Updated May 24, 2018
The Best Money Market Account Rates in May 2018 |
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Institution | APY | Minimum Balance Amount |
Traditional banks are paying very low interest rates on money market accounts. For example, BB&T pays between 0.01% and 0.04% APY. Fortunately, you do not need to settle for such ridiculously low rates. You can easily find the best money market rates at internet banks paying 1.50% or more. If you put $50,000 into BB&T’s account at 0.04%, you will only earn $20 of interest over one year. That same money in an account paying 1.50% would earn you $750 of interest. And you can typically open and fund an online money market account in less than 10 minutes. Also, the differences between savings accounts and money market accounts are narrowing because rates on money market account are increasing each year. You can currently earn the same top rate with a savings account from one bank and a money market account from another.
MagnifyMoney searches over 12,000 banks and credit unions to find the money market accounts paying the highest interest rates. Competition has been increasing and there is a pricing war. As a result, this month there are a lot of new names on the list (many of which you probably will not recognize). Here are the best rates for May 2018:
1. Highest Rate: CIT Bank – 1.85% APY, $100 minimum balance amount
CIT Bank recently launched a money market account with a 1.85% APY. You only need $100 to open the account and start earning the APY, and they don’t charge any monthly maintenance fees. If you appreciate the option to write checks with your money market account, or use a debit or ATM card to withdraw funds, this account may not be for you. You can fund the account with ACH, mobile check deposit, or by mailing a check directly to the bank. Accessing funds can be easily done through their online banking platform or mobile banking app. Just keep in mind that due to federal regulations, you’re not able to conduct more than six transactions in a statement cycle. CIT Bank will charge a $10 fee for each additional transaction. While CIT is a thriving bank, you can be assured that your funds are protected by the FDIC up to the legal limit.
2. Top Rate: UFB Direct – 1.60% APY, $5,000 minimum balance to avoid a monthly fee
UFB Direct is a division of BofI Federal Bank, a federally chartered, publicly traded and FDIC-insured bank based in San Diego. In recent months, UFB Direct has become increasingly aggressive with high rates targeting big balances. The APY of 1.60% is an outstanding rate. However, there is one catch. You need to keep at least $5,000 in the account in order to avoid a monthly maintenance fee of $10.00. You will get a Visa debit card and have access to limited check writing. We think this is the best option for people with big balances that they want to keep in a money market account.
3. Top Rate: Capital One – 1.60% APY, $10,000 minimum balance to earn APY
You may think of credit cards when you think of Capital One, but don’t overlook their deposit accounts. While they don’t require a minimum deposit amount to open the account, you will have to maintain a balance of $10,000 or more to earn their 1.60% APY. If your balance is less than that, you’ll earn an APY of 0.85%. They don’t impose any monthly fees, and while they don’t offer checks, they do provide you with an ATM card that you can use to withdraw up to $1,000 per day. You can make an unlimited amount of withdrawals from an ATM per month, but remember that you’re limited to making only six transfers per cycle due to Federal Law. However, Capital One will close the account if you go over six transfers three times within a 12-month period. This is an online-only account, so you can’t go to a branch to open or maintain the account. Fortunately, they make banking-on-the-go easy with their Mobile Banking app.
4. High Rate: Nationwide Bank – 1.55% APY, $10,000 minimum balance
When you think of Nationwide, you probably think about insurance. However, they offer more than just auto and home insurance. With $1,000 to open their money market account, you can automatically earn an APY (Annual Percentage Yield) of 1.15%. However, in order to earn their 1.55% APY, you’ll have to have a balance of $10,000 or more. They do charge a monthly maintenance fee of $8, but will waive the fee if you maintain a minimum of $1,000 daily. They do have check-writing capabilities as well as an ATM card. The first two ATM transaction made from a non-Nationwide Bank ATM is free per statement cycle, but they’ll charge $1.50 per additional ATM transaction made at a non-Nationwide Bank ATM. Transactions are limited to six per statement cycle and a $5 fee is charged per each additional transaction. They offer online banking and a mobile app that has a remote deposit feature to make your digital banking experience easier.
5. Favorite Online Package: Ally – 0.90% APY, no minimum deposit, and link to free checking
Ally Bank is a very popular internet-only bank. If you keep a daily balance of $5,000 or less, you will earn the 0.90% APY. If you’re able to keep a minimum daily balance of $25,000 the APY increases to 1.00%. Although the interest rate on the money market account is not the highest, Ally does offer a very competitive overall package – particularly if you link the account to an Ally checking account. The checking account has no minimum balance and no monthly fee. You can link your money market account to your checking account to provide overdraft protection. Money would be transferred to your checking account with no transaction fee if you ever made a mistake. You would be able to access your money market account with your Ally ATM card, which has free AllPoint access and up to $10 of non-Ally ATM fees reimbursed every month. This money market account is a nice way to provide yourself with overdraft protection while earning interest. If you don’t need check-writing capabilities on your savings, you would still be better off with Ally’s savings account.
6. Highest Overall Rate: Bank7 – 1.80% APY, $5,000 minimum balance, checks and ATM access available
7. Highest Overall Rate: EBSB Direct – 1.80% APY, $10,000 minimum balance, checks and ATM access available
on EBSB Direct’s secure website
8. High Rate: ableBanking – 1.70% APY, $250 minimum balance, but no check-writing
ableBanking is a division of Northeast Bancorp, a community bank headquartered in Maine since 1872. The bank has over $1 billion in assets, and your deposit would be FDIC insured up to the legal limit. At 1.70% APY, this is the highest money market rate that we have been able to find (from a bank) in the country. There is a minimum deposit of $250, no monthly fee and you do not need to be a resident of Maine (any US resident can open an account). Unfortunately, the account does not come with check-writing privileges and there is no ATM access. You can deposit and access your funds via ACH (electronic transfer), which can take a couple of days. Just remember: there is a limit of 6 withdrawals per calendar month. When we called to ask questions about the account, we could reach a customer service representative very quickly. This is a good option from a small bank with a great high rate.
on AbleBanking’s secure website
9. High Rate: BankPurely – 1.70% APY, $25,000 minimum balance, ATM access
10. Top Choice: Sallie Mae – 1.65% APY, no minimum balance and checks available
If you have student loan debt, you probably are not very excited to see Sallie Mae at the top of this list. However, many people are unaware that Sallie Mae also operates an internet-only FDIC-insured bank with some of the best interest rates in the country. You can earn 1.65% APY, compounded daily and paid monthly. There is no minimum balance and no monthly maintenance fees. You will have check-writing capabilities (although the standard money market limit of six per month applies to this account). The easiest (and best) way to fund and access your funds is via electronic transfer from your existing checking account. If you want a simple account with no fees and check access – this is a good bet. Sallie Mae has just recently increased the APY (it was previously 1.55%), making this one the best rates in the country.
on Sallie Mae Bank’s secure website
11. High Rate: Self-Help Credit Union – up to 1.44% APY, $500 minimum deposit and minimum balance
Self-Help is a credit union that anyone can join. If you don’t live, work or worship in one of their eligible counties, you can join by donating $5 to the Center for Community Self-Help. The contribution is tax deductible and will make you eligible for credit union membership. (You can learn more about how to join the credit union here.) At a credit union, your funds are insured up to $250,000 – but it is by the NCUA instead of the FDIC. The money market offers an APY of 1.42% on balances from $500 to $500,000. Even better – you can earn 1.42% APY on balances above $500,000. However, you need to deposit at least $500 and the balance during the month cannot go below $500 – otherwise you will be charged a monthly maintenance fee. You are allowed 6 free withdrawals or transfers from the account each month (including checks).
on Self-Help Credit Union’s secure website
Special Mention: Great Rate for Small Deposits: Premier Members Credit Union – 4.00% APY up to $2k
Premier Members Credit Union is open to anyone willing to make a $5 donation Impact on Education, a charity for the Boulder Valley School District. This credit union is currently offering an incredible rate of 4.00% with only $5 to open the account. You can earn this APY on balances up to $2,000. Amazingly, even if you grow the balance up to $5,000, you’ll earn 2.49% APY. As the balance increases, the APY decreases to the following:
- $5,000.01-$10,000: 2.49%-1.62%
- $10,000.01-$50,000: 1.62%-0.72%
- $50,000.01-$100,000: 0.72%-0.56%
- $100,000.01-$250,000: 0.56%-0.44%
- $250,000.01+: 0.44%-0.30%
Premier Members Credit Union rewards low balance savers by placing the highest rate with the lowest deposit, but if the balance grows they start using a reverse tier system where they blend the APY as the balance grows. Checks are available with this account, but you can only make six withdrawals per month. Each additional withdrawal will be assessed a $10 fee.
on Premier Members Credit Union’s secure website
3 Questions To Ask Before Opening A Money Market Account
1. Should I open a savings account or a money market account?
Many years ago, money market accounts were higher risk and paid higher returns. The financial crisis of 2008 changed all of that. Money market accounts are now FDIC-insured up to the legal maximum ($250,000 per institution per individual). Interest rates are now very similar – and there is no material difference. In other words – choose whichever account you want.
In general, you tend to get slightly lower interest rates on money market accounts because you have check-writing capabilities. The best savings accounts pay at least 1.50% APY – very similar to the rates on this page. But at Ally, for example, you can get 1.35% APY on a savings account (no check-writing) and 0.90% on the money market account (with check writing).
We have written a full explanation of the difference between money market and savings accounts here.
2. Am I willing to make a longer term commitment?
Savings accounts and money market accounts pay much lower interest rates than CDs. Right now you can easily get a 1-year CD paying 1.85% APY (with only a $2,000 minimum). You can find the best CD rates here. If you build a CD ladder, you can take advantage of 5-year rates that are now as high as 3.00%.
Money market accounts are great places to keep money that you might need immediately. But the interest rate on a money market account can change right away, at the bank’s discretion. To lock in a higher interest rate, you should consider a CD. If you need to get access to your CD early, would forfeit interest (typically from 3-6 months). In most circumstances, putting more of your money into CDs can really help boost your returns.
3. Is a money market account the same as a money market fund?
No, money market accounts (offered by FDIC-insured banks) are not the same as money market funds (most likely sold by your broker). In fact, we really don’t know why people even buy money market funds in the current environment.
For example, Vanguard offers the Prime Money Market Fund. Like other money market funds, this one “invests in short-term, high-quality securities.” Its objective is to keep the fund trading at $1 and generate a decent return. Right now that return is 1.00% – a bit lower than the returns you see from the money market accounts listed in this article. However, money market funds do not have FDIC insurance.
Most people compare the return of a money market fund (sold by their broker) to the interest rate paid by a traditional bank (0.03%, sold by their local bank teller). As a result, they are willing to take the risk of a money market fund. However, as you can see from the best money market accounts in this article, you can get FDIC insurance and beat the return of most funds. Why earn 1.00% with no FDIC-insurance when you can easily earn 1.60% and have FDIC insurance.
Barclays is one of the oldest banks in the world. Although they’re based in London, they do have a U.S. presence and offer competitive rates on their CDs and savings account. Currently, they’re offering some of the highest CD rates in the market, and they have an edge over the rest of the institutions on this list: they don’t require a minimum balance to earn the APY or open an account. Deposit as little or as much as you’d like into a term of your choice and you can start earning interest as long as the account is funded within 14 days of opening the CD. Additionally, your funds are insured through the FDIC.
PenFed is a credit union that offers very competitive interest rates. You need to join the credit union in order to benefit from their products. If you have a military or government affiliation, it is free to join. Otherwise, you would need to join an organization like Voices for America’s Troops, which costs $17.00. Once you are a member, you can open PenFed products (including this certificate) online. Your deposit would be insured by the NCUA, which is the National Credit Union Administration. There is a $1,000 minimum deposit for the one-year certificate.
American Bank is a state-chartered bank headquartered in Allentown, PA. They have over $500 million in assets and have experienced steady growth year over year. They’re currently offering the most competitive rate on a 5-year CD provided by an online bank. All you need is $500 to deposit to open the account. They have an online banking platform as well as a mobile app.
Northwest Federal Credit Union was established in 1947 and has grown to obtain over $3 billion in assets. This credit union is open to anyone willing to join one of their Community Partner Organizations. They give you the opportunity to do so when you go to fill out your membership application. In addition to banking online, this credit union also has a mobile app.
