Checking vs. savings account | Account differences | U.S. Bank (2024)

FAQs

Checking vs. savings account | Account differences | U.S. Bank? ›

If you're just looking to pay for everyday expenses, a checking account is the way to go. If you're focusing on growing your money, a savings account is a better fit. Regardless of the account type you choose, make sure you pick one suited to your financial needs and goals.

The main difference between checking and savings accounts is that checking accounts are primarily for accessing your money for daily use while savings accounts are primarily for saving money. Checking accounts are considered “transactional,” meaning that they allow you to access your money when and where you need it.

U.S. Bank's Standard Savings account has multiple interest rate tiers, but they all earn the same APY regardless of balance. There is a $4 monthly maintenance fee, which can be waived by keeping a $300 daily balance or $1,000 monthly balance. The fee is also waived for account holders age 17 and younger.

We use the daily balance method to calculate interest on all deposit accounts. This method applies a daily periodic rate to the principal in the account each day. Interest on your check deposit begins to accrue on the business day we receive credit for this account.

Checking accounts typically come with a debit card and checks to help make day-to-day transactions more convenient, while most savings accounts do not. A savings account is meant to store and grow your money for the longer term.

With savings accounts, funds are less accessible, since these accounts are made to store money for financial goals. Checks can't be written against them, and you're generally limited to six free withdrawals or transfers a month from the account.

The best type of account is the one that fits your current financial goals and needs. Checking accounts can help you handle all of your daily spending and recurring bills, while savings accounts can help you build your savings, protect you from unexpected expenses and help meet your savings goals.

$25 minimum deposit required to open a U.S. Bank consumer checking account. Members of the military (requires self-disclosure) and clients ages 24 and under and those 65 and over pay no monthly maintenance fee.

As of May 2024, no banks are offering 7% interest rates on savings accounts. Two credit unions have high-interest checking accounts: Landmark Credit Union Premium Checking with 7.50% APY and OnPath Credit Union High Yield Checking with 7.00% APY.

A common rule of thumb for how much to keep in checking is one to two months' worth of expenses. If your monthly expenses are $4,000, for instance, you'd want to keep $8,000 in checking. Keeping one to two months' of expenses in checking can help you to stay ahead of monthly bills.

Should I have both a savings and checking account? ›

The money in savings accounts typically earns interest, so the more you save, the more you earn. A good financial strategy is to use both types of accounts in tandem, moving funds from savings to checking for big purchases like vacations or home improvements.

A savings account is a type of bank account designed for saving money that you don't plan to spend right away. Like a checking account, you can make withdrawals and access the money as needed. But with savings accounts, the bank pays you compounding interest just for keeping funds in your account.

If you're planning to use these funds for regular, monthly expenses like rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, or student loan payments, you'll probably want to put your direct deposit into a checking account. That way, you can easily pay your bills and have access to your money as needed.

If you're just looking to pay for everyday expenses, a checking account is the way to go. If you're focusing on growing your money, a savings account is a better fit. Regardless of the account type you choose, make sure you pick one suited to your financial needs and goals.

In the traditional sense, checking and savings accounts are both incredibly safe places to keep your money. The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) automatically guarantees accounts up to $250,000 for each member of a federally insured credit union.

Checking accounts allow quick access to your funds on an ongoing basis, and some checking accounts are interest bearing. Savings accounts usually earn more interest compared to checking accounts and are typically used for a financial goal or specific purpose (vacation, home remodel, etc).

The FDIC insures your bank account to protect your money in the unlikely event of a bank failure. Bank accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which is part of the federal government. The insurance covers accounts containing $250,000 or less under the same owner or owners.

Is a debit card a checking or savings account? A debit card is not a checking account, it is a card linked to a checking account. The primary difference between a debit and checking account is that a checking account holds money, whereas a debit card simply provides access to that money.

Unlike checking accounts, they are typically designed for depositing money long-term, with interest payments as an incentive to keep it there. But, once there, can you take money out of a savings account? The answer is, put simply, yes — you can take money out of a savings account.