• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Finance

How to Get Up to 5% Interest on Savings Even Though the Fed Didn’t Raise Rates

By
Athena Cao, Money
Athena Cao, Money
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Athena Cao, Money
Athena Cao, Money
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 21, 2016, 3:36 PM ET

This story was originally published on Money.com.

The Federal Reserve’s decision to delay an interest-rate rise yet again means savers will continue to see near-zero returns on many bank accounts.

But you can eke out a bit more interest if you hunt around and are willing to bank online with Internet-only or distant institutions. For instance, the top-yielding Internet savings accounts that are nationally available pay one percentage point more on average than other savings accounts at no additional risk, says Greg McBride, senior financial analyst for Bankrate.com, one of the websites you can use to search for high rates.

The Fed voted to hold its short-term interest rate target steady at 0.25%-0.5% Wednesday for the sixth straight meeting since its last rate hike of a quarter percentage point in December. Then, the central bank said it anticipated four rate hikes totaling one percentage point this year. But concerns about sluggish job growth, volatile financial markets and the global economy have stalled the timetable.

Some banks and credit unions are hungrier for deposits than others, because they either see more opportunities to make loans or lack a hefty advertising budget to attract deposits. And financial institutions without physical branches can afford higher interest due to lower operating costs. Many of the highest rates are offered by smaller institutions that MONEY doesn’t grade in the annual Best Banks coverage. (Their accounts are insured and regulated like those of bigger competitors.)

Here are tips on where to find high yields on three types of bank accounts:

Savings Accounts

While the average savings account nationwide yields just 0.18%, according to DepositAccounts.com, some online accounts pay well over 1%.

You should know, though, that depository institutions don’t have to notify you before changing the interest rates, says Ken Tumin, founder and editor of DepositAccounts.com. That means that you could go through the hassle of moving your money only to see the rate fall. You should closely monitor your monthly statements.

Internet bank Popular Direct, which was launched in July by Banco Popular North America, offers an online savings account with a 1.26% annual yield. The minimum to open it is $5,000.

Northpointe Bank in Grand Rapids, Mich., has a promotional Ultimate Savings Account that earns a slightly lower 1.12% on $10,000 to $500,000, but comes with a rate guarantee for at least a year.

IncredibleBank, based in Wausau, Wis., offers a 1.11% savings account, which had a higher yield of 1.17% just last month. The minimum to open it is $2,500.

Reward Checking Accounts

Quoted interest rates are often considerably higher on so-called reward checking accounts. But these accounts come with a number of caveats: They usually have a cap on the balance on which you receive the high rate, and they typically include requirements such as debit card usage and direct deposit.

Northpointe Bank’s Ultimate Checking account pays 5% annual yield on up to $5,000 and refunds up to $10 of ATM fees a month. But it requires you to have 15 monthly debit transactions totaling at least $500 and at least $100 of direct deposit or automatic withdrawal. With that rate and cap, the most interest you will earn is $250 per year. Meanwhile, if you make those debit-card transactions in lieu of using a credit card, that $6,000 in spending won’t qualify for credit-card rewards you might otherwise have received.

READ NEXT: The Federal Reserve Keeps Interest Rates Near Record Lows

Consumers Credit Union, based in Gumee, Ill., offers a Free Rewards Checking account with 4.59% yield for up to $20,000. The caveat is that you have to complete at least 12 debit or credit card purchases and spend $1,000 or more with the credit union’s Visa credit card per month.

Fairfax, Va.-based MainStreet Bank has a Kasasa Cash account with 2% yield for up to $15,000. You have to debit the account at least 12 times per month.

Certificates of Deposit (CDs)

With their fixed terms and interest rates, CDs appeal to savers who like predictability and are putting aside cash for non-emergency use. The downside is that once you commit, you typically face penalties if you withdraw early. Considering the probability of the Fed raising rates in the next 12 months, which would lead to rate hikes across the board, a CD’s early withdrawal penalty is an important factor to consider.

The 5-year CD at Andrews Federal Credit Union, based in Suitland, Md., yields 2.02% and the early withdrawal penalty is 6 months of interest. The minimum to open it is $10,000.

Looking at a shorter maturity, Wilmington, N.C.-based Live Oak Bank has a 1-year CD with a 1.3% yield and a 90-day early withdrawal penalty. You can open one with $2,500.

About the Author
By Athena Cao, Money
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

wyle
CommentaryTV
What HBO’s ‘The Pitt’ gets right—and wrong—about treating alcohol use disorder
By Jonathan Hunt-GlassmanApril 2, 2026
32 minutes ago
nic
CommentaryInsider trading
Prediction markets caught insider traders in real time. Congress wants to shut them down anyway
By Nic PuckrinApril 2, 2026
2 hours ago
Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel.
NewslettersCFO Daily
The hedge fund billionaire betting Miami can rival New York’s Wall Street
By Sheryl EstradaApril 2, 2026
2 hours ago
farley
Future of WorkInfrastructure
Ford CEO Jim Farley says America is sleepwalking past its ‘essential economy’ crisis. Goldman Sachs just showed how big it really is
By Nick LichtenbergApril 2, 2026
2 hours ago
Nima Ghamsari smiles
NewslettersTerm Sheet
Blend’s post-IPO reset: CEO Nima Ghamsari bets that AI can turn it all around
By Lily Mae LazarusApril 2, 2026
3 hours ago
Photo: President Trump
Big TechMarkets
Trump hails ‘tremendous progress’ in Iran but all Wall Street heard was ‘back to escalation’
By Jim EdwardsApril 2, 2026
3 hours ago

Most Popular

Gen Z fled San Francisco for Texas and Florida. Now they're turning 'welcomer cities' into the next big tech towns
Real Estate
Gen Z fled San Francisco for Texas and Florida. Now they're turning 'welcomer cities' into the next big tech towns
By Fortune EditorsApril 2, 2026
7 hours ago
Two-thirds of parents say their adult Gen Z kids still rely on them financially  for support—even though it's putting them under strain
Success
Two-thirds of parents say their adult Gen Z kids still rely on them financially  for support—even though it's putting them under strain
By Fortune EditorsMarch 31, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of gold as of April 1, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of gold as of April 1, 2026
By Fortune EditorsApril 1, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of April 1, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of April 1, 2026
By Fortune EditorsApril 1, 2026
1 day ago
Jerome Powell says the $39 trillion national debt is ‘not unsustainable,’ but warns the trajectory ‘will not end well’
Economy
Jerome Powell says the $39 trillion national debt is ‘not unsustainable,’ but warns the trajectory ‘will not end well’
By Fortune EditorsMarch 30, 2026
3 days ago
Hiring just hit a level not seen since the economy was ‘closed down literally’ during COVID, top economist says
Economy
Hiring just hit a level not seen since the economy was ‘closed down literally’ during COVID, top economist says
By Fortune EditorsMarch 31, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.