Banking
Get the full rundown on bank accounts, including the best picks for your money and essential education on checking, savings, and CD accounts.
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Get the full rundown on bank accounts, including the best picks for your money and essential education on checking, savings, and CD accounts.
A bank is an institution where anyone (approved by the bank) can deposit savings and take out loans. Banks are often seen as a convenient and secure way to store money, and some account types also earn interest. Most banks have both online and in-person services.
An online bank is a financial institution that takes deposits and makes loans online, without any physical branches.
A credit union is a nonprofit financial institution that exists to serve its members. Unlike banks, credit unions are owned and operated by their members, with a focus on providing affordable financial products and services.
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There are four main types of bank accounts: checking accounts, savings accounts, CDs, and MMAs.
A savings account is a low-risk account where you can earn interest on your money. It's a great place to save for an emergency fund, a vacation, or a down payment on a home.
You should open a checking account for money you plan to use for everyday spending. You can withdraw money as often as you like, as long as you don't withdraw more money than you have.
If checking and savings accounts had a baby, that baby would be a money market account (MMA). MMAs often come with checks or debit cards, like a checking account. They also have high interest rates -- like savings accounts. However, they usually have high minimum balances. You'll have to be able to keep a hefty chunk of cash in the bank at all times if you want to have an MMA.
A certificate of deposit (CD), also known as a share certificate if you're using a credit union, is a special type of savings account that offers a higher interest rate -- but there's a catch. When you put the money into a CD, you're agreeing that you won't touch it for the length of the CD term. This can be anywhere from a few months to several years. Usually, the longer the loan term, the higher the interest rate.
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