Planning a Walt Disney World vacation includes several steps — especially in recent years.
Choosing flights, booking hotels and purchasing theme park tickets isn’t enough anymore. Nowadays, you’ll also need to make a park reservation before you visit any Disney theme parks.
Thankfully, even if availability for Disney reservations is limited for your desired dates, you’re not out of luck.
Here’s how to make park reservations, some tips for visiting the theme park you want to see and how to get Disney tickets when it’s sold out.
Making Disney park reservations
Whenever you purchase Disney tickets, you also need to make a park reservation. This policy, started in 2020, can make it a little difficult if you’re not planning a trip well in advance.
You’ll want to book your reservations as soon as possible to ensure you’re able to visit your preferred parks. Reservations are made automatically for all single-day ticket purchases. However, if you have a multi-day ticket or an annual pass, you’ll need to make the reservations.
Before doing so, look at the availability calendar, which shows the theme parks available for your desired dates.
In this example, we’ve selected “Theme Park Tickets,” which shows availability in all four parks in July 2023:
If you select the “Annual Passes” option, you’ll be taken to a new page where you’ll choose the type of pass you have and which park you want to visit.
In this example, if you have the Pirate Pass, you aren’t able to make a reservation for Magic Kingdom during specific holiday weekends in May or July 2023:
In this case, reservations aren’t available due to blackout dates on this pass. This doesn’t mean reservations for Magic Kingdom are sold out for all ticket holders, so there may still be other ways for you to visit on these dates if you’re blocked out.
After you’ve confirmed that your dates are available, log in to your Disney account and make reservations on the reservation page.
How to get Disney reservations when it’s sold out
Maybe you’ve waited too long or you’re planning to visit on a busy day and the Disney World park you want to visit is sold out.
Luckily, there still are options available even when a park is out of reservations.
Park hop
It’s actually fairly unusual for Disney World tickets to be completely sold out. Even if a specific park’s reservations are sold out, other parks are typically available.
For example, Magic Kingdom reservations may be sold out, but Animal Kingdom may have reservations available.
And with park hopping tickets, visiting Magic Kingdom is still possible even if reservations aren’t initially available.
This is because you can go from one park to another without a reservation after 2 p.m.
So if you’ve made a reservation to visit Epcot, then, you could get on the monorail at 1:30 p.m. to head to Magic Kingdom. As soon as 2 p.m. hits, you can scan your ticket and enter Magic Kingdom — no reservation required.
Refresh the reservation page
Is it looking like Disney tickets are sold out? Ticket sales may appear to be static, but that’s not actually true.
Guests make and cancel reservations all the time, which means it’ll benefit you to keep checking back. If your preferred park is sold out, you’ll want to periodically refresh Disney’s reservation page.
This is especially the case as your dates move closer. There are times when guests make reservations but are unable to go at the last minute.
If you have the page open and refreshing, you’ll be the first to find those newly available reservations and can snap them up.
Switch your site
Do you speak another language? If that’s the case, you may want to try loading Disney’s park reservation page in that language.
It’s not clear why you’ll see available reservations on one version of the site and not another, but you can use this quirk to your advantage.
Book a resort
There are three types of park reservations available to guests: those with day tickets, those staying at select resorts and those with annual passes.
If you want to visit but your particular dates are blocked out, look at the availability calendar referenced above and choose “Select Resort Hotels.” Booking a night at a Disney resort may unlock a park pass reservation during even the busiest periods.
Buy an annual pass
Earlier in 2023, Walt Disney World expanded the benefits of those holding annual passes.
Now, anyone with an annual pass can visit any Disney park after 2 p.m. without a reservation. The only exception to this is at Magic Kingdom on Saturdays and Sundays — pass holders are still required to have reservations during those times.
Disney reservations availability recapped
Walt Disney World is a popular vacation destination for many travelers, whether it’s a family heading out for their first trip to the Magic Kingdom or a group of friends committed to drinking around the world at Epcot.
However, it’s necessary to plan in advance if you’re going to visit Disney World. This is true for dining reservations, hotel bookings and especially for theme park reservations.
If you’ve planned a vacation when reservations are no longer available, try these tips to still enjoy time at your favorite theme park.
(Top photo courtesy of Walt Disney World)
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:
By Peter Anderson28 Comments – The content of this website often contains affiliate links and I may be compensated if you buy through those links (at no cost to you!). Learn more about how we make money. Last edited April 4, 2013.
Peer to peer lending has been a hot topic on personal finance blogs for the last year or so. Lots of people are promoting it as a good way to make decent returns on your money – even in a tough economy like we’re in (Some might argue that it’s because of the hard times we’re in that it’s becoming a better way to make good interest on your money).
I have stayed out of the social lending market because up until recently my wife and I were still building up 3-6 months of expenses in our emergency fund (actually we’re closer to 8 months, we’re a bit more conservative than some), and we didn’t really have a lot of extra money to put into things Lending Club or Prosper.
We’ve finally completed our 8 months of expenses, and since we now have a little bit extra discretionary income, I thought I would sign up to use one of the more popular person to person lending services, Lending Club.
The Idea Behind Peer-To-Peer Lending
For those of you who aren’t familiar with P-2-P lending, here is a quick primer of how it works. Sites like Lending Club bring together a large network of borrowers and investors. As an investor/lender you can choose to invest as little as $25 with one borrower, or if you want to invest a larger sum you can spread out your money between a larger number of loans. (You can lend a large amount to one borrower, but it isn’t suggested. Better to diversify your holdings. ) As a borrower you can get a loan for up to $25,000 and have that amount lent to you from many different sources. P-2-P lending may allow people who might otherwise not be able to get a traditional bank loan to still fund their business, consolidate debt, or fund a wedding – all while getting a lower interest rate than they might have at a bank or on their credit card.
Peer-to-peer lending isn’t without it’s downside – and as with many traditional loans there are going to be plenty of people that default on their loans, and don’t repay. So you need to take that into account when choosing the loans you want to fund, and looking at the higher interest rates on riskier loans. The higher the interest rate that you’ll receive, the more risk you’ll take on. Also, Lending Club and other P-2-P sites are not available in all states.
Signing Up For Lending Club
I chose to sign up for Lending Club as my first foray into P-2-P lending because it has a pretty good reputation in the blogosphere, and elsewhere. They also successfully registered with the SEC in 2008, which has given them even more credibility.
Signing up for the Lending Club was a simple process, although it will take you a few days from signing up until you can actually begin lending. Here are the steps to sign up.
Go to Lending Club web site
Click on Join Now link at the top right of the screen and complete the application to be a borrower or investor on the screen that comes up. If signing up as an investor don’t forget to use the referral code below for $50 free!
You should receive a confirmation email, in which you’ll need to click on a link to confirm your registration.
Go back to the Lending Club website and login with your new login info.
Click on the Invest button. Fill in your profile information in order to verify who you are, and to link your bank account to Lending Club. (Lending Club will make two small deposits into your account to verify that you have access to the account).
Once your bank account is verified, go to the My Account tab, and then choose Add Funds. You’ll need to transfer at least $25 to your Lending Club account in order to get started. This may take a few days.
From My Account tab, click on Invest to start lending money
Once you’ve finished to process above, you’ll be ready to start lending money. This is the fun part – lending money, and making a bit of money in return.
Lending Money With Lending Club
Lending money using Lending Club is actually kind of fun. You get to read about people’s situation, find out why they’re taking out a loan, and then see if they are in fact a good credit risk. I decided to look mainly at loans that were from borrowers with good credit scores, verified income, and what I considered good reasons for taking out a loan (I’m usually against taking on new debt of most kinds, so I didn’t want to fund loans unless they were for people bettering their debt situation, and trying to get out of debt). Since I’m just testing the waters, I decided to invest $100 for now. If I’m happy with the returns and borrower repayment I’ll consider investing more in the future.
Originally I was planning on investing my money with my friend Matt over at DebtFreeAdventure.com who is currently repaying a Lending Club loan to consolidate a couple of higher interest credit cards and an auto loan. Unfortunately (for me) his loan was completely funded before my deposit was credited to my LC account. So I had to find other loans to fund. To find borrowers to fund just do the following:
Click on the Invest tab at the top of the page.
Enter how much you would like to invest with each loan.
Hit the Run LendingMatch button to match your lending amount to borrowers.
If you would like you can increase the amount of risky loans you are willing to take on (and the interest you can make) using the slider on the page.
When you are done hit the Next button and it will bring back a list of matching loans for you to invest in, based upon your risk tolerance that you’ve selected.
If you prefer to select loans manually, you can also do that by selecting the Browse Notes link at the top of the page (this is what I chose to do).
Since I was investing with Lending Club for the first time I decided to manually select the notes that I would be investing in. I didn’t want to invest in anything that sounded overly risky, or to invest with anyone that sounded like they weren’t very responsible. Since I am only investing $100 to start, it didn’t take me very long to find 4 notes to invest $25 in, with people who had good credit scores, and who were either in the A or B credit rating.
Once you have your notes selected you just click on the Invest button, and then confirm your purchase order for those loans, and those amounts. Piece of cake.
Now, I just have to sit back and watch the interest pile up!
Sign Up For Lending Club
I’m going to be charting my experience with Lending Club here on the blog, so stay tuned. If you’ve been thinking about signing up for an account, now is the perfect time. If you register for a new investor account and click on our link, for a limited time you’ll get $25 in your lender account – for free!
OK. Ready to sign Up For Lending Club And Start Investing?
(yes, that is an affiliate link. thanks for signing up through me!)
More Social Lending Resources
Have you entered into the peer-to-peer lending arena as a borrower or investor? What has been your experience?
Editor’s note: This story includes references to some credit card offers that are no longer available. You can view our current offers here.
Today I want to share a story from TPG reader Matthew Orchant, who used seven credit card bonuses and hotel free night certificates to book an epic honeymoon trip to Japan.
The Orchants opened seven credit cards in eight months, earning around half a million points to make this dream trip a reality.
Saving points on airfare to Japan
Rather than splurging on premium cabin airfare (which is also generally harder to find), the Orchants decided to book economy flights with their rewards. This gave them more points to use in Japan.
To fund their flights, the Orchants both opened The Platinum Card® from American Express with targeted welcome bonuses through CardMatch (subject to change at any time).
They booked round-trip, nonstop airfare from Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) for 100,000 Aeroplan points per ticket. For reference, Air Canada Aeroplan doesn’t have the lowest award rates on this route. When X (Star Alliance economy award) fare is available, here’s the round-trip cost per person using these programs, all of which are transfer partners of American Express Membership Rewards:
Regardless, the Orchants transferred 200,000 Amex Membership Rewards points to Air Canada Aeroplan to book the ANA flight (which we’re told would have been around $5,000 for two tickets using cash), leaving them with 100,000 leftover Membership Rewards points from their two welcome bonuses. They’ll use those points for a future trip.
Related: The best ways to travel to Japan with points and miles
Luxury Hyatt stays in Japan
For their time in Tokyo, the Orchants booked the 52-floor Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills, which is steps away from some of the city’s top attractions, including the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Tower.
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Modern Japanese-inspired rooms and suites that sit in a prime location and come outfitted with luxurious Aesop bath amenities don’t come cheap. For their dates, rooms were going for around $1,100 per night. So, their 120,000 World of Hyatt points saved them around $4,400.
In Kyoto, the Orchants spent two nights at the Park Hyatt Kyoto. Rather than pay with cash, which would’ve cost them $4,000 for the entire stay, they redeemed 35,000 points per night for their stay.
To get their World of Hyatt accounts to 190,000 points, the Orchants both signed up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. Each of their card offers included an 80,000-point sign-up bonus at the time (which has since expired). They also each opened the World of Hyatt Credit Card to earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in their first three months from account opening.
Because you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio, the Orchants were able to transfer most of the points they earned from signing up for their cards toward their Hyatt stays.
Related: 5 easy ways to maximize Hyatt award redemptions
Maximizing Marriott certificates
The last part of the Orchants’ trip took them to Osaka, where they made great use of free night certificates for their final three nights. Their property of choice? The brand-new W Osaka.
When they were planning their trip, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offered a sign-up bonus of three free night awards (up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night). This offer has also expired. Since each night was just 44,000 points, they didn’t have to use points to top off their certificates.
Had the Orchants decided to pay cash, they would’ve spent just over $1,100 for the three-night stay.
Related: Ouch: It’s not just you, Marriott stays now cost more points
Bottom line
The Orchants are about to leave on an unforgettable honeymoon trip. They earned nearly half a million points by opening seven credit cards, which funded their air travel and lodging in Japan. They’ll be taking a convenient nonstop flight from Washington, D.C., while staying at some of Japan’s most prestigious hotels during the nine-night trip.
If they had paid cash for their travels, the trip would have set them back roughly $14,500.
Now, it’s worth noting that such a strategy takes time to implement thanks to the various application restrictions from the major card issuers — most notably Chase’s 5/24 rule. Nevertheless, this story shows how planning in advance can unlock incredible value when you put your rewards to use.
Congratulations to the Orchants, and safe travels to Japan.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card, like all co-branded travel cards, is aimed at people who regularly fly with Southwest Airlines.
This is a premium travel card that offers 3,000 miles every year you have it, a discount on in-flight purchases, and two free EarlyBird Check-Ins each year.
This card also features a rewards structure, providing bonus miles on spending categories like transit, commuting, internet, cable, phone, and select streaming.
Another strength of this card is its 60,000-mile signup bonus — which is more than enough to get you a round-trip ticket or two!
If you’re thinking about adding the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card to your wallet, this guide will help you decide.
What’s Ahead:
Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card for me?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card is designed for frequent flyers who like to travel with Southwest.
This means that if you’re a loyal Southwest customer or live near a Southwest hub, this card might be a great option for you. You’ll accelerate your earnings toward free flights and get some solid perks, such as two free EarlyBird Check-Ins each year.
If you aren’t a fan of Southwest or live in a place where Southwest isn’t as prevalent, this card likely won’t be as valuable as another airline or generic travel rewards credit card.
What makes this credit card different?
What makes the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card different is its focus on Southwest Airlines.
Because it’s a co-branded card, it can offer unique benefits and perks that generic travel credit cards can’t. If you fly Southwest frequently, you’ll enjoy these perks.
This card also comes with a great signup bonus in the form of 60,000 bonus points plus a 30% off promo code when you spend $3,000 using the card within three months of opening your account.
You can also receive 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year. With the Companion Pass, you can name one person, such as a spouse, partner, or friend, to be your companion. They can get a free ticket on any flight you book for yourself.
Generic travel cards don’t offer these specialized benefits and bonuses, so they likely won’t be as appealing to people who prefer to fly with Southwest.
Related: Best credit card sign up bonuses
What are my chances of getting approved?
As with any credit card, it’s important to think about whether you have a chance of qualifying before you apply. Applying for a new credit card drops your credit score by a few points, so you don’t want to lower your credit for no reason.
Chase, this Southwest credit card’s issuer, says that applicants require good credit to be eligible for the card. That means you should try to have a credit score of about 670 or higher before you apply.
All the details of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card
Credit cards are complicated, so before you sign up for one, you must make sure you understand how they work.
Rates and fees
The first thing to look at when you want to get a new credit card is how much the card will cost. Some cards, including travel cards, have annual fees, so you want to make sure the benefits and perks you’ll get cover the cost of having the card.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card charges $69 per year.
Perks and rewards
When it comes to travel cards, it’s all about the perks and rewards. A good travel card should let you earn your way toward free trips and help you travel more comfortably.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card does it all, with a great signup bonus, strong ongoing rewards, and some nice perks to use whenever you’re on a flight.
To start things off, you can earn 60,000 points plus a 30% off promo code when you spend $3,000 within your first three months of having the card.
After that, you’ll earn:
2 points for each dollar spent on Southwest purchases.
2 points for each dollar spent on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
2 points for each dollar spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
2 points for each dollar spent on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services.
1 point for each dollar spent on all other purchases.
As for perks, cardholders will get a 3,000-point bonus on each card member anniversary. You can also use the card to get two free EarlyBird Check-Ins each year and 25% back on all inflight purchases.
You’ll also get all the typical credit card perks and benefits, including extended warranty protection and purchase protection.
Related: Best travel rewards cards
How to apply
The easiest way to apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card is to visit Chase’s website. Chase is the bank that Southwest partners with to offer this credit card.
To start the process, you’ll enter your personal info, including your:
Name.
Date of birth.
Mother’s maiden name.
Social Security number.
Address.
You’ll also need to provide your Southwest Rapid Rewards number if you have one. If you don’t, Chase will automatically set one up for you if you’re approved.
Finally, you’ll enter whether you rent or own, your monthly rent payment amount (if applicable), and your total annual income. Once you apply, Chase will review it and make a lending decision.
Typically, Chase can make a decision instantly. However, if the bank has trouble matching your information to your credit file or wants to take a closer look at some of the application details, you may have to wait for a decision in the mail.
Contact info
If you have issues with your Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card, the best thing to do is reach out to Chase’s customer service.
You can contact Chase by signing in to your account and sending a secure message. You can also call credit card customer service at 1-800-432-3117 or contact @ChaseSupport on social media.
Other stuff you should know
One important thing to note about the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card is that it’s not the only Southwest travel card available. There are two others: the Priority card and the Premier card.
The Plus is the entry-level card. It has the lowest annual fee but the fewest perks of the three Southwest cards.
The Premier card is the next level up from the Plus card. It has a higher annual fee at $99 but offers 3x points on all Southwest purchases, 6,000 points on every cardmember anniversary, and bonus qualifying points toward A-List status.
The Priority card is the top-end Southwest card. It has a $149 annual fee but offers 7,500 points on every card member anniversary and a $75 credit for Southwest travel each year. You’ll also receive four upgraded boardings each year.
Another thing to consider is that the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card is designed for Southwest flyers. The rewards you earn are pretty inflexible and typically only good for Southwest flights. There are some gift card redemption options, but they aren’t a good value.
Alternative credit cards to the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card Credit Card
If the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card doesn’t seem like the right one for you, consider the following alternatives:
Southwest Priority: This card is useful for people who spend a lot on it and want to earn A-List status.
Southwest Premier: For frequent travelers, this card’s annual statement credit and points mostly cover the fee. You’ll also enjoy the upgraded boarding perk.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: This is another Chase card with far more flexible rewards, letting you redeem points for any travel.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: This card has a $95 annual fee and offers strong cash back rates on travel purchases.
American Express Gold: This is the mid-tier Membership Rewards card. It offers flexible rewards and a good earnings rate on food and travel.
How do you determine which credit card is right for you?
When you’re in the market for a new credit card, you should compare your options to find the right one. When making this comparison, consider the following factors:
Your ability to qualify. Card issuers design different cards for people with different credit profiles. Before you apply, make sure you have a good chance of qualifying for the card.
Fees. Some cards, especially travel cards, carry annual fees. Make sure you’re getting enough value from the card to make the fee worth paying.
Perks. Each card has a different set of perks and benefits. Make sure the perks you receive from the card are useful for you.
Rewards. Credit cards can offer cash back, points, miles, or other rewards. Make sure the rewards on offer align with your goals. It’s also important to think about their flexibility. You don’t want to be stuck with miles you can’t use. Also, consider the rate of earning those rewards, and look for cards that offer bonuses on the types of purchases you make most often.
Rates. In general, you should avoid carrying a credit card balance whenever possible. However, sometimes you have to carry a balance. When that happens, having a card with a low interest rate is good.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card FAQ
Can I pool my Southwest miles with someone else’s?
No, Southwest does not offer any way to pool your rewards with another person.
What is the Southwest Companion Pass?
The Southwest Companion Pass is a perk you can earn through a credit card signup bonus or by taking a lot of flights in a single year. When you earn this pass, you can choose one other person to get a free ticket on every flight you book until the end of the calendar year after you earned it.
So, if you earn the pass in 2023, it will expire at the end of 2024. Some passes earned through promotions have different expiration dates.
Can I redeem my Southwest points for things other than flights?
Yes, you can redeem your Southwest points for gift cards to many popular retailers. However, redeeming points for flights is typically a better value.
Why choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card?
With a strong signup bonus and some nice perks, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card is a good option for frequent Southwest fliers.
Given its reasonable price, substantial signup bonus, and valuable perks, we give the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card a 4 out of 5 rating.
If you think this is the right card for you, apply now.
When you choose a bank for your daily checking and savings needs, you can choose between a national bank, a smaller regional bank, credit unions of varying sizes, and even online banks and financial technology companies.
Since early 2023, when Signature Bank and Silicon Valley Bank both experienced failures after customers pulled out large amounts of money during bank runs, banking customers may feel more comfortable choosing a national bank.
Although the U.S. government took extraordinary measures to protect the assets of SVB and Signature Bank customers, and deposits held in the accounts were FDIC insured, many customers were still rightfully concerned about gaining access to their money in a timely manner.
After the banking crisis of 2008, the Federal government declared banks like JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citibank, and Wells Fargo as “too big to fail.” But these aren’t the only national banks or credit unions available.
You might think that smaller online banks may have lower fees, while small local banks are known for friendly and responsive customer service. But the national banks on this list blend the best of all worlds: low fees, high marks for customer satisfaction, ways to avoid overdraft fees, convenient ATM networks, and a variety of banking products.
16 Best National Banks
Here are the 16 best national banks that offer exceptional services, excellent customer support, and innovative banking solutions to meet all of your financial needs.
1. SoFi – Best for Digital Banking & High Yields
SoFi became a nationally chartered online bank in 2022, after acquiring Golden Pacific Bancorp, Member FDIC. Originally known for its vast array of loan products, including private student loans, today SoFi has a combination checking and savings account, or a cash management account, with no monthly service fee.
SoFi also has no minimum balance requirements, no overdraft fee, and overdraft protection up to $50 with qualifying direct deposits each month. You can bank for free at any of 55,000+ fee free Allpoint ATMs nationwide.
As an online bank, SoFi offers higher interest rates than you may find at brick and mortar banks. Earn up to 4.20% APY on your savings account balance and 1.20% on money in your checking account. When you use your SoFi debit card at select local businesses, you can earn up to 15% cash back.
SoFi offers two tiers of accounts: SoFi and SoFi Plus. To qualify for the “freemium” SoFi Plus membership, bank customers must have qualifying direct deposits. Plus, when you sign up before December 31, 2023, you can earn a cash bonus of $250 when you set up direct deposits of $5,000 or $50 with a direct deposit as low as $1,000.
SoFi Plus members receive loan rate discounts, bonus rewards, access to special entertainment events and more, making SoFi a unique company when it comes to online banks.
2. Discover Bank – Best for Cash Back
Discover may be best known for cashback and rewards credit cards. But its online banking products are some of the best you’ll find among national banks.
With no monthly fees and no minimum balance, your Discover Cashback checking account pays 1% cashback on up to $3,000 worth of debit card purchases monthly. You’ll never pay overdraft charges, and you can withdraw cash at a network of 60,000+ fee free ATMs.
You can qualify for overdraft protection by linking your Discover Bank savings account. Discover Savings pays a high 3.90% APY with no minimum deposit required.
Other Discover Bank deposit accounts include CDs with terms from 3 months to 10 years, and a money market account that pays 3.80% APY for balances under $100,000 and 3.85% on balances $100,000 and up.
For questions or help with your account, you can reach a U.S.-based customer service representative for Discover Bank by phone, 24/7/365.
3. Chase Bank – Best for Credit Card Rewards & Referral Bonuses
As the world’s largest national bank, JPMorgan Chase Bank doesn’t need to do much to entice customers. People will choose Chase based on its name, reputation, and more than 4,700 convenient branch locations across the U.S.
However, Chase happens to have one of the best bonuses for new customers and a generous referral bonus program when existing customers refer their friends. This, coupled with a robust and easy-to-use mobile app and a variety of checking, savings and investment services, puts Chase on our list of top national banks in the U.S.
Chase is currently offering new Chase Total Checking customers a $200 bonus when they open a new account and set up direct deposit within the first 90 days.
New or upgrading Chase Private Client customers can earn a $3,000 bonus with a deposit of $500,000 or more within the first 45 days of account opening. Deposits of $150,000 to $249,999 earn $1,000 and cash deposits of $250,000 to $499,999 earn $2,000. You must keep the money in your J.P. Morgan Wealth Management or JPMorgan Chase deposit accounts for 90 days to qualify.
In addition to Chase Total Checking, the bank’s most popular checking account, and Private Client services, Chase also offers other checking and savings accounts.
Chase Secure Banking has a $4.95 monthly fee and no overdraft fees. Chase Premier Plus Checking offers a few added benefits beyond Chase Total Checking, including ATM fee rebates up to four times per statement cycle, a linked personal checking account with no monthly fees, and a 0.01% interest rate on balances.
Chase also offers bank accounts for kids, teens, and college students, as well as CDs, savings and money market accounts, mortgages, loan products, and a full array of top-rated rewards credit cards.
If you have multiple Chase accounts, it’s easy to manage them all within the mobile app.
4. Chime – Best for Building Credit
Chime is a financial technology company backed by Stride Bank, Member FDIC, and Bancorp Bank, Member FDIC. It is not a bank, itself, but offers some of the same features, including online banking, a debit card, and direct deposit up to two days earlier than some other banks.
Chime has no monthly service fee, no overdraft fee, and no minimum balance requirements. For customers who need a little boost to make it from paycheck to paycheck, Chime offers fee-free overdraft up to $200 through the SpotMe5 program and a credit builder secured Visa credit card with no annual fees, interest or minimum security deposit.
Use your Chime debit card at any of 60,000+ fee free1 ATMs in the Allpoint, MoneyPass or Visa Plus Alliance ATM networks. Out of network ATM fees may apply, otherwise.
You can qualify for Chime’s SpotMe program with a single direct deposit of $200 or more during any monthly statement period. If you process a transaction that would put you into overdraft, Chime will accept the transaction even if it puts your balance into the negative by up to $200.
The Credit Builder Secured Visa card carries the same requirements of a $200 monthly minimum direct deposit. You can build your credit and raise your credit score with responsible use of the card.
5. Citi® – Best for Large Cash Deposits
The third of the four largest national banks in the U.S. based on assets, Citi, owned by Citigroup, is best for high net worth customers or those with large cash deposits divided among Citi checking, savings, and other accounts.
Currently, you can earn a generous cash bonus of $200 to $2,000 when you open a qualifying Citi checking account and meet specific minimum opening deposit requirements. Your bonus will be determined by your account balance on the 20th day after opening the account. Funds must remain in the account for an additional 60 days after the 21st day.
Citi offers multiple checking accounts to meet various customers’ financial needs, all with monthly fees that are easy to waive if you hold the required minimum balance. The bank accounts include:
Citibank
Citi Priority, which includes travel perks and access Citi Personal Wealth Management advisors
Citigold, relationship banking and investment services
Basic Banking and ATM access
Access Account, a debit account with no paper checks
For the Basic Checking account, you’ll need to maintain a $1,500 minimum balance to waive the fees. The other accounts have larger minimum balance requirements to avoid monthly maintenance fees and take advantage of other perks, up to $200,000 for a Citigold account.
All accounts provide access to personal banking at Citi branches and access to more than 65,000 fee free ATMs across the U.S. All accounts except for Basic and Access accounts also have no fees at ATMs outside the Citi network.
Like all the larger national banks on this list, Citi has a full gamut of rewards credit cards, savings and money market accounts, and high-yield CDs.
6. CIT Bank – Best for High Interest Rates
CIT Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank, has earned awards and accolades for customer satisfaction, rated by American Banker as #1 for “delivering the most humanized experience in banking.”
You should be aware that deposits in First Citizens Bank & Trust Company, Member FDIC, are not separately insured. This only matters if you hold more than $250,000 in any single account type, such as checking or savings, in both First Citizens Bank and in CIT Bank.
CIT is the online only banking arm of First Citizens Bank, with high-yield savings accounts, CDs, money markets, and eChecking, all with no monthly fees and no overdraft fees. You won’t pay any ATM fees at CIT Bank machines, and CIT Bank reimburses up to $30 per month when you use out-of-network ATMs.
CIT offers 0.25% APY on checking when you hold more than $25,000 in your account, and 0.10% APY on balances under $25,000. The bank has high interest rates for savings, offering customers a 4.85% APY on balances of $5,000 or more with the Platinum Savings account.
CIT Bank has two other savings accounts as well:
Savings Connect, with a 4.60% APY
Savings Builder, which requires a minimum balance of $25,000 or a $100 monthly deposit to earn 1.00% APY
You’ll need a $100 minimum deposit to open a checking or savings account at CIT Bank.
7. Bank of America – Best for College Students
As the second largest of the best national banks, behind Chase, Bank of America has the full gamut of banking products, with three checking accounts plus a student account, savings, CDs, and investment products.
It’s easy to waive monthly maintenance fees on a checking account with a minimum daily balance, direct deposits, combined balances across eligible linked Bank of America accounts, or by enrolling in their Preferred Rewards programs.
We like the Advantage SafeBalance banking for kids, teens, and college students under 25 years old. They have no monthly fee and no overdraft fees. Teens ages 16+ can have sole ownership of the account.
For everyone else, the bank offers Advantage Plus and Advantage Relationship checking accounts with easy ways to waive the monthly fees with direct deposit or a minimum daily balance.
When you open a new checking account, you can qualify for a $100 bonus when you receive qualifying direct deposits of at least $1,000 within 90 days of opening the account.
Of course, Bank of America also has CDs, and a savings and money market account. Plus you can invest with Merrill. All of these deposit accounts count toward your Preferred Rewards membership.
When you have a combined average daily balance of at least $20,000 for three months, you’ll qualify for the rewards program.
8. U.S. Bank – Best for Military Members & High Balance Savings
U.S. Bank offers the Bank Smartly checking account so you can earn interest on your money. The current interest rate is just 0.01% APY on all checking balances. You’ll pay a $6.95 maintenance fee, but this is waived if you meet minimum deposit requirements or if you are a member of the U.S. military.
You can link your Bank Smartly checking account to a standard savings account or Elite Money Market to earn even more. To avoid fees on your savings account, you’ll want to keep a $300 minimum daily balance or a $1,000 average monthly collected balance. If you are already a Bank Smartly customer, you can enroll in Smart Rewards to waive savings account fees.
The Elite account is better for those with high balances. You can earn up to 4% APY on balances from $25,000 up to just under $500,000.
The appeal of U.S. Bank is in its high ratings for banking satisfaction across the board from customers. U.S. Bank earned accolades for having the best mobile app, the best digital mortgage tools, the best customer service features, and best mobile check deposit capabilities. These factors all contribute to its ranking as a best national bank.
9. Axos Bank – Best Online Bank
Axos is an online only bank with a rewards checking account that delivers up to 3.30% APY, with no fees and unlimited ATM fee rebates for out-of-network ATMs.
To earn the maximum APY, you’ll need to set up direct deposit and Axos Bank’s free Personal Finance Manager for 0.70% interest. Then, open an investment account and take out an Axos personal loan or auto loan and earn another 2.60% annual percentage yield on your checking account balance.
Axos also offers an Essential Checking account with early direct deposit and no fees, and a Cashback Checking account, which gives you 1% cash back on debit card purchases, along with no maintenance fees and unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements.
Voted the best online bank by many top personal finance sites, Axos Bank offers more than just high interest, no fee checking.
Axos Bank offers CDs with terms between 3 and 60 months and a savings account with 0.61% annual percentage yield, with interest compounded daily. You can also find personal loans, car loans, mortgages, and investment products.
Like other national banks, Axos Bank provides FDIC insurance up to $250,000 or $500,000 for joint account holders. But you can expand your coverage up to $150 million with Axos Bank InsureGuard+ Savings from IntraFi Network Deposits.
Axos splits up your large deposit into multiple accounts across several banks, each covered up to $250,000. If you are dealing with a substantial amount of cash and want your savings protected at a single bank, Axos may be a good choice for you.
New customers can earn a $100 welcome bonus by opening an account with just a $50 minimum opening deposit.
10. Truist Bank – Best for Relationship Banking & Innovative Savings Perks
Truist Bank is one of the top 10 largest national banks, formed as a merger between BB&T and SunTrust in 2019. Called “the biggest bank you’ve never heard of” by CNN Business, Truist holds assets of $574 billion and has been growing steadily since the merger.
Truist offers checking and savings accounts, CDs, and credit cards. Truist checking and savings customers can earn perks and benefits. This includes access to Long Game, a savings game app that lets you earn cash when depositing into your Truist savings account. It also includes bonus rewards on your Truist credit cards.
Truist has four levels of relationship banking in its Truist One checking account. This means the more you deposit, the more perks you will receive, up to a 50% loyalty bonus on Truist credit cards, and a discounted annual fee for a Delta SkyMiles debit card. Benefits for relationship banking begin at $10,000 in combined average monthly balances for Truist deposit accounts.
Your Truist checking account has a $12 monthly fee, which is easy to waive with $500 or more in direct deposits each month or a $500 minimum balance across all Truist deposit accounts. Truist personal loan, mortgage or credit card customers also pay no fees on their Truist checking account.
You can also waive the monthly fee with a linked Small Business checking account or if you are a student under the age of 25. You’ll need a $25 minimum opening deposit for a Truist One checking.
Customers with lower income or just getting started establishing their finances can benefit from Truist Confidence checking and savings accounts. The account has just a $5 monthly maintenance fee, which is easily waived.
11. Capital One – Best for High Interest Rates at a Brick and Mortar Bank
Like Chase Bank, Capital One is well known for its top-rated rewards credit cards. The company is also one of the best national banks with a savings account and CDs offering interest rates higher than the national average.
Capital One Performance 360 savings has a 3.90% APY, no monthly maintenance fees, and no minimum deposit to open your account. A Capital One 360 Performance checking account, similarly, has no monthly maintenance fee, overdraft protection through your linked savings account, and early direct deposit.
You can bank with no fees at a network of 70,000+ ATMs nationwide, and can deposit cash easily at CVS retail locations. Although you must open your Capital One Performance account online, you can receive personalized service and deposit cash at any Capital One bank branches or Capital One Cafes.
12. PNC Bank – Best in East and Southwest
PNC Bank is a large, national bank with branch locations across 29 states. Most branches are in the east, south, and southwest, although you will also find branch locations in some Midwest states.
PNC Bank’s online checking account is called Spend and it links to the PNC VirtualWallet. You can add a savings account, called Reserve, or upgrade to the Performance Select product with two tiers of savings and double layer overdraft protection.
When you set up your VirtualWallet with PNC Bank and open your Spend account, you can earn a $50 bonus.
Combining your Spend account with a PNC Bank Reserve account yields even more benefits. Earn a $200 bonus when you qualify. Finally, if you open a Performance Select VirtualWallet, you could earn $400.
Each account comes with a low monthly fee that is easily waived through qualifying monthly direct deposits or by meeting minimum balance requirements.
13. Wells Fargo – Best for Checking Account Options
Wells Fargo, one of the “big four,” is the fourth largest of the best national banks in the U.S. It is known for having many convenient bank locations, with 4,700 branch locations.
The vast number of branches across the country puts it top on our list for in-person banking and customer satisfaction.
Plus, we also rated it best for various checking account choices for everyone from children to retail investors.
Like the other national banks on this list, Wells Fargo has checking, savings, and CD accounts. The bank has four checking account options for consumers at various stages of their financial lives:
Clear Access Banking, with no overdraft fee and a low $5 monthly fee, waived for teens and young adults ages 13 to 24
Everyday Checking, the most popular bank account, with optional overdraft protection
Prime Checking, offering discounted interest rates for loans and higher interest rates for linked CDs and savings accounts
Premier Checking, a relationship banking service with 24/7 support and discounts on investing services
It’s easy to waive the $10 fee on Everyday Checking with a $500 minimum daily balance or $500 in monthly direct deposits. Waive the $25 fee on your Prime checking with $20,000 in linked balances. Similarly, your Premier Checking account will be free with $250,000 in linked balances, including investments with the bank’s Advisors.
You’ll need a $25 minimum opening deposit to open your account.
14. Ally Bank – Best Online Only Bank for Savings
Ally Bank is widely recognized as one of the best national online banks. It has very few fees, including no maintenance fee, no overdraft fee, and no ACH fee (even on expedited transfers). Plus, you’ll earn interest of 0.25% in your checking account and 3.85% APY on savings, including money you have allocated into various buckets.
We rated Ally Bank as the best online only bank for savings, not just because of the high interest rate, but because it offers so many ways to manage your money and ramp up your savings efforts.
You can set up recurring transfers into your savings account for specific goals or just to build up your emergency coffers. You can choose to round up transactions made with your Ally Bank debit card, or even electronic payments and checks. When Ally Bank finds at least $5 in “round-up” savings, it will be transferred automatically to your checking account.
Finally, Ally Bank analyzes your checking account periodically to reveal extra funds that are “safe to save.” Ally Bank automatically transfers that money for you. But you can transfer it back whenever you’d like.
In addition to these savings benefits, Ally Bank lets you access your money with your debit card with no fees at any of 43,000+ Allpoint ATMs. The online bank also refunds up to $10 in fees charged by out-of-network ATMs.
You can avoid stress and overspending with the Overdraft Transfer Service, which automatically transfers money from your Ally Bank savings account into checking. If you exceed six transfers or six savings withdrawals per month, Ally Bank will reimburse those fees, too.
You can also apply for CoverDraft℠ Coverage, which will cover up to $250 in charges that would put your account in the negative. You’ll qualify 30 days after you deposit at least $100 into your checking account. If you receive qualifying direct deposits of at least $250 two months in a row, you can increase your coverage to $250.
15. TD Bank – Best for Overall Banking Satisfaction
TD Bank, deemed America’s most convenient bank for its number of branches, branch hours and excellent customer service, blends the best of brick and mortar banks with easy online banking.
Most TD Bank locations are open seven days a week, including Sundays, with extended hours beyond what most brick and mortar banks provide. Most TD Bank branches are located across the East Coast, with locations in 15 different states and Washington, D.C.
TD Bank is the 7th largest bank in the U.S. based on deposits, with 1,668 branch locations nationwide. You can also reach customer service by phone, 24/7/365, which earns TD Bank high marks for banking satisfaction.
TD Bank offers six checking accounts for customers in various life stages:
TD Essential Banking
TD Convenience Checking
TD Beyond Checking
TD Simple Checking
TD 60 Plus Checking
TD Student Checking (for ages 17 to 23)
Currently, TD Bank is offering sign-on bonuses for new customers who open a TD Beyond or TD Convenience bank account. You’ll need a qualifying direct deposit (or more than one) totaling $2,500 within the first 60 days to earn $300 with TD Beyond, and a direct deposit of just $500 within the first 60 days to earn $200 with TD Convenience.
16. Schwab Bank – Best for Investors
Schwab may be best known as an investment service, but the bank was rated highest in banking satisfaction with checking accounts from J.D. Power & Associates four years running.
If you have a Schwab investment account, or are considering opening one, Schwab could be the best choice in banking for you.
The Schwab Bank Investor checking account has no foreign transaction fees, no minimums, and unlimited ATM fee rebates. Plus, earn 0.45% annual percentage yield on checking. Schwab’s savings account offers 0.48% APY.
Schwab also offers exceptionally high interest rates for CDs, with up to 5.40% APY and terms as short as 30 days. You’ll receive FDIC protection exceeding the federal maximum because you can purchase CDs from multiple banks, all through Schwab investment.
Methodology: How We Chose the Best National Banks
We evaluated a variety of banks and credit cards, taking into consideration the:
Variety of products
Interest rates
Monthly fees
ATM fees and ATM fee reimbursement
Branch locations and number of branches
Minimum deposit requirements
Fraud protection and security
We also looked at consumer reviews, and drew on the general reputation of each bank to find the best national bank.
Finding the Best National Bank
Now that we’ve explored the specifics of the best online banks and brick and mortar banks nationwide, you probably still have questions about which one is really the best national bank.
Let’s compare the three largest in the U.S. based on number of branches, interest rates, and overall banking satisfaction.
Chase vs. Wells Fargo
For the largest nationwide bank, Chase offers excellent banking satisfaction with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, 4,800 branch locations, and an easy and intuitive mobile app. If you are shopping for a bank credit card, Chase also offers some of the best rewards cards available today.
Wells Fargo rivals Chase when it comes to number of branches, with roughly 4,700 locations across the U.S. It’s somewhat easier to waive the checking account fees at Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo offers higher interest rates for savings, with a 0.15% APY compared to Chase’s 0.01%.
Both banks have lower interest rates than you might find at online banks. However, if you are looking for national banks with a solid reputation, many branches, and high marks in banking satisfaction, either Chase or Wells Fargo would be a good choice.
Wells Fargo vs. Bank of America
Bank of America and Wells Fargo are the second and third-largest banks in the U.S. based on assets. BofA only has 4,000 branches compared to Fargo’s 4,700, but BofA boasts more ATMs nationwide.
BofA stands out when you join the Preferred Rewards program because you can waive the fees on your bank account and enjoy perks, bonus rewards on BofA credit cards, and rate discounts on loans.
If you have a large balance or are looking for an investing platform through your bank, BofA may be your best choice. On the other hand, Wells Fargo offers high interest rates on savings and convenient branch locations nationwide.
Common Questions
People have many questions related to whether an online bank is better than a traditional bank or whether a local bank is better than one of the largest national banks. We break it all down here.
Which is better, an online bank or a brick-and-mortar bank?
If you are looking for the highest interest rates and generous rewards programs, you are highly likely to find them at online banks. However, there are some advantages to a brick and mortar bank, including in-person service at local branches, the availability of paper checks, and easy ways to deposit cash in person or at branch ATMs.
You should expect the best national online banks and the best brick and mortar banks to have robust mobile apps, easy-to-waive fees, and fraud protection.
Make sure whatever bank you choose is “Member FDIC,” which means your deposits are insured up to $250,000 per account holder, per account type. That means joint accounts have $500,000 worth of FDIC insurance protection.
Is my money safer in a national bank vs. a regional bank (or a national credit union vs. a regional credit union)?
All banks on this list are Member FDIC, which means they are insured to the maximum allowable limit of $250,000 per account holder, per account type. Credit unions are covered up to the same limits by the National Credit Union Administration.
Many online banks are insured up to $2 million or more. These financial institutions divide cash deposits among multiple partner banks. Each bank insures deposits up to the maximum limit allowed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Read the fine print to determine your coverage limits when you choose a bank.
Beyond that, your money should be equally safe in a national bank, a smaller bank, or a credit union of any size. Also look for features such as fraud protection, fraud alerts via text, email or in the mobile app, and enhanced website security measures. You should also be able to lock and unlock your debit card in the mobile app if you misplace it or believe it may have been stolen.
What makes big banks different from smaller banks?
By definition, big banks will have larger market capitalization, which represents the total value of a bank’s stocks. Big banks will also hold more assets. For instance, Chase, which is the world’s largest financial institution, holds $3.2 trillion in assets. The second-largest national bank, Bank of America, possesses $2.41 trillion in assets. Larger financial institutions may also have more bank branches.
In many other ways, big national banks and smaller banks are similar, especially today. Customers want specific features and are unwilling to compromise on things like fee-free ATMs, no monthly fees, early direct deposit, and an intuitive mobile app.
How much interest do the best big banks pay?
In general, some of the largest national banks do not have the highest interest rates for savings and very few offer interest earning checking accounts.
Capital One 360 and Discover are two of the best national banks that offer interest on checking. To earn a higher APY with one of the largest national banks, you might want to consider CDs.
Are national banks better than other kinds of banks?
National banks aren’t necessarily better or worse than other kinds of banks. They may have more convenient branch locations, a higher number of branches, and a greater variety of products, but they might also have higher fees. Decide what’s most important to you when you choose a bank.
If you’d prefer to trust your money with one of the largest national banks, with a large market capitalization, high value, and branches nationwide, consider opening your checking and savings accounts with one of the best national banks on this list.
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC. Credit Builder card issued by Stride Bank, N.A.
The Chime Credit Builder Visa® Card is issued by Stride Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted.
1. Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply with Chime except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM.
5. Chime SpotMe is an optional, no fee service that requires a single deposit of $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to the Chime Checking Account each at least once every 34 days. All qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their account up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially, but may be later eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your limit. Your limit may change at any time, at Chime’s discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe won’t cover non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See Terms and Conditions.
Congratulations! Buying a home is an exciting time for every family. The next step is packing up your current home and moving into your new one. Moving can be overwhelming but, luckily, we have a checklist to help you make your move efficient and organized.
The Ultimate Moving Checklist:
1. Disconnect all utilities: Before you move schedule for your cable, internet, electricity, etc. to be turned off. Call your provider about a month before the move to let them know the date that you want to stop the service.
2. Schedule new utilities: Let there be light! A month before your move, call all your providers to schedule to have your utilities setup.
3. Measure doorways and furniture: Take the extra precaution of measuring all your furniture and doorways in both your new and old home. Inform the movers of the measurements and make sure they have a backup plan in case some pieces can’t fit.
4. Change mailing address: Don’t let your mail get lost in the shuffle. Call your post office five weeks before the big move and let them know of your change in address.
5. Leave a change of address: It’s better to be safe than sorry. Leave a note for the new residents, informing them of your new address. If any stray mail gets through the postal system, they’ll be able to send it your way.
6. Get covered: It seems like a tedious task but it’s important. If you’re moving outside of your current neighborhood, it’s best to call your old pharmacy and transfer all your current prescriptions to a local pharmacy closer to your new home. Tell your doctors that you are moving and ask for referrals and record transfers. If you have children, make sure to register them for school in your new school district.
7. Notify accounts of your move: Whether it’s your newspaper and magazine subscriptions or your credit cards, don’t miss anything. Call all the important companies and providers in your life to give them your new address. Don’t forget to get your homeowners insurance changed to your new address!
8. Tag your furniture for placement: You get to your new home, furniture is all moved in, and it just so happens that everything is in the wrong place. Prevent that by sticking notes on larger pieces of furniture, signifying where they belong in the home.
9. Create a “just in case” kit: If the movers are late or get lost on the way, it’s best to be prepared. Fill a box with cash, a first aid kit, toilet paper, snacks, and any other daily essentials you may need to get yourself through moving day.
10. Get a new driver’s license, voter’s registration, etc.: Changing your address through the postal service and other accounts are important, but don’t forget to take care of personal documents as well. Change your address on your driver’s license, insurance policies, and voter’s registration.
Moving to a new home is the start of a new chapter. Be prepared in all aspects to ensure that you have the best moving experience ever!
It’s time to give yourself a 10-second financial check-up: are all of your hard-earned dollars earning interest? Even your short-term savings that you’ll need in two years or so?
Savvy investors know that every dollar deposited at a bank, brokerage, or financial institution should be making money — and that includes your short-term savings, cash investment balances, even your checking account. If not, you should be looking for somewhere else to store your dollars.
Let’s look at where best to stash your short-term savings.
What’s Ahead:
High-yield savings accounts
High-yield savings accounts pay up to 5x the national average savings rate and are convenient to open and manage. You can transfer money in and out electronically from your checking account or other bank accounts — a process that rarely takes more than two business days.
Most high-yield savings accounts have no fees or minimum balance requirements, so there’s no excuse for not using one for short-term cash reserves.
You can check out our full list of the best high-yield savings accounts, but here are three of our favorites that you may want to consider for short-term savings:
Aspiration Bank
Aspiration Bank is a great bank if you love earning rewards. And, because this bank plants trees for you with your rounded-up change, you can pride yourself on taking care of the environment through your banking.
You only need a minimum balance of $10 in the account and can earn up to 5.00% APR, depending on the account you have — they have a free account and a subscription account (Aspiration Plus) that gives you access to more of their products as well as a higher APY.
Given these easy terms and high returns, the Aspiration Plus Savings Account can be a very lucrative place to stash your short-term savings.
Learn more/apply or read our full Aspiration Bank review.
Citi Accelerate® Savings
The Citi Accelerate® Savings has one of the highest APYs when it comes to high-interest savings accounts, coming in at 2.20% APY. And their monthly fee is waived if you have at least $500 in your account, so it’s a great option if you have a larger short-term savings goal in mind.
And since there’s no minimum opening deposit, they’re great for just about anyone who wants to start socking away money every month.
Unfortunately, the Citi Accelerate® Savings is only available in certain U.S. markets. If you live in California, Connecticut, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, DC, or select markets in Florida or Illinois, you’ll need to go with an alternate account option.
Learn more/apply.
Capital One 360 Performance Savings
If you’re looking for a more full-service experience with your high-interest online savings account, consider Capital One 360 Performance Savings. They have plenty of services to help you out with your savings, and an APY of 3.00%. Plus, there are no minimums or monthly fees.
It’s a great option if you’re starting out with a low balance and you want to increase it until your short-term savings project is completed.
Read our full Capital One 360 Savings review.
Cash management accounts
A cash management account is an account that’s held by a robo-investor. It’s not a checking, savings, or investment account. Instead, the brokerage firm holds your money for you to use. They issue debit cards just like a checking account, but they have higher interest rates than those types of accounts.
These are a great option if you’re already using a robo-advisor for your long-term investments. You can find them at companies like Wealthfront, which has a cash account.
Short-term bonds
Short-term bonds are issued either by corporations or by the government. Each bond has different terms, so you’ll want to research what you’re signing up for before you make a purchase. But they’re overall low-risk investments.
But what is a bond? Good question. Bonds are basically IOUs that a company or government gives you on a debt. These groups are trying to fund something, but need capital, so they sell off bonds and tell you that after X amount of years, they’ll pay you Y in interest.
Read more: How does a bond work? A simple (and informative) guide
T-bills
Treasury bills, or T-bills, are another great short-term savings storage plan. They work similarly to bonds — you buy them from the treasury, and then you wait until they mature. Once they mature, you sell them and receive your money back, plus any interest.
You can buy them in intervals of 1, 4, 8, 13, 26, and 52 weeks, so they’re great for short-term projects that take about a year for you to save for.
Money market accounts
Money market accounts, also known as MMAs, are similar to both checking accounts and savings accounts.
How does that work? Well, you have interest rates that are higher than checking accounts and more on par with savings accounts, but you’re able to get a debit card to access your funds like a checking account. However, there is a limit to how many transactions you can make a month.
Money market accounts are good for short-term savings because they have higher accessibility than a savings account, but are low-risk. As long as you keep money in the account — and stay below the monthly withdrawals limit — you’ll earn interest on the account.
Read more: Best money market accounts
Certificates of deposit
Savers who are looking for the best return on their money on a slightly longer-term basis (minimum three months) should take a look at a certificate of deposit. CDs have terms that typically run from a period of three months to five years. Rates increase as the CD term gets longer.
You can get the best rate on a CD by shopping online, as these tend to change quite often. Most CDs will have minimum deposits of $500 or more, and patient investors can get a higher rate the longer their term.
Browse today’s best CD rates.
To reap the benefits of long-term CD rates with short-term savings, check out this article on CD laddering, which explains how to build your own.
Should you invest your short-term savings?
When you save money in an FDIC-insured bank account, your money is guaranteed not to lose value. When you invest money, you’re taking on risk for the chance at a greater return. You might very well earn a much better return on your money than you could with a bank, but you could also end up with less money than you put in.
In general, you want to save money you’ll need in the short term and invest money you won’t need for a long, long time. That’s because the risk of losing money on an investment diminishes the longer you’re able to hold that investment. We all know the stock market is volatile. If you put your money in the day before a crash, you could lose a big chunk of value overnight. If you leave that money invested for 30 years, however, you’ll likely come out way ahead (despite the initial crash!)
Risk tolerance is a personal thing, but my philosophy is that I never invest money I’ll need in the next two years. If don’t need the money in the next two years but will need it in the next five years (for example, money I’m saving for a future car purchase), I might invest the money, but very conservatively.
If you’re looking for a simple way to save money for a short-term goal, but you’d rather take your chances investing it rather than parking it at a bank, check out the Acorns app. You just download the app, link a bank account, answer a few questions, and you’re an investor. You can connect the app to any number of debit or credit cards, and Acorns automatically rounds up each of your purchases and invests that amount on your behalf. While this won’t make you rich, it can help any first-time investor make a little extra cash.
The bottom line
For most people, the best place to put short-term savings is an online savings account that pays a fair interest rate.
But other options, like certificates of deposits, money market accounts, short-term bonds, T-bills, and cash management accounts are all good alternatives you may not have considered for saving up for a short-term goal.
Featured image: Julia Sudnitskaya/Shutterstock.com
Marriott has increased the signup bonus on two versions of their consumer credit cards from Amex and two from Chase:
American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ($650 annual fee): Earn 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy Bonus Points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, Earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you stay 6 eligible paid nights at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy through 1/31/24. Offer ends 8/9/23.
American Express Marriott Bonvoy Bevy ($250 annual fee): Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy Bonus Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, Earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you stay 6 eligible paid nights at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy through 1/31/24. Offer ends 8/9/23.
Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ($95 annual fee): 75,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from your account opening. Plus, 50,000 Bonus Points after you stay 6 eligible paid nights at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy through 1/31/24.
Chases Marriott Bonvoy Bold (no annual fee): 50,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from your account opening. Plus, 50,000 Bonus Points after you stay 6 eligible paid nights at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy through 1/31/24.
Our Verdict
These are some nice offers for someone planning on staying 6 paid Marriott stays. Without that added bonus, these aren’t necessarily the best offers we’ve seen.
The American Express Brilliant and Bevy offers are available via referrals as well. The Chase Boundless and Bold offers are not. Related, on the Chase Boundless card there’s still a live link that someone found for 5 free nights.
Heading out on vacation can be fun, but what happens when you have pets at home? Whether it’s a beloved cat or the family dog, leaving them behind can leave you with more stress than it’s worth.
Thankfully, there are a number of airlines that’ll allow you to travel with your pets, whether that’s in the cabin or as cargo. Alaska Airlines is one of these — and it’s one of the best options out there for those traveling with pets.
Let’s take a look at the Alaska Airlines pet policy, what it looks like to fly with pet cargo and requirements for bringing your pet in the cabin.
Alaska Airlines pet cargo policy
There are two ways Alaska Airlines allows you to bring your pet as cargo: traveling on the same flight as you or separately — and the requirements are different for each.
Traveling on the same flight
If you’re going to be flying at the same time as your pet, you’ll need to check your pet to travel within the climate-controlled baggage compartment.
Here are the criteria for doing so:
Pet and carrier combined cannot exceed 150 pounds.
The fee is $150 one way.
Accepted animals include cats, dogs, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, household birds, nonpoisonous reptiles, potbellied pigs, rabbits and tropical fish.
You must have a health certificate issued by a veterinarian.
For travel within the state of Alaska or active duty military (and their dependents) the cost to check a pet is $100.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Recent NerdWallet analysis found the average pet fee to be $113 across major U.S. airlines.
In order to book your pet’s travels, you’ll want to either call Alaska Airlines at 800-252-7522 or use its website’s chat feature to secure a reservation.
This can be done after booking your own flight, but it’s better to do so sooner rather than later as the number of pets allowed in the baggage compartment is limited.
There are some restrictions for breeds and younger animals. For example, pets with snub noses, such as bulldogs and Persian cats, are unable to travel in the baggage compartment.
Finally, there are some limitations when it comes to traveling during certain periods of the year.
Those on Alaska flight numbers 2000-2999 or 3300-3499 are unable to check pets in the baggage compartment from Nov. 15 to Jan. 10 each year due to weather.
Shipping separately
If you won’t be traveling on the same flight as your pet, it’s still possible for them to catch their own flight. Alaska Airlines’ Pet Connect service is available on specific flights subject to weather conditions and destination.
Like checking your pet as baggage, you’ll need to meet a series of requirements, including providing access to food and water, a comfortable and sturdy carrier and a health certificate.
For unaccompanied pets, Alaska only allows travel during periods when the temperature is between 45 and 85 degrees. It’s possible to make an exception provided you have a vet letter stating that your pet is acclimated to more extreme weather types.
Pet Connect reservations can be made between 30 days and 24 hours prior to travel, though there are different requirements if some of the travel takes place on another airline.
The same breed restrictions apply for Pet Connect flights as for checking your pet as baggage, so be sure to double-check before booking.
Alaska Airlines in-cabin pet options
If your pet is small enough to fit under an airline seat, they’ll be able to travel in the cabin with you. Alaska Airlines doesn’t specify a weight requirement for pets, though they must be able to stand up and turn around in their carrier under the seat.
The fee is $100 one way.
Acceptable animals include cats, dogs, rabbits and household birds.
You must be 18 or older to travel with a pet in the cabin.
Your pet counts toward your carry-on allotment.
You can travel with a maximum of two pet carriers in the main cabin if you also purchase an adjacent seat.
Dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks old.
The pet must stay in the carrier at all times.
Up to two pets of the same species can travel in one carrier provided they fit comfortably.
There is a limited number of pets allowed in the cabin on each flight. In first class, up to three pets can be accommodated. In the economy cabin, up to eight pets are allowed per flight.
How flying with pets on Alaska compares to other airlines
It beat out all other competitor airlines to take the top spot for those traveling with pets. This is thanks to a number of factors, including how many animals you’re allowed to bring, the cost of traveling with a pet and the types of animals allowed.
Other things that were considered include whether the airline offers cargo services, if you’re allowed to bring your pet to the lounge and how well they handle pet transport.
Final thoughts on Alaska Airlines pet cargo
Alaska Airlines’ pet policies are some of the best in the business, with great options for those looking to travel with their pets.
This is true whether you’re planning to bring them in the cabin or check them as cargo. Its prices are among the lowest for airline pet travel and the variety of animals it accepts is more generous than most.
However, you’ll want to note that there are still some restrictions involved with the breed of animal that can fly, as well as dates during the year when traveling with pet cargo is unavailable.
Before you book, do your research to ensure that your pet meets all the requirements of traveling on Alaska Airlines.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:
Open a BMO Harris Premier™ Account online and get a $500 cash bonus when you have a total of at least $7,500 in qualifying direct deposits within the first 90 days of account opening. Expires 9/15. Conditions Apply.
To get a house with a decent mortgage rate, you need a good to excellent credit score. But your biggest, most important payment — your rent — doesn’t even count. That’s an even bigger problem if your credit score doesn’t show any other key forms of credit, like a credit card or car payment.
It seems like the odds are stacked against you, as though renting an apartment or house, which costs a pretty penny by the way, isn’t a legitimate living situation. Fortunately, there are now ways around that.
In fact, as long as you can get the property owner on board, and sometimes even if you can’t, it’s really easy to ensure your rent payments count toward your credit score.
Why You Should Add Rent Payments to Your Credit Report
There are many factors that go into your credit score, and your payment history accounts for 35%.
But that’s a dilemma if you haven’t yet built or have to rebuild your credit score. How can you prove your creditworthiness if you don’t have something to repay?
Enter rent-payment reporting.
Rent is a massive monthly expense. Unfortunately, credit bureaus like Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax haven’t traditionally accounted for your housing costs unless it was a mortgage, creating a stubborn catch-22 for some would-be homeowners.
You need a higher credit score to afford a home — or even just a credit card with better rates and perks. But you can’t raise your credit score if no one knows about the payments you’re making. It’s so ridiculous it would be funny if it weren’t so depressing.
But thanks to rent reporting, people with a low or no credit score can use their on-time rent payments to bolster their score, improving their odds of obtaining credit.
How to Add Rent Payments to Your Credit Report
You have options when it comes to adding rent payments to your credit report: You can sign up for a service yourself, though the rental property owner may already work with a rent-reporting company. Though the specific steps vary from company to company, the process always follows a predictable pattern.
1. Determine Whether Your Property Reports Rent Payments — & to Whom
Some property owners already allow renters to opt into rent-reporting programs. Typically, the service is free to the renter. However, they may require you to have rent automatically deducted from your bank account each month.
There are even government-sponsored programs to help disadvantaged renters build their credit scores. These are renters the government considers “credit invisible,” which basically just means they have an insufficient credit history. If you’re one of them, you should take the government up on that. Falling into this category makes borrowing more expensive and can throw up barriers to housing and employment, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
And if neither of those is an option, there may be free or low-cost rent-reporting services you can sign up for on your own. Those require varying levels of input from the property owner, though, so ensure they’re willing to participate to the degree required before handing over any dough.
Note that not all rent-reporting companies report payments to the same credit bureaus. For instance, some only report to TransUnion, others report to TransUnion and Experian, and still others report rent payments to all three credit-reporting bureaus. Be sure to understand which bureaus your service reports to.
2. Enroll in a Rent-Reporting Service
If the property already has a rent-reporting service, just ask the people in the office how to sign up or opt in. It may be as simple as filling out a form giving them permission to do it. If not, it’s unlikely to take any longer than the DIY method.
If your property is a no-go on rent reporting, it doesn’t hurt to ask if they’d be willing to sign up. Just in case, show up equipped with information on how it could benefit the property owner (like this article on Forbes).
And if they say no, you can sign up for one yourself. That means you have to pay the fees, which are usually less than $100 per year, though they can go higher for more benefits, such as reporting to all the bureaus or expanding the length of time they report for. There may also be a setup fee, though that’s usually less than $100 (often as low as $25 or less).
The one potential hiccup is that the rent-reporting company may ask the property owner to participate by verifying your rent payments. And that means they may have to at least be willing to provide some support. But some services can do it through your bank account without going through the property.
To enroll in a rent-reporting service, you must provide a copy of your lease along with some personal information, such as your name, birthdate, and address. The process is easy, and you can complete it online in a matter of minutes.
3. Ensure Accurate Rent Payment Reporting
If you’re making the effort to report your rent payments to build credit, it’s crucial to verify the accuracy of your credit report. There are a couple of methods to monitor your credit score effectively.
One option is to visit AnnualCreditReport.com, where consumers can obtain a free credit report from each credit bureau once per year. A few months after rent reporting starts, check the relevant bureau’s credit report. If you rent reports to more than one bureau, check them a few months apart so you can keep tabs.
Hint: In light of numerous scams associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the website now allows individuals to access their credit reports weekly until December 2023.
Another approach is to create an account with the three major credit bureaus. Most allow at least some access for free. Paid accounts have more features, but they can cost $10 to $30 per month and only give you access to one bureau’s reports.
Fortunately, there are other options. Many credit cards, banks, and free credit monitoring apps like Credit Karma also offer similar services, allowing you to stay informed about any updates or modifications to your credit information. Some may even give you access to more than one bureau’s info.
How Much Do Rent-Reporting Services Cost?
The cost for rent-reporting services really runs the gamut. Supposedly, you get what you pay for. But it really depends on what you need, so you can’t just opt for the most expensive one and call it a day. Nor can you opt for the cheapest and expect to get the results you’re looking for.
There are three charges to be on the lookout for.
Many rent-reporting companies charge a setup fee. The more they offer (again, supposedly), the more it costs. For example, Rent Reporters charges almost $100 as a one-time setup fee. And you get a personal credit specialist to help you improve your score. Boom’s setup fee is only $10, but all it does is report rent payments.
Then there’s the monthly subscription fee. You can get Boom for as little as $2 per month. But Rent Reporters and LevelCredit charge a minimum of around $7. But unlike Boom, Rent Reporters provides 24 months of rent history for free, and LevelCredit also reports your cellphone and utilities.
Lots of these companies offer additional paid services. You can get past rent history, often as far back as two years (24 months), discounts for roommates or domestic partners to add it to their credit reports, and even credit monitoring. Past credit history is often around $50, though you can get it for less, but not every service offers it. And the other services depend on what they offer and how much they already cost.
Have I mentioned that they supposedly charge based on their level of service? The reality is that may or may not be true for you. It’s not that the statement is untrue on its face. It’s that it really does depend on what would benefit you the most.
For example, Boom is dirt-cheap compared to its peers, but it also reports to all three bureaus. Rent Reporters and LevelCredit only report to TransUnion and Equifax. So despite having more features, if what’s most important to you is credit bureau coverage, Boom wins out.
And it doesn’t stop there. Experian Boost also gives you credit for paying your utilities. Boom and Rental Kharma include your previous rental history at no additional charge. Some, like Rock the Score and PaymentReport, give you options if the property owner won’t participate. And Piñata has a rewards program.
All these options mean you can get exactly what you want for a price you can afford.
How to Choose a Rent-Reporting Service
When choosing a rent-reporting service, it’s tempting to sign up for the first one with the right price. But there are several factors to consider. Follow these steps to find the best rent-reporting service for you.
Check with the property owner. Check to see if your property already uses a rent-reporting service. If so, sign up through them. That means you could skip the rest of the steps. But if their service doesn’t report to all bureaus, you can still sign up with another one to compliment the one they offer.
Research available services. Look for rent-reporting services online and compare their features, costs, and reputation. Pay attention to factors like the duration of reporting, customer support, and ease of use.
Check credit bureau partnerships. Ideally, the service should report to major credit bureaus like Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion. Reporting to multiple bureaus increases the likelihood of your rental payments being included in your credit history with the specific bureau a particular creditor uses.
Evaluate the reporting method. Some services require a direct connection with property management, while others rely on alternative data sources like bank statements. Choose a method that suits your preferences and provides accurate reporting.
Number of months reported. Some rent-reporting companies can report as far back as 24 months, while others report starting with your first payment while you’re signed up moving forward. The former is expensive, but it could help you qualify for credit or a loan faster. If you don’t need that, sticking with the latter is usually cheaper.
Assess the cost. Some services charge a monthly fee, while others have an annual fee or one-time payment. Consider your budget and choose a service that provides good value for the features offered.
Read customer reviews and ratings. Read reviews on trustworthy platforms like Trustpilot or the Better Business Bureau to get an idea of the experiences and satisfaction levels of other users. That can give you insights into the reliability and performance of the service.
Consider additional features. Some rent-reporting services offer additional features that can enhance your financial well-being. For example, they can provide credit-monitoring services, educational resources, or tools to track your credit score progress.
Understand privacy and data security. Review the privacy policy and data security measures of the rent-reporting service. Ensure they have appropriate safeguards in place to protect your personal and financial information.
Check for customer support. Consider the availability and quality of customer support provided by the rent-reporting service. Determine whether they offer multiple channels of communication, such as phone, email, or live chat, and whether they have a reputation for responsiveness and helpfulness.
It can help to make a chart or spreadsheet and tick off or jot down the features each service has so you can compare them all at once. Once you’ve decided which one’s best for you, all you have to do is sign up.
Final Word
If you’re balking at the idea of paying a company to report your rent payments to credit bureaus, that’s totally fine. Really, this isn’t a service you should waste money on unless it helps you.
But they do have benefits. For example, when you increase your credit score, you receive lower interest rates on loans and credit cards. That alone could help justify the cost.
But as awesome as these services are, that doesn’t mean you need one. If you have stellar credit and your report shows on-time monthly payments for obligations like your car or credit cards, you don’t need to report your rent payments. The service is best-suited to those who are trying to build credit or repair bad credit.
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Heather Barnett has been an editor and writer for over 20 years, with over a decade committed to the financial services industry. She joined the Money Crashers team in 2020, covering banking and credit content for banking- and credit-weary readers. In her off time, she enjoys baking, binge-watching crime dramas, and doting on her beloved pets.