There is no requirement that savings accounts be extremely expensive. The amenities and interest rates offered by free savings accounts are frequently on par with those offered by more expensive accounts. It is prudent to have a savings account in order to ensure ready access to funds in the event that they are required. However, the combination of having to pay fees and seeing your savings diminish over time may cause you to access your savings accounts less frequently than you ought to.
The question now is, where exactly is the most advisable site to establish a cost-free savings account?
Or should you look online?
There is a wide selection of financial institutions, including online banks and traditional financial institutions, that provide savings accounts with no monthly service fees. Brick-and-mortar banks are the ideal option to go with if you would rather conduct your financial transactions in person.
Note
Even if you plan to conduct all of your financial transactions online, you may still be required to have an account with a conventional financial institution or credit union in order to fund your online banking profile.
When it comes to traditional savings accounts held at brick-and-mortar institutions, your best choice is to choose a small financial institution. Free checking accounts may be available at large banks; however, it may be more difficult to locate and obtain qualified accounts. In order to avoid incurring fees, you could be required to maintain a significant account balance or to set up automatic transfers into the account. Look for nearby credit unions and banks that are not well-known national names if you are having problems locating the things you require.
Online Banks
Free savings accounts can typically be found with online banks, which are a fantastic resource. They have been providing low-cost checking and savings accounts for years, in contrast to the traditional banking industry, which has been reluctant to provide free accounts. If having a high annual percentage yield (APY) on your savings is something that’s important to you, then you should look into online banking. Online pricing is often more affordable, though this is not always the case.
You may get an idea of the various no-fee online savings accounts by looking at the accounts that are listed below. Examine one of the accounts listed below. When you start one of these accounts, there is no required minimum balance, there are no fees charged on a monthly basis for account maintenance, and the entire process may be completed online.
Capital One 360 is a bank that has been around for quite some time and is the successor to ING Direct, which was a pioneer in the area of free online savings accounts. The Capital One 360 Performing Savings makes it simple to avoid costs while still earning interest by providing a number of different account types along with attractive interest rates. Take note that in order to open an account for savings with Capital One 360, you will first need to have a checking account that is “linked” to a physical location.
Ally Bank is yet another well-established online bank that has been in business for quite some time. The fact that you do not need a traditional bank account in order to open an account with Ally makes it distinctive. You are free to open an independent Ally account on your own and fund it via paper checks, mobile deposits, electronic transfers and deposits, wire transfers, or other electronic methods.
Discover Bank: Discover is a bank that provides a number of different account options for customers interested in one-stop shopping. You can open bank accounts (with a debit card that gives you cash back), money markets, and many more types of accounts in addition to a savings account that offers attractive interest rates.5
These three financial institutions are among the most widely used online banks; however, they are not the only ones available, nor are they necessarily the most reputable. Since the majority of the big online banks are comparable, you should select the financial institution that offers free savings accounts with the particular characteristics that you require.
Note That Rates Are Always Changing, So If You Pick a Bank Only Based on the Best Interest Rate, Other Banks Will Soon Move Ahead of That Bank and Offer More If You Make That Choice.
Accounts for your business It’s a good idea to keep your personal finances and business finances separate if you run your own company. It’s possible that you won’t be able to get a business savings account without first opening a business checking account, but you should do so regardless. Additionally, there are checking accounts that pay interest, which may eliminate the requirement for a separate savings account entirely. There are several possibilities for free business checking accounts, such as “Silver” from US Bank and “Spark” from Capital One; however, it is also worthwhile to contact community banks and credit unions in one’s immediate area.6 7
Prepare for the future.
When deciding where to set up an account, you should first consider the characteristics of the account that are most essential to you and then make sure that those benefits are included in the free savings account you choose. The following are some questions to investigate further:
Will you be given a card to use at ATMs?
Are you able to access fee-free ATMs in your region?
Is it necessary to do financial transactions in person? If this is the case, are there convenient locations for the branches, and are they open at the times you require?
Does the bank provide customers with a selection of CD terms?
Is it possible to make check deposits using a mobile device?
Have you ever needed to make a transfer using wires? How much do transfers cost, and what steps must be taken in order to successfully complete a transfer?
You could require additional services in addition to a savings account. Other requirements, such as a mortgage, a deposit box for valuables, or a checking account, may become necessary in the near future, and it may make sense to have all of these things in the same location. If you go with a financial institution that can manage a variety of your requirements, you will have a simpler life because you will receive fewer statements (or emails), and you won’t have to monitor as many online accounts. If you use numerous products from the same bank, there is a greater chance that the bank will waive the costs associated with your checking and savings accounts.8
Free accounts may be opened quickly and easily, and they come with a wide variety of useful features. Investigate traditional financial organizations like banks as well as more modern ones like internet banks because you could need both kinds of accounts anyway. When you are out looking at different options, keep the larger picture in mind because your requirements may change as time goes on.
