variable deposit rates have been slowly creeping up for the past several months. The interest rate increases have been small; in increments of less than 10 basis points for the most part. Even with the small increases, the best variable deposit rates are almost comparable to best the 1 year CD rates.

The best savings rate on our rate database is at 1.25 percent with an APY of 1.26 percent from Popular Direct. This savings rate is only 4 basis points lower than the top 1 year CD rate in our database at 1.29 percent with a yield of 1.30 percent. The highest money market yield on our list is 5 basis point lower at 1.24 percent with a yield of 1.25 percent.

Listed below are today’s current highest savings rates and money market rates

Highest Savings Rates

1. Popular Direct 1.25% Yield 1.26%
2. Synchrony Bank 1.04% Yield 1.05% (tied for 2nd place)
3. AloStar Bank of Commerce 1.04% Yield 1.05% (tied for 2nd place)
4. Goldman Sachs Bank USA 1.04% Yield 1.05% (tied for 2nd place)
5. Barclays Bank 1.00% Yield 1.00% (tied for 3rd place)
6. Ally Bank 1.00% Yield 1.00% (tied for 3rd place)
7. Radius Bank 1.00% Yield 1.00% (tied for 3rd place)
8. iGObanking.com 1.00% Yield 1.00% (tied for 3rd place)
9. FNBO Direct 0.95% Yield 0.95% (tied for 4th place)
10. CIT Bank 0.95% Yield 0.95% (tied for 4th place)
11. Discover Bank 0.95% Yield 0.95% (tied for 4th place)
12. American Express Bank 0.90% Yield 0.90% (tied for 5th place)
13. Pacific National Bank 0.90% Yield 0.90% (tied for 5th place)

Highest Money Market Rates

1. East Boston Savings Bank Direct 1.24% Yield 1.25%
2. EverBank 1.11% Yield (promotional rate)
3. Dime 1.09% Yield 1.10% (tied for 2nd place)
4. iGObanking.com 1.09% Yield 1.10% (tied for 2nd place)
5. Capital One 1.00% Yield 1.00% (tied for 3rd place)
6. California First National Bank 1.00% Yield 1.00% (tied for 3rd place)
7. Pacific National Bank 1.00% Yield 1.00% (tied for 3rd place)
8. ableBanking, a division of Northeast Bank 1.00% Yield 1.00% (tied for 3rd place)
9. Sallie Mae 0.90% Yield 0.90%
10. Synchrony Bank 0.85% Yield 0.85% (tied for 4th place)
11. Ally Bank 0.85% Yield 0.85% (tied for 4th place)
12. EH National Bank 0.81% Yield 0.81%

To view a current list of savings account rates and money market account rates search our database at SavingsAccount.MonitorBankRates.com.

Popular Direct, the online banking arm of Banco Popular North America (BPNA), is currently offering the best savings rate in our database. Popular Direct’s savings rate is at 1.25 percent with an annual percentage yield of 1.26 percent. Popular Direct’s savings yield of 1.26 percent is  21 basis points higher than the second best savings rate in our database.

Popular Direct is also in a healthy financial position and gets a 5 out of 5 star rating. 

These days, most online savings accounts have a bare minimum opening deposit of $1 or less. The minimum opening deposit for a savings account at Popular Direct is $5,000. Popular Direct’s savings rate is tiered based on the account balance but right now all tiers have the same rate and yield.

There is an ongoing minimum balance of $500 that has to be maintained for each statement period. If the balance falls below $500 for even a single day a fee of $4 is charged to the account. 

Another popular feature with most online deposit accounts is the ability to deposit checks by just taking photos of the check with your mobile device. Popular Direct also has this feature called Mobile Deposit. Other mobile features include checking your account balance and transferring money between accounts.

Popular Direct’s Savings Account Fine Print

• Minimum account opening balance $5,000
• Monthly service fee of $4 if account balance falls below $500
• Early account closing fee of $25 if account closed before 180 days
• Dormancy fee of $5 if no account activity in 12 months
• Excessive withdrawal fee of $5 if you exceed the legal limit of 6 withdrawals or transfers during any statement cycle
• Interest is earned and calculated on the account by the daily balance method

For more information on this savings account or to open an account go to Popular Direct Savings Account.