With all the talk of rising interest rates, it’s natural for consumers to assume that the rates on their bank accounts are headed up too.
To fight record inflation, the Federal Reserve (the Fed) has raised the federal funds target rate — a key borrowing rate — four times this year, to a current 2.25% to 2.5% and is expected to do so again in the Fall. This comes after years of the near zero or zero rate levels.
Higher rates result in consumers paying more for mortgages, credit cards, auto loans, home equity lines of credit, and other loans. The Fed rates also affect how much interest is earned on savings accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), and other accounts. Thus, the silver lining to rising rates would seem to be that the interest on your bank accounts would finally rise above near zero levels.
Unfortunately, that’s not always what happens.
While some banks and financial institutions have raised interest rates on savings, many have not. One reason is simply that it takes longer for some banks to respond to rising interest rates than others. Another issue is that, due to high levels of pandemic saving, many institutions aren’t looking to woo new customers (and more deposits) with attractive interest rates.
Here’s a closer look at why your bank account may not be earning the interest you think it should.
How Fed Rates Affect Banks
When you hear that the Fed has raised (or lowered) interest rates, it is referring to the federal funds rate, which is the target interest rate at which banks borrow and lend money to one another. This has a ripple effect across the entire economy.
When interest rates rise, loans become more expensive for banks and, in turn, consumers and businesses. However, it can also mean higher yields for savers. That’s because, when you have a savings account at a bank, you are effectively letting the bank borrow your money, and the institution pays you interest in return.
In a higher-rate environment, banks may start raising the annual percentage yield (APY) on savings accounts and rewards checking accounts to attract new customers. However, that’s not always how it works, at least not right away.
Recommended: What Is a Good Interest Rate for a Savings Account?
How Banking Lending and Borrowing Works
When you — and all bank customers — make a deposit to your checking or savings account, your bank uses that money to make higher interest loans, such as personal loans, car loans, and mortgages. That’s a chief way banks make money.
With people saving more during the pandemic, banks have seen their deposits skyrocket. The result, at least for the short term, is that many institutions don’t need to attract checking and savings customers with competitive interest rates because they already have plenty of cash on hand to use for lending.
Also, when banks pay interest on customers’ savings accounts in a low-rate environment, which has been the case for many years, they may pay more than what they make when they lend to other banks. The result is that some banks have to slash profits to keep paying interest to savers or even go into the red. Now that rates are rising, some of these institutions are holding back on increasing APYs to help make up for those lost profits.
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Some Banks Lag Behind the Fed Longer than Others
It may be that your bank will raise rates on your savings or checking account soon. They just haven’t done it in sync with the Fed’s announcements.
Typically, online savings accounts respond more quickly to Fed rate changes. This is because there is generally a lot more competition among online banks for customers (and their deposits). APYs offered by traditional brick-and-mortar banks often react much more slowly to Fed rate increases, and yields hardly ever rise as high as the Fed’s interest rate.
What’s important to remember is that banks don’t increase rates at the same time or at the same rate as the Fed. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on both your savings and your credit accounts to see what moves your bank is making.
A Note About Brick-and-Mortar Banks
Big banks with lots of physical locations generally have higher operating expenses than online banks and, as a result, may be reluctant to offer higher rates that cut into profits.
But that’s only part of the story, says Brian Walsh, senior manager of financial planning at SoFi. Big banks know their customers often experience inertia when it comes to changing banks. “They may have started their account in college or when they were setting up direct deposit at their first job. Those customers tend to just stick around,” he explains. As a result, big banks may determine they won’t lose customers if they don’t raise rates, so they are less likely to do so.
Recommended: Traditional Banking vs. Online Banking: What’s Better for You?
Customers Often Overestimate How Difficult it is to Change Banks
Often banking customers are reluctant to switch because they overestimate the amount of time or paperwork it will take,” says Walsh. They may feel a slightly higher interest rate just isn’t worth the trouble. According to SoFi research from February 2021, a third of 1,600 respondents said they see no benefit to switching their bank or financial institution.
Walsh acknowledges that there is some time involved in changing banks, but notes that the hour or two you spend will likely pay off over time. “The difference between close to zero percent interest on your savings account and 1.80% can add up to a lot of money,” he says.
Recommended: How to Earn More Interest On Your Money
The Takeaway
Even if the Fed is raising rates, banks and other financial institutions don’t necessarily follow, at least not immediately. They may decide it doesn’t fit into their business and profit strategies to raise rates on customer accounts. They may also be counting on the fact that banking customers often experience inertia when it comes to switching to a higher paying bank, especially if they have been using an established institution for a long period of time.
Understanding why your bank account interest rates don’t move in tandem with the Fed’s actions can help determine if you should make a change. If you’re not satisfied with the interest you’re currently earning on your accounts, you may want to consider an online bank account like SoFi’s all-in-one Checking and Savings account. When you open an account with direct deposit, you can earn a competitive APY. Plus, you won’t pay any account fees.
Photo credit: iStock/Brankospejs
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SoFi members with direct deposit can earn up to 4.20% annual percentage yield (APY) interest on Savings account balances (including Vaults) and up to 1.20% APY on Checking account balances. There is no minimum direct deposit amount required to qualify for these rates. Members without direct deposit will earn 1.20% APY on all account balances in Checking and Savings (including Vaults). Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 4/25/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
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