Bank Accounts & Fees
Checking and savings accounts, bank fee changes, high-yield accounts, CD rates, neobanks, and policy changes that affect your money.
Latest in Bank Accounts & Fees
Bonus checking accounts at Chase, Truist, and U.S. Bank pay $300 to $700 for setting up direct deposit — but the bonus is taxable, reported on a 1099 next January
Switch your direct deposit to a new checking account at Chase, Truist, or U.S. Bank and the bank will pay you a cash bonus, typically...
A bank can shut your account without warning over a single “suspicious” deposit — but a written reversal request inside 30 days often gets the account reopened
In 2023, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered USAA Federal Savings Bank to pay roughly $15.6 million after the bank reopened consumer deposit accounts without...
Big banks still pay about 0.4% on savings while online banks pay near 4% — leaving the same $10,000 earning $360 less every year
Big banks still pay about 0.4% on savings while online banks pay near 4% — leaving the same $10,000 earning $360 less every year Put...
You can switch off overdraft coverage so a too-big charge is simply declined — sparing you the $35 fee banks still collect billions on each year
A $7 coffee costs $42 when your checking account is $3 short and your bank decides to cover the difference. That “courtesy” comes with an...
Your bank deposits are insured only up to $250,000 — yet a record amount of Americans’ savings now sits above that line, uninsured if the bank fails
In March 2023, Silicon Valley Bank collapsed so fast that customers tried to yank $42 billion in just two days. Roughly 94% of the bank’s...
A Trump-era rule rollback just freed banks to bring back the $35 overdraft fee — the one regulators had capped at $5 last year
The next time your checking account dips a few dollars below zero, your bank is legally free to charge you $35 for the privilege. A...
Top high-yield savings accounts still pay up to 5% APY — but the national average just dropped to 0.38%, so most savers are leaving 13x their interest on the table
When the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation published its national rate benchmark for April 2026, the average savings account yield had slipped to 0.38%, according to...
The best high-yield savings account still pays 4.10% APY — and the new Fed chair taking over today hasn’t signaled a single rate cut
Kevin Warsh walked into the Federal Reserve’s Eccles Building on May 14, 2026, as the most hawkish new chair the central bank has had in...
The best high-yield savings account pays 4.10% APY today — and zero rate cuts are priced in for 2026, so that number isn’t going anywhere
A savings account paying 0.39% earns you about $39 a year on a $10,000 deposit. Move that same cash to a high-yield savings account paying...
High-yield savings accounts still pay up to 4.10% APY — the Fed hasn’t cut rates once this year, and markets now expect zero cuts for all of 2026
The Federal Reserve has met three times in 2026. Three times, it left interest rates exactly where they were. And three times, the best online...
Visa’s Level 2 interchange program dies April 18 — small business fees spike and you’ll see it at checkout
On April 18, 2026, a gas station owner in suburban Ohio who processes $60,000 a month in fleet card transactions will watch her effective credit...
High-yield savings accounts are paying over 4% APY in 2026: is it time to switch?
Savers who left their cash sitting in traditional bank accounts for years are suddenly seeing something unusual. High-yield savings accounts are offering annual percentage yields...
Online banks are paying 3 to 5 times more interest than traditional banks: 5 reasons to switch
Many Americans still keep their savings at traditional banks that pay very little interest. Meanwhile, a growing number of online banks are offering savings rates...
If your bank fails tomorrow, here is what happens to your money under FDIC rules
When a bank fails, headlines can spark panic. Under federal law, however, there is a structured process that begins almost immediately. For most depositors, access...
Why financial planners warn married couples against joint bank accounts
For decades, joint bank accounts have been viewed by married couples as a symbol of unity. Combining income into one shared account can simplify bill...
What your current bank will not tell you before you switch to a competitor
Switching banks often starts with a simple goal. Many consumers want lower fees, better interest rates, or a mobile app that actually works. While comparing...
What Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App actually track and store about your spending
Millions of Americans now rely on apps like Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App to split bills, pay friends, and move money instantly. The convenience is...
Signs it is time for a business bank account and what the IRS says can happen without one
Many entrepreneurs start out running a business from their personal bank account. This often feels simpler in the early stages, especially for freelancers, gig workers,...
How to automate your bills, savings, and investments in under 30 minutes
Managing money does not have to require constant attention. Many households still log in to multiple apps every week just to pay bills, move money...
Where to turn coins into cash for free without paying Coinstar’s 12% fee
Loose change has a way of piling up in jars, drawers, and car cup holders. Americans still use billions of coins every year, according to...