Fidelity Review: Online Cash Management Account - NerdWallet (2024)

The Fidelity Cash Management account is technically a brokerage account, which means it’s not a bank account and doesn’t have the same regulations that a bank would have. The FDIC insurance that Fidelity offers comes from the partner banks that Fidelity works with. As is the case with most cash management accounts, Fidelity “sweeps” its customers’ deposits into these banks and the deposits are given FDIC insurance by extension.

Best for: Those looking for a free cash account that earns a little interest to go alongside a Fidelity brokerage account.

Read on for more information about Fidelity’s cash management account features and customer experience.

Where Fidelity shines

Where Fidelity falls short

  • ATM fee reimbursem*nts nationwide.

  • No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit requirements.

  • FDIC insurance on cash balances.

  • Limited in-person support.

  • Interest rate is low.

» What is a cash management account? Check out NerdWallet’s guide to this financial product

» Want to check out other cash management accounts? See NerdWallet's list of the Best CMAs

Checking and savings features

4.0/5.0

The Cash Management Account is not technically a checking account, but it operates similarly to one in that it offers a debit card, check-writing and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. protection through Fidelity’s partner banks.

Upsides

Great ATM access. Account holders can access cash at more than 1 million ATMs worldwide.

ATM fee reimbursem*nts. Fidelity reimburses ATM fees charged by other institutions nationwide (note that for transactions outside of the country, a 1% foreign transaction fee still applies).

No monthly fees. This account has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements.

Fidelity doesn’t charge overdraft or continuous negative balance fees. Transactions will either be covered from a backup source, such as a Fidelity brokerage or margin account, or rejected.

» Want to learn more about Fidelity's brokerage services? Read NerdWallet's full review of Fidelity's investment services.

Downsides

Overdraft transfers need to be funded from a separate Fidelity account. These accounts include a Fidelity brokerage account or a Fidelity margin account.

Low interest rate. The account earns just 1.58% APY for balances under $100,000. Other banks with interest-bearing checking accounts offer higher APYs.

» Want to explore other checking options? Check out NerdWallet’s best checking accounts.

Customer experience

4.5/5.0

Upsides

Strong remote customer service options. Teller support is available 24/7, and Fidelity’s Twitter page is active and responsive. Fidelity also has customer support available on Reddit. Chatbot support is available on the website.

High app store ratings. Both Apple and Google Play users rate the Fidelity app highly.

Mobile check deposit. Customers can deposit checks into their cash management account through the Fidelity mobile app.

A downside

Branch support is hard to come by. There are only about 200 financial planning offices scattered across the country.

Fidelity Review: Online Cash Management Account - NerdWallet (2024)

FAQs

Fidelity Review: Online Cash Management Account - NerdWallet? ›

You can withdraw money via check from most non-retirement accounts. On Portfolio Summary, select Withdraw Money from the Select Action drop-down box. There are some restrictions which may prevent withdrawals from being requested online. These restrictions are in place to protect customers.

Can you withdraw cash from Fidelity cash management account? ›

You can withdraw money via check from most non-retirement accounts. On Portfolio Summary, select Withdraw Money from the Select Action drop-down box. There are some restrictions which may prevent withdrawals from being requested online. These restrictions are in place to protect customers.

What bank does Fidelity use for cash management? ›

The Fidelity® Debit Card is issued by PNC Bank, N.A., and the debit card program is administered by BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company.

What is the difference between Fidelity cash management account and brokerage account? ›

Are brokerage accounts and cash management accounts the same? No. Brokerage accounts are used to buy and sell securities. Cash management accounts act more like traditional bank savings and checking accounts, but are provided by brokerage and other non-bank financial institutions.

What is current rate on Fidelity cash management account? ›

2.57% 2.60%

How long until I can withdraw cash from Fidelity? ›

Deposits are generally available for withdrawal or to purchase securities online within 4 to 6 business days.

How do I make my cash available to withdraw on Fidelity? ›

Go to Fidelity.com/movemoney or call 800-343-3548. Use this form to make a one-time withdrawal from your nonretirement Brokerage or Mutual Fund Only account. Do NOT use this form for retirement accounts, annuities, 529 college savings plan accounts, or ABLE accounts.

What are the benefits of a Fidelity cash management account? ›

Fidelity Cash Management Account
  • Free mobile check deposit and mobile Bill Pay, via the Fidelity mobile app.
  • No annual fee debit/ATM card with ATM fee reimbursem*nts3
  • Free online Bill Pay.
  • Free checkwriting.
  • Free online transfers between your Fidelity accounts and bank accounts4

How much can I withdraw from Fidelity cash management ATM? ›

(A) Daily Limitation: A total, aggregate, combined daily withdrawal limitation of $2,500.00 exists on all ATM/Debit cards. Within this limitation, there are two categories: cash withdrawals and purchases. A $400.00 daily cash withdrawal limitation exists for ATM/Debit cards.

Does Fidelity cash management account have any fees? ›

This account has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. Fidelity doesn't charge overdraft or continuous negative balance fees. Transactions will either be covered from a backup source if you opt in to Fidelity's optional Cash Manager feature or rejected.

What is the purpose of a cash management account? ›

A cash management account can help you track the movement of your money and allows you to see your (cash) financial position at any moment. In other words, it enables you to monitor your cash flow. A benefit of a cash management account is having a consolidated view and visibility of all cash movements.

Is cash management account same as checking? ›

Cash management accounts vs.

Checking accounts: Some cash management accounts are similar to checking accounts, allowing you to write checks, use a debit card and make ATM withdrawals. Cash management accounts tend to pay higher interest than checking accounts, many of which earn no interest at all.

Can I direct deposit to a Fidelity cash management account? ›

Direct and automatic deposits

You can set up two types of deposits for your Fidelity accounts: direct deposit of a paycheck or government check to a Fidelity account, or automatic deposits from a bank account or Fidelity Cash management account to specific investments.

Can I use Zelle with Fidelity cash management? ›

With Zelle® available in our Fidelity Bank app, there will be no need to remember additional passwords or download another app to start sending and receiving money! Look for communications from us with more information on how you can enroll and start sending money with Zelle®.

What type of Fidelity account should I open? ›

How do you choose? It depends on why you want to invest. For retirement, options include a traditional IRA, Roth IRA, rollover IRA. For general investing and trading, investing for a big goal (like the down payment on a house), or simply giving your money the potential to grow, consider the Fidelity brokerage account.

Is my money safe in fidelity? ›

With our Customer Protection Guarantee, we reimburse you for losses from unauthorized activity in your accounts. We also participate in asset protection programs such as FDIC and SIPC to help provide the best service possible. See our protection guarantee and account coverage.

Why can't I withdraw all my money from Fidelity? ›

The maximum withdrawal amount using Fidelity.com or telephone is $100,000 per account. For withdrawals greater than $100,000, requests must be made via a completed paper form. To get a copy of the form, contact a Fidelity representative at 800-544-6666. For brokerage IRAs, only one withdrawal per day may be processed.

Can I withdraw all my money from Fidelity bank? ›

Individual/Corporate account holders can access up to ₦4 million. What are the transaction limits on the Fidelity Visa Naira Credit Card? ATM withdrawals: 8 times daily with a cumulative transaction limit of ₦150,000 or its equivalent in any currency if the transaction is done abroad.

Is there a penalty for withdrawing money from Fidelity go account? ›

Yes, you can withdraw money from your Fidelity Go account. You won't need to pay any additional fees and can withdraw from your account at any time.

Is Fidelity cash available to withdraw $0? ›

Fidelity charges $0 for withdrawal. The withdrawal process is usually executed within 2 days. Fidelity is a reliable broker, regulated by at least one top-tier regulator. You can only withdraw funds to accounts in your name.

Why do I have cash available to trade but not withdraw? ›

When you sell funds you'll need to wait for the trade to settle before you can withdraw the cash. This normally happens 2 business days after the trade completes.

What happens when you take money out of an investment account? ›

There are no tax "penalties" for withdrawing money from an investment account. This is because investment accounts do not receive the same tax-sheltered treatment as retirement accounts like an IRA or a 403(b). There are also no age restrictions on when you can withdraw from your investment account.

What are the disadvantages of cash management accounts? ›

Cons of Cash Management Accounts
  • They Don't Offer the Best Returns. Many investments, such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. ...
  • Face-to-Face Customer Service Might Not Be Available. Most cash management accounts are offered by online financial companies. ...
  • You Might Not Get All of the Features You Need.

How safe are cash management accounts? ›

FDIC Insurance

Cash management accounts are protected by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance. With a traditional bank account, the FDIC protects your money up to $250,000 per person per bank.

Is a cash management account an investment account? ›

A cash management account, or CMA, is a cash account that combines services and features that are similar to checking, savings and/or investment accounts under one product.

Does Fidelity cash management reimburse ATM fees? ›

Key features. Get reimbursed for all ATM fees when using the card as part of a Fidelity® Cash Management Account. Reimbursem*nts are also available with a Fidelity brokerage account. Access cash at more than one million ATMs worldwide, anywhere you see the Visa®, Plus®, or Star® logos.

Does Fidelity cover all ATM fees? ›

Your account will automatically be reimbursed for all ATM fees charged by other institutions while using a Fidelity® Debit Card linked to your Fidelity Cash Management Account at any ATM displaying the Visa®, Plus®, or Star® logos.

How do I avoid Fidelity fees? ›

You can choose to buy or sell shares directly from the fund itself or its principal underwriter or distributor without paying a transaction fee to Fidelity. Short-term trading fee: Fidelity charges a short-term trading fee each time you sell or exchange shares of a FundsNetwork NTF fund held less than 60 days.

How do I close my Fidelity cash management account? ›

You can currently only close brokerage or cash management accounts with a zero balance through the Virtual Assistant. You should call a Fidelity representative at 800-343-3548 to close all other accounts.

Does Fidelity charge advisor fees? ›

Fidelity Personalized Planning and Advice combines Fidelity Go with live financial advisors for a more customized experience. The minimum investment amount is $25,000, and the fee is 0.50% AUM per year.

Can I withdraw from a cash management account? ›

1.1 You may deposit any amount and you may only withdraw up to the available credit funds from your account. There is no overdraft facility available on the account.

How much interest does a cash management account earn? ›

See our criteria for evaluating banks and credit unions. Interest rates for the best cash management accounts are much higher than the national average savings account APY, currently just 0.40%.

What do the big three of cash management include? ›

The financial workings of a business can be divided simply into three areas that cover the inflows and outflows of cash from the business. These are accounts receivable, accounts payable and inventory, all of which fall under the overarching banner of cash management.

How do banks make money from cash management? ›

Since banks often provide wealth management services for their customers, they are able to profit off of the fees for services provided, as well as fees for certain investment products such as mutual funds. Banks may offer in-house mutual fund services to direct their customers' investments towards.

Can I use my Fidelity account like a bank? ›

Go beyond banking

A Fidelity Cash Management account offers you ways to spend, save, and invest, plus all the features of a traditional checking account. All with one convenient, easy-to-use account.

Does Fidelity automatically pay taxes? ›

IRS regulations require Fidelity to withhold federal income tax at the rate of 10% from your total withdrawal unless your withdrawal is from a Roth IRA, or unless you elect otherwise.

How long does it take for Fidelity to deposit money? ›

Online transfers (or EFTs) from a checking or savings account should process within 1 to 3 business days if you submit your transfer by 4 p.m ET. If you deposit a check via mobile app before 4 p.m. ET, the deposit should process within 4 business days. Deposits made via wire transfer typically process within 24 hours.

Can you transfer money from Fidelity to cash App? ›

From the Apple Pay Cash app, use your Fidelity account and routing number OR your Fidelity debit or credit cards to link to your Fidelity account to send and receive funds between the app and your account. From the Square Cash app, link to a Fidelity account using a Fidelity debit or credit card to send money only.

What is the fastest way to transfer money to Fidelity? ›

The fastest way to get money into a Fidelity account is to send it via bank wire. You'll need to start the bank wire with your current institution. Bank wires typically process same day and the money is immediately available for trading at Fidelity.

What is the average Fidelity account? ›

Average and median 401(k) balance by age
AgeAverage Account BalanceMedian Account Balance
Under 25$6,264$1,786
25-34$37,211$14,068
35-44$97,020$36,117
45-54$179,200$61,530
2 more rows
Jan 20, 2023

What is the difference between a cash account and a brokerage account? ›

A cash account is a type of brokerage account in which the investor must pay the full amount for securities purchased. In a cash account, you are not allowed to borrow funds from your broker to pay for transactions in the account.

What are the cons of Fidelity? ›

Cons Explained

No access to futures, commodities, or crypto trading: Fidelity does not support trading in futures, options on futures, commodities, currencies, or cryptocurrencies, even though you can exchange currencies on the platform.

Is it safe to keep more than $500000 in a brokerage account? ›

Is it safe to keep more than $500,000 in a brokerage account? It is safe in the sense that there are measures in place to help investors recoup their investments before the SIPC steps in. And, indeed, the SIPC will not get involved until the liquidation process starts.

Is Vanguard better than Fidelity? ›

Fidelity: 2023 Comparison. Vanguard and Fidelity are both retirement powerhouses, but Fidelity offers a more well-rounded platform that also caters to active traders. Arielle O'Shea leads the investing and taxes team at NerdWallet.

Can you withdraw from a cash management account? ›

Cash management accounts usually make it easy to withdraw your funds. Many offer debit cards you can use to withdraw cash at ATMs or make purchases, and some allow for check writing.

Does Fidelity allow withdrawals? ›

You can make a withdrawal from your IRA online, or request a withdrawal by phone or at a Fidelity Investor Center.

What is the disadvantage of cash management account? ›

On the other hand, some cons of cash management accounts include that they might charge monthly maintenance fees or require that you maintain a minimum monthly balance. You also might have to pay fees if you want to transfer money out of your CMA to another account or even if you close your CMA.

What can you do with a cash management account? ›

A CMA can streamline your finances by allowing you to make transactions, earn high-yield interest and sometimes use a credit line that's attached to your investment securities all without having to transfer funds between different accounts.

How accessible is the money in a cash management account? ›

Customers still have access to their money when they need it, although outbound transfers may take time. Cash that's swept into accounts at partner banks is still directly accessible.

Why can't I withdraw money from Fidelity? ›

After you sell a security, it takes 2 days to settle before the funds would be available to withdraw. If you are still within 2 days of your sale, the trade has not yet "settled" and you just have to wait.

Is there a fee to withdraw money from Fidelity? ›

THE ESSENCE:

Fidelity charges $0 for withdrawal. The withdrawal process is usually executed within 2 days.

Can I use Zelle with Fidelity cash management account? ›

With Zelle® available in our Fidelity Bank app, there will be no need to remember additional passwords or download another app to start sending and receiving money! Look for communications from us with more information on how you can enroll and start sending money with Zelle®.

Is it safe to keep money in Fidelity? ›

Cash balances in the Fidelity FDIC-insured Deposit Sweep Program are swept into an FDIC-insured interest-bearing account at one or more program banks. Deposits swept into the program bank(s) are eligible for FDIC insurance, subject to FDIC insurance coverage limits.

What qualifies as a hardship withdrawal Fidelity? ›

Generally, for example, the need to pay the funeral expenses of a family member would constitute an immediate and heavy financial need. A distribution made to an employee for the purchase of a boat or television would generally not constitute a distribution made on account of an immediate and heavy financial need.

What is the 55 rule for Fidelity? ›

If you no longer work for the company that provided the 401(k) plan and you left that employer at age 55 or later—but still maintain a 401(k) account—the 55 Rule is an IRS provision that allows you to take early withdrawals beginning at age 55 without a penalty.

Do you have to show proof of hardship withdrawal? ›

You do not have to prove hardship to take a withdrawal from your 401(k). That is, you are not required to provide your employer with documentation attesting to your hardship.

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