Reasons To Get A Money Market Account Bankrate
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Ihor Korsunskyi/Shutterstock Advertiser Disclosure
We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our goal is to help you make smarter financial decisions by providing you with interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original and objective content, by enabling you to conduct research and compare information for free - so that you can make financial decisions with confidence.
Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. How We Make Money
The offers that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within the listing categories. But this compensation does not influence the information we publish, or the reviews that you see on this site. We do not include the universe of companies or financial offers that may be available to you. Ihor Korsunskyi/Shutterstock Written by Consumer banking reporter Matthew Goldberg is a consumer banking reporter at Bankrate. Matthew has been in financial services for more than a decade, in banking and insurance. Aug. 9, 2022 Edited by Managing editor Brian Beers is the managing editor for the Wealth team at Bankrate. He oversees editorial coverage of banking, investing, the economy and all things money. Reviewed by Professor of finance, Creighton University Robert R. Johnson, Ph.D., CFA, CAIA, is a professor of finance at Creighton University and chairman and CEO of Economic Index Associates, LLC. Aug. 9, 2022 Share
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PREV NEXT Earning a competitive yield, having easy access to your money and safety are some of the top reasons to consider opening a money market account. But these aren't the only advantages of storing savings in this type of account. Money market accounts are similar to savings accounts in that they are primarily designed for stashing extra money away while earning interest. However, they also come with some checking account features, including the ability to . To know if this type of account is right for you, consider these five benefits to opening a . 1 Accessibility of funds
earn interest while also providing a degree of liquidity. Most MMAs provide check-writing and/or ATM card privileges for withdrawals, as well as the ability to transfer money between a checking or savings account. An MMA could be worth opening for consumers who want to grow their savings but still want to be able to access the funds with relative ease. Although it's possible to withdraw or transfer money at any time, you're generally limited to six withdrawals from a MMA each month. Exceeding the limit could result in a fee. Withdrawals made by ATM or through a bank teller at a branch, however, don't count toward that limit. 2 Potentially higher interest rates
Money market accounts traditionally pay than savings accounts (and much higher rates than checking accounts). The current average yield for MMAs is 0.09 percent annual percentage yield (APY), compared with 0.04 percent APY for savings, according to Bankrate's Aug. 3, 2022 weekly survey of deposit accounts. Some institutions are paying close to 2 percent APY on money market accounts. The trade-off is that MMAs can have higher minimum balance requirements - some as high as $5,000 or more. Or a bank may require a high balance to earn its top-tier APY for its money market account. and money market accounts are competitive, so shop around to find the best rate. 3 Check writing
Writing checks from a money market account can be a useful feature, providing flexibility and liquidity that typically isn't found with other types of savings products, such as . Some money market accounts permit a maximum of six withdrawals or transfers each statement cycle, which includes checks. The six withdrawal limit comes from a former federal regulation; the regulation has been relaxed, but many institutions . 4 Safety
Safety is built into money market accounts offered by (FDIC) banks and (NCUA) credit unions. Both organizations insure money market accounts for up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank or credit union and per ownership category. As long as your deposits are within these limits at a federally insured institution, you can rest assured that the money will be protected in the event of a bank or credit union failure. 5 ATM withdrawals
One of the most convenient features some money market accounts offer is access to an ATM card, just like many checking accounts. ATM withdrawals don't count toward the six withdrawal or transfer limit per billing cycle, which means you can take money out whenever you need it without exceeding your monthly transaction limit. But remember: money market accounts are still primarily for saving, and it pays to let your savings grow. Bottom line
are an attractive option to consider if you're seeking a savings product that earns interest, offers more withdrawal options and is insured as long as you're within federal insurance limits and guidelines. Like all financial products, however, MMAs have their and aren't for everyone. Your financial goals can help determine whether a money market account is right for you. For example, if you need an account for daily expenses, a is likely a better option. Or, if you don't need access to your money for a specified period of time, a will likely earn a higher rate of return. It's also important not to confuse money market accounts with , which are offered by brokerage firms and mutual fund companies, like Fidelity and Vanguard. Money market funds generally offer higher returns than money market accounts, but they carry slightly more risk since they are not insured by the FDIC or NCUA. Before settling on a new account, evaluate your goals and shop around for a banking product that fits your needs. - Bankrate's contributed to an update of this story. ON THIS PAGE
Written by Matthew Goldberg Consumer banking reporter Matthew Goldberg is a consumer banking reporter at Bankrate. Matthew has been in financial services for more than a decade, in banking and insurance. Edited by Managing editor Reviewed by Professor of finance, Creighton University up next Part of Banking Money market accounts have pros and cons as a place to stash cash. Aug. 15, 2022 Banking These accounts sound similar, but there are some key differences to know. Aug. 11, 2022 Nov. 13, 2022