JUMP TO Section Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.- How the Federal Reserve impacts savings accounts
- Why are savings interest rates increasing?
- What should I do with my savings right now?
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- The interest rate on your savings account is influenced by what the Federal Reserve does.
- The Federal Reserve has been raising the federal funds rate to combat inflation.
- When the Federal Reserve raises rates, the interest rate on your savings account tends to go up, too.
- See the best savings account rates right now »
If you bank with an online institution, you may have received an email or message from your bank that the interest rate on your high-yield savings account is going up.
Why is this happening? We'll explain why your savings account might be offering a higher interest rate than before.
How the Federal Reserve impacts savings accounts
The Federal Reserve is the central banking system in the US. It's in charge of making decisions about monetary policy.
The Federal Reserve uses the federal funds rate — the interest rate banks use when lending money to each other — as a tool for regulating economic activity.
When the Federal Reserve raises the federal funds rate, it affects the interest rates of banking products like mortgages and savings accounts. Savings rates may increase or drop after a Fed meeting.
"The pros are if you're a receiver, you can see higher rates on your high-yield savings. Now, if you're a borrower, it's costing more money to borrow, whether that's a student loan, car loan, credit card, or mortgage," says Marguerita Cheng, CFP, RICP, and CEO at Blue Ocean Global Wealth.
The interest rate on a high-yield savings account fluctuates and isn't fixed. This means if you open an high-yield savings account, its normal to see the interest rate go up or down over time.
Why are savings interest rates increasing?
Savings interest rates are increasing as a result of recent decisions made by the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates several times in 2022 and 2023 to combat inflation.
"They're tightening monetary policy," explains Cheng. "A way to countermeasure the inflation is to have a tightening, and that means raising interest rates to make it more expensive for people to borrow money. It's their primary mission to manage inflation without causing the economy into a serious recession."
When the Federal Reserve raises rates, the interest rate on your savings account will generally go up. If the Federal Reserve lowers interest rates, savings interest rates will usually drop.
Most notably, the best online banks are paying higher CD rates and savings rates than in 2021 or 2022 — and they've been continuing to increase rates in 2023. According to FDIC, the average savings account pays .40%. Meanwhile, you can earn over 5% with the best savings accounts and CDs.
Quick tip: If your bank hasn't offered a higher APY yet, or if it offers new customers a higher interest rate on a high-yield savings account, you may be able to contact your bank and ask for a rate increase.
What should I do with my savings right now?
Cheng says everyone — regardless of whether you've just graduated from high school or just retired — can use a combination of savings and investing for your short-term and long-term goals.
If you're concerned about inflation, Cheng recommends saving just enough money for everyday needs or emergencies.
"We need cash for liquidity for any emergencies or opportunities," says Cheng. "But you don't want to have too much money in cash. Because you can see, even with high-yield savings, the growth rates on your cash is still below inflation. In other words, inflation is growing at a faster rate than your cash."
A high-yield savings account can always be useful for short-term financial goals, like buying a car or saving money for a vacation. It may also be used for storing an emergency fund — financial experts recommend having at least three to six months of expenses easily accessible in an account.
Sophia Acevedo Banking Editor Sophia Acevedo is a banking editor at Business Insider. She has spent three years as a personal finance journalist and is an expert across numerous banking topics.ExperienceSophia leads Personal Finance Insider's banking coverage, including reviews, guides, reference articles, and news. She edits and updates articles about banks, checking and savings accounts, CD rates, and budgeting and saving. She is highly knowledgeable about long-term trends in rates and offers at banks across the U.S.Before joining Business Insider, Sophia worked as a journalist at her college newspaper and was a freelance writer. She has spent seven years writing and editing as a journalist.Sophia was nominated for an Axel Springer Award for Change in 2023 for her coverage of ABLE accounts, tax-free savings accounts for people with disabilities. She was also a winner of a 2018 California Journalism Awards Campus Contest for her photography.She loves helping people find the best solutions for their unique needs and hopes that more people will find the tools to solve their financial problems. She’s inspired by stories of everyday people adapting to their financial circumstances and overcoming their fears around money.ExpertiseSophia's expertise includes:- Bank accounts
- Savings and CD rate trends
- Budgeting
- Saving
- How banks operate
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