Best Money Market Rates for October 2024
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Good money market accounts offer high interest rates with more flexibility. Here are the safest money market accounts to earn the most interest.
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Money Market Deposit Account - 4.70% APY
- $1 minimum deposit
- No fees
- 24/7 online access to funds
- FDIC insured
Money Market Deposit Account - 4.70% APY
- $1 minimum deposit
- No fees
- 24/7 online access to funds
- Federally insured by NCUA
Money Market Deposit Account - 4.70% APY
- $1 minimum deposit
- No fees
- 24/7 online access to funds
- Federally insured by NCUA
Money Market Deposit Account - 4.70% APY
- No fees
- $1 minimum deposit
- 24/7 online access to funds
- Federally insured by NCUA
Money Market Deposit Account - 4.67% APY
- $1 minimum deposit
- No fees
- 24/7 online access to funds
- FDIC insured
Money Market Deposit Account - 4.60% APY
- No fees
- $1 minimum deposit
- 24/7 online access to funds
- FDIC insured
Money Market Deposit Account - 4.60% APY
- $1 minimum deposit
- No fees
- 24/7 online access to funds
- FDIC insured
Money Market Deposit Account - 4.55% APY
- No fees
- $1 minimum deposit to open
- 24/7 online access to funds
- Federally insured by NCUA
Money Market Deposit Account 4.55% APY
- No fees
- $1 minimum deposit
- 24/7 online access to funds
- FDIC insured
Money market accounts are a safe way to grow your money.
But if you want even higher interest rates, look beyond brick-and-mortar banks. Online banks usually offer the best APY available.
What Are Money Market Accounts?
A money market is a hybrid savings and checking account. It's also known as a "high-yield" account, because you typically get a higher interest rate in exchange for a higher balance requirement.
Some reasons you may want a money market include:
- Higher interest rates
- More flexibility; many money market accounts offer check-writing privileges or ATM cards
- No maturity dates or early withdrawal penalties
- Risk-free way to grow your money
- FDIC insurance up to $250,000[1]
Note that a money market account is considered a type of savings account. So the federal government limits you to 6 withdrawals/transactions per month.[2]
Both are savings accounts with federal withdrawal limits. Money market accounts generally offer more flexibility, such as checks or ATM access. However, the trade-off may be that you need to keep a higher balance.
Money Market Deposit Account - 4.50% APY
- No fees
- $1 minimum deposit
- 24/7 online access to funds
- FDIC insured
Money Market Deposit Account - 3.56% APY
- $1 minimum deposit
- No fees
- 24/7 online access to funds
- FDIC insured
Money Market Account
- Earn 3.90% APY for balances under $100,000
- Earn 3.95% APY for balances $100,000 and over
Don't confuse a money market account with a money market mutual fund. Money market mutual funds are subject to market risk, and therefore loss of value. They're also not insured by the FDIC. Money market mutual funds are usually low risk, but there is a risk nonetheless.
Best Money Market Accounts
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Online banks have higher money market rates. They have less overhead, so they're able to offer higher interest rates and less fees. You can still conduct all your business through free online and mobile banking.
We narrowed down the best money market savings account for different needs below.
- Quontic:
Money Market Account - 5.00% APY - United Republic Bank:
Money Market Deposit Account - 4.70% APY - American First Credit Union:
Money Market Deposit Account - 4.70% APY - UNCLE Credit Union:
Money Market Deposit Account - 4.70% APY - Blue Federal Credit Union:
Money Market Deposit Account - 4.70% APY - Dayspring Bank:
Money Market Deposit Account - 4.67% APY - The Bank of Princeton:
Money Market Account - 4.60% APY - Generations Bank:
Money Market Deposit Account - 4.60% APY - First State Bank:
Money Market Deposit Account - 4.60% APY - Grand Bank:
Money Market Deposit Account - 4.57% APY
Prime Alliance Bank: 4.50% APY
Prime Alliance Bank is a local bank in Woods Cross, Utah, but anyone can open and maintain the money market account online.
The account pays 4.50%. You can do remote check deposits via mobile app and write checks from the account.
Personal Money Market Account - 4.50% APY
- APY: 4.50%
- Balance Requirement: $0
- Monthly Fee: $0
CIT Bank: 1.55% APY
CIT Bank offers deposit accounts with very competitive APYs. You get a high rate on the Money Market Account no matter how large or small your balance (after the $100 opening minimum).
This account allows for direct deposits, remote check deposits via the mobile app, and online bill pay. Plus, you can transfer money to friends through People Pay or PayPal.
However, the downside is that there is no ATM access, so you won't be able to withdraw your funds easily.
CIT Bank Money Market Account - 1.55% APY
- APY: 1.55%
- Balance Requirement: $0
- Monthly Fee: $0
Ally Bank: 4.00% APY
Ally Bank's Money Market account has no minimum opening deposit and no monthly fee.
You can make purchases via a debit card and write checks (but no online bill pay). But remember that you're limited to 6 free transactions per month.
Ally is known for its incredibly user-friendly site and great 24/7 customer support with real humans. Plus, it's a full-service online bank with checking, savings, loans, and investing. It's a solid choice if you want a lot of financial services under one roof.
Money Market - 4.00% APY
- APY: 4.00%
- Minimum Deposit Required: $0
- Balance Requirement: $0
- Monthly Fee: $0
Quontic Bank
Quontic Bank is best known for their reward checking accounts. But they also offer a good lineup of savings accounts with higher than average rates.
The Money Market Account offers tiered interest rates. You can also get a debit card for easier access to your funds. Quontic gives you fee-free access to over 90,000 Allpoint, MoneyPass, SUM or Citibank ATMs.
Money Market Account - 5.00% APY
- APY: 5.00% APY
- Minimum Deposit to Open: $100
- Balance Requirement: $0
- Monthly Fee: $0
Discover® Bank: Best for Emergency Funds
Discover® Bank Money Market Account provides easy access to your funds via ATMs. This makes it easy to access cash should you experience an emergency.
You get fee-free access to 60,000+ Allpoint® or MoneyPass® ATMs. There are no limits on cash withdrawals.
Discover® MMA comes with a free debit card and checks. You also get remote deposits and online bill pay. There are no fees on deposited item returned or insufficient funds.
Discover® Bank has 24/7 customer service should you need help at any time of day.
Money Market Account
- APY: 3.90% for balances under $100,000; 3.95% for balances $100,000 and over
- Balance Requirement: $0
- Monthly Fee: $0
Affinity Plus: Best Credit Union Money Market
Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union offers one of the highest APYs currently on their market for their Superior Money Market Account.
You have the opportunity to earn the high APY if you: have a direct deposit of at least $500 each month (to any Affinity Plus checking, savings or money market account) and enroll in digital statements.
Superior Money Market - up to 4.00% APY
- APY: 4.00% APY on balances up to $25,000 when you meet monthly eligibility requirements; 3.50% APY on portions over $25,000
- Minimum Deposit to Open: $0
- Balance Requirement: $0
- Monthly Fee: $0
Anyone can become a member of Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union with a one-time $25 donation to the Affinity Plus Foundation.[4]
TIAA Bank: Best One-Year Intro Money Market Rate
TIAA Bank offers a very competitive first-year introductory rate for their Yield Pledge Money Market account. TIAA guarantees that your account yields will stay in the top 5% of similar accounts offered in the U.S. banking market.
This account comes with a free debit card for ATM access. If you have at least $5,000 balance, you get unlimited ATM fee refunds.
Synchrony Bank: Best Money Market for IRAs
If you are wary of putting your retirement money in the hands of risky investments, you may want to invest some of your money in an IRA money market account. This can help you get a little peace of mind, knowing that not all of your money is at risk of being lost.
Look into Synchrony Bank's IRA money market accounts. It's available in both Roth and Traditional IRA options.
You can rollover existing IRA contributions, plus make additional deposits at any time (subject to IRS contribution limits).
The interest rate isn't the highest, but it serves as a secure place to park your retirement savings. You don't need to worry about the fluctuations of the stock market. And there are tax benefits.
IRA Money Market Account
- APY: 2.25%
- Minimum Deposit to Open: $250
- Balance Requirement: $0
- Monthly Fee: $0
Other Money Market Accounts to Consider
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Here are some other money market accounts to consider:
- State Farm
You probably think of State Farm when you need insurance, but they offer online banking as well.Their Money Market Account has competitive interest rates and no monthly fee with direct deposit. You need $1,000 to open. Account comes with a complimentary debit card for ATM withdrawals.
- NBKC Bank
NBKC (National Bank of Kansas City) allows anyone to open their accounts online. The rate on the Personal Money Market account is lower than other online banks, but it still offers a great product.- Current money market rate is 3.00% APY on all balances. $0 to open, no monthly service fees
- Optional debit Mastercard
- Free access at 32,000+ MoneyPass® ATMs nationwide
- Current money market rate is 3.00% APY on all balances. $0 to open, no monthly service fees
- BankPurely
If you keep a balance of at least $25,000, you can get a very high rate from Bank Purely's money market account. It comes with an ATM card and you get free ATM access on more than 55,000 ATMs.[5]And plus, one tree will be planted for every BankPurely account opened.
- Sallie Mae
Sallie Mae is known for student loans, but they also have a great money market account with a very competitive APY. There is no minimum balance or monthly fee. The account allows for writing checks, though has no ATM access.
Money Market Accounts at Big Banks
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So far, we've only talked about online banks, because they give the best rates. What about traditional brick-and-mortar banks? Perhaps you don't like the idea of purely online banking. Or if you already have checking accounts at these banks, you may want savings at the same bank.
These traditional banks provide money market accounts, but note that the APY won't be as high.
- Wells Fargo Money Market Account
- PNC Bank Money Market Account
Up to 0.05% APY. Only available in eligible markets. - Citizens Bank Money Market Account
Several types of Money Market accounts. 0.01% APY. No minimum opening deposit. Monthly maintenance fee of $10, unless you have a minimum daily balance of $2500. Other Money Market accounts have no monthly maintenance fee but require qualifying Citizens Bank Checking Account. - U.S. Bank Money Market Account
0.01% - 0.25% APY, depending on amount. Minimum opening deposit $100. Monthly maintenance fee is $10 unless you open a U.S. Bank Smartly Checking account and enroll in the Smart Rewards® Primary tier or above, or maintain a $10,000 minimum daily balance.
What to Look for in a Money Market Account
Most banks offer a money market account. Knowing what to look for in an MMA can help you make the right choice for your situation.
- Minimum Balance Requirements
Each bank has their own opening deposit requirement. And some have minimum average daily balance requirements in order to avoid monthly fees. Make sure you can meet the required amount. - The Ability to Withdraw Money if Needed
Some banks allow for ATM access, checks, or online transfers. Know what features you want and your withdrawal options. Note that money market accounts usually have a federal limit of 6 withdrawals per month. - The Interest Rate
Of course, you want the highest interest rate possible. But every bank will have their own requirements to earn that rate. Find the bank that offers the highest rate with requirements that you can meet. - Other Products
Some online banks only have savings products and don't have free checking accounts. Consider this if you want to do all your finances under one bank. - FDIC Insurance
You always want to choose a bank that is a member of FDIC. This ensures that your deposits are covered up to $250,000. All the banks on our list are FDIC insured.
Who should consider Money Market Accounts
Money market accounts may suit those who:
- Want a higher return but are more conservative
- Plan to create an emergency fund
- Save for short-term goals
- Have larger savings balances
- Prefer to invest in different accounts
Benefits of Money Market Accounts
Money market accounts can have these advantages:
- Higher interest
Money market accounts often offer more competitive rates than traditional savings accounts. - Protect capital
Money market accounts are a good option to ensure you don't lose your cash by not taking any big risks with it. - Convenience
Money market accounts usually allows you to write checks and use an ATM card for withdrawing cash while helping you save and grow your balance.
Downsides of a Money Market Account
Money market accounts could have their downsides too:
- You can only make six transfers and withdrawals per month, which makes your money a little less liquid than you might like.
- Typically, a money market account requires a higher balance.
- The interest rates may be higher than checking or savings rates, but they may be less than your rate of return on other investments, such as stocks or mutual funds.
- The introductory interest rate may fluctuate. The rates may change often, which could mean a lower return than you anticipated.
No, you will not lose your deposits. Money market accounts are risk-free and you will always earn the current advertised interest rate. Your money is also safe from bank failure. If the bank goes out of business, your money is protected by FDIC insurance (up to $250,000).[6]
Money Market vs Savings Accounts
A money market account is a type of savings account, so you're limited to 6 withdrawals a month. However, you get a little more flexibility and easier access to your money.
A lot of money market accounts allow for checkwriting and online bill pay (which is not allowed in traditional savings accounts). Some even come with a debit card you can use for purchases and withdrawing money at ATMs. This makes your funds more liquid. You'll have to check what features your MMA offers.
Money market accounts may offer higher interest rates than savings accounts. In exchange, some banks will have bigger account balance and/or minimum deposit requirements. Rates and requirements will vary by bank.
What the Experts Say
As part of our series on saving and investing, CreditDonkey asked a panel of industry experts to answer readers' most pressing questions. Here's what they said:
Bottom Line
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A money market account can be a great product to safely grow your money while having a bit more access flexibility. Usually, an online bank offers higher rates.
But make sure to read the fine print and understand a bank's requirements before opening an account. There are usually limitations on withdrawals, so it should not be used like a checking account.
References
- ^ FDIC. Deposit Insurance, Retrieved 1/21/2022
- ^ Federal Reserve Board. Regulation D Reserve Requirements, Retrieved 1/19/2022
- ^ Federal Reserve Board. "announces interim final rule to delete the six-per-month limit", Retrieved 1/19/2022
- ^ Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union. Membership Eligibility, Retrieved 1/22/2022
- ^ BankPurely. PurelyMoneyMarket, Retrieved 1/22/2022
- ^ FDIC. Your Insured Deposits, Retrieved 1/22/2022
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