Multiple Bank Accounts at Different Banks: Pros and Cons - NerdWallet (2024)

FAQs

Is it smart to have multiple bank accounts with different banks? ›

Having multiple savings accounts can be beneficial for keeping track of different savings goals, taking advantage of different interest rates, and ensuring your savings are fully insured by the FDIC.

There's no limit on the number of checking accounts you can open, whether you have them at traditional banks, credit unions or online banks. There is, however, a limit on how much of the money you keep in your checking account is FDIC insured.

If you fail to maintain a minimum balance across all your Savings Account, the balance may go into negative, and you may lose out on benefits linked to your Savings Account. Also, if you have multiple EMIs and SIPs running and all of them are linked to different bank accounts, then you may end up missing some EMIs.

Keeping all of your money in one bank can be convenient. But it's important to consider whether you're getting the best rates on savings and paying the lowest fees for checking accounts. It's possible that you could get a better deal by keeping some of your money at a different bank.

If your overall savings amount is dispersed among a variety of accounts, meeting this minimum balance can prove challenging. Having different savings accounts sometimes means you'll have to decide how to allocate unexpected bonuses from work or occasional income such as birthday money or cash gleaned from a side job.

The FDIC refers to these different categories as “ownership categories.” This means that a bank customer who has multiple accounts may qualify for more than $250,000 in insurance coverage, if the customer's funds are deposited in different ownership categories and the requirements for each ownership category are met.

"For many people, one high-yield savings account can do it all,” Zigmont says. "More accounts does not necessarily mean you are better off or more diversified."

There are some benefits to having both accounts at the same bank or credit union. Doing so makes it easy to manage your money and make near-instant transfers between accounts. Some banks also waive monthly fees if you link checking and savings, though they may also require a minimum balance in the combined accounts.

No hard and fast rule dictates how many checking accounts you should have. The ideal number is the number it takes for you and your family to access your funds and track your spending easily. Too many accounts can complicate both of those tasks.

Higher risk of fraud: The more accounts you have, the more potential entry points there are for fraudulent activities. Could affect your credit score: Each time you apply for a new account, your credit score may take a temporary hit. Additionally, having multiple overdrafts might give an impression of financial strain.

How much money can you have in your bank account without being taxed? ›

There is no specific limit or threshold that would cause the IRS to tax it. That being said, ant cash deposits of $10,000 or more would be reported by the bank in a Currency Transaction Report (CTR) to FinCEN, an arm of the Treasury Department.

Should I have checking and savings accounts at different banks? Keeping accounts at multiple banks can help your financial health. Having your checking account (and emergency savings) at a different bank than where you keep your long-term savings accounts can help you stay on track with your savings goals.

Opening too many can affect your credit score

Every time you open an account, it is recorded on your credit history. Applying for too many bank accounts, particularly during a short period of time, whether you have been accepted or not, can have a negative impact on your credit score.

The government has no regulations on the amount of money you can legally keep in your house or even the amount of money you can legally own overall. Just, the problem with keeping so much money in one place (likely in the form of cash) — it's very vulnerable to being lost.

How much is too much cash in savings? An amount exceeding $250,000 could be considered too much cash to have in a savings account. That's because $250,000 is the limit for standard deposit insurance coverage per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, per ownership category.

Common types of securities include bonds, stocks and funds (mutual and exchange-traded). Funds and stocks are the bread-and-butter of investment portfolios. Billionaires use these investments to ensure their money grows steadily.

Spreading your money out across different savings accounts from various banks could help you take advantage of higher interest rates. For example, your brick-and-mortar bank may pay a lower APY for a regular savings account versus a high-yield savings account at an online bank.

The FDIC insures up to $250,000 per account holder, insured bank and ownership category in the event of bank failure. If you have more than $250,000 in the bank, or you're approaching that amount, you may want to structure your accounts to make sure your funds are covered.

Where do millionaires keep their money if banks only insure 250k? ›

Millionaires can insure their money by depositing funds in FDIC-insured accounts, NCUA-insured accounts, through IntraFi Network Deposits, or through cash management accounts. They may also allocate some of their cash to low-risk investments, such as Treasury securities or government bonds.

As long as the financial institution is insured by the FDIC or NCUA, the money you put into a deposit account at a bank or credit union is insured for up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank. If the bank collapses or fails, you can still get your money back within a few days of the bank's closure.

For example, if the same two co-owners jointly own both a $350,000 CD and a $150,000 savings account at the same insured bank, the two accounts would be added together and insured up to $500,000, providing up to $250,000 in insurance coverage for each co-owner.

The ideal number of bank accounts depends on your financial habits and needs. You might be happy with just two accounts – checking and savings – or you may want multiple accounts to separate business and personal expenses, share a bank account with a partner or maintain separate accounts for various financial goals.

According to a survey published in 2019, the average consumer in the U.S. has a total of 5.3 accounts across financial institutions. The share of households without access to at least one banking account has decreased consistently since 2011.

The act of closing a bank account, such as a checking or savings account, does not directly affect your credit score. Your credit score is not directly affected by your checking and savings account activity. That includes account closures.

Key Takeaways. Having multiple savings accounts can help you keep track of various savings goals. Consider how many accounts you're comfortable managing when deciding if you should open more savings accounts. You can have multiple savings accounts with one bank or spread them across several institutions.