We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. The best money market account rate from a nationally available institution is 5.35% APY, available from Brilliant Bank. That's more than 8 times the FDIC's national average for money market accounts of 0.64% APY, and is just one of 15 or more top rates you can find in our rankings below. Since 2019, we've been researching bank deposit rates from over 200 banks and credit unions every weekday—and publishing our ranking of the best money market APYs since early 2023. Below you'll find featured accounts from our partners, followed by our Top 15 ranking of the best money market rates available nationwide. Money market accounts are not the same thing as money market funds or money market mutual funds. Those are investment-type accounts typically offered at brokerage firms, and their value can go up and down. In contrast, money market accounts are standard deposit accounts offered by banks and credit unions. They operate like a savings account and, aside from any fees you incur, your funds cannot lose value. Money market account rates reached higher in 2023 than we’d seen in more than 20 years, pushed up by the Federal Reserve’s rate-hike campaign that began in March 2022 to tame decades-high inflation. For its last three meetings, however, the Fed has held the federal funds rate steady, and in its Dec. 13 rate announcement, Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated the committee’s rate-hike cycle ismost likely complete. Further, most Fed members project that two to four rate cuts will occur by the end of 2024. Because money market account yields closely follow the fed funds rate, the Fed’s current holding pattern has caused rates to plateau, and declines should be expected once it appears the Fed is ready to make its first cut. The best money market account rates in the country are listed below in order of APY. In cases where more than one institution has the same rate, we've ranked accounts by the size of their minimum balance requirement, with smaller requirements ranking higher on the list. These are the top contenders if you want to be able to write checks from a savings account. But if check-writing is not critical to you, you may find a better-paying option in our daily ranking of the best high-yield savings accounts. Note: Online accounts from Brilliant Bank are not available to residents of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Note: This account will pay its top APY on a maximum balance of $500,000. Amounts over that will pay a significantly lower APY. *Account available for new members only. Note: The Digital Money Market account is not available to customers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, or Michigan. Note: This account will pay its top APY on a maximum balance of $100,000. Amounts over that will pay a significantly lower APY. Note: This account will pay its top APY on a maximum balance of $100,000. Amounts over that will pay a significantly lower APY. Note: The APY on this account is a 1-year promotional rate, offered for your first year after opening the account. For money you know you won't need access to for a while, also consider one of the options in our daily ranking of the best nationwide CDs. You may be able to earn a higher APY than with a savings or money market account, and your rate will be locked for the full duration of the CD term. A money market account is a type of bank account that pays a better interest rate than what you can earn on the money in your checking account (which typically pays no interest) or in a traditional savings account. That makes it a great place to move some of the funds that you don't need on an everyday basis, boosting the amount of interest you earn over the course of each month. Like a savings or checking account, money market accounts are liquid. That means you have the freedom to deposit and withdraw funds more or less as you choose. But unlike a savings account, money market accounts come with the option to write checks, making them a sort of hybrid between savings and checking accounts. Pros Pays interest on your balance Allows withdrawals and deposits when you like Extremely safe, with virtually no risk If rates rise, your APY could increase Cons Scoring a high APY may require opening an account at another bank Easy access to your money can make it tempting to spend If rates drop, your APY could be lowered If you've never opened an account somewhere other than your primary bank or credit union, you may worry that top-paying small institutions or online-only banks are riskier, or that it will be inconvenient. Fortunately, your funds are as protected as they are at any federally insured institution, regardless of size or whether it has branches. And though transferring funds between institutions can take one to three days, today's online banking systems make transfers very easy. The best money market account for you will be one that pays a competitive interest rate and has account requirements that will work for you. Some of the account features you'll want to consider are: To determine which of the factors above are the most important to you, think about how you expect to use the account, such as the minimum balance you feel confident you can maintain and how often you'll want to take funds out of the account. Once you've decided which money market account is best for you, opening the account should be pretty straightforward and will follow the same process as opening a savings or checking account. Once you've completed the account application, some banks will make online banking immediately available to you. But others may require some time to fully approve your application, providing the info you need for online banking within a few days of your completion of the application. Here are a few additional options to consider instead of, or in addition to, putting funds in a money market account. Because traditional savings account tend to pay modest rates, one of the primary advantages of a money market account is the ability to earn a higher return on your funds. A money market account may require a larger initial deposit or ongoing balance—or both—than a standard savings account, but that is not always the case so it's useful to shop around for the best money market account for your personal needs. Money market accounts will also allow you to write checks, which traditional savings accounts do not offer. High-yield savings accounts and money market accounts are fairly interchangeable, with the only specific difference being that money market accounts offer check-writing. If you don't care so much about having paper checks you can write from your savings, then it's smart to also shop the best high-yield savings accounts, as they often pay higher APYs than the best money market accounts. Don't assume that because an account has the words "money market" in its name that it is a true money market account with check-writing privileges. In recent years, financial institutions have started to use the phrase "money market" as a marketing term, sometimes applied to accounts with no check-writing abilities and therefore they are essentially high-yield savings accounts. If you know you can live without a portion of your savings for a number of months or years, you stand to earn more by investing in a certificate of deposit (CD). That's because banks and credit unions typically offer a higher APY on CDs in exchange for your agreement that you'll keep the funds in the CD until its maturity date. The other advantage of a CD over a money market account is that its rate is fixed, not variable. So if interest rates drop in the future, your money market rate will drop as well, but a CD rate is locked for the full CD term. Additionally, because withdrawing CD funds early will trigger a penalty, CDs can be a useful tool for thwarting the temptation to spend your savings. Another option for your cash savings is U.S. savings bonds. EE bonds offer a fixed interest rate that you'll know at the time of making your deposit decision, while I bonds offer a rate that changes every six months based on current inflation levels (hence, the name I bonds). These investments are exceptionally safe, but note that they do not, for any reason, allow a withdrawal within the first 12 months. You could also consider a U.S. Treasury bill. T-bills allow you to lend money to the U.S. government for a short, fixed amount of time. Considered one of the safest investments in the world, T-bills offer durations ranging from four weeks to one year. Every business day, Investopedia collects money market account rates from over 60 banks and credit unions that offer their products to customers nationwide. When ranking money market accounts, we ensure the institutions meet our requirement of being federally insured by the FDIC or NCUA, and we research the basic account features, such as minimum required balances, any fees, and other factors that will help readers choose the account that will best meet their needs. Launched in 1999, Investopedia has been helping readers find the best savings account and CD rates since 2019, and the best money market accounts since 2021. A money market account is a great financial tool for anyone who wants to stash some of their savings—such as for an emergency fund—in a separate account that will pay more money than a savings account at their primary bank. Money market accounts are also useful to those who would benefit from the ability to write paper checks from their savings, since this is a unique feature of this type of account. If writing checks is not important to you, then you could also consider a high-yield savings account. Either kind of account can work well if you shop around for a competitive rate. Money market accounts are an exceptionally safe place to keep your funds. First, every money market account in our rankings is federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)—or for credit unions, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)—with up to $250,000 covered per account holder and per institution. FDIC and NCUA insurance works exactly the same regardless of the size of the institution. So banking with a bigger or smaller bank does not change your risk for deposits up to $250,000. Second, even if your money market account is offered by an online bank, you'll have federal protection there, too. If the bank is simply an online division of an existing brick-and-mortar bank that's FDIC-insured, then the online division is also protected. And even if the bank is internet-only, it likely is an FDIC member as well. Third, money market accounts are not investments—they are simply deposit accounts. So the money you put in always belongs to you and cannot lose value, aside from any banking fees you may be charged. A competitive rate for a money market account varies over time, based on the current interest rate environment. In 2023, rates surged due to the Federal Reserve's aggressive inflation-fighting campaign, resulting in the top money market accounts paying over 5%. But before the Fed's campaign, the best rates were less than 1%. What the future holds for money market rates is unpredictable, but if you shop from our daily ranking, you'll know you're choosing from the best rates that are currently available. Your earnings from a money market account depend on the average daily balance you hold in the account and the exact APY your account is paying. But we can make an estimate of what you'd earn if we assume an interest rate of 5.00% APY. On a $10,000 balance held in the account for one year, your earnings would be approximately $500, or roughly $41/month. If you're lucky enough to have a $100,000 balance in the account, your earnings would be about $5,000 for the year, or about $416/month. Yes, the interest rates on money market and savings accounts can change at any time, and without notice. That means choosing an account with the highest APY is not guaranteed to always be a rate leader. Today's money market accounts are paying record rates due to the Fed's current rate-hike campaign. But that could soon come to an end. And when the Fed at some point begins to lower its benchmark rate, money market and savings account rates will also decline. If you instead want to lock in a fixed interest rate on money you won't need for a while, one of the top-paying certificates of deposit (CDs) is a great option right now. A money market generally isn't a substitute for your checking account because some money market accounts limit how many transactions you can make in a month. In addition, not all money market accounts offer ATM or debit cards. Though the federal regulation limiting withdrawals to six per month was suspended in 2020, many banks and credit unions still impose withdrawal limits, because reducing the transactional costs of these accounts is what enables them to offer higher interest rates. (Note, however, that ATM and in-branch withdrawals are always unlimited.) Some money market accounts do offer unlimited withdrawals of all types, so if that's important to you, be sure to research account features before making a final choice. The biggest drawback to putting your savings in a money market account is that the rate is not guaranteed. What you earn will be at the mercy of general interest rate fluctuations, so your money market rate can be expected to fall once the Federal Reserve starts lowering the federal funds rate. In contrast, money put in a CD will earn a fixed and guaranteed rate until the end of the certificate's term. Some money market accounts put a limit on the number of withdrawals you can make. If you choose one of these accounts with restrictions, a downside could be that you're not able to withdraw funds as freely each month as you may like. We regularly review the rates of the following FDIC banks and NCUA credit unions: 5Star Bank, All America Bank, Ally Bank, Amalgamated Bank, American Heritage Credit Union, BankUnited, Bellco Credit Union, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, BluPeak Credit Union, Brilliant Bank, Chevron Federal Credit Union, CIT Bank, ConnectOne Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Dept of Commerce Federal Credit Union, Digital Federal Credit Union, Discover Bank , EverBank, Finworth, First Capital Bank, First Foundation Bank, First Internet Bank, Forbright Bank, Genisys Credit Union, Hanscom Federal Credit Union, Hughes Federal Credit Union, Ideal Credit Union, KS StateBank, Latino Federal Credit Union, Luana Savings Bank, Merchants Bank of Indiana, Mountain America Credit Union, MutualOne Bank, My eBanc, MYSB Direct, Nationwide by Axos, nbkc bank, Northern Bank Direct, Northpointe Bank, Pen Air Credit Union, PenFed Credit Union, Presidential Bank, Prime Alliance Bank, Princeton Federal Credit Union, PSECredit Union, Quontic Bank, Redneck Bank, Republic Bank of Chicago, Sallie Mae Bank, Seattle Bank, Self-Help Federal Credit Union, Spectrum Federal Credit Union, Summit Credit Union, Synchrony Bank, TAB Bank, The Federal Savings Bank, UFB Direct, US Bank, USAlliance Financial, Utah First Federal Credit Union, Webster Bank, and Zeal Credit Union. Every business day, Investopedia researchers and fact-checkers track the rate data of more than 60 banks and credit unions that offer money market accounts to customers nationwide, resulting in a daily ranking of the top-paying money market accounts. To qualify for our list, the institution must be federally insured (FDIC for banks, NCUA for credit unions), and the account's minimum initial deposit must not exceed $25,000. The account also must allow check-writing. Banks and credit unions must be available in at least 40 states. And while some credit unions require you to donate to a specific charity or association to become a member if you don't meet other eligibility criteria (e.g., you don't live in a certain area or work in a certain kind of job), we exclude credit unions whose donation requirement is $40 or more. If the account is accessible only through a mobile app, we require that the app be available on both the iOS and Android platforms. Investopedia was founded in 1999, and our coverage of the best money market accounts began in 2019. For more about how we choose the best money market accounts, read our full methodology.In the News
Best Money Market Account Rates
Tip
Brilliant Bank, Surge Money Market – 5.35% APY
BluPeak Credit Union, Max Money Market Account – 5.33% APY*
UFB Direct, Secure Money Market Account – 5.25% APY
First Foundation Bank, Online Money Market – 5.25% APY
Republic Bank of Chicago, Digital Money Market – 5.21% APY
All America Bank, Mega Money Market Checking – 5.05% APY
Redneck Bank, Mega Money Market Checking – 5.05% APY
EverBank (formerly TIAA Bank), Yield Pledge Money Market – 5.00% APY
Merchants Bank of Indiana, Money Market Savings – 5.00% APY
Quontic Bank, Money Market Account – 5.00% APY
Northern Bank Direct, Money Market Premier – 4.95% APY
First Capital Bank, Personal Money Market Checking – 4.85% APY
Sallie Mae Bank, Money Market Account – 4.75% APY
Prime Alliance Bank, Personal Money Market Account – 4.50% APY
U.S. Bank, Elite Money Market Account – 4.50% APY
What Is a Money Market Account?
Pros and Cons of Money Market Accounts
Pros Explained
Cons Explained
Tip
How to Choose a Money Market Account
How to Open a Money Market Account
Alternatives to Money Market Accounts
Money Market Account vs. Traditional Savings Account
Money Market Account vs. High-Yield Savings Account
Warning
Money Market Account vs. Certificate of Deposit (CD)
Money Market Account vs. U.S. Savings Bonds and Treasuries
Why You Should Trust Us
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Should Get a Money Market Account?
Is a Money Market Account Safe?
What is a Good Money Market Account Rate?
How much can I earn on $10,000 in a money market account? What about $100,000?
Will My Money Market Account Rate Change?
Can I Use a Money Market Account as My Checking Account?
What Is the Downside of a Money Market Account?
Banks We Reviewed
How We Find the Best Money Market Account Rates
Learn More About Money Market Accounts
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FDIC. "National Rates and Rate Caps."
TreasuryDirect. "I Bonds."
FDIC. "Deposit Insurance."
Certainly! This article covers various aspects of money market accounts, including the best rates available, explanations about money market accounts versus other financial options, their pros and cons, considerations for choosing one, and details about opening such an account. Money market accounts are a type of bank account offering higher interest rates than standard checking or savings accounts.
Let's break down the key concepts covered in the article:
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Money Market Account Basics: It explains that money market accounts are a hybrid between savings and checking accounts. They pay higher interest rates and offer check-writing capabilities.
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Comparison with Other Accounts:
- Savings Accounts: Money market accounts typically offer higher interest rates compared to traditional savings accounts.
- High-Yield Savings Accounts: These accounts are similar to money market accounts but might offer higher APYs.
- Certificate of Deposit (CDs): They offer fixed rates for a specific term and generally provide higher interest rates than savings or money market accounts.
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Pros and Cons of Money Market Accounts: It delves into the advantages and disadvantages of these accounts, discussing aspects like interest earnings, flexibility, safety, and potential rate fluctuations.
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Choosing a Money Market Account: It covers factors to consider when selecting a money market account, such as minimum balance requirements, monthly fees, withdrawal limits, and available features like ATM or debit cards.
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Opening a Money Market Account: Details the process of opening an account, which usually involves providing personal information, security verifications, and funding the account.
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Alternatives to Money Market Accounts: Discusses various other options for saving money, such as traditional savings accounts, high-yield savings accounts, CDs, U.S. savings bonds, treasuries, and their respective benefits.
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Understanding Safety: Emphasizes the safety of money market accounts due to federal insurance provided by the FDIC or NCUA.
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Considerations and FAQs: Provides answers to common questions about rates, account safety, earnings estimation, and usage as a checking account alternative.
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How Rates Are Determined: Discusses how money market account rates fluctuate based on market conditions and Federal Reserve policies.
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Methodology: Explains how the article's information is gathered, including the selection criteria for featuring specific banks and credit unions in the rankings.
Overall, this piece offers a comprehensive guide for anyone interested in understanding money market accounts, comparing them with alternative options, and making informed decisions about their savings. If you're interested in specific details about any aspect covered in the article, feel free to ask!
