Skip to Main Content

Banking

From savings account details to bank reviews, economic insights and more — Bankrate offers valuable information and advice for you.

Explore banking basics

Middle aged woman on laptop

How to open a certificate of deposit (CD)

Banking
Everything you need to know about opening an account.
Woman sitting outside of restaurant looking at cell phone

How to start saving (even if you’re starting from scratch)

Banking
Getting into the habit of paying yourself first is hard. Here are some ideas to help you start.
Illustration of two hands holding phones, sending physical gold coins to one another.

How to transfer money from one bank to another: 4 ways

Banking
Keep fees in check when you shift money from one bank account to another.

Editor's picks

Experts in all things banking

Our expert reporters and editors bring the news and analysis you need—backed by data and firsthand experience.

About Bankrate
Greg McBride

Greg McBride, CFA Arrow Right Icon

Chief Financial Analyst

Sarah Foster

Sarah Foster Arrow Right Icon

Principal U.S. Economy Reporter

Mark Hamrick

Mark Hamrick Arrow Right Icon

Senior Economic Analyst

Banking data studies

Money next to flashing sirens
Nearly 1 in 4 Americans have no emergency savings, according to a new Bankrate survey.
Over 1 in 4 workers are more worried about job security since 2025 began.
And elderly couple discussing HYSA options
Two-thirds of American savers say they’re earning rates below 4% APY. Here’s why.

Featured by names you know and trust

Latest articles

Image of Jerome Powell speaking from the Federal Reserve podium.
A tough mix of rising prices and weak hiring is leaving the Fed with no easy way out.
People walk by a Western Union location in New York.
Wire transfer fees can be expensive, but here are ways to send money for less.
Someone cutting a stack of cash with scissors
In this era of no-fee banking, pesky fees still exist. Here’s how to avoid them.
Illustration of a robot hand holding a bank building
Artifical intelligence (AI) is likely to reshape our lives in as big a way as the internet did in the 1990s and smartphones did in the 2000s (scary or exciting as that may be). That means changes to your [...]
Illustration of coins with a headline that reads best high-yield savings accounts today
Compare the best high-yield savings rates as of September 12, 2025.
Woman watering plants.
Check out the latest CD rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of banks and thrifts.
Whimsical illustration of a hand putting a quarter into a miniature but realistic high end safe. As if it were a piggy bank
Comparing savings rates can ensure you get the best return on your savings.
Illustration of bag with dollar sign on it and allow in background, headline reading today's best high-yield savings rates
Compare the best high-yield savings rates as of September 11, 2025.
Illustration of coins with a headline that reads best high-yield savings accounts today
Compare the best high-yield savings rates as of September 12, 2025.
Whimsical illustration of a hand putting a quarter into a miniature but realistic high end safe. As if it were a piggy bank
Comparing savings rates can ensure you get the best return on your savings.
Illustration of bag with dollar sign on it and allow in background, headline reading today's best high-yield savings rates
Compare the best high-yield savings rates as of September 11, 2025.
illustration with piggy bank and arrow in background with headline saying today's top savings rates
Compare the best high-yield savings rates as of September 10, 2025.
Mother and daughter putting money in piggy bank
Knowing how these accounts work, and how they differ, can help better your finances.
Illustration of stack of money with headline that says best high-yield savings interest rates
Compare the best high-yield savings rates as of September 9, 2025.
Fed rate hike to curb inflation, wooden block with FED and up-down arrows icon. Central banking system and interest rate changes.
We look back at how banks handled rate cuts in 2024, and what to expect in 2025.
Illustration of coins with a headline that reads best high-yield savings accounts today
Compare the best high-yield savings rates as of September 8, 2025.
Woman watering plants.
Check out the latest CD rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of banks and thrifts.
A woman does research online.
These CD specials help you earn more money on interest without taking on risk.
A woman ponders
Find out what happens to CDs that are set to mature.
A man does research on his laptop.
Add-on CDs can offer more flexibility than a traditional CD.
Man at laptop, deep in thought
Certificates of deposit offer peace of mind, but they’re not without some drawbacks.
A collection of assorted items: old analog alarm clock, padlock, keys, a check, a hand holding cash
CDs often pay better interest than savings accounts and can amp up your nest egg.
Middle aged woman on laptop
Everything you need to know about opening an account.
Elderly woman on laptop
Although it depends, be mindful of the CD’s terms and how it meets your money goals.
Ally Bank logo
Ally’s money market account offers a high APY, no minimum deposit or monthly fee.
Man working on laptop and drinking coffee
Money market funds are available from several different brokers and fund managers.
Image of a piggy bank stuffed with dollars and an arrow behind it pointing to the right and going up.
$10,000 high-yield savings vs. $10,000 money market account: Here’s which earns more
People walking past an HSBC Bank
These four types of bank accounts can help you meet your financial goals.
A young female researches on her phone.
Here’s the lowdown on no-penalty CDs, and how they differ from regular CDs.
Person looking at smartphone
The best account to save your money will vary by your goal.
Bank teller with customer
These credit unions offer great rates and top-notch features — and many make it easy to join.
Woman smiling at cash on a cloud
Lay away cash for an emergency or short-term goals with a money market mutual fund.
Young Woman Depositing Check With Smartphone
The amount of time for a check to clear can vary from check to check.
woman depositing a check on her phone
There are several ways to deposit a check — some are simpler than others.
Person reading credit card statement
Here are easy actions you can take to avoid the fee of get it waived.
A young woman is in the living room, she is using a laptop and credit card
Stop wasting time writing checks. Learn the faster, safer way to pay.
Planning, finance and couple with paper and laptop for budget
Here’s what you need to know about this high-yield checking promo.
The IRS has more than $1 billion in unclaimed tax refunds for 2021
Get your tax refund faster and more securely by setting up direct deposit. Learn how to avoid common mistakes.
person standing next to bike and looking at phone
If you overdraw your account frequently, then overdraft protection could be a good way to avoid hefty overdraft fees.
woman doing headstand
Your bank accounts have two separate balances: the current balance and the available balance. Here’s the distinction.