Putting money in a savings account allows you to have funds available for emergencies or to save for short-term purchases. You can also earn interest when you invest your money in a savings account, though.
Let's say you have a pretty good balance -- around $10,000 -- in your savings account. Here's how much you might earn with this much cash in savings.
Here's what your returns on a $10,000 balance could look like
If you have $10,000 in savings, the amount of interest you can earn on that balance is going to depend on the annual percentage yield (APY) your savings account pays. The FDIC reports that the national average interest rate on savings accounts is 0.46% as of mid-December 2023. However, if you have a high-yield savings account, you could earn up to 5.30% APY.
The table below shows the amount of interest you could earn over time both if you had an account at a bank paying the national average rate and if you found a competitive high-yield savings account paying 5.30%, assuming interest is compounded annually.
| 0.46% APY | 5.30% APY |
|---|
| After 1 Year | $46.00 | $530.00 |
|---|
| After 5 Years | $232.13 | $2,946.19 |
|---|
| After 10 Years | $469.64 | $6,760.37 |
|---|
Data source: Author's calculations.
As you can see, you can earn a pretty substantial amount of interest -- especially over a long time period -- but you'll need to find the right bank account in order to make that happen. You should also know that savings account APYs aren't fixed -- they change over time. If rates go down in 2024, as many people expect they will in the new year, you may not get that 5.30% APY. But the rates on a high-yield savings account are always going to be higher than the national average rate.
Take the time to find the right savings account to maximize your interest
When you put your money into a savings account, your potential returns are always going to be more limited than if you invested in a brokerage account and put your money into the stock market. That's because you are not taking on any risk of loss, up to FDIC insurance limits, as long as your account is FDIC insured.
That doesn't mean the account you pick doesn't matter, though. A high-yield savings account should provide the same safe place to put your money as a savings account paying a much lower APY does, as long as you make sure that your account has FDIC coverage. And, like a savings account paying a much lower rate, your money should still be accessible, so you can withdraw it whenever you want.
The big difference, though, is that the high-yield account is going to give you the chance to earn a lot more interest. You can earn more in a single year than you would after a decade if you find an account paying 5.30% instead of 0.46%. Of course, you will want to consider factors like customer service, fees, and the process of transferring funds -- but plenty of great accounts offering impressive yields also excel in other aspects of the customer experience.
The more money you have in savings, the more it matters that you find the right account -- but even if you have much less than $10,000 set aside, it's worth taking the time to try to maximize your returns. That's especially true as you have a lot to gain and nothing to lose if you just take the time to look for an account offering the most competitive rates.
These savings accounts are FDIC insured and could earn you 11x your bank
Many people are missing out on guaranteed returns as their money languishes in a big bank savings account earning next to no interest. Our picks of the best online savings accounts could earn you 11x the national average savings account rate. Click here to uncover the best-in-class accounts that landed a spot on our short list of the best savings accounts for 2024.
FAQs
The average money market rate is less than 1 percent. But let's say you put $10,000 in an account that earns a full 1% APY. After a year, your balance would earn 100 bucks. Put that same amount in a money market account with a 4% APY, and it would gain just over $400.
How much interest can you earn off 10k? ›
The Bankrate promise
| Type of savings account | Typical APY | Interest on $10,000 after 1 year |
|---|
| Savings account paying competitive rates | 5.25% | $539 |
| Savings account paying the national average | 0.58% | $58 |
| Savings accounts from various big brick-and-mortar banks | 0.01% | $1 |
Apr 2, 2024
Earnings on a $10,000 CD Over Different Terms
| Term Length | Average APY | Interest earned on $10,000 at maturity |
|---|
| 1 year | 1.81% | $181 |
| 2 years | 1.54% | $310.37 |
| 3 years | 1.41% | $428.99 |
| 4 years | 1.32% | $538.55 |
1 more rowApr 24, 2024
The average money market rate is less than 1 percent. But let's say you put $10,000 in an account that earns a full 1% APY. After a year, your balance would earn 100 bucks. Put that same amount in a money market account with a 4% APY, and it would gain just over $400.
How much is 5% interest on $10,000? ›
Simple Interest Examples
You want to know your total interest payment for the entire loan. To start, you'd multiply your principal by your annual interest rate, or $10,000 × 0.05 = $500. Then, you'd multiply this value by the number of years on the loan, or $500 × 5 = $2,500.
How much cash do I need to live off interest? ›
Key takeaways: The typical American making $40,480 a year needs at least $826k invested with a 4.9% annual return to live off interest alone. Estimate how much you need invested to live off interest with the formula: Annual income / Annual interest rate = Savings goal.
How much does a $100,000 CD make in a year? ›
How much you earn on a $100,000 CD varies, depending on the APY. For example, if your CD has a 5% APY, you'd earn $5,000 after one year.
Why should you deposit $10,000 in CD now? ›
A one-year CD with a $10,000 opening deposit that earns the Bankrate partner average yield of 4.94 percent would be worth around $10,494 when it matures in 12 months' time. This high-yielding one-year CD would earn you around $320 more in total interest than a CD earning the national average rate.
How much does a $50,000 CD make in a year? ›
A short-term CD could yield $2,625 per year (for a 1-year CD)
| Term | APY (current | Yield on $50,000 |
|---|
| 3 months | 5.26% | $682.50 |
| 6 months | 5.00% | $1,250 |
| 9 months | 5.55% | $2,081 |
| 1 year | 4.90% | $2,625 |
Feb 10, 2024
The interest is significant and predictable
Let's say you put $10,000 into a 5-year CD with the rate discussed above – 4.75%. After the 5-year term is up you'll have earned $2,611 in interest for a total account balance of $12,611.
As of May 2024, no banks are offering 7% interest rates on savings accounts. Two credit unions have high-interest checking accounts: Landmark Credit Union Premium Checking with 7.50% APY and OnPath Credit Union High Yield Checking with 7.00% APY.
Is $10,000 a good savings? ›
There's nothing wrong with keeping $10,000 in a savings account. But it might not earn you the highest yields. CDs and brokerage accounts could be better homes for your cash in some situations.
Can you put 10k in the bank? ›
The Bank Secrecy Act requires banks to report deposits over $10,000. Breaking up your $10,000 deposit into smaller deposits will likely still trigger a report. If you need to deposit a large amount, it's best to just do it -- if you're not engaging in illegal activity, you have nothing to worry about.
How much does a 1 year CD pay? ›
Not all CDs will charge a penalty; certain CDs, like no-penalty CDs, will not penalize you for an early withdrawal. Right now, the national average rate for a one-year CD is 1.54%. However, there are many one-year CDs that offer APYs above 4% and 5%.
How much will a CD make in one year? ›
According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), as of Sept. 18, 2023, the average interest rate for a 1-year CD is 1.76%, more than double the 0.45% average rate reported for savings accounts. The best CD rates, as you'll see below, are considerably higher, with some APRs exceeding 5%.
What is 3% interest of $10000? ›
For example, say you deposited $10,000 in a high-yield savings account with a 3% APY that compounds annually. At the end of a year, you'd have $10,300.00 in your account. But if the interest compounded daily, you'd have $10,304.53.
Is 10k good for savings? ›
There's nothing wrong with keeping $10,000 in a savings account. But it might not earn you the highest yields. CDs and brokerage accounts could be better homes for your cash in some situations.
Can you turn 10k into 100k? ›
Turning 10k into 100k in a month is possible, but difficult – and honestly, you'd have to get lucky. Your best bet is to invest in the stock market. Try out Public or Acorns to get started. But if you can, it's better to be a little more patient and give yourself more time to earn 100k.
Is having 10k in savings a lot? ›
Reaching a five-figure savings account is a significant financial milestone. If you have $10,000 in the bank, you've got something to brag about. According to the TransAmerica Center for Retirement Studies, you've managed to double the non-retirement savings of the median adult in America.
How to double 10k quickly? ›
How To Double 10K Quickly
- Flip Stuff For Money. One of the more entreprenurial ways to flip 10k into 20k is to buy and resell stuff for profit. ...
- Invest In Real Estate. ...
- Start An Online Business. ...
- Start A Side Hustle. ...
- Invest In Stocks & ETFs. ...
- Fixed-Income Investing. ...
- Alternative Assets. ...
- Invest In Debt.
