Mar
18
2025
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APY vs Interest Rate

By | Budgeting & Goals, money, Terminology | Comments Off on APY vs Interest Rate

Interest rates and APY, or annual percentage yield, are likely words that you’ll hear throughout your financial life. If you are opening an interest-earning bank account, you’ll likely want to earn the highest return on your money that you can find. Conversely, if you are borrowing money (say, taking out a home loan), you’ll probably want to snag the lowest rate on your mortgage.

While you may see the terms interest and APY used interchangeably, they are not identical. APY expresses how much you will earn on your cash over the course of a year. Interest rate, however, is the interest percentage that you’ll earn or that a lender will change you.

Ready to learn more about APY vs. interest rate and how each impacts your finances

Key Points

•   APY (Annual Percentage Yield) and interest rate are two different concepts that are often used interchangeably but have distinct meanings.

•   APY represents the amount of money you will earn on your deposits over the course of a year, taking into account compound interest.

•   Interest rate, on the other hand, is the percentage at which your money will accrue interest, without considering compounding.

•   APY is higher than the interest rate because it includes the effect of compounding, which allows your money to grow faster.

•   Understanding the difference between APY and interest rate is important when opening a bank account or taking out a loan.

APY and Interest Rate Defined

If you deposit money into an interest-bearing account, you will earn an annual percentage yield (APY) on that money. The APY is a useful number because it tells you how much you’ll earn on your deposits over the course of a year, expressed as a percentage. The APY calculation takes into account the interest rate being offered, then factors in whether or not the financial institution offers compounded interest.

Compound interest is the interest you earn on the interest you’ve already earned. Depending on the bank or credit union, interest may compound daily, monthly, quarterly, or annually. The more frequently interest compounds, the faster your money grows.

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

What Is APY?

APY expresses how much money your cash will earn over the course of a year when it’s in an interest-bearing account.

APY is often confused with APR, which stands for annual percentage rate and comes into play when you take out a loan. A loan’s APR factors in the loan’s interest rate, as well as any additional fees and costs. It tells you how much you will pay for the loan over one year.

What Is an Interest Rate?

An interest rate is typically either the money you earn for keeping your cash at a financial institution or the cost that lenders charge you when they extend credit.

For example, if you put your money in a high-interest savings account, you might earn 4.50% for keeping your funds there. But if you take out a mortgage, you might be charged 7.00% interest for the privilege of borrowing that money to buy a house and paying it back over time.

Incidentally, the difference between the interest rates that banks pay depositors and charge borrowers is one of the ways these financial institutions earn money.

Earn up to 3.80% APY with a high-yield savings account from SoFi.

No account or monthly fees. No minimum balance.

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APY vs. Interest Rate Explained

So what is the difference between APY and interest rate? And why does interest rate vs. APY matter anyway? When you are opening a bank account, it can make a difference as one can give you a better picture of how your money will grow while on deposit.

The interest rate tells you the basic rate at which your money will accrue interest. The APY, however, gives you great insight to what you will have earned at the end of a year because it factors in the boost that compound interest can deliver.

Recommended: Different Ways to Earn Interest

The APY Formula

For those who want to delve in a bit deeper, the actual formula for APY calculation is as follows: (1 + r/n)ⁿ – 1.

•   The “r” stands for the interest rate being paid.

•   The “n” represents the number of compounding periods within a year.

If, for example, the interest rate is 3.50%, then that’s what you’d use for the “r.” If interest is compounded quarterly, then “n” would equal four.

Compounding frequency can cause two different savings accounts with the same interest rates to have different APYs. For example, if two different banks offer a certificate of deposit (CD) with the same interest rate and one of them compounds annually, that institution would have a lower APY than the institution that compounds quarterly or daily.

Fortunately, if you want to compare savings rates from one bank or credit union to another, you don’t need to perform these in-depth calculations.

Financial institutions are required to provide information on APY as part of the Truth in Savings Act. And, here’s the heart of it all: The higher the APY, then the more quickly the money you deposit can grow.

Recommended: Use the APY calculator below to see how much interest you can earn on your investments.


Calculating APR

The APR vs. interest rate of a loan tells you how much the loan will cost you over one year, including both the loan’s interest rate and fees, and is expressed as a percentage. A loan’s APR gives you a better sense of the true cost of the loan than the loan’s interest rate, since it includes fees. The higher the APR, the more you’ll pay over the life of the loan.

Thanks to the federal Truth in Lending Act, lenders must provide the APR of a loan. This allows you to compare loans apples to apples. A loan with a low interest rate but high fees may not be a good deal. In fact, you may be better off with a loan that charges a higher interest rate but no or lower fees. APR allows you to be a savvy consumer.

APR can be calculated with this formula: APR = ((Interest + Fees / Principal or Loan amount) / N or Number of days in loan term)) x 365 x 100. Lender’s will tell you the APR of a loan and you won’t need to perform any complicated calculations.

How Simple and Compound Interest Differ

Another dimension of interest rate vs. APY is seen when you consider how simple and compound interest differ. With simple interest, no compounding is involved. If you were to deposit $10,000 in an account earning 4.00% simple interest, at the end of three years, your money would earn $1,200 for a total of $11,200.

If, however, the interest were compounded daily, you would earn $408 the first year. The second year, interest would accrue on the principal and the interest ($10,408), and you would earn $425 the next year (for $10,833), and then $442 the year after that, for a total of $11,275.

While the dollar amount may not seem earth-shattering in this example of a few years, when you are talking about your decades-long financial life, it can really add up. Your money will grow faster with compound interest, helping you reach your financial goals.

Types of High-Interest Accounts for Savings

If you’re looking to earn a competitive rate on your savings, you’ll want to compare accounts by looking at APYs, as well as account fees and minimums. Generally, you can find competitive rates by looking at high-yield savings accounts, money market accounts, and CDs.

•   High-yield savings accounts, typically offered by credit unions and online banks, are accounts that typically pay a substantially higher APY than the national average of traditional savings accounts. They generally also have low or no fees.

•   Money market accounts are savings accounts that offer some of the features of a checking account, such as checks or a debit card. They often come with a higher APY than a traditional savings account, but typically require a higher balance, such as $1,000 or more, to avoid monthly fees.

•   Certificates of deposits (CDs) also tend to pay a higher APY than a regular savings account but require you to leave your money untouched for a certain period of time, called a term. If you take money out before then, you’ll likely pay an early withdrawal penalty. CD terms typically range from three months to five years. Generally, the longer the term, the higher the APY.

Recommended: How Does a High-Yield Savings Account Work?

High-Interest Checking Accounts

Checking accounts work well for everyday spending but typically offer no interest or very little. A high-yield checking account is a special type of account offered by some financial institutions (such as traditional and online banks, and credit unions) that offers a higher-than-average APY. These are accounts designed to give you the flexibility of a traditional checking account (with checks and/or a debit card) but with higher-interest returns.

A few points to note:

•   Often, to qualify for the highest rate the checking account has to offer, you need to meet certain criteria. This might be making a certain number of debit card transactions in a month, having at least one direct deposit or automated clearing house (ACH) payment each month, or choosing to receive paperless statements.

•   Some high-interest checking accounts will offer different APY tiers, with higher account balances earning a higher APY than lower account balances.

Test your understanding of what you just read.

Creating a SoFi Savings Account

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

Why is APY higher than the interest rate?

There is a difference between APY and interest rate: The APY is higher than the interest rate because it reflects the effect of compounding, in which your money earns interest on its interest.

What does it mean to earn 5.00% APY?

If an account says it earns 5.00% APY, that means at the end of the year, your money on deposit will earn 5.00% (say, $500 on $10,000 on deposit). The interest rate may be lower, because the APY reflects the impact of compounding interest.

Why do banks use APY instead of APR?

When a bank tells you its APY, or annual percentage yield, it’s sharing how much your money can grow when on deposit for a year. On the other hand, APR stands for annual percentage rate, which is the amount charged if you borrow money. If you are interested in taking out a loan from the bank, you would be told the APR.

About the author

Kelly Boyer Sagert

Kelly Boyer Sagert

Kelly Boyer Sagert is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in SEO-optimized blog and website copy: both B2B and B2C for companies ranging from one-person shops to Fortune 500 companies. 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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Mar
18
2025

Guide to Liquid Net Worth

By | Budgeting & Goals, Financial Independence, Growing Wealth, money, Terminology | Comments Off on Guide to Liquid Net Worth

If you’re wondering how your financial health is tracking, you may want to figure out your net worth and your liquid net worth. These two numbers reflect what your assets (what you have) vs. what you owe, helping you see how your personal wealth is evolving.

While totaling up your net worth offers a more big-picture view of your total assets with your total liabilities subtracted, liquid net worth is a slice of that. It focuses on solely the amount you own in liquid assets minus your total liabilities.

This reflects how much cash you truly have access to or could quickly raise if for some reason you needed to.

Here’s a guide to determining your liquid net worth and ways to improve it.

Key Points

•   Net worth is the value of your assets minus your liabilities, while liquid net worth focuses on easily accessible assets.

•   Liquid net worth includes cash, checking and savings accounts, stocks, bonds, and other assets that can be quickly converted to cash.

•   Non-liquid assets like real estate and retirement accounts are not included in liquid net worth calculations.

•   Liquid net worth is important for financial stability and emergency preparedness.

•   Strategies for improving liquid net worth include building an emergency fund, reducing expenses, paying off high-interest debt, and increasing investments.

What Is Liquid Net Worth?

First, know that net worth is the amount of assets you have minus your liabilities, or what you owe. When it comes to income vs. net worth, you see that your worth is more than just what you earn; it’s also what you keep and how you invest and grow your money.

For instance, if you have a high income but spend it all because your cost of living is very high, your net worth could be very low despite your healthy salary.

Now, what is liquid net worth’s meaning? That’s the same calculation as net worth, but only looking at assets that could easily be tapped. So, you would exclude the value of, say, the home you are living in or your retirement accounts which you can’t touch until decades from now.

Liquid net worth reflects assets you could draw upon right now if you had to, without putting your home on the market or pulling money out of an IRA. Net worth vs. liquid net worth, on the other hand, represents all your assets, whether easily tapped or not.

What Counts for Liquid Net Worth Calculations?

Here are some assets that can count when calculating liquid net worth:

•   Cash

•   Money in a checking account

•   Money in a savings, CD, or money market account

•   Mutual funds, stocks, and bonds

•   Possibly jewelry and watches that could be quickly sold, if need be.

Typically, you do not include real estate or retirement savings when calculating liquid net worth as these can’t be cashed in on the spot if that was your goal.

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Net Worth vs Liquid Net Worth

As briefly mentioned above, your total net worth includes all of your assets (what you own) and liabilities (what you owe). When you determine your net worth, you add up all your assets, including non-liquid assets, such as your house, car, and retirement accounts, and then subtract all of your liabilities. The resulting number is your total net worth.

•   Your liquid net worth is the amount of money you have in cash or cash equivalents (assets that can be easily converted into cash) after you’ve deducted all of your liabilities.

It’s very similar to net worth, except that it doesn’t account for non-liquid assets such as real estate or retirement accounts.

•   Your total net worth gives you a picture of your overall financial strength and balance sheet, while liquid net worth shows how much money you have available that is quickly accessible in case of emergency or other financial hardship.

•   Both measures of net worth can give you a useful snapshot of your financial wellness, since they consider both assets and debts. Looking at your assets without considering your debts can give you a false picture of your financial situation.

•   Knowing and tracking these numbers can also tell you if you are moving in the right or wrong financial direction. If your net worth or liquid net worth is in negative territory or the numbers are declining over time, it can be a sign you need to make some changes and/or may want to put off making a major purchase such as a home or a car.

💡 Quick Tip: Want a simple way to save more each month? Grow your personal savings by opening an online savings account. SoFi offers high-interest savings accounts with no account fees. Open your savings account today!

Why Liquid Net Worth Matters

Your liquid net worth is a measure of your ability to weather a financial storm. Imagine you need money for something important — a major home or car repair, a trip to the ER, or getting laid off and deciding to start a new business.

You need it now… or, at least, within the next few weeks or months. Where are you going to get the money?

You might not want to look at cashing in things like your home, your car, your retirement savings, your baseball card collection, or Grandma’s wedding ring unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Those kinds of assets can be difficult to convert to cash in a hurry — and there could be consequences if you did decide to go that route.

Instead, it may be easier to tap your more liquid assets, such as cash from a checking, savings, or money market account, or cash equivalents, like stocks and bonds, mutual funds, or money market funds.

Liquid net worth is often considered a true measure of how financially stable you are because it tells you what you can rely on to cover expenses. In addition, your liquid net worth acts as an overall emergency fund.

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.


Calculating Your Liquid Net Worth

The difference in calculating net worth and liquid net worth is understanding which of your financial assets are liquid assets.

Liquid assets are cash and assets that could be converted to cash quickly. The following are considered liquid assets.

•   Cash: This includes the money that is in your wallet, as well as the cash you have in any savings, checking, and money market accounts.

•   Stocks: Any equity in a brokerage account, such as stocks, index funds, mutual funds, and ETFs, is considered a liquid asset. While you might have to pay taxes and other fees if you sell equities to convert to cash, you could liquidate these assets fairly quickly.

•   Bonds: Like equities, any bonds or bond funds are also liquid assets. Again, you may have to pay taxes on your profits when you sell, but the translation is relatively quick.

Non-liquid assets include anything that cannot be converted to cash quickly or for their full value, such as:

•   Retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s and IRAs.

•   A house or other real estate holding (which could take a while to sell and the actual sales price is not known).

•   Cars (while you may be able to liquidate a car relatively quickly, cars generally don’t hold their original value; they depreciate).

Liquid Net Worth Formula

For a liquid net worth calculation, here are the steps to follow:

•   List all of your liquid assets: The cash and cash equivalents you could easily and quickly get your hands on if you need money.

•   Next, list your current liabilities, including credit card debt, student loan balance, unsecured loans, medical debt, a car loan, and any other debt.

•   Subtract your liabilities from your liquid assets. The result is your liquid net worth.

4 Tips for Improving Liquid Net Worth

If your liquid net worth is too low to cover at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses or is in negative territory, you may want to take some steps to bolster this number. Here are some strategies that can help boost liquid net worth.

1. Building an Emergency Fund

If you don’t already have a solid contingency fund set aside in a liquid account, you may want to start building one. Having enough cash on hand to cover three to six months’ worth of expenses can be a great place to start building your liquid net worth.

An emergency fund can help keep you from getting behind on your bills and running up high interest credit card debt in the event of an unexpected expense, job loss, or reduction in work hours.

It’s fine to build towards this slowly. Automating your savings to deposit, say, $25 per paycheck into an emergency fund can be a good starting point if money is tight.

2. Reducing Expenses

For every dollar you save each month, you are potentially increasing your liquid net worth by that amount. One way to cut spending is to take a close look at your monthly expenses and to then try to find places where you may be able to cut back, such as saving on streaming services, lowering your food bills, or shopping around for a better deal on home and car insurance.

3. Lowering High-Interest Debt

Debts add to your liabilities and therefore lower your liquid net worth. Expensive debt also increases your monthly expenses in the form of interest. This gives you less money to put in the bank each month, making it harder to build your liquid net worth.

If you’re carrying credit card debt, you may want to start a debt reduction plan (such as the “debt snowball” or “debt avalanche” method) to get it paid down faster.

4. Increasing Investments

Investing money in the market for long-term savings goals, such as a child’s education, can increase your liquid net worth. While there is risk involved, you’ll have more time to ride out the ups and downs of the securities markets when saving for the longer term.

Recommended: Average Net Worth by Age

Test your understanding of what you just read.

The Takeaway

Liquid net worth is the amount of money you have in cash or cash equivalents after you’ve deducted your liabilities from your liquid assets. It doesn’t account for non-liquid assets, such as real estate or retirement accounts.

Your liquid net worth can be a valuable measure of your financial health and stability because it shows how prepared you are to handle a change in plans, an unexpected expense, or a true emergency.

One easy way to boost your liquid net worth is to start building an emergency fund. If you’re looking for a good place to start saving, you may want to consider opening a high-interest bank account.

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

Does a 401(k) count as liquid net worth?

When calculating liquid net worth, you typically do not include retirement accounts nor real estate. Liquid net worth’s meaning involves assets you can quickly tap without paying a large penalty.

How do you calculate liquid net worth?

To calculate your liquid net worth, add up your liquid assets (cash, money in the bank, stocks, bonds, and the like) and subtract your liabilities (credit card debt, student loans, car loan, etc.). When adding up your assets, do not include real estate or retirement accounts.

What is the average liquid net worth by age?

Figures for average liquid net worth are hard to come by. Rather, total net worth is what is typically tracked, which was recently found to be approximately $76,300 for those under age 35, $436,200 for those 35 to 44; $833,200 for those 45 to 54, and $1,175,900 for those 55 yo 64. It may be helpful to also consider the media values for these age brackets, which are significantly lower than the average.

About the author

Kelly Boyer Sagert

Kelly Boyer Sagert

Kelly Boyer Sagert is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in SEO-optimized blog and website copy: both B2B and B2C for companies ranging from one-person shops to Fortune 500 companies. 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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Mar
18
2025
What Is a High-Yield Checking Account?

What Is a High-Yield Checking Account?

By | Budgeting & Goals, Financial Independence, money | Comments Off on What Is a High-Yield Checking Account?

A high-yield checking account is a secure place to deposit, store, and withdraw money, but with an enhanced interest rate vs. other similar accounts. Typically, money in a checking account doesn’t earn any interest — or maybe a nominal fraction of a percent.

With a high-yield checking account, there’s the potential to turn your regular deposit account into a passive income machine. While it’s unlikely to make you rich, a high-yield checking account can help pad your pockets with a few extra interest dollars, which can add up over time.

However, these accounts can come with certain conditions that may or may not make them the right choice for you. Here’s what you need to know.

Key Points

•   High-yield checking accounts offer significantly higher interest rates compared to traditional checking accounts, potentially reaching up to 5.00% APY.

•   These accounts can transform regular checking into a source of passive income, though they won’t make you rich.

•   To avoid monthly fees and earn interest, account holders may need to meet specific requirements such as maintaining a minimum balance or making a certain number of transactions.

•   Online banks frequently offer these accounts with fewer fees and conditions compared to traditional banks.

•   Despite the potential for higher returns, the interest rates on these accounts generally do not compare to those possible through investments in stocks and bonds.

How High-Yield Checking Accounts Work

High-yield checking accounts, as their name implies, are checking accounts that offer a high “yield,” or interest rate, on the balance held in the account.

Whereas the national average for an interest-bearing checking account is about 0.07% APY (annual percentage yield) per the FDIC, a high-yield account might offer 3% to 5% APY or even higher — which still might not make you a fortune, but is a significant upgrade and on a par with some savings accounts.

High-yield checking accounts make it possible to create a passive income stream, albeit a small one, just by holding money in your checking account (which you likely already do). A high-yield checking account can augment interest earnings from other financial products you may hold, such as a high-interest savings account or investments like high-yield bonds.

However, there can be account minimums to contend with or potential fees.

Does a High-Yield Checking Account Come With Fees?

Although some high-yield checking accounts come with monthly maintenance fees that could easily eclipse whatever interest you stand to earn, these fees can commonly be waived so long as you maintain a certain minimum monthly balance or meet other requirements. These may include making a certain number of debit card transactions or receiving a certain threshold in direct-deposit income each month.

These days, there are even some free high-yield checking accounts — usually offered through online banks — but the level of interest you’ll earn may depend on your ability to meet the same kind of transaction minimums we just mentioned. (If you don’t meet the requirements, you might not earn any interest at all.)

So, in short, while you might not have to pay for your high-yield checking account, you’ll likely need to perform the basic minimum monthly transaction requirements in order to glean the full benefits of the account.

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.


Top 3 Pros of a High-Yield Checking Account

High-yield checking accounts can be very beneficial — here’s how.

1. More Earnings

These accounts offer an opportunity for interest earnings simply by holding a checking account. In some cases, the interest rate may rival that of certain kinds of savings accounts.

2. Motivation to Keep More in Your Account

These high-yield checking accounts can incentivize account holders to keep a higher minimum balance due to interest-earning requirements — which can help you generate a cash cushion.

3. Availability

These accounts are becoming increasingly available, especially thanks to the proliferation of online-only banks. You likely don’t need to invest much time and energy in research when looking for one.

Cons of a High-Yield Checking Account

On the other side of the coin (pun totally intended), high-yield checking accounts can have their drawbacks.

Transaction Requirements

These high-yield accounts may come with transaction requirements to secure interest earnings. If the account holder doesn’t meet them, little or no interest will be earned. These obligations might suit your money style, or they might prove to be a major hassle.

Modest Interest (If We’re Honest)

Many interest-bearing accounts generate just a fraction of a percentage in interest. Even the highest-yield checking accounts currently only offer about 5.00% APY. Yes, every little bit helps but this certainly isn’t enough money to retire on.

Additional Fees

In some cases, high-yield checking accounts may come with fees. Waiving them may require holding a significant minimum monthly balance — which can be challenging for individuals and families living paycheck to paycheck.

Here, you can review the pros and cons again in table format:

Pros of High-Yield Checking Accounts

 Cons of High-Yield Checking Accounts
Potential to earn interest on checking, which normally offers little or no earning potential May have many monthly transaction minimums to meet in order to qualify for interest earnings
Can incentivize account holders to keep more money in their accounts May have fees that can only be waived by maintaining a significant minimum monthly balance or meeting minimum transaction requirements
Are increasingly available — and increasingly fee-free — from online banks Even the best high-yield checking accounts typically offer far less than the average return on stocks and bonds (though when FDIC-insured, these checking accounts can be a safer investment vehicle)

Recommended: What Is a Certificate of Deposit (CD)?

Is a High-Interest Checking Account Worth It?

Whether or not a high-interest checking account is worth it will probably depend on a couple of key factors.

•   First of all, how high is the interest rate? If it’s just a fraction of a percentage above the norm, it may not be worth it. But if it’s a multiple of the standard rate, it might be a good way for your money to make money.

•   Next, what fees or minimum requirements are involved? If your money would make $10 more in interest per year in a high-yield account but you need to tie up funds that could be working harder elsewhere, then it’s probably not a money-wise move.

Factors to Look For in a High-Yield Checking Account

If you’re shopping for a high-yield checking account, consider these factors:

Interest Rate

Of course, you will likely want to shop around and see what are the highest rates available for a checking account. Currently, the highest rates are 5.00% or slightly higher.

Minimum Balance

With this kind of checking account, you may be required to make a specific size of deposit to open the account. You may also need to keep a certain balance in order to earn the high interest rate or to avoid fees. If that’s the case, make sure you can meet that number.

Fees

In addition, when opening a checking account, be sure you understand what fees might be charged. These can include maintenance, overdraft, ATM, and foreign transaction fees, among others. You’ll probably want to avoid being charged fees so that they don’t eat away at the interest you are earning. Online banks may be more likely to waive such fees.

How to Qualify for High-Yield Checking Accounts

In order to qualify for a high-yield checking account — and actually get the benefits — you’ll need to be able to fulfill whatever that account specifies as far as transaction requirements or minimum opening deposits.

In addition, if your banking history is marked by overdrafts and other negative factors, this may be reported by ChexSystems, which is kind of like a credit score bureau but for banking. If you have many negative factors (unpaid fees, say, or many overdrafts), you may not be able to qualify for a high-yield checking account — or other types of deposit accounts, either. (If your ChexSystems report contains errors, you can always dispute false information with ChexSystems online.)

How to Open a High-Yield Checking Account

Now that you know what it is, you may wonder how to open a high-yield checking account. The process is similar to opening any other type of account. You’ll be asked to provide:

•   Basic personal information, such as your name and address

•   Proof of address (such as a utility bill)

•   Government-issued photo ID

•   Your Social Security number or other taxpayer identification number

In addition, your chosen bank may also require a certain minimum opening deposit, which you’ll need to provide to activate the account. The bank will offer specific details as far as what documentation is required and how to deliver it.

High-Yield Checking Accounts vs High-Yield Savings Accounts

If you are comparing high-interest checking and high-yield savings accounts, you will likely want to consider the following points:

•   A high-interest checking account does generate money on your deposit, but it may come with minimum transaction or balance requirements. These could be difficult for some people to meet.

•   A high-interest savings account can offer good earning power, but the number of transactions you are allowed could be limited. Although Regulation D, which limits savings accounts to six transactions a month, was largely suspended since the pandemic, some financial institutions may still apply this rule and charge fees if you conduct more transfers.

Depending on your needs, one of these may be a better option than the other. Also, it is likely to be easier to find a solid interest rate with a high-yield savings account than with the checking variety. In other words, many high-interest checking accounts don’t offer all that much earning power.

Test your understanding of what you just read.

Opening a Checking and Savings Account With SoFi

A high-yield checking account is a great way to augment whatever passive income you might earn from savings accounts, investments, and other holdings. Some interest is better than none, after all — every little bit of interest earned counts.

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

Is a high-yield checking account worth it?

This all depends on whether or not you can meet any minimum monthly transaction requirements. If you can fairly easily do so, a high-yield checking account is an easy way to earn passive income just by keeping an active bank account. But if you can’t, you might not earn any interest at all — or even pay additional fees for the account.

What is the difference between a high-yield checking and savings account?

A high-yield checking account is designed to be the hub of your financial life and typically doesn’t have any limits on the number of transactions you may make; savings accounts may restrict this. However, this kind of checking account likely pays less interest than a high-yield savings account, which may do a better job of helping you generate passive income.

Can you withdraw money from a high-yield savings account?

Yes, you can withdraw money from a high-yield savings account. However, there may be restrictions on how many transactions you can make per month. Going over that number could result in fees or the account being converted to a checking account.

What bank has the highest checking interest rate?

Currently, some of the banks offering the highest checking interest rates are Axos Bank, Presidential Bank, Heritage Bank, and Quontic Bank.

Can you ever lose your money with a high-yield savings account?

A high-yield savings account is typically a very safe place to keep your money, especially if it’s FDIC- or NCUA-insured. The risk of losing money is extremely low.

Photo credit: iStock/MicroStockHub

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.
We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
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.


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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Mar
18
2025

How to Refinance a HELOC

By | Growing Wealth, Home Ownership, mortgage, Terminology, Tools & Calculators | Comments Off on How to Refinance a HELOC

Can you refinance a HELOC (home equity line of credit)? Yes — in many different ways, in fact. And if your current HELOC’s draw period is coming to a close, leaving you staring down the barrel of the higher-cost repayment period, this may be a good time to learn more about them.

Below, we’ll walk through the various options you have for refinancing a HELOC. Knowing your way around these financial products can help you put the value of your home to work for you — and even, when done correctly, increase your equity.

Let’s take a closer look.

Key Points

•   Main reasons for refinancing a HELOC include the end of the draw period, securing a lower interest rate, and avoiding balloon payments.

•   Steps to refinance involve contacting the current lender, shopping for a new HELOC, and evaluating terms and alternatives.

•   Potential pitfalls include higher long-term cost.

•   Alternatives to refinancing are a home equity loan, cash-out refinancing, and a personal loan.

•   Tips for successful refinancing include running the numbers and considering tax impact.

Understanding HELOC Refinancing

First, a quick refresher: A home equity line of credit is a revolving credit line that allows you to borrow money against the equity you’ve built in your home. HELOCs are split into two distinct time frames: a draw period (usually 10 years) and a repayment period (which can last as long as 20).

As its name implies, the draw period is the time during which you can “draw” from the HELOC’s available credit. Many homeowners use a HELOC to fund major home renovation projects that can actually increase their equity in the long term. However, during the draw period, you only have to pay interest, not principal, which means that HELOCs tend to have lower payments during this time frame and higher payments during the repayment period. (New to HELOCs? Learn how HELOCs work before signing on to one.)

Reasons to Consider Refinancing Your HELOC

Many borrowers are drawn to a HELOC refinance when their draw period is coming to an end. That’s because the repayment period, which requires the repayment of both principal and interest, tends to have much higher monthly costs than the draw period — which can be a budgetary stretch for borrowers.

However, there are other worthwhile reasons to consider refinancing a HELOC at any part of its lifecycle, such as:

•   Scoring a lower interest rate, especially if your credit score or other factors have substantially improved

•   Moving from a variable interest rate to a fixed one, which can help make costs more predictable

•   Avoiding balloon payments that are written into some HELOCs, which can require the entire balance to be paid in one lump sum

Just like refinancing any other kind of loan, refinancing your HELOC can help you lower costs in the short term (with lower monthly payments) or long term (with lower interest rates), depending on your financial needs.

Next, we’ll walk you through how to go about doing it.

Steps to Refinance Your HELOC

Let’s start with two of the most straightforward ways to refinance your HELOC: loan modification and getting a new HELOC.

Call Your Lender and Ask About Loan Modification Options

Perhaps the easiest way to “refinance” your HELOC is not to refinance it at all, but rather to contact your current lender to learn what HELOC modification options are available.

Your loan servicer may be able to lower your interest rate or extend the term, both of which can make your monthly payments more manageable. Plus, you won’t have to go through the hassle and paperwork of taking out a new loan with a different financial institution. Most lenders require those seeking loan modification to show proof of financial hardship, although it never hurts to ask even if you don’t meet this qualification.

Shop Around for a New HELOC

Of course, your original lender can always say “no” to a HELOC refinance — and if it does, another option is to take out another HELOC and use it to repay your existing one. This method allows you to extend the draw period, which is helpful for those who are still actively using the line of credit they took out against their home’s value, while also keeping your monthly payments lower for longer.

However, if you’re nearing retirement age or aren’t expecting a major budgetary change that’ll make the higher repayment-period bills any more feasible, you might consider an alternative to refinancing. We’ll go through a few of your best options in just a moment.

Evaluating Your Current HELOC Terms

To ascertain if any refinance is worthwhile, you first need to understand your current HELOC’s terms. That way, you’ll understand how much you stand to pay over time under your current loan’s contract versus how much you might save (or lose) by changing it.

Along with your interest rate, you should also know whether that rate is fixed (unchanging) or variable (liable to change with market conditions). While variable interest rates offer the potential of lower payments if market rates drop, they can also be less predictable than fixed-rate loans.

HELOCs can also have annual fees that will add to your debt total over time. If you’re refinancing to a new HELOC, be sure you understand not just ongoing fees but any origination fees that may add to the overall expense of the transition.

Finally, keep in mind that lengthening your loan’s term may lower your monthly payments, but will almost certainly mean you’ll pay more in interest over time.

Alternatives to HELOC Refinancing

If modifying your current HELOC or taking out a new one won’t work for you — or if you’re simply evaluating all of your options before making a decision — here are some alternatives to HELOC refinancing to consider.

Consider a Home Equity Loan

As you compare a home equity loan vs. a HELOC, you’ll see that both use the equity you’ve built in your property as collateral. A home equity loan is also sometimes known as a “second mortgage,” but technically a HELOC is also a second lien on your home.

Home equity loans offer the stability of a predictable monthly payment at (usually) a fixed interest rate, and because they’re also secured by your equity, they tend to have lower interest rates than unsecured personal loans. However, like HELOCs, they can have upfront origination fees — potentially ones as high as the closing costs you paid when you purchased your home in the first place.

Look Into Cash-Out Refinancing

Cash-out refinancing involves refinancing your original mortgage for a larger sum than you currently owe on that loan. The new cash-out refinancing loan would be large enough to cover whatever you owe on your home and allow you to pay off your HELOC, leaving you with one payment instead of two.

Of course, taking out such a large loan — which may have its own 30-year term — can leave you making mortgage payments for a much longer time and spending more on interest in the long run. Additionally, these loans, too, come with closing costs that can total thousands of dollars.

Look Into Cash-Out Refinancing

Cash-out refinancing involves refinancing your original mortgage for a larger sum than you currently owe on that loan. The new cash-out refinancing loan would be large enough to cover whatever you owe on your home and allow you to pay off your HELOC, leaving you with one payment instead of two.

Of course, taking out such a large loan — which may have its own 30-year term — can leave you making mortgage payments for a much longer time and spending more on interest in the long run. Additionally, these loans, too, come with closing costs that can total thousands of dollars.

Consolidate Your HELOC with Other Debts Using a Personal Loan

Finally, you could also consider using a personal loan to pay off your HELOC along with other debts you may have, such as credit card debt. Using this tactic, you’d take out a personal loan large enough to cover all of your debts, use the funds to pay them off, and then make one monthly payment rather than many.

Personal loans are easy to apply for, flexible, and you can use the money for just about anything — including taking out more than you need to pay off debts, if you have other short-term financial needs. However, they also tend to have higher interest rates and stricter eligibility requirements than other loan types since they’re not secured by collateral.

Potential Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

While refinancing your HELOC can be a smart money move, there are some common pitfalls worth avoiding, including:

•   Not running the numbers. The only way to truly know if refinancing your HELOC is worthwhile is to run the numbers to understand how much you’ll pay, in both the short and long terms, with either loan. A HELOC payment calculator can help.

•   Not understanding how HELOCs can affect your taxes. Depending on when you took out your HELOC and how much mortgage debt you have, its interest may be tax deductible — savings you won’t want to miss out on.

•   Not using a HELOC to build wealth. If you’re going to borrow money, you might as well put that debt to work for you in the long run. That’s why the funds from HELOCs are best used for projects like home renovations and repairs, that can increase your equity over time.

The Takeaway

Can you refinance a HELOC? Yes — and doing so can help keep you out of hot water if you’re facing down payments you don’t have the budget for. That said, like any refinance, this process can also mean paying more for the loan over the long term. Consider a cash-out refinance or a home equity loan if you’re looking for options to refinance a HELOC.

SoFi now offers home equity loans. Access up to 85%, or $350,000, of your home’s equity. Enjoy lower interest rates than most other types of loans. Cover big purchases, fund home renovations, or consolidate high-interest debt. You can complete an application in minutes.


Unlock your home’s value with a home equity loan from SoFi.


FAQ

When is the best time to refinance a HELOC?

Many borrowers opt to refinance a HELOC as their draw period comes to a close and monthly payments increase. That said, refinancing after a significant drop in interest rates or an improvement in your personal financial situation could stand to save you money on the loan overall.

Can I refinance a HELOC with bad credit?

While lenders will likely look at your credit score during the HELOC refinancing process, it’s not the only factor they’ll consider. It may be more challenging to find a lender who will work with you if your score is less than 620, but if you shop around, work on taking good care of your credit score, and keep your other financial factors (like your overall debt level) in good shape, you can increase your odds of qualifying.

How much does it cost to refinance a HELOC?

Just like your original mortgage and HELOC, refinancing a HELOC can come with closing costs of between 2% and 5% of the total loan cost, which can be thousands of dollars. That’s one reason to make sure you understand ahead of time how much you really stand to save by refinancing — and if it’s worth it.

Photo credit: iStock/Miljan Živković

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²SoFi Bank, N.A. NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC), offers loans directly or we may assist you in obtaining a loan from SpringEQ, a state licensed lender, NMLS #1464945.
All loan terms, fees, and rates may vary based upon your individual financial and personal circumstances and state.
You should consider and discuss with your loan officer whether a Cash Out Refinance, Home Equity Loan or a Home Equity Line of Credit is appropriate. Please note that the SoFi member discount does not apply to Home Equity Loans or Lines of Credit not originated by SoFi Bank. Terms and conditions will apply. Before you apply, please note that not all products are offered in all states, and all loans are subject to eligibility restrictions and limitations, including requirements related to loan applicant’s credit, income, property, and a minimum loan amount. Lowest rates are reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Products, rates, benefits, terms, and conditions are subject to change without notice. Learn more at SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria. Information current as of 06/27/24.
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Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

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Mar
18
2025

Long Put Option Guide

By | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off on Long Put Option Guide

The simplest options strategies, and safest for beginners, include purchasing calls and/or puts — typically called “going long.” For the bearish investor who believes an asset will see price declines over a well-defined period of time, the simplest strategy is to purchase puts on those assets, i.e., pursue a long put strategy.

What Is a Long Put?

The term “Long Put” describes the strategy of buying put options as well as the options contract itself. The investor who purchases a put has purchased the right to sell an underlying security at a specific price over a specific time period. Being the buyer and holder of any options makes you “long” that option contract.

Because the contract in question is a put, the investor is long the put and bullish on the put option as they expect the put options price to rise. The put option holder is bearish on the underlying asset as they expect its price of the asset to go down.

Since the investor has not sold the underlying asset or its options, the investor does not hold a short position.

💡 Recommended: Options Trading Strategies for Beginners

Maximum Loss

In comparison to other options strategies, long puts are low risk due to their limited and well-defined downside. The maximum amount an investor can lose is the premium paid at the initiation of the transaction.

Maximum Loss = Premium Paid

Because different trading platforms have different commission structures, (some may even provide commission-free trading) commissions are typically omitted from profit and loss calculations.

Maximum Profit

The maximum gain for a long put strategy occurs when the underlying asset drops to zero. While this gain is also limited and defined, it is typically far greater than the potential downside. The maximum gain on a long put strategy is defined as the strike price of the put less the premium paid.

Maximum Profit = Strike Price – Premium Paid

Breakeven Price

The breakeven price on a long put strategy occurs at the strike price less the premium. Note that the formula for the maximum gain and the breakeven price is the same but the two formulas are measuring different things.

The breakeven price is the point at which the investor begins to make a profit. As the price drops past breakeven toward zero, hopefully, the investor can realize the maximum gain possible.

Breakeven Price = Strike Price – Premium Paid

Why Investors Use Long Puts

Investors utilize a long put strategy for three main reasons:

•   Speculation: The investor identifies an asset they believe will decrease in price over a defined time period. Buying a long put allows the investor to profit from this forecasted price decrease if it happens.

•   Hedging: Sometimes an investor already holds an asset like a stock or exchange-traded fund (ETF) and is concerned that the price of the asset may drop in the short term, but still wants to hold the asset for the long term.

By purchasing a long put, the investor can offset any short-term losses through gains on the put and keep control of the underlying asset. For most assets, this hedging strategy provides cheap insurance.

•   Combination strategies: For experienced investors, long puts can be part of complicated multi-leg strategies involving the sale or purchase of other options, both calls and puts, to pursue different investment objectives.

Long Put vs Short Put

In contrast, a short put options strategy occurs when the investor sells a put. Being the seller of a put means the options contract seller is obligated by the options contract to sell shares in an underlying security to the option buyer at the buyer’s discretion.

Everything about short puts is the opposite to long puts:

Long Puts

 Short Puts
Investor role Buyer Seller
Investor responsibility Right/Discretion Obligation
Investor outlook — Asset Bearish Neutral to Bullish
Risk Premium (Strike Price – Premium)
Reward (Strike Price – Premium) Premium

Long Put Option Example

An investor has been watching XYZ stock, which is trading at $100 per share. The investor believes the $100 share price for XYZ is excessive and believes the share price will fall over the next 30 days.

The investor purchases a long put with a strike price of $95 per share for a premium of $5 and an expiration date of 60 days from today. Because options contracts are sold based on 100 share lots, the price for this contract will be $5 x 100 = $500.

The options contract gives the investor the right to sell 100 shares of XYZ at $95 for the next 60 days.

The breakeven price on this investment is:

Breakeven Price = Strike Price – Premium Paid

Breakeven Price = $95 – $5 = $90

Should XYZ be trading below $90 at expiration, the option trade will be profitable.

If XYZ stock should fall to $0 at expiration, the investor will realize their maximum possible profit:

Maximum Profit = Strike Price – Premium Paid

Maximum Profit = $95 – $5 = $90 profit per share or $9,000 per put option

However, if XYZ stock should stay above $90 at expiration, the investor will realize their maximum possible loss and the option will expire worthless:

Maximum Loss = Premium Paid

Maximum Loss = $5 per share or $500 per put option

Even if XYZ rose above the $100 price at purchase, the investor’s loss would still be limited to $500.

The Takeaway

Long put options provide an excellent entry point for newly minted options investors to dip their toes into the market. The trading strategy offers significant profit potential if investors make the right call on the underlying security’s future performance while providing limited downside risk.

If you’re ready to try your hand at options trading, You can set up an Active Invest account and trade options online from the SoFi mobile app or through the web platform.

And if you have any questions, SoFi offers educational resources about options to learn more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, and members have access to a complimentary 30-min session with a SoFi Financial Planner.

With SoFi, user-friendly options trading is finally here.

Photo credit: iStock/Paul Bradbury

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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.

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.
Third Party Trademarks: Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, CFP® (with plaque design), and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.

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