Pros & Cons of Multiple Savings Accounts | Blog (2024)

February 2021Pros & Cons of Multiple Savings Accounts | Blog (1)

When you want to securely store your money, you can choose to open one or more savings accounts at the bank. If you’re unsure how many accounts to open, it’s a good idea to keep the advantages and disadvantages of having multiple savings accounts in mind before making a decision.

Pro: Meeting your financial goals

If you have clear financial goals that you want to meet, Ellen Chang, contributor to U.S. News & World Report, says that having a set account for each goal can provide the motivation to save more. You may have different accounts dedicated to emergency situations, vacations, car payments and other objectives. By having these different accounts, you can more easily check your progress toward each objective, according to Justin Pritchard, writer for The Balance. In addition, Pritchard says you can better budget for monthly and annual expenses when these have their own accounts.

As Pritchard also notes, you may feel more upset taking money out of a savings account that’s devoted to a goal you deeply care about, and this may stop you from buying unnecessary expenses. Meanwhile, if you are joyful seeing your balance increase over time, you may have positive reinforcement to keep saving money for a specific account.

Con: Keeping track of your accounts

One downfall of having multiple accounts is that it can be difficult to keep track of them all and to remember which account is for which savings goal. Having said that, there are a few tricks you can use to keep them hassle free and organized.

  • Have a portion of your paycheck directly deposited into each account. This usually can be set up with your HR department, however they may limit the number of accounts they can deposit into.
  • Set up an automatic transfer. If direct deposit isn’t an option, you can set up an automatic transfer to move the funds from one account to another on whatever day you choose. The benefit of this is you don’t have to remember to transfer the funds later, it’s done automatically for you.
  • Label your accounts. Within Waukesha State Bank’s VaultLink Online Banking platform, you can also add a “nickname” to your accounts. This lets you label the account in a way that you’ll know what it should be used for, such as “vacation,” “house downpayment,” “school expenses,” etc. That way you won’t get confused as to which account to use when you need the funds.

If you’re unsure whether to have one or several savings accounts, speak with one of our Personal Bankers to discuss which options are right for your specific situation. Our bankers are always here to help!

Pros & Cons of Multiple Savings Accounts | Blog (2024)

FAQs

Pros & Cons of Multiple Savings Accounts | Blog? ›

Meanwhile, if you are joyful seeing your balance increase over time, you may have positive reinforcement to keep saving money for a specific account. One downfall of having multiple accounts is that it can be difficult to keep track of them all and to remember which account is for which savings goal.

Is there a downside to having multiple savings accounts? ›

Meanwhile, if you are joyful seeing your balance increase over time, you may have positive reinforcement to keep saving money for a specific account. One downfall of having multiple accounts is that it can be difficult to keep track of them all and to remember which account is for which savings goal.

What is the drawback of multiple bank accounts? ›

Loss of interest:

Spreading funds into multiple accounts can result in loss of interest because many banks offer higher interest on higher deposited amount.

Should I keep more than 250k in one 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.

Is there a downside to having multiple current accounts? ›

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.

Is it better to have all savings in one account or multiple? ›

With interest rates on savings accounts still the highest they've been in years, it pays to save. But while having one savings account is good, many financial advisors and budgeting experts actually recommend keeping several, even if the balance in each one remains small.

Should I keep all my money in one bank? ›

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.

What's the point in having multiple bank accounts? ›

Having multiple accounts allows you to separate money for expenses from savings. Having separate accounts for different categories can simplify expense tracking to see whether you're staying on budget or need to make adjustments. You can also track progress towards savings goals better.

Should I split my savings between 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.

How many savings accounts should I have? ›

Key Takeaways. There's no limit to how many savings accounts you can have. Having just one savings account can simplify money management. Having multiple savings accounts may let you easily stash cash for different goals.

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.

Should you put more than 250k in a CD? ›

However, federally insured banks and credit unions only insure up to $250,000 per depositor per account ownership category. If you put more than this amount in a single CD, some of your money will be at risk. You can still safely invest more than $250,000 in CDs by opening accounts at multiple financial institutions.

Does FDIC cover $500,000 on a joint account? ›

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.

What are the disadvantages of having multiple bank accounts? ›

Drawbacks to Multiple Bank Accounts
  • More accounts to reconcile. Each month, you'll have more than just a checking and savings account at your local bank to track, which can become confusing.
  • Minimum balances. Many accounts have minimum balances you have to meet to earn interest. ...
  • Higher fees.
Apr 25, 2024

Does having multiple savings accounts hurt your credit? ›

In general, bank accounts don't affect your credit score, and they don't show up on your credit report.

How many bank accounts are too many? ›

There is no limit to the number of checking accounts you can have. But it's a good idea to limit the number of accounts to an amount that you can reasonably and sustainably manage. Too many checking accounts can make it harder to track deposits and withdrawals.

Is it bad to close a savings account? ›

Bottom line. Closing a bank account that's in good standing won't hurt your credit score. If you have a negative bank balance, however, it's important to resolve the balance before closing the account. Otherwise, your credit could suffer as a result.

Can a person have multiple savings accounts? ›

Yes, depending on the bank's policies and financial needs, you can generally have 5 to 6 Savings Accounts or even more.

What is the maximum amount of money you can have in a savings account? ›

FDIC and NCUA insurance limits

So, regardless of any other factors, you generally shouldn't keep more than $250,000 in any insured deposit account. After all, if you have money in the account that's over this limit, it's typically uninsured.

How many regular savings accounts can I have? ›

You can open more than one account across different banks

Just be aware that you can usually only have one regular saver with each provider at any one time.

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