How the Federal Reserve impacts savings account interest rates

When the Federal Reserve changes interest rates, consumers feel the ripple effects in all sorts of ways. For savers, banks offering top interest rates tend to pay more when the U.S. central bank hikes rates and less when it cuts them.

The Fed decided at its December meeting to decrease rates by a quarter of a percentage point, or 25 basis points, effectively lowering the federal funds rate to a range of 4.25-4.5 percent.

During the Fed’s November and September meetings, officials lowered rates by a combined total of 75 basis points (three-quarters of a percentage point) amid signs inflation was easing and the labor market was weakening. Prior to that, officials hiked rates a total of 11 times in 2022 and 2023, effectively bringing the federal funds rate to a 23-year high.

“Even though interest rates will come down as the Fed cuts benchmark rates, the top-yielding savings accounts will continue to pay returns that well exceed targeted inflation,” says Greg McBride, CFA, Bankrate chief financial analyst. “Seeking out the top-yielding savings accounts will continue to be the difference between staying ahead of inflation or falling behind as many banks — and especially large banks — never passed along much in the way of higher rates to savers.”

For anyone hoping to make saving money a top priority, here’s what to consider when the Fed makes a change to the federal funds rate.

The loose link between Fed rate hikes and your high-yield savings account

Congress mandates the Fed maintain economic and financial stability. The central bank mostly does so by raising or lowering the cost of borrowing money. Savings account rates are loosely linked to the rates the Fed sets. After the central bank raises its key interest rate, financial institutions tend to pay more interest on high-yield savings accounts to stay competitive and attract deposits. Conversely, after the Fed lowers its rate, banks tend to lower their deposit account rates.

The fed funds rate was taken all the way down to a range of zero to 0.25 percent in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. But 40-year-high inflation prompted the Fed to raise rates in 2022 by 4.25 percentage points over seven meetings. In 2023, a total of four, 0.25-percentage-point rate hikes occurred. After holding rates steady at five prior meetings in 2024, officials lowered rates to a range of 4.75-5 percent in September and 4.5-4.75 percent in November.

Policymakers’ decision to cut rates at a third consecutive meeting comes at a time when the annual inflation rate, currently at 2.7 percent, has ticked up slightly for two straight months. Prior, inflation had been decreasing, overall, after peaking at 9.1 percent in June 2022. 

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate is holding steady at a near three-year high of 4.1 percent. Although some banks have been lowering deposit account rates in 2024, yields on competitive deposit accounts remain historically high at this time.

Online banks tend to compete for customers with comparatively high rates, while brick-and-mortar banks tend to avoid paying savers competitive yields. The rates on savings accounts vary drastically, and they can change at any time. Large brick-and-mortar banks, such as Chase and Bank of America, are still paying around 0.01 percent annual percentage yield (APY), while top high-yield savings accounts offer up to 4.85 percent APY — or 485 times more.

Escalating competition is one reason for the disparity in yields. Online banks are in hot pursuit to attract and keep deposits as fintech competitors continue to enter the marketplace. Offering a high-yield account is among the tried-and-true strategies to court customers with a compelling offer — especially for relatively new and small digital banks.

Deposits, in general, are essential to banks’ business models: They are used as a low-cost funding source to fuel loan demand.

“Bankers don’t get deposits just because it’s cool to have deposits,” says Neil Stanley, CEO and founder of The CorePoint, a bank management services company. “They get them because they can invest them in loans.”

If banks make money by investing deposits in loans, then they can afford to pay more for deposits. Spoiler alert: banks are (usually) profitable.

Not every bank is hungry for more deposits. Whether and when banks respond to the Fed changing the rate will vary based on what objectives they are trying to accomplish. Online banks — which are often hungry for deposits — are likely to follow suit when the Fed raises rates, while established brick-and-mortar banks often don’t keep up with Fed rate hikes by raising their own savings account rates.

“Every bank could be a little different on this in terms of what their pressures are,” says Betty Cowell, a former senior advisor at consultancy firm Simon-Kucher & Partners.

How to maximize your savings rate

Though the average yield on a traditional savings account is a paltry 0.57 percent, some banks offer high-yield savings accounts paying around 4.65 percent APY — or more than eight times more.

“Although the primary benefit of emergency savings is the immediate access to cash that shields you from high-cost debt or forced asset sales when unplanned expenses arise, yields on online savings accounts are still paying returns exceeding inflation, so your emergency fund isn’t a drag on your portfolio,” says Bankrate’s McBride.

Online banks are known for offering the highest yields, but it pays to shop around. Also, consider cash management accounts and money market accounts to find the best deals. If you’re able to park your cash for a set period, consider a short-term CD.

“There is still time to lock in attractive yields and predictable interest income on CDs, without the price volatility and default concerns that many bonds have,” McBride says. “Just don’t compromise your emergency savings to chase yield in a CD unless the bank is offering a way to cash in early without penalty should the money be needed.”

Fed interest rate changes impact how millions of consumers think about saving and investing for their futures, says Gabe Krajicek, CEO of Kasasa, an online financial services company. “Interest rate changes can have a big impact on personal savings strategies: when rates rise, there’s a real opportunity to build wealth through high-yield savings and checking or CDs. But if rates drop, people naturally seek more flexible options that keep their money working for them without being locked into lower returns. Consumers will need to stay informed and adaptable in how they balance growth with access to their funds,” Krajicek told Bankrate in an email.

As you search for the best bank account for you:

• Compare APYs
• Read the fine print about fees
• Understand any minimum balance requirements
• Make sure the account offers the features you need

“If you are a shopper in the market today,” says Cowell, “hop online and compare prices and go with the brand you trust.”