Checking vs Savings Accounts: All About the Differences

When it comes to managing everyday finances, some people might consider what type of account is best. Or they might ponder if they need more than one kind of bank account. Understanding the difference between checking and savings accounts and how to use them is a good place to start figuring that out.

In a nutshell, checking accounts are designed for frequent banking transactions such as paying monthly bills, making daily purchases with a debit card, and conducting other transactions involving spending. Savings accounts, on the other hand, are not usually accessed as often. They are instead typically used to hold money being saved to meet a short-term goal (think next summer’s vacation) or as an emergency fund.

Let’s take a closer look at how a checking account vs. a savings account stacks up. We’ll consider which one might be a good choice for a person’s particular financial needs — it could be both — by diving into:

•   The key differences between checking and savings account.

•   What is a savings account and what benefits it offers?

•   What is a checking account and what benefits it offers?

Checking vs Savings Account: Key Differences

To help you understand the differences between checking and savings accounts, here is a chart summarizing the details.

There are similarities when you compare savings accounts vs. checking accounts, such as varied minimum opening deposits, maintenance fees, and other monthly fees. That said, there are also three major differences: how account holders access their money, withdrawal limits, and interest earnings.

Interest Earnings

When it comes to earning a bit of a return on an online bank account, savings accounts typically offer a higher interest rate than checking accounts. In many cases, checking accounts aren’t interest-bearing, meaning no interest is earned at all. Interest rates for savings accounts vary. The current average is 0.07% APY (compared to a current average of 0.03% APY for checking accounts), according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC. You probably will find higher rates at online banks instead of bricks-and-mortar ones. By not having physical locations, online banks save money and can pass savings onto their customers.

Recommended: APR vs. Interest Rate: What’s The Difference?

Debit Card Access

Checking accounts are typically used by account holders to frequently access their cash, whether paying monthly bills or buying a latte. Checking accounts generally include a debit card which can be used for purchases or ATM withdrawals.

Savings accounts, on the other hand, don’t usually come with debit cards. Some financial institutions offer an ATM card for deposits and withdrawals to a savings account.

Withdrawal Limits

Checking accounts allow unlimited withdrawals, whereas savings accounts have typically allowed up to six per month. After that point, the transaction could be denied or the account holder charged a penalty. The bank might even convert the savings account into a checking account.

However, in April 2020, the Federal Reserve lifted this limitation imposed through Regulation D. Financial institutions are no longer required to limit savings account withdrawals or transfers to six per month, but some may continue to impose the maximum. Check with your financial institution to learn the full story.

What Is a Savings Account?

If you’d like to tease apart the differences of savings vs. checking accounts a bit more, let’s take a closer look. A savings account is an account held at a financial institution such as a bank or credit union — its primary purpose is to store your funds safely. Most savings accounts allow the account holder to earn interest on the account balance.

Savings account rates are generally higher than those offered with checking accounts (if those pay any interest at all). For this reason, they can be a good option as a savings vehicle for money that the account holder doesn’t need to access frequently. Common uses for savings accounts are emergency funds, short-term savings goals, and funds for occasional expenses. The cash can accumulate in the savings account and have an opportunity to earn interest.

As mentioned above, banks can still impose a per-month transaction limit on savings accounts — they’re just not required to by the Fed anymore. There could be fees imposed on these excess transactions, which can add up.

Some financial institutions may automatically close an account holder’s savings account or convert the savings account to a checking account if too many withdrawals are made each month on a regular basis.

Other financial institutions don’t charge a maintenance fee or require account holders to maintain a minimum account balance, although they may require a minimum deposit to open an account. It’s wise to check with your financial institution to make sure you understand the ground rules.

Benefits of Savings Accounts

Here are some of the upsides of opening and maintaining a savings account:

•   Savings accounts are low-risk, which means you are unlikely to lose money. Rather, you are likely to make money, thanks to interest, especially when that interest compounds.

•   Interest is a plus. Right now, interest rates are fairly low, often well under 1%, but at least you are earning something. And by shopping around for high-yield accounts, you may be able to get a better return without the volatility of investing in, say, stocks.

•   Savings accounts are usually insured by the FDIC for up to $250,000 per account holder, per ownership category. In the unlikely event of your bank going out of business, you’d be covered. What’s more, some banks participate in programs that extend the FDIC insurance to cover millions¹.

•   Easy access is another plus. Unless term or time deposits, in which your money can be locked up for a specific period of time, savings accounts allow for easy withdrawal of your funds.

•   Peace of mind can come with savings. Having a savings account can help you feel more secure as you work toward your financial goals. For instance, you’ll know that you have funds available if an emergency cropped up.

What Is a Checking Account?

A checking account is also held at a financial institution, though its primary purpose is to be used for everyday spending. These accounts generally don’t have any withdrawal limits, so account holders can make as many transactions as their heart desires.

•   Debit cards typically come with checking accounts, and can be used for purchases at bricks-and-mortar and online retailers and to withdraw cash from an ATM.)

•   Checking account holders may also be able to use paper checks, either complimentary or purchased by the account holder, which can be used to pay bills and make purchases.

•   Account holders may also access their funds by P2P platforms and other means.

Checking accounts may not earn as much interest compared to savings accounts, if they earn any interest at all.

Many financial institutions charge the same types of fees for checking accounts and savings accounts, such as monthly maintenance fees. Additional checking account fees may include overdraft or non-sufficient funds fees and out-of-network ATM fees.

Having enough money in the account and sticking with in-network ATMs are good ways to avoid charges like these, but banks are required to disclose certain fees it charges. Take a look at the fee schedule for any particular type of account you are thinking of opening and get acquainted with the details.

Recommended: Ways to Avoid Overdraft Fees

Benefits of Checking Accounts

There are many advantages to having a checking account, including:

•   You can pay bills and transfer funds online, in person, or by app; there’s no need to carry around cash for such transactions. Checking accounts can make money management very convenient.

•   Checking accounts are typically insured by the FDIC (or, if you bank with a credit union, by the National Credit Union Administration, or NCUA), so your money is safe. Even if the financial institution were to go out of business, you wouldn’t lose your money up to $250,000.

•   Checking accounts can be an affordable way to conduct financial transactions. For instance, your account is likely to come with checks, which can save you the effort and expense of using money orders or other types of payments in many situations.

•   Your checking account may offer rewards, such as cash back opportunities, or if you apply for a loan at the same institution, you may get a better rate.

Recommended: How Much Are ATM Fees?

The Takeaway

Yes, there are significant differences between checking and savings accounts. They serve quite separate purposes and can be useful in working toward varied financial goals. For many people, however, it’s not a question of which kind of account to open, but where’s the best place to open both. When it comes time to consider savings account vs. checking accounts, the result may well be your realizing you need at least one of each.

An online banking account like SoFi Checking and Savings can be a great banking option. With SoFi Checking and Savings, account holders can spend, save, and earn all in one place. Sign up with direct deposit and earn a highly competitive APY — and not pay any account fees. With a convenient mobile app, your account can be managed from wherever you are.

Photo credit: iStock/AleksandarNakic

¹SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by banks in the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $2M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/terms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/receivingbanks.

SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2023 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a deposit to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate.

SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/24/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet..

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

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