Financial Planning Tips for Young Adults in Their 20s

The 20’s can be a really busy, really exciting time, whether you’re finishing school, building a career, getting married, or starting a family (or some combination thereof). Add to that things like traveling, hanging out with friends, and discovering your passions in life, and it can be hard to prioritize financial planning.

But it’s important not to miss out on this important decade when major financial progress can be made. Establishing good money habits doesn’t have to be hard. Plus, skills like managing debt well and saving methodically for the future can set you up for a lifetime of financial wellness. Here’s how to start on that path.

10 Financial Tips for Your 20s

Here are some of the most important components of good money management and building wealth. The following advice can help you enjoy financial stability in your 20s and beyond.

In Your 20s

1. Open Your Own Bank Account

If you’re a 20-something who doesn’t already have a bank account, you’ll want to open one. It can be the hub of your daily financial life. With a checking account, you can direct-deposit your paychecks, easily pay bills electronically, and have a debit card for daily spending.

You’ll also probably benefit from a savings account, so you have a safe place to store your money while earning interest. Having FDIC-insured bank accounts means your money is secure, and it’s easier to stay organized and work toward financial goals.

💡 Quick Tip: An online bank account with SoFi can help your money earn more — up to 3.80% APY, with no minimum balance required.

2. Budget Wisely

If you’re like many young adults, you may earn a limited income while building your career. Creating and sticking to a budget can be a very helpful move. Alongside budgeting for your basic living expenses, you can also accommodate the “wants” in life (fun spending, such as dining out, travel, and concert tickets) and savings goals into your budget. Financial planning in your 20s can be hard to accomplish without a strong budget in place.

There are various ways to learn how to budget as a beginner, like the envelope system or the 50/30/20 rule. It may take a bit of experimentation to find a method that suits you. Another option: There are many apps that will help with this task, including those offered by your bank. Checking your account balances is another good step, as it helps you stay in touch with your money and course-correct if you are out of sync with your budget.

3. Don’t Overspend While Having Fun

Of course, you want to enjoy your 20s. Hanging out with friends, going to concerts, and decorating your first home are all worthy pursuits. However, being a financially responsible adult involves slowly chipping away at savings goals like retirement (more on that in a minute) or a down payment for a home. It can be helpful to set aside 10% to 15% of your earnings each month for your savings goals to make sure they aren’t ignored.

Also be smart about your spending. According to the 50/30/20 budget rule mentioned above, 30% of your take-home pay should go toward “wants” vs. 50% for “musts” and 20% toward savings and additional debt repayment.

There is plenty of advice available about cutting costs on groceries, streaming platforms, subscriptions, and travel. It’s wise to balance “in the moment” fun with working your way toward long-term aspirations, like your own home.

4. Avoid Credit Card Debt

Credit card debt comes with pricey interest charges and fees which can make it hard to pay it down. As of this writing, the average credit card interest rate on new offers was almost 25%. Think about it: Purchases cost a lot more than they seem to in the moment when you consider that interest getting tacked onto the purchase price. Plus, those high rates can mean that paying only the minimum amount due on your balance will take quite a while to pay off.

Whenever possible, it’s best to avoid taking on credit card debt. Otherwise, the interest charges will just mount. If you do have credit card debt, explore offers for balance transfer cards that give you no or super low interest rates for a period of time so you can hopefully get out of debt. Or consider a lower interest personal loan or talking to a debt counselor at a nonprofit like NFCC (National Foundation for Credit Counseling).

Get up to $300 when you bank with SoFi.

No account or overdraft fees. No minimum balance.

Up to 3.80% APY on savings balances.

Up to 2-day-early paycheck.

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5. Be Smart About Student Loans

If you’re out of school and are paying back student loans, that can certainly take a bite out of your disposable income. Whether you have a federal or private student loan, you can benefit by regularly making extra payments, whenever possible, so you can pay down your debt faster and spend less on interest. If the amount you owe seems overwhelming, you might look into options for switching repayment plans or consolidating your loans.

6. Earn Interest on Your Money

As noted briefly earlier, it’s possible to earn interest on savings by keeping it in a savings account. To earn even more, 20-somethings can turn to high-yield savings accounts that tend to earn more interest than traditional savings accounts do, which is of course a good thing. These accounts also keep your cash liquid, meaning your funds are very accessible. You’ll often find the best rates at online-only banks.

If you have additional funds available and are comfortable with taking on more risk, you can look into investing in your 20s. You might seek professional guidance on managing your money, though there’s likely a cost for working with a financial advisor.

7. Prioritize Goals

If you can buckle down and focus on the money goals that matter now, your long-term financial fitness can benefit greatly. You can develop a financial strategy for achieving the following, as they apply:

•   Buying a home

•   Child rearing expenses

•   A child’s college education

You can create a savings account (preferably a high-yield savings account) for whichever ones may apply. A way to make saving seamless is to automate your savings. That means setting up recurring transfers from your checking account, usually just after payday. That way, you don’t have to remember to build these accounts.

One other very important account to begin building is an emergency fund. This should hold three to six months’ worth of living expenses. It’s a great cushion to have if you are hit with a major unexpected expense or get laid off. Even contributing $20 or so per pay period is a good start. The critical thing is to begin earmarking funds in this way.

8. Invest Early for Retirement

It takes decades to save for retirement, so the younger you can start saving, the more time your savings have to grow. Once you enter the working world, if your employer offers a 401(k) plan or a different retirement account type, you may want to participate. You can really benefit from this kind of tax-advantaged saving. If your employer matches some of your contributions, that’s even better. It’s akin to free money that helps you grow your savings for the future.

Need more incentive to get a head start on saving for retirement? Consider this:

•   Say you start saving at age 25 and put away $10,000 a year for 15 years at a 6% return, and then stop saving. If that money just sits there, earning interest, you’ll have $1,058,912 at age 65.

•   Now, say you have a friend who starts saving $10,000 a year at age 35, does so for 30 years, and earns the same 6% return. Your pal will have $838,019 at age 65.

They saved twice as long as you did, but wound up with less money. That’s the beauty of compounding interest in action. And it can serve as an important incentive to start saving ASAP.

9. Pay Your Bills on Time

It may seem like a no-brainer that it’s important to pay bills on time. But doing so isn’t just about the joys of punctuality; it’s also a great way to build your credit score. Paying bills on time is one of the largest components of your credit score, and a solid credit score can help you borrow money in the future (say, when you take out a mortgage) at the best possible rates.

Not sure where your credit score stands? You can pull a free copy of your credit report annually from each of the big three credit reporting agencies to see how you’re doing and correct any errors you might find.

10. Build Your Credit

Speaking of credit scores, it takes time to build a credit history, and you need to take out credit to do so. A credit card is a great place to start. If you can apply for a credit card in your 20s and make payments on it month after month, this can positively impact your credit score. Just be sure not to charge more than you can afford to pay off.

Another tip is to keep your credit utilization ratio low; under 30% is good, and under 10% is even better. Here’s an example of how this plays out: If your credit limit is $10,000, a wise move is to avoid carrying a balance of $3,000 (30%) or more on it. Ideally, you should keep that number at $1,000 (10%) or lower.

The Takeaway

The basics for smart money management in your 20s is a combination of getting financially savvy, starting to save, and avoiding pitfalls like too much debt. Taking proactive steps today will keep your money in good shape and prepare you to navigate and enjoy the years ahead.

Having the right banking partner is also an important facet of money management at every age.

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.


Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy up to 3.80% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

FAQ

Should a 20-year-old have a financial advisor?

While hiring a financial advisor isn’t necessary, some 20-year-olds may find it valuable. This is especially true if you’re earning a high income and aren’t sure how to best save and invest your money.

How can I be financially stable at 20?

Financial stability at age 20 can involve several factors, such as spending within your means, managing debt well, and starting to save for an emergency fund and long-term goals.

What is the best financial advice for a young person?

There are several important pieces of financial advice for a young person. Finding a budget that works for you and sticking with it is valuable, as is making sure you are earning a competitive rate of interest on your emergency fund and other savings. Allocating any extra money to pay down debt, such as high-interest credit card debt, is also a wise move.


About the author

Jacqueline DeMarco

Jacqueline DeMarco

Jacqueline DeMarco is a freelance writer who specializes in financial topics. Her first job out of college was in the financial industry, and it was there she gained a passion for helping others understand tricky financial topics. Read full bio.



Photo credit: iStock/Wiphop Sathawirawong

SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2025 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.


SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit activity can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Eligible Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Eligible Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below).

Although we do our best to recognize all Eligible Direct Deposits, a small number of employers, payroll providers, benefits providers, or government agencies do not designate payments as direct deposit. To ensure you're earning 3.80% APY, we encourage you to check your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit arrives. If your APY is not showing as 3.80%, contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. As long as SoFi Bank can validate those details, you will start earning 3.80% APY from the date you contact SoFi for the rest of the current 30-day Evaluation Period. You will also be eligible for 3.80% APY on future Eligible Direct Deposits, as long as SoFi Bank can validate them.

Deposits that are not from an employer, payroll, or benefits provider or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Eligible Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

As an alternative to Direct Deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Eligible Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving an Eligible Direct Deposit or receipt of $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Eligible Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Eligible Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Eligible Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Eligible Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until SoFi Bank recognizes Eligible Direct Deposit activity or receives $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Eligible Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit.

Separately, SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days can also earn 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. For additional details, see the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.

Members without either Eligible Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, or who do not enroll in SoFi Plus by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days, will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
*Awards or rankings from NerdWallet are not indicative of future success or results. This award and its ratings are independently determined and awarded by their respective publications.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.


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Common Money Fights

Fighting about money is one of the top causes of strife among couples, and one of the main reasons married couples land in divorce court.

Married or not, it’s important to address the problems at the heart of financial disagreements and start communicating. Otherwise these issues may fester and grow.

Instead of judging each other’s spending habits or fighting over money, couples can learn how to start working on financial issues together as a team.

Here are some ways to help you make money discussions productive, and not a fight.

Common Causes of Couple Money Fights

While there are countless variations of money fights you might have, these are a few of the most common triggers:

Sharing important account information

Some couples struggle with privacy limits and financial security, and they may disagree upon what level of access their partner should have to their financial accounts. If one partner feels they don’t have fair access to financial accounts, passwords, and paperwork, resentment can build.

Married couples in particular may find it confusing and challenging to not have a full picture of their complete financial health.

Determining budgeting and spending limits

Maybe one of you likes to spend and enjoy life. And the other likes to save for a rainy day. This disconnect happens all the time. Not all couples see eye to eye on how much they should be spending and this can lead to anger and tension.

Dealing with debt

If one partner brings debt with them to the relationship, it isn’t uncommon for the couples to disagree about who is responsible for paying off the debt.

Tackling debt can be stressful under the best circumstances, and it can lead to turmoil and fighting if a romantic partner feels the debt is an unfair burden on the relationship.

Savings and investing

Some couples can’t agree how much money they should save and how they should be saving it.

One partner may feel investing their savings is the better path to a stronger financial future, but the other partner may find investing too risky and want to keep the money in a high-yield savings account. This can cause turmoil if both partners’ chosen path forward is the only one they are comfortable with.

Get up to $300 when you bank with SoFi.

No account or overdraft fees. No minimum balance.

Up to 3.80% APY on savings balances.

Up to 2-day-early paycheck.

Up to $3M of additional
FDIC insurance.


Retirement planning

When you’re balancing a lot of different expenses, deciding as a couple how much money to save for retirement and what age they may want to retire can be challenging.

But those who don’t have a plan for slowly and consistently saving for retirement can find themselves continually fighting about retirement savings. This is especially true if one partner is particularly worried about not being financially prepared for the future.

How to Stop Fighting About Money

Before your next money fight erupts, try these tips to help stop the arguing.

Changing the way you talk about money

Working on your communication skills can help keep financial discussions from devolving into arguments.

When you’re discussing money, the main goal of a productive talk is to really listen to each other and try to understand the other person’s point of view, as opposed to jumping to conclusions or making accusations.

One technique that can help with this is using “I” instead of “you” in your statements. For example, one partner might say, “I get frustrated when the bills aren’t paid on time. Can I help you out with that?” rather than, “you never pay the bills on time.”

Another method is trying to avoid using the words “always” and “never” when discussing money matters. These terms can put the other person immediately on the defensive.

Setting up a budget together

Creating a budget as a couple is key. To help establish your saving goals and monthly spending targets, begin by figuring out what your joint net worth is. Then track your income and expenses for several months.

Once you know what you’re spending money on, you can work out a flexible budget, with short-term financial goals and long-term goals.

Planning ahead helps both partners agree on how much needs to be set aside for retirement or a down payment on a house, and how much you each can allocate to spending as you individually see fit.

Being open and honest

It’s tempting to omit key information when we’re trying to avoid conflict. But even if a person doesn’t fib about an expensive purchase or lending money to a family member, failing to share significant financial information can make the other partner feel like they’re being lied to and misled. This can breed distrust and cause financial stress.

Prevent these problems by being honest about financial decisions, even if you know they may upset your partner. As reluctant as you may be to bring these topics up, it can be better in the long run than hiding it from them and committing financial infidelity.

Establishing some boundaries

One way to avoid the need to cover up pricey purchases is to agree to a few simple rules about what spending decisions should be shared and what spending decisions are okay to make solo.

For example, one couple may decide they don’t need to alert each other about a purchase if it’s under $500. Another couple may agree to lend money to siblings when they need it. And some couples may together decide to never lend money to friends or family under any circumstances.

By setting boundaries and limits, and then adhering to them, couples may stop feeling like they have to report their every financial move.

Setting up a joint account

One of the main benefits of opening a bank account together is that it can provide a clear financial picture. A joint account allows couples to track spending, and it can make sticking to a budget easier, while also helping to foster openness.

On the downside, sharing every penny can sometimes lead to tension and disagreements, especially if partners have different spending habits and personalities. One solution might be to have a joint checking and savings account, as well as two individual accounts with a set amount of money to play with every month.

Having different accounts, including one for their personal use, can give each partner some freedom to spend on themselves without having to explain or feel guilty about their expenditures.

Teaming up against debt

Working together on a reasonable plan to start getting out of debt can help couples alleviate a major stress on their marriage.

One strategy for debt reduction might be the avalanche method. To do it, you make a list of all your debts by order of interest rate, from the highest percentage to the lowest. Then, while continuing to make all your minimum monthly payments on existing debts, the couple might decide to put as many extra payments as possible to the highest interest rate loan.

Or, they might decide to simply eliminate the smallest debt first, or look into consolidating debts into a single loan, which could make it easier to manage.

Whatever plan you agree on, working on debt reduction can give you a shared goal to work toward together.

Scheduling a monthly financial check-in

Even if one partner takes on a bigger role in managing finances, paying bills, and keeping on top of the budget, both parties need to stay up to date on what’s going on in order to achieve financial security.

Rather than only talking about your finances when you’re stressed about bills, a better strategy might be to set a specific time on your calendar each month to sit down together and review your recent spending, income, savings, bills, and investments.

If you can’t swing monthly meetings, then aim for quarterly or biannual financial sit-downs.

Getting help from an advisor

While spending more money may seem like an added stressor, some couples who pay for a financial coach may find that it helps them save more down the road.

And, it might be easier to talk about an emotionally charged subject like money with an unbiased third party who can help diffuse tension and get you both to agree on a smart spending and savings strategy.

The Takeaway

Fighting over money, or finding it hard to talk openly and constructively about it, is a common source of friction between couples. Some strategies that can help include learning how to communicate about financial issues more productively, setting up monthly money check-ins, and letting each partner have some financial privacy.

For couples who are ready to integrate their finances, SoFi Checking and Savings makes it easy to create a joint account that gives you both shared access to your money. Plus, you’ll earn a competitive APY and pay no account fees. That’s something that you can both agree is a good thing!

Manage your money as a team with SoFi Checking and Savings.


About the author

Jacqueline DeMarco

Jacqueline DeMarco

Jacqueline DeMarco is a freelance writer who specializes in financial topics. Her first job out of college was in the financial industry, and it was there she gained a passion for helping others understand tricky financial topics. Read full bio.



SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2025 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.


SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit activity can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Eligible Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Eligible Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below).

Although we do our best to recognize all Eligible Direct Deposits, a small number of employers, payroll providers, benefits providers, or government agencies do not designate payments as direct deposit. To ensure you're earning 3.80% APY, we encourage you to check your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit arrives. If your APY is not showing as 3.80%, contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. As long as SoFi Bank can validate those details, you will start earning 3.80% APY from the date you contact SoFi for the rest of the current 30-day Evaluation Period. You will also be eligible for 3.80% APY on future Eligible Direct Deposits, as long as SoFi Bank can validate them.

Deposits that are not from an employer, payroll, or benefits provider or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Eligible Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

As an alternative to Direct Deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Eligible Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving an Eligible Direct Deposit or receipt of $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Eligible Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Eligible Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Eligible Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Eligible Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until SoFi Bank recognizes Eligible Direct Deposit activity or receives $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Eligible Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit.

Separately, SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days can also earn 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. For additional details, see the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.

Members without either Eligible Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, or who do not enroll in SoFi Plus by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days, will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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What Is a FICO Score? FICO Score vs Credit Score

What Is a FICO Score? FICO Score vs Credit Score

When applying for a form of credit such as a personal loan or credit card, applicants likely have their credit score top of mind. As they review their different credit scores, they may wonder: What’s the difference between a FICO score and a credit score?

Put simply, a FICO score is simply a type of credit score that uses the FICO credit scoring model. A credit score is essentially a generic term, whereas a FICO score is a credit score created by a specific brand.

What Is a FICO Score?

A FICO Score is a type of credit score that’s created by the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO). It’s a very popular form of credit score, and many companies rely on it when determining the creditworthiness of applicants.

Not all lenders use FICO score models though, as some use their own credit scoring models or rely on a score made by one of FICO’s competitors.

Is a FICO Score the Same as a Credit Score?

The main difference between FICO scores and credit scores is that FICO credit scores are only offered by the brand FICO, as this particular score relies on FICO’s specific credit scoring model. A credit score, on the other hand, is a generic term referring to scores created by any model, as all credit scores are backed by a credit scoring model.

Essentially, what many credit scores do is predict how likely someone is to make their debt payments on time. FICO scores specifically predict how likely it is that someone will fall 90 days behind on a payment within the next 24 months. This credit limit is determined based on a complex algorithm that uses information from credit reports made for each consumer by the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). FICO occasionally updates how it determines its scores and releases new versions of the FICO Score.

The higher someone’s credit score is — no matter where the credit score comes from — the higher credit limit and the less likely they are to miss a debt payment. The more reliable a borrower appears to be based on their credit score, the better terms a lender is likely to offer them. A lower interest rate, for instance, can lead to savings, as demonstrated by this personal loan calculator.

FICO Score vs Credit Score: Which Is Better?

A FICO score is not inherently better or worse than a credit score. The term credit score applies to the general concept of the score that comes from a credit scoring model. The FICO Score is simply a brand-name version of a credit score.

All lenders get to decide if they want to use their own internal credit scoring models or one from a brand like VantageScore or a FICO credit score. However, none of the different types of credit scores is necessarily better than the other.

FICO vs VantageScore

As briefly noted before, there are other brands that offer other credit scores to lenders. VantageScore is one of FICO’s main competitors. Like a FICO credit score, VantageScore relies on information from the three major credit bureaus’ credit reports to determine scores.

Both FICO Score and VantageScore give higher credit scores to more creditworthy individuals and their credit rating scales range from 300 to 850. Where these two scoring models differ is in how they determine their scores.

With different FICO scores, there are five categories of information that make up the overall credit score, and each category is given a different weight:

•   Payment history: 35%

•   Credit utilization rate: 30%

•   Length of credit history: 15%

•   Mix of your credit accounts: 10%

•   New credit accounts: 10%

VantageScore, on the other hand, uses six different categories, but doesn’t assign specific weights using a percentage. Instead, VantageScore places a different level of influence on each category:

•   Payment history: Extremely influential

•   Credit utilization: Highly influential

•   Length of credit history and mix of credit accounts: Highly influential

•   Amounts owed: Moderately influential

•   Recent credit behavior: Less influential

•   Available credit: Less influential

Why Is a FICO Score Important and What Is It Used for?

FICO credit scores play an important role when it comes to borrowing money. This is because an applicant’s FICO score indicates how likely they are to make their debt payments on time. The more likely someone is to repay their loan, the less of a risk they pose to lenders.

Because of this, a high credit score is helpful if you want to get approved for a personal loan or a credit card, among other types of loans. Lenders use FICO scores and other types of credit scores to determine how much money to lend someone, how long they have to pay their loan back, and how high their interest rate should be.

What Affects Your FICO Score?

A handful of different factors affect a consumer’s FICO score. The most important among those is payment history. Someone who consistently makes on-time payments will have a higher score, which is why prompt payment is critical to accessing top credit cards and leveraging common uses for personal loans down the road.

The next most important factor affecting a FICO score is how much of available credit someone is using. Using up a lot of one’s available credit indicates to top lenders that a borrower is overextended and may not be able to afford new loan payments.

Someone’s length of credit history also plays a role, and having a longer credit history can help give someone’s FICO score a boost. Having a good credit mix made up of different types of credit — like installment loans, retail accounts, auto loans, and mortgage loans — is also taken into consideration, as is how recently someone opened new credit.

How Do I Get a FICO Score?

Getting a FICO score is easy. Consumers typically can access their FICO score through lenders, credit card issuers, credit bureaus, and select financial institutions.

Because the FICO Score is such a popular credit report, some consumers may want to know what their FICO Score is before they apply for a new form of credit, such as a type of personal loan. That way, they can get an idea of whether they may qualify and under what terms.

The Takeaway

The FICO score is simply a type of credit score that utilizes a credit scoring model from the brand FICO. Many lenders choose to use the FICO score when deciding which applicants to lend money to and what terms to offer them — including how much interest to charge them. That being said, some lenders choose to use use industry specific scores, competitor models, or their own internal models to determine who they want to lend money to.

Before applying for a personal loan, it’s important to make sure you know where your credit score stands. For those who aren’t sure what type of interest rates they may qualify for, SoFi is here to help. With SoFi, you can find what interest rates you qualify for within 60 seconds, and with no commitment required. From there, you can complete your application and receive funds as soon as the same day.

SoFi’s Personal Loan was named NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Personal Loan overall.


About the author

Jacqueline DeMarco

Jacqueline DeMarco

Jacqueline DeMarco is a freelance writer who specializes in financial topics. Her first job out of college was in the financial industry, and it was there she gained a passion for helping others understand tricky financial topics. Read full bio.



Photo credit: iStock/Lyndon Stratford

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.



Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

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How to Short a Stock: Defined and Explained

Shorting a stock, also known as short selling, is one way to potentially profit from a stock’s price decline.

When investors think a stock’s price will fall, they can sell borrowed shares, repurchase them at a lower price, and potentially pocket the difference as profit. This strategy is popular among experienced and risk-tolerant investors who conduct thorough market analysis before taking a short position.

For new investors, the idea of making trades that can be profitable even when the price falls may sound strange. After all, the traditional way to profit in financial markets is a buy-and-hold strategy: purchasing a security, holding it, and selling it later for a higher price.

However, by understanding how short selling works, investors can utilize new strategies to potentially bolster their financial portfolios.

Key Points

•   Shorting a stock involves borrowing shares to sell at a high price, with the expectation of repurchasing them later at a lower price, and pocketing the difference.

•   A short squeeze occurs when a sudden price increase forces short sellers to buy shares back quickly, further driving up the stock price.

•   The strategy can be risky, as potential losses are unlimited if the stock price rises instead of falling.

•   Alternatives to short selling include purchasing put options, which allow investors to profit from stock price declines without borrowing shares.

•   Short selling may serve as a hedge against other investments, but it requires careful consideration due to its high risk and potential costs.

What Is Shorting a Stock?

A trader shorts a stock when they think its price will fall. Shorting involves borrowing the stock from a brokerage, selling it, and then buying it when the price is lower than when they sold. The trader then returns the shares to the brokerage and may realize a profit, provided the shares sold for more than they were bought back for.

Shorting a stock allows investors to take a position that anticipates a stock’s future share price will be lower than its current price. It’s the opposite of going “long” on a stock, where an investor buys shares with the expectation that the stock price will increase.

Short selling can be risky because if the stock price goes up instead of down, the investor will have to buy the shares at a higher price and may lose money.

Recommended: Short Position vs Long Position, Explained

Example of Shorting a Stock

Suppose an investor identifies a company they think is overvalued, and believes its share price will decline. The trader borrows 100 shares of stock in the company from their brokerage, and sells the shares for $10 per share. This amounts to $1,000 (plus any applicable brokerage fees).

In this scenario, the investor’s short strategy works, and the price falls to $9 per share. The investor can then buy back 100 shares for $9 per share ($900), return the borrowed shares, and pocket the $100 as profit ($1,000 – $900 = $100), less any additional fees.

Alternatively, if the price rises to $11 per share, the investor has to buy back 100 shares for $11 per share. This totals $1,100, for a loss of $100 ($1,000 – $1,100 = -$100), on top of any additional fees.

Why Short a Stock?

There are several motivations for shorting a stock. In general, traders might short a stock when they believe that the security’s price will fall in the future. This might be due to several factors, such as an overall bearish outlook on the market, or specific concerns about a company’s financial health or prospects.

Some traders might also short a stock to hedge their portfolios by reducing exposure to potential losses in long positions. For example, if a trader is long a stock that they think will fall in value, they might short a similar stock to offset potential losses.

Shorting a stock can be a risky proposition regardless of strategy. If the stock price does not fall as expected, the trader will be forced to cover their position at a loss. As such, traders must be cautious when considering whether or not to short a stock.

How to Short a Stock

There are several steps involved in shorting a stock.

1. Set Up a Margin Account

First, you’ll need to set up a margin account with your brokerage. Margin accounts allow traders to borrow shares from a brokerage to sell them. They also enable traders to borrow the funds needed to take on larger positions in a short than they could with their own account balance.

2. Identify a Stock to Short

With a margin trading account funded and ready to go, investors typically target stocks they believe are overvalued or have weak fundamentals. These tend to be more likely to experience price declines. Some common indicators are declining earnings, negative media attention, or a downward trend in the stock’s price.

3. Place a Short Sell Order

After identifying a stock to short, it’s on to the execution phase. To do this, a trader places a short sell order through their brokerage account. The order instructs the broker to borrow shares from an investor or institution and sell them on the open market at the current price, on your behalf.

Traders can choose between a market order (sells the shares at the best available price) or a limit order (specifies the price at which you’re willing to sell).

4. Monitor Your Position

Short sales carry higher risks than other trades, which makes it vital to monitor the position closely and adjust their strategy as market conditions change. Potential gains and losses are amplified when margin is involved. Gains are limited by the difference between the strike and short sale price, and your risk of loss is unlimited.

Stop-loss orders and other stock orders can help manage risk by automatically closing a position if the stock moves against your position for a certain amount of time.

5. Close the Short Position

To close a short position, the trader must repurchase the same number of shares they borrowed. Ideally, they would buy the shares at a lower price than the original sale price. This is known as “buy to cover,” and it allows the trader to return the shares to the brokerage. The trader then realizes any profit or losses based on the price difference.

In rare cases, the lender may request that the trader return the shares they borrowed, but it’s far more likely for the trader to close their position at that point since the short would likely be losing money in this scenario. A short seller can hang onto their short position for as long as they can pay the required interest fees for borrowing stock and maintaining the margin amounts required by the brokerage firm.

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*Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $50 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.

What Are The Risks and Rewards of Short Selling?

As noted, there can be some significant risks associated with short selling. But there can be potential rewards, too.

Risks of Short Selling

Selling a stock short involves significant risk — far surpassing the risk of “going long” on an investment. When holding a stock, there’s a limit to how low a stock can go, and investors can only lose as much as their initial investment.

If someone buys 10 shares of XYZ company at $10 per share, for example, and the share price goes to zero, they will lose $100. The price can’t go lower than zero, so someone can never lose more than what they had first invested.

However, when someone shorts a stock, they risk potential losses that are unlimited, as there is the potential for a stock’s price to rise indefinitely. If the price keeps going up, they will keep losing money.

Additionally, there are significant costs associated with shorting a stock. For one, the margin interest in a required margin account can add up over time if an investor keeps the position open for a while. Brokerage firms will charge interest on the borrowed shares, ranging from a few basis points to more than 100%, depending on how difficult the shares are to borrow. These costs can make shorting a stock prohibitively expensive.

Potential Benefits of Short Selling

While risky, shorting a stock could be profitable. Short selling may result in substantial gains during rapid price declines, though it also carries risk.

When investing during a recession, for example, sudden drops in the share prices of many stocks across many different industries can occur. While this might cause many investors’ portfolios to decline, others may be profiting because of their short positions.

Investors might choose to short a stock to hedge against their long positions. The term “hedge” is used to refer to an investment that protects against losses in another asset. So, in this case, an investor may put on a short position to hedge or offset a potential loss in a long position.

Short Selling Techniques and Best Practices

There are numerous short-selling strategies that investors might employ, and several of them are relatively straightforward, but require careful risk assessment.

For example, one technique that investors can use is to short sell a stock that is in a longer-term downtrend, but that has seen a short-term bounceback in value — it may continue that downtrend after a short time. Additionally, investors might enter a position (with proper risk management in place) when price trends are ambiguous. Investors can even try short selling while a stock is seeing an active decline. If that decline continues, investors could potentially capitalize on it, though other short-sellers could catch on, too.

What Happens in a Short Squeeze?

A short squeeze refers to the rapid flight of short sellers from a stock in order to limit losses — a situation that leads in a dramatic surge in the stock’s price.

Here’s how they typically occur: a sudden increase in the stock price causes investors to scramble to close their short positions by purchasing shares. This results in further gains in the stock, which in turn causes massive “covering” by other short sellers, bringing about a “squeeze.”

Famous cases include Volkswagen in 2008, which involved unusual circumstances related to Porsche’s increased stake in the German automaker, causing a short squeeze that briefly made Volkswagen the world’s most valuable stock by market cap.

In January 2021, the gains in GameStop (GME), a brick-and-mortar video-game retailer, were due to a massive short squeeze after retail investors piled into the stock, which hedge funds heavily shorted. Shares of movie-theater operator AMC Entertainment Holdings (AMC) and retailer Bed Bath & Beyond underwent similar experiences.

Is Shorting a Stock Wrong?

Short selling often raises ethical and moral concerns, particularly because it profits from the decline of a company’s share price. From a regulatory standpoint, short selling is legal and is recognized as a legitimate trading strategy. The practice can also aid with price discovery, which is how the market determines the fair value of a financial asset.

Concerns arise when short selling is associated with market manipulation, or when it is used to target companies for reasons outside of share valuation.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Some investors have attempted to manipulate stock prices by spreading false bullish. Such tactics are considered market manipulation, and are illegal. Anyone caught attempting to manipulate markets might be subject to regulatory punishment by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The ethical considerations about short selling focus on its potential to harm markets and the companies that list shares on them. Some critics argue that it can be used to spread false information about a company’s performance or long-term sustainability, especially during a short squeeze. Proponents suggest that short selling helps identify overvalued stocks, which can help make markets more efficient.

Alternatives to Shorting a Stock

Investors that want to capitalize on potential stock price declines, but without directly shorting them, can consider alternative strategies.

The first alternative to consider are put options. A put option is an options contract that gives the buyer the right to sell shares of an underlying asset at its strike price up until the option’s expiration date. The put option buyer pays a premium for the contract.

For example, imagine that an investor wants to short a stock whose shares are currently selling for $10. The investor believes the company is overvalued and the stock will soon head to $8 or lower.

The investor would buy a put option for the stock with a strike price of $10 and an expiration date of three months in the future. The investor pays a $1 premium for the put. If the stock falls under $10 during that time, the investor could exercise the contract to make money on the put option.

Suppose the stock falls below $8, as the put option investor forecasted. They could sell it for an increased premium to someone else. If an investor were to exercise the option, they’d profit from being able to sell shares for $10 that are worth $8, pocketing the $2 difference, minus the $1 premium, leaving them with $1. Since each option contract is usually worth 100 shares, the total profit would be $100.

Inverse ETFs

Inverse ETFs, or short ETFs, are another way to make a bearish trade. These investment vehicles use futures contracts to provide returns that are opposite the performance of an underlying index. Inverse ETFs assume either the broader markets, a particular asset class, or a market sector will go down in the short term.

For example: investors who believe a stock price will drop can buy a futures contract at a higher price, and if the share price does go down, the trader can buy the cheaper shares and then sell them at the higher price specified in the futures contract, thus realizing a profit.

An inverse ETF aims to provide opposite returns of a benchmark index uding derivatives such as futures or swaps, rather than directly shorting stocks. The biggest such ETFs are designed to provide the inverse returns of indexes like the Russell 2000 or the S&P 500. For example, if the S&P 500 goes down 1% on a given day, then a corresponding inverse ETF could be designed to go up 1% that day.

The Takeaway

Shorting a stock occurs when investors bet that the price of a specific stock or ETF will fall. Sophisticated investors with a bearish view of the market will often go short to profit from falling share prices. Short positions also help investors mitigate losses during widespread market downturns or hedge losses from another holding.

While shorting can be a useful investment tool, it’s also very risky. There is no limit to how high a stock can go, meaning there’s also no limit to the losses a short seller can potentially book. Trading on margin can multiply losses as well if the short sale does not go as the trader anticipates. In some cases, using an options trading strategy may accomplish similar results to going short.

Investors who are ready to try their hand at options trading despite the risks involved, might consider checking out SoFi’s options trading platform offered through SoFi Securities, LLC. The platform’s user-friendly design allows investors to buy put and call options through the mobile app or web platform, and get important metrics like breakeven percentage, maximum profit/loss, and more with the click of a button.

Plus, SoFi offers educational resources — including a step-by-step in-app guide — to help you learn more about options trading. Trading options involves high-risk strategies, and should be undertaken by experienced investors. Currently, investors can not sell options on SoFi Active Invest®.

Explore SoFi’s user-friendly options trading platform.

FAQ

What is a margin account and why do I need one for short selling?

A margin account is a type of brokerage account that allows investors to borrow money from their brokers to increase their purchasing power. A margin account is required in order to borrow the shares necessary to take a short position.

How can I manage the risks of short selling?

Thorough research and a robust strategy can help manage some of the risk involved in short selling. Traders may want to consider setting up and using stop-loss orders, which can exit a trader from their position if the stock gains value during a certain period of time. Lastly, it’s crucial to only invest as much as you are willing to lose. This can help right-size the role short selling has in your portfolio.

Can I short sell any stock?

No, there are restrictions on which stocks can be shorted, and they typically depend on the specific brokerage’s rules. For example, investors may not be able to short penny stocks, or short during specific market periods. There are also regulations about shorting that traders need to be aware of as well.


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INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below: Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.
For a full listing of the fees associated with Sofi Invest please view our fee schedule.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

*Borrow at 11%. Utilizing a margin loan is generally considered more appropriate for experienced investors as there are additional costs and risks associated. It is possible to lose more than your initial investment when using margin. Please see SoFi.com/wealth/assets/documents/brokerage-margin-disclosure-statement.pdf for detailed disclosure information.

Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire amount invested in a short period of time. Before an investor begins trading options they should familiarize themselves with the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options . Tax considerations with options transactions are unique, investors should consult with their tax advisor to understand the impact to their taxes.
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs): Investors should carefully consider the information contained in the prospectus, which contains the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other relevant information. You may obtain a prospectus from the Fund company’s website or by email customer service at https://sofi.app.link/investchat. Please read the prospectus carefully prior to investing.
Shares of ETFs must be bought and sold at market price, which can vary significantly from the Fund’s net asset value (NAV). Investment returns are subject to market volatility and shares may be worth more or less their original value when redeemed. The diversification of an ETF will not protect against loss. An ETF may not achieve its stated investment objective. Rebalancing and other activities within the fund may be subject to tax consequences.

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Do Bank Transactions Process Through the Holidays?

The next time you’re doing errands on a day off, keep in mind that banks have days off too. Bank holidays often coincide with national holidays, which can foil your efforts to complete financial to-dos.

If your branch is closed, does the bank still process transactions on holidays? Keep reading to find out on which holidays banks are closed and how that affects the processing of your transactions.

Which Holidays Are Commonly Observed by Banks?

Banks typically observe the holidays designated by the Federal Reserve Board. On these days, bank and credit union branches are generally closed and payment processing is suspended. Some banks may also close on other holidays, or on additional days surrounding these dates. It’s a good idea to check your bank or credit union’s specific holiday observance schedule.

Here’s a look at federal bank holidays for 2023 (note that holiday-related closures may fall on different days in subsequent years).

•   New Year’s Day: Monday, Jan. 2

•   Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, Jan. 16

•   Washington’s Birthday/Presidents’ Day: Monday, Feb. 20

•   Memorial Day: Monday, May 29

•   Juneteenth National Independence Day: Monday, June 19

•   Independence Day: Tuesday, July 4

•   Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 4

•   Columbus Day: Monday, Oct. 9

•   Veterans Day: Friday, Nov. 10

•   Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 23

•   Christmas: Monday, Dec. 25

💡 Quick Tip: Make money easy. Enjoy the convenience of managing bills, deposits, and transfers from one online bank account with SoFi.

Challenges on Bank Holidays

Bank closures aren’t the end of the world — you can still use your debit and credit cards, check your balance online, and get cash from an ATM. However, you may encounter slower payments to or from your account.

Here’s a closer look at how bank holidays may affect your financial life.

Deposits and Withdrawals May Be Suspended

The Federal Reserve System and the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network can only settle payments when the country’s central bank is open. This can create issues with deposits and withdrawals system-wide, and cause them to be delayed by one business day. ACH payments don’t process on federal holidays or weekends, so if a holiday falls next to a weekend, it can feel like it takes a long time for a payment to process.

Direct Deposits and Payroll Are on Pause

Do banks process payments on holidays? Because direct deposits are often processed by the ACH network, payroll deposits can be delayed due to holiday closures. Payroll delays can be challenging for employees that rely on a consistent payment schedule to pay their bills. In some cases, employers will schedule payments to go out before bank holidays, but they’re not required to do so.

Recommended: Can You Direct Deposit Into a Savings Account?

Banks Do Not Typically Process Checks on Holidays

Most banks don’t process checks on holidays. That means a check you deposit at an ATM or via mobile app on a holiday will be treated as if it were deposited the morning of the next business day. So if you deposit a check on a holiday Monday, it will be treated as if it were deposited on Tuesday morning (if it isn’t a holiday), and might not clear until Wednesday or Thursday. On the bright side, any checks you’ve written can’t be cashed yet either.

Recommended: What is the SWIFT payment system?

AutoPay May Be Delayed

If you have autopay set up for certain monthly bills and an automated payment falls on a bank holiday, the bank won’t process that payment until the next business day. This could potentially lead to extra fees if you miss the due date. It can be a good idea to plan ahead for bills that fall on holidays to make sure your payments post in time.

Can You Still Use Your Account During Holidays?

Yes. There are workarounds for conducting basic banking on a holiday. What you can do on holidays:

•   Deposit a check or withdraw cash at an ATM

•   Deposit checks using your bank or credit union’s mobile banking app

•   Get cash back at a store when making a purchase with your debit card

•   Schedule money transfers and conduct other online banking (though the results may be delayed by one business day)

Note that some ATM networks that don’t allow check deposits on holidays still allow customers to withdraw cash.

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Open a SoFi Checking and Savings Account with direct deposit and get up to a $300 cash bonus. Plus, get up to 3.80% APY on your cash!


Tips You Can Use to Help During a Bank Holiday

Bank holidays will happen whether we like them or not, but there are some simple actions you can take to lower the nuisance factor.

Be Proactive and Plan Ahead

Consumers and business owners who don’t want to be inconvenienced by bank holidays can plan ahead for them. It can be helpful at the beginning of the year to set calendar alerts a few days before each bank holiday as a reminder that they’re coming up. That way, you can visit your local branch or conduct online transactions a little earlier than usual.

Recommended: Traditional vs Online Banking: What’s Your Best Option?

Early Payments

Banks do not process payments on bank holidays. However, if a bank holiday happens to coincide with payday or occurs during the payroll processing window, then businesses can choose to run their payroll early to make sure their employees aren’t waiting longer than they should to get their paycheck.

Businesses may also choose to schedule online payments to their vendors early to ensure they get paid on time.

Pay Bills Online

If a holiday is going to cause you to miss a payment due date, you may be able to accelerate your payment by making a manual online payment. Some service provider’s allow online payment with same-day crediting. To see if this is possible, simply go to the service provider’s website and log in to your account.

Banking With SoFi

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.


Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy up to 3.80% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

FAQ

When were bank holidays declared?

The first ever bank holiday was declared all the way back in 1933. After a months-long run on U.S. banks, Franklin Delano Roosevelt proclaimed the first bank holiday on March 6, 1933, shutting down the banking system until March 13.

What happens if a payday falls on a bank holiday?

If payday happens to fall on a bank holiday, your paycheck could be delayed by one business day. To avert the delay, employers can choose to process payroll early so that employees have their pay deposited into their bank accounts on time.

Do banks process payments on Good Friday?

Yes. Good Friday is not recognized as a federal holiday, so banks typically continue to process payments as usual.

If I deposit a check on a holiday, when will it clear?

Typically, it takes one to two business days for a check to clear. But business days don’t include holidays or weekends. So if you deposit a check on a holiday, it will be treated as if it were deposited the morning of the next business day.

For example, if you deposit a check on a holiday Monday, it will be treated as if it were deposited on Tuesday morning (if it isn’t a holiday), and might not clear until Wednesday or Thursday.

Do banks process ACH on holidays?

No. Electronic, bank-to-bank money transfers processed through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) Network are paused on holidays.


About the author

Jacqueline DeMarco

Jacqueline DeMarco

Jacqueline DeMarco is a freelance writer who specializes in financial topics. Her first job out of college was in the financial industry, and it was there she gained a passion for helping others understand tricky financial topics. Read full bio.



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SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit activity can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Eligible Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Eligible Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below).

Although we do our best to recognize all Eligible Direct Deposits, a small number of employers, payroll providers, benefits providers, or government agencies do not designate payments as direct deposit. To ensure you're earning 3.80% APY, we encourage you to check your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit arrives. If your APY is not showing as 3.80%, contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. As long as SoFi Bank can validate those details, you will start earning 3.80% APY from the date you contact SoFi for the rest of the current 30-day Evaluation Period. You will also be eligible for 3.80% APY on future Eligible Direct Deposits, as long as SoFi Bank can validate them.

Deposits that are not from an employer, payroll, or benefits provider or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Eligible Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

As an alternative to Direct Deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Eligible Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving an Eligible Direct Deposit or receipt of $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Eligible Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Eligible Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Eligible Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Eligible Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until SoFi Bank recognizes Eligible Direct Deposit activity or receives $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Eligible Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit.

Separately, SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days can also earn 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. For additional details, see the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.

Members without either Eligible Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, or who do not enroll in SoFi Plus by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days, will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2025 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
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