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Nov

2023

What Are the Differences Between FDIC and NCUA Insurance?

By Timothy Moore | Financial Independence, money, Terminology | Comments Off

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) are independent federal agencies that insure their customers’ deposits. The FDIC insures deposits at banks typically up to $250,000 (though there are exceptions¹); the NCUA offers the same insurance and consumer protection but at credit unions.

Account holders don’t have to apply or qualify for this coverage; it comes with different deposit accounts, assuming the institution is a FDIC or NCUA member. The coverage is meant to cover deposits if the institution were to fail; it doesn’t cover investment products or losses.

While these two entities serve similar purposes for consumers, they operate a little differently, with slightly different benefits for account holders. Before setting up a bank or credit union account, it may help to know how they each operate, and how to maximize your coverage.

Key Points

• The FDIC and NCUA are government agencies that insure deposits at banks and credit unions, respectively.

• FDIC stands for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and NCUA stands for National Credit Union Administration.

• Both agencies provide insurance coverage of up to $250,000 per insured bank, per depositor or share owner, per account ownership category.

• FDIC and NCUA insurance covers various types of accounts, such as checking, savings, money market, and certificates of deposit. Insurance coverage does not extend to investment products, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, annuities, life insurance policies, or safe deposit boxes.

• It is important to verify if a financial institution is insured by the FDIC or NCUA before opening an account to ensure deposit protection.

What Is the FDIC?

FDIC stands for Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation when he signed the Banking Act of 1933 amid the Great Depression.

The main purpose of the FDIC is to “maintain stability and public confidence in the nation’s financial system.” As part of that remit, the FDIC insures consumer deposits and is “backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government.”

The FDIC insures $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for every account ownership category. “Account ownership category” refers to single account holders, joint accounts, and other accounts like revocable and irrevocable trusts. (See table below.)

If you are a person who keeps a considerable amount of money in a bank, you’ll likely want to know that some banks participate in programs that extend the FDIC insurance to cover millions.

According to the FDIC, a depositor has not lost a single penny of FDIC-insured deposits because of a bank failure.

What Is the NCUA?

NCUA stands for National Credit Union Administration. Though the first credit union opened in the United States in 1909, and there were nearly 10,000 credit unions in the U.S. by 1960, Congress did not create the National Credit Union Administration until 1970.

Like the FDIC, the purpose of the NCUA is to insure deposits made by credit union members and protect those members who own credit unions. (Credit unions are not-for-profit and are owned by the members.)

Also like the FDIC, the NCUA is “backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government,” and insures deposits up to $250,000 per share owner, per insured credit union, for each account ownership category, share accounts, and some IRAs and trusts.

Rivaling the FDIC’s track record, the NCUA states that no member has ever lost a cent from accounts insured through the NCUA.

All federally chartered credit unions are a part of the NCUA while state-chartered credit unions adhere to state-specific regulations. That said, many state-chartered credit unions are also insured by the NCUA.

FDIC vs NCUA Insurance: Similarities and Differences

So what’s the difference between the FDIC and NCUA? The biggest difference regarding FDIC vs. NCUA is the customers they protect. The FDIC insures deposits for bank customers while the NCUA insures deposits for credit union members. As a customer of a financial institution, you will not likely notice a difference in your day-to-day banking.

In fact, it’s easier to talk about all the ways the FDIC and NCUA are similar. The table below explores these similarities (and minor differences).

	FDIC	NCUA
Year Created	1933	1970
Applicable Financial Institution	Banks	Credit Unions
Insurance Amount	$250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category	$250,000 per share member, per insured credit union, for each account ownership category
What Is Insured	Checking accounts Savings accounts Money market accounts Time deposits (like CDs) Other deposit accounts	Share draft (checking) accounts Share savings accounts Money market accounts Certificate accounts (like CDs) Other deposit accounts
What Is Not Insured	Stocks Bonds Mutual funds Annuities Treasury securities Life insurance policies Safe deposit boxes (or contents)	Stocks Bonds Mutual funds Annuities Life insurance policies Safe deposit boxes (or contents)
Ownership Types	Single ownership Joint ownership Revocable trust account Irrevocable trust account Certain retirement accounts (like IRAs) Employee benefit plan accounts Corporation/Partnership/Unincorporated Association Accounts Government Accounts	Single ownership Joint ownership Revocable trust account Irrevocable trust account Certain retirement accounts (like IRAs, KEOGHs) Employee benefit plan accounts

What Does NCUA Coverage Protect?

NCUA coverage comes from the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF). The following account types are insured via the NCUSIF:

• Share draft accounts (checking accounts)

• Share savings accounts

• Money market deposit accounts

• Share certificates (like certificates of deposit)

What Isn’t Covered by NCUA?

If your credit union carries insurance through the NCUA, you can depend on coverage up to $250,000 for common accounts like a checking or savings account. However, NCUA insurance does not cover:

• Stocks

• Bonds

• Mutual funds

• Annuities

• Life insurance

• Safe deposit boxes (or their contents)

What Does FDIC Coverage Protect?

Insurance through the FDIC covers account types that are comparable to those covered by the NCUA:

• Checking accounts

• Savings accounts

• Money market deposit accounts

• Time deposits (like certificates of deposit)

The FDIC also notes that its insurance covers Negotiable Order of Withdrawal (NOW) accounts, cashier’s checks, money orders, and other local items issued by a bank.

What Isn’t Covered by FDIC?

The FDIC has coverage exclusions similar to those of the NCUA. Insurance through the FDIC does not extend to:

• Stocks

• Bonds

• Mutual funds

• Annuities

• Treasury securities

• Life insurance

• Safe deposit boxes (or their contents)

Treasury securities like bills, bonds, and notes are, however, “backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.”

How to Know if Your Institution Is Insured by the FDIC or NCUA

Because the FDIC and NCUA insure deposits up to $250,000 for checking and savings accounts (some external programs allow for higher insurance limits with the FDIC), it’s important to know when selecting a new financial institution that it is insured by one of the two organizations.

So how do you know if a bank is insured by the FDIC? The FDIC provides a few easy options:

• Call and ask. Calling the FDIC is toll-free. You can reach them at 1-877-275-3342.

• Search online. The FDIC has a database called “Bank Find” that allows you to search for insured banks.

• Look for the sign. When you enter a brick-and-mortar (aka physical) bank location, look for official FDIC signage.

• Search the bank’s website. If you fall on the digital side of the traditional vs. online banking debate, you can scour a bank’s website instead. Usually you can find language like “Member FDIC” in the footer if the bank is insured. In fact, you can try it on this page; you’ll see that SoFi’s Checking and Savings account is FDIC-insured.

Determining whether a credit union is insured by the NCUA is just as easy:

• Check online. Visit the NCUA’s agency website to search a complete directory of federally insured credit unions.

• Look for the sign. Similar to the FDIC, the NCUA requires federally insured credit unions to place NCUSIF signage in their advertisements, offices, and branches to indicate insurance coverage.

• Search the credit union’s website. Credit unions that are federally insured will include NCUA verbiage in the footer of their websites, just like banks do for the FDIC.

Remember, some state credit unions may not be federally insured. A credit union that includes “federal” in its name should automatically be insured by the NCUA. If you aren’t sure about a state credit union’s insurance, you can ask a credit union representative on site or over the phone for more information.

Recommended: Where to Store Short-Term Savings

Are All Banks FDIC Insured?

Nearly all banks are FDIC insured — but not all of them. Any bank that is not insured federally through the FDIC likely carries insurance through its state, so your deposits are typically still safe. However, it is a good idea to thoroughly research a bank and its insurance policies before storing any money in an account at the institution.

Are All Credit Unions NCUA Insured?

Not all credit unions are NCUA insured. All federal credit unions are automatically insured by the NCUA, but state credit unions must opt into NCUA share insurance. Those that don’t are typically insured through the state. As with banks, it is a good practice to understand a credit union’s insurance status and how it can affect your money before opening any account.

How to Maximize FDIC and NCUA Insurance

Both the FDIC and NCUA are typically very clear on how much they insure — $250,000 — careful to use specific terminology like “per depositor” or “per share owner”; “per insured bank” and “per insured credit union”; and “for each account ownership category.”

Knowing that, there are a few ways you can maximize your insurance coverage:

Open an Account That Insures for More Than $250,000

As briefly noted above, some banks offer programs that allow depositors to insure their account for more than the usual $250,000 amount. Check with financial institutions to see what may be available that can extend your account insurance to cover millions.

Open Accounts at Multiple Financial Institutions

You receive $250,000 of insurance coverage at each institution with applicable accounts. That means you could open up accounts at multiple banks and credit unions, spread your wealth across those accounts, and wind up with coverage on much more than $250,000.

Use Account Ownership Categories to Your Advantage

Another way to maximize FDIC and NCUA insurance is to utilize multiple account ownership categories. For example, at one bank, you could have a single ownership certificate of deposit with $200,000 and share a joint savings account holding another $200,000 with a partner. Even though you’d be above the $250,000 threshold, these separate account ownership categories each qualify for the max insurance coverage.

Open Accounts for Various Family Members

You, your spouse, and your children could each open a single ownership savings account at the same bank and each deposit $250,000 in your own account. Because each account has a different depositor, each is protected fully for $250,000.

Consider a Revocable Trust

If you and a partner want to put money together and save it as a potential nest egg for a family member, you can create a revocable trust (a type of trust fund). Then you can name beneficiaries for that money should you and the other account owner die. For each beneficiary, the account is insured for $250,000. If you name three beneficiaries, you can deposit $750,000, and it will all be insured.

The Takeaway

The FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) and NCUA (National Credit Union Administration) are government agencies that protect consumers’ deposits at banks and credit unions. The two agencies operate similarly and protect the same kinds of accounts, typically up to $250,000. The key difference? The FDIC only insures money at banks while the NCUA only insures credit unions.

As a customer of a financial institution, it’s important to know which, if any, of your accounts are insured. A final caveat: While it is rare, not every bank is insured by the FDIC, and not every credit union is insured by the NCUA.

Looking for a checking or savings account that is insured by the FDIC? Check out the all-in-one SoFi Checking and Savings account, where your deposits earn a very competitive rate of up to 4.00% APY with direct deposit. Plus, SoFi recently announced that deposits may be insured up to $2 million through participation in the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Need more incentives? When you open an online bank account with SoFi, qualifying accounts can paycheck access up to two days early — all for no monthly fees.

Open an FDIC-insured bank account with SoFi today.

FAQ

What does the NCUA not cover?

The National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, which operates under the NCUA, does not cover stocks, bonds, mutual funds, annuities, life insurance policies, or safe deposit boxes and their contents.

How are the FDIC and NCUA similar?

Both the FDIC and NCUA are government agencies created by Congress to insure consumers’ deposits, including savings accounts, checking accounts, and CDs, up to $250,000 per person, per financial institution, and for each account ownership category. The main difference between FDIC and NCUA is that the FDIC insures banks and the NCUA insures credit unions.

Why are credit unions not FDIC insured?

Credit unions are not FDIC-insured because the FDIC insures banks. Federal credit unions (and many state credit unions) are instead insured by the NCUA.

How much of your money is protected by FDIC or NCUA?

The FDIC insures $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each category of ownership. In theory, you could have more than $250,000 across different account types at different banks, and it would all be insured by the FDIC.

The same is true of the NCUA. The NCUA insures $250,000 per share owner, per insured credit union, for each category of ownership.

Photo credit: iStock/Talaj

SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2024 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 direct deposit activity can earn 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. 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 (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer 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 Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

As an alternative to direct deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.00% 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 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 a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.00% 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 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 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 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 Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% 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 12/3/24. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://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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Nov

2023

Routing Number vs Account Number: When to Use and How to Find

Routing Number vs Account Number: How to Find Both

By Sheryl Nance-Nash | Budgeting & Goals, Financial Independence, money | Comments Off

If you’re looking for your bank routing and account numbers, they are likely easier to find than you may think: You can locate them on your checks or by logging into your financial institution’s app, for instance.

That said, you probably don’t want to broadcast these digits to too many people. Your routing and account numbers are the keys to your banking kingdom.

Your account’s routing number designates which financial institution holds your money, while your account number identifies your own unique checking or savings account. As you go about your financial business, you will require these numbers for many financial transactions, such as enrolling in direct deposit at your workplace to signing up for online bill pay.

Key Points

• A routing number is a nine-digit code that identifies a bank or credit union.

• An account number is a unique identifier for your specific bank account.

• Routing numbers are used for various financial transactions like direct deposit, bill pay, and wire transfers.

• Account numbers are private and should be kept secure to prevent fraud.

• You can find your routing and account numbers on checks, through online banking, or by contacting your bank.

What Is a Routing Number?

A routing number is a sequence of nine digits that identifies a bank or credit union, and each banking institution has a unique number. Here are some facts about routing numbers and how they work:

• A routing number is also sometimes referred to as an ABA number, in reference to the American Bankers Association, which assigns them. Routing numbers are only issued to a federal or state-chartered financial institution that is eligible to maintain an account at a Federal Reserve Bank.

• Your bank’s routing number and ACH routing number may or may not be the same digits. Check with your bank to be sure.

• The routing number required for making a wire transfer is probably not the same as the routing number that is printed on your checks, however. That number can be found online or by contacting your bank.

• A small bank may only have one routing number, while a larger financial institution may have several (they typically vary by region or state).

Routing numbers are generally required when reordering checks, paying bills, setting up direct deposit, or making tax payments. Making sure you have the right digits will help ensure smooth transactions.

What Is an Account Number?

While the routing number identifies the financial institution where your account is held, the bank account number represents your specific account. While anyone can find your bank’s routing number, your account number is private; that’s a key difference in routing vs. account numbers. Here are some other points about account numbers to know:

• Typically between 10 and 12 digits, your account number acts as a road map of sorts for your bank, letting them know where to deposit or withdraw money.

• If you have two different accounts at the same financial institution, you will have two different account numbers. The routing number for these accounts, however, will be the same.

• Because your account number can unlock access to the funds in your account, it’s critical that you keep it safe.

When You’ll Need A Routing Number or Account Number

You’ll need to know your account number and, in many cases, also your routing number for a variety of everyday financial transactions. These may include:

• Setting up direct deposit of your paycheck

• Setting up autopay

• Making a withdrawal

• Depositing cash or checks into your account

• Filling out a rental application

• Linking external bank accounts

• Filling out a loan application

• Scheduling payments (such as ACH (automated clearing house) payments from vendors you do business with

• Sending or receiving a wire transfer

• Paying a bill online

• Sending or receiving money to family and friends

• Requesting a stop payment on a check

Finding Your Bank Routing and Account Numbers

Here are some ways to find your bank routing and account numbers. These three methods ought to get you the information you need:

Contacting Your Bank

If you need your bank routing and account numbers, you might call or chat online with your bank’s customer service representative to see if they can provide the information. Or you could visit a local branch if you bank with a brick-and-mortar financial institution.

It’s worth mentioning that your financial institution’s routing number is public information and should be easy to find online. But the account number, as mentioned above, is private. You will likely have to provide identifying details to prove you are who you say you are in order to gain access to this number.

Accessing Your Online Account

If you log into your bank account online, you should be able to get your banking details. Your account number may be encrypted (and you can only see the last four digits), in which case you may be able to get the full number by downloading a recent bank statement. Or there may be a prompt you can click in order to see the full number.

Looking at a Check

You can find your routing number and account number printed on the bottom of your checks.

You’ll see three groups of numbers. Typically, reading left to right, the first number (usually nine digits) is the routing number. The next group of numbers (usually 10 to 12 digits) is generally the account number. The third is usually the actual check number.

Smart move: When you have obtained and are ready to input your routing and account numbers for a financial transaction, it’s a good idea to check your numbers at least twice to make sure you get them exactly right. This will ensure a seamless transaction that avoids delays or any associated bank charges stemming from the funds ending up in an incorrect account.

check image with numbers

Protecting Your Routing and Account Numbers

Although anyone can locate your bank’s routing number, your account number is not public information. Just like you are mindful about who sees your Social Security number, the same goes for your bank account number.

To avoid potential bank fraud, it’s wise not to share your account number with any person or business unless you absolutely need to, and also to keep your checkbook in a safe place. Any old checks should be shredded before they get discarded. Also wise: not sharing pictures of checks you’ve written on social media, even if it is for the first payment on your dream car.

You’ll also want to make sure your bank account password is secure. You can do this by using a mix of numbers, letters, symbols, upper and lower case letters, and not using any personal information someone might find on social media, such as your birthdate or pet’s name. This is an important step in keeping your account and your mobile banking secure.

The Takeaway

Your account and routing numbers work together to identify your account and ensure that your money gets transferred from the right place or that you receive funds intended for you.

The routing number indicates at which bank your account is held, while the account number is your unique ID number at that bank. Knowing the difference between these numbers and being able to locate them when needed is vital to your financial transactions, from setting up autopay to sending people money, go off without a hitch.

Another way to make money transfers and other everyday money moves go smoothly is to open an online bank account. With SoFi Checking and Savings, members can quickly transfer money straight from their phones using the mobile app, making everything from paying bills to splitting the dinner bill fast and simple.

What’s more, you’ll earn a competitive annual percentage yield (APY) and pay no account fees, which can help your money grow faster.

Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy up to 4.00% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

3 Great Benefits of Direct Deposit

It’s Faster

As opposed to a physical check that can take time to clear, you don’t have to wait days to access a direct deposit. Usually, you can use the money the day it is sent. What’s more, you don’t have to remember to go to the bank or use your app to deposit your check.

It’s Like Clockwork

Whether your check comes the first Wednesday of the month or every other Friday, if you sign up for direct deposit, you know when the money will hit your account. This is especially helpful for scheduling the payment of regular bills. No more guessing when you’ll have sufficient funds.

It’s Secure

While checks can get lost in the mail — or even stolen, there is no chance of that happening with a direct deposit. Also, if it’s your paycheck, you won’t have to worry about your or your employer’s info ending up in the wrong hands.

FAQ

Do you need both a routing and account number?

As you do your banking, it’s not likely to be an account vs. routing number situation. To complete many financial transactions, you will need to know both your bank account and routing number. This includes setting up direct deposit of your paycheck and signing up for a P2P payment service, like PayPal or Venmo.

What comes first on a check, a routing or account number?

Typically, when you look at the lower portion of a check, reading left to right, you will see the routing number, then the account number, and then the actual check number.

Do I give my account number or routing number for a direct deposit?

When setting up direct deposit, you will likely need to provide both the routing number, which identifies your bank, and your account number, which indicates your particular account with the financial institution. You may also be asked to provide a voided check.

Photo credit: iStock/SeventyFour

Nov

2023

woman calculator budgeting finances mobile

Guide To Budgeting Living Expenses

By Kelly Boyer Sagert | Budgeting & Goals, money | Comments Off

You’re undoubtedly used to those bills coming in every month, such as your housing costs, food, and car insurance, but you may sometimes wonder if there’s a way to better manage them. Budgeting for your recurring living expenses can help you take control of your cash and spend and save smarter.

While there are various techniques you could use, a good starting point can be to first get a handle on your needs vs. wants and next determine which budget technique will work best for you.

Key Points

• Living expenses include costs that are vital to daily life, such as housing, food, clothing, transportation, and healthcare.

• It’s wise to differentiate between needs and wants when budgeting for living expenses.

• Budgeting methods like proportional budgets, line-item budgets, and envelope budgets can help manage living expenses.

• Average living expenses vary across the US, depending on factors like location, cost of living, and household size.

• If income doesn’t cover living costs, options include reducing expenses or increasing income through side hustles or career changes.

What Are Living Expenses?

Basic living expenses, as the name implies, are ones necessary for daily living, with main categories including housing, food, clothing, transportation, healthcare, and relevant miscellaneous costs.

Although not everyone would define basic living expenses in the exact same way, here is a breakdown of expenses to consider.

Housing

For homeowners, this can include their mortgage payment, property tax, and insurance payments, along with monthly utilities and basic maintenance costs.

If living in a condo, this includes condominium fees. For renters, it can include the monthly rent payment, utilities, renters insurance, and any other housing-related costs they’re responsible for paying.

Food and Beverage

Basic expenses would include buying groceries for the family, but not restaurant food or other optional food or drink expenses. So while, yes, dinner at a sushi restaurant is technically food, dining out doesn’t count as a basic living expense. You could do without it.

Recommended: Ways to Save Money on Food

Clothing

This includes clothes for work and school for the family, plus footwear, underwear, outerwear, casual clothing, pajamas, and so forth. Designer clothing and other pricier items are typically not categorized in basic living expenses. The same holds true for buying a cool sweater that’s on sale but you don’t truly need it.

Healthcare

Expenses in this category can range from monthly payments for healthcare insurance, to co-pays and additional bills from doctors, dentists, specialists, and so forth. It also includes co-pays for prescription medications and over-the-counter meds.

Transportation

Transportation expenses can include car payments and insurance, gas, and maintenance. It can also include Uber and taxi expenses, public transportation tickets, parking fees, and so forth.

Other Expenses

Cleaning supplies for the home or apartment, personal care items, cell phone and internet bills, and similar items can also be included in a list of basic living expenses.

Minimum Debt Payments

Not to be overlooked are making sure you stay current on such things as student, car, and personal loan payments, as well as at least the minimum due on credit cards.

💡 Quick Tip: Typically, checking accounts don’t earn interest. However, some accounts do, and online banks are more likely than brick-and-mortar banks to offer you the best rates.

Average Living Expenses in the USA

The average living expenses can vary greatly depending on where you live and your household size. Here is a snapshot of a few locations across the country and how much monthly living expenses are, using data from the Economic Policy Institute.

Location	Household size	Housing	Food	Transportation	Healthcare
Rapid City, SD	1	$577	$278	$803	$662
Rapid City, SD	2 (couple)	$664	$510	$980	$1,324
Rapid City, SD	4 (2 parents, 2 children)	$875	$805	$1,152	$2,014
Seattle, WA	1	$1,523	$326	$854	$344
Seattle, WA	2 (couple)	$1,599	$597	$1,057	$688
Seattle, WA	4 (2 parents, 2 children)	$1,906	$941	$1,274	$1.032
Tallahassee, FL	1	$778	$294	$816	$439
Tallahassee, FL	2 (couple)	$843	$539	$1,042	$879
Tallahassee, FL	4 (2 parents, 2 children)	$1,024	$850	$1,170	$1,327
Washington, DC	1	$1,387	$374	$472	$411
Washington, DC	2 (couple)	$1,419	$686	$601	$822
Washington, DC	4 (2 parents, 2 children)	$1,618	$1,082	$747	$1,378

Wants Versus Needs

The challenge, in many of these categories, can be to successfully determine which of these expenses are truly needed and which are extras that would be more appropriately categorized as “wants.” In and of itself, there’s nothing wrong with paying for “wants” that fit within the budget but, for the purposes of making a basic living expense budget, it’s important to tease them apart.

Paying a cell phone bill, for example, could be considered important for safety and to facilitate communicating with work and family. Getting the latest and greatest cell phone for its bells and whistles, meanwhile, is crossing over into a want, not a need.

In the 1970s, something called the Growth-Share Matrix was developed, and it may help people who are wondering how to categorize living expenses and then prioritize them. The process includes listing all expenses, and then putting wants in one column and needs in another. Each column can then be divided into high or low priority. So, when budgeting living expenses, there would be four categories:

• High-priority needs

• High-priority wants

• Low-priority needs

• Low-priority wants

Another way to name these categories is:

• Must have

• Should have

• Could have

• Won’t have

This makes it easier to see what must be paid and what is optional. When budgeting, it can make it easier to choose where to put any discretionary funds. In other words, these methods may be able to help people answer these questions: “What are living expenses that must be paid? Which ones are more optional?”

When making a budget, it’s important to also account for any credit card payments, personal loan payments, student loan payments, and other debts that must be paid. After documenting all these expenses, figuring out how to calculate living expenses is as easy as some quick math. Figuring out how to budget for these expenses is the next item on the agenda.

💡 Quick Tip: Bank fees eat away at your hard-earned money. To protect your cash, open a checking account with no account fees online — and earn up to 0.50% APY, too.

Allocating Your Income

Although no two financial situations or budgets are exactly the same, there’s been a long-standing rule of thumb when making a budget that says people shouldn’t spend more than 30% of their after-tax income on housing.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ most recent analysis of how people spend their income, the percentages stack up as follows:

• Housing: 33.8%

• Transportation: 16.4%

• Food: 12.4%

• Personal insurance/pensions: 11.8%

• Healthcare: 8.1%

• Apparel and services: 2.6%

This accounts for nearly 85% of what people, on average, have been spending. It shows that, on average, people are slightly above the recommended percentage for housing expenses.

3 Types of Living Expense Budgeting Methods

There are numerous ways to craft a budget; in fact, we’ve created a guide to cover the different types of budgeting methods. One of the keys to effective budgeting is picking a strategy that allows for consistency. The following methods can help an individual create a budget.

1. Proportional Budget

For people who have divided up their expenses into needs and wants, proportional budgets may make sense. This is a budgetary strategy where monthly income is divided into three categories:

• Needs

• Wants

• Savings

In one type of proportional budget — the 50/30/20 rule featured in the book “All Your Worth” by Senator Elizabeth Warren and Amelia Warren Tyagi — 50% of income would go towards needs; 30% towards wants; and 20% towards savings. It typically makes sense to do this calculation with after-tax income, which is take-home pay.

Advantages of a proportional budget include that it’s a simple formula, which may make it easier to stick to. Plus, it keeps a focus on the big picture, clearly distinguishing between needs and wants. It can also be a useful method for people who want to save money in a straightforward way.

This budget method may not work well for people who are still working on separating needs from wants. And, if a person’s needs currently take up more than 50% of income earned, then the 50/30/20 percentage breakdown may work as a goal vs. something that can be fully implemented right away.

Recommended: Check out the 50/30/20 calculator to see the breakdown of your money.

2. Line-Item Budget

A line-item budget is a granular method where you track expenditures, line by line, in relevant categories. This can be helpful for people who want to keep their focus on spending money on basic living expenses because they can easily see how much of their money is going into what category.

This is also an easy method to create and use. However, it doesn’t necessarily have a focus on savings, and it is more time intensive to manage.

3. Envelope Budget

The envelope system is another way to create a household budget, and it may be the most hands-on way to manage money. People using this method withdraw enough money from the bank each month to cover each budget category. Then, they put the appropriate amount for each category in a separate envelope: housing expenses in one, grocery expenses in another, and so on.

Once a particular envelope is empty, then no more money can be spent in that category for that month, unless cash is taken from another envelope, which reduces the amount that can be spent on that envelope’s category. This method can work well for people who appreciate a tactile way of handling money. The need to get cash from the bank each month does add a step to the process and, like the line-item method, it doesn’t address savings.

This method can be adapted for those who don’t use cash. Instead, you can use your debit card and keep track (by hand or via an app) on how your category spending is going.

Recommended: Tips for Aggressively Saving Money

Budgeting Tips

Here’s some advice as you create and live on a budget:

• When creating a budget, look for expenses that can be eliminated or at least reduced. For example, you might cut a streaming service or two or drop all that you subscribe to and find free entertainment through your public library’s resources.

• It also generally makes sense to incorporate savings into a budget. First build an emergency savings account and then save for other personal goals, including for retirement.

Although the proportional budget described above has savings as an integral part, the line-item budget and envelope budget don’t. But, a line can be added for savings towards retirement or other goals — and an envelope can be added to the monthly pile.

• Consistency also counts, big time. When budgeting is a part of daily life, it can make it much easier to reach financial goals than when it’s a sporadic activity. If budgeting fades from focus for a month, don’t quit. Get right back on track.

• Finally, when help is needed, ask for it, whether from trusted friends and/or relatives or a qualified financial advisor.

What If Your Income Doesn’t Cover Your Living Costs?

If your income doesn’t cover your living expenses, you have two options (or you could do a combination of both):

• Reduce your expenses. You might take a roommate, move in with a family member for a while, start shopping at warehouse clubs, or decide not to eat out much less.

• Increase your income. This might mean looking for a new job, training up for a different career, or starting a side hustle.

These methods can help you cover your living costs. Worth noting: If part of the issue is considerable debt that is negatively impacting your spending power, you might meet with a non-profit credit counselor for advice on eliminating that drain on your funds.

Budgeting and Saving With SoFi

Budgeting for daily living expenses can help you better understand your financial situation and then meet your money goals. Your financial institution may offer tools to help you track your money and budget successfully too.

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 4.00% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

FAQ

What are considered living expenses?

Living expenses are the minimum expenditures needed to survive, so typically they include housing and utilities, food, clothing, healthcare, insurance, and minimum debt payments.

What is the average living cost in the U.S.A.?

The current average cost of living in the United States is $61,334. That’s how much the average household spends on expenses, with almost 35% going to housing and housing-related costs.

What salary is needed to live comfortably in the U.S.A.?

The salary needed to live comfortably in the U.S. will depend on many factors, such as cost of living, location, and household size and configuration. One recent study found that, when looking at America’s 25 most expensive cities, a salary of at least $68,499 would be required for an individual to live comfortably. For larger households, the number will rise.

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Nov

2023

7 Tips for Buying a Home in the Off-Season

By Austin Kilham | Budgeting & Goals, Home Ownership, mortgage | Comments Off

Spring has been a traditional house-hunting season. That’s when parents of school-age kids often look for a place to call home — one they can settle into before classes begin in September.

And summer certainly has its merits for looking at houses, from the comfort of walk-throughs in warm weather to seeing gardens in full bloom.

But buying a house in winter can be a wise move. The so-called “off season” bestows some very real benefits for those who are looking for a new place. These may include everything from less competition (and fewer bidding wars) to faster closing schedules.

While increasing mortgage rates and low inventory have led to high home prices in recent years, industry watchers are expecting prices to decline in some “hot” markets (like Texas and Florida) in late 2023, early 2024. That suggests that the winter ahead might be a good time to bundle up and rev up a home search.

Read on to learn seven smart benefits of shopping for a house in winter. You just might snag a great deal on your dream house.

Why You Should Buy a Home in Winter

Wondering why you should consider buying a house in winter, when the days may be short, the trees bare, and the weather nasty? Here are some very good reasons.

1. Having Less Competition for Homes

Not everyone wants to or is able to shop for houses during the winter months. Freezing temperatures and inclement weather can keep would-be homebuyers away.

During the winter season, many parents are busy managing school schedules and events, and many people are also busy traveling and hosting guests over the holidays.

But there’s an upside: Fewer people shopping for homes could mean less competition for those in the market for a house. And diminished competition might mean winter homebuyers can be more discerning in their choices. There’s less pressure to snap up a house for fear another buyer will get to it first. In addition, you may be less likely to end up in a bidding war with a slew of other interested buyers, which can drive up costs.

While there are often fewer houses for sale during the winter, buyers may be more likely to land their desired home closer to the asking price (or even below).

💡 Quick Tip: When house hunting, don’t forget to lock in your home mortgage loan rate so there are no surprises if your offer is accepted.

2. Profiting from a Buyer’s Market in Winter

With some buyers distracted by the jam-packed holidays, it can be trickier to sell a home in the wintertime. Some sellers only put their homes on the market in the winter because they really have to.

The seller’s snag, though, can be a boon for buyers, as winter homesellers may be more motivated to get the sale completed faster than their summertime counterparts.

Motivated winter sellers might be willing to negotiate on things like price, closing costs, and the closing date. Perhaps they need to relocate for work or another time-sensitive reason and are eager to get the deal done.

In some cases,houses that are on the market in the winter have been there since the summer selling season. Homes like these are sometimes referred to as “stale listings.” The seller may be ready to take what would previously be deemed a too-low offer, just to move ahead with a deal.

Recommended: A Guide to Counter Offers

3. Closing on Your Purchase Faster in Winter

Closing is when the title of a property legally changes hands from the seller to the buyer. When buyers and sellers are negotiating the sale of a home, they work together to set a closing date when the house title will officially transfer between the parties.

Real estate agents often work with mortgage brokers to find a suitable day that will allow enough time for the deal to be executed properly.

In warmer months, banks, inspectors, and appraisers are usually handling a lot of new buyers. In practice, this glut of interested buyers could mean mortgage brokers are backed up for weeks or even months.

In the winter, when fewer interested buyers are typically calling, things can slow down for lenders. As a result, cold-weather buyers might be able to close on their homes faster and get settled in more quickly.

4. Understanding a Home’s Condition More Clearly

Visiting a property in person can tell a buyer a lot about a home. But, in the summertime, some of a house’s less attractive qualities can be masked by warm weather, blossoming gardens, and the brilliant summer sun.

Seeing a house in the winter can give buyers a chance to understand how it holds up under tougher conditions. Is the house too gloomy in low light? Does cold air creep in from the windows? Does ice jam up the gutters causing the roof to leak? Does a long driveway that needs to be shoveled seem less appealing in the winter than in June? You could be destined for some home maintenance costs. Getting a chance to suss out potential problems like these can provide a fuller picture of what actually living in a property might be like year-round.

Keep in mind, though, that some aspects of a home can be harder to grasp in the winter months. For example, it’s tough to test out an air conditioning unit in the wintertime. And snow could cover up foundation issues.

💡 Quick Tip: To see a house in person, particularly in a tight or expensive market, you may need to show the real estate agent proof that you’re preapproved for a mortgage. SoFi’s online application makes the process simple.

5. Hiring Movers Can Be Easier in Winter

Let’s say you do find a new home and move forward with buying a house in winter. Moving costs in the winter can be cheaper than in the summer. Fewer people buying homes means less demand for movers, which in turn could mean more competitive pricing.

With lighter schedules, moving companies may also be more flexible and able to accommodate your desired moving dates. (It can be helpful to stay flexible with move dates in the winter, since a big snowstorm might mean sudden delays.)

Still, if you move when snow is falling, that will obviously slow down your move and make it pricier. Try to reschedule if inclement weather is in the forecast.

6. Getting More Time and Attention from Realtors

Movers aren’t the only people who are less busy in the winter months. Fewer people shopping for houses could mean there’s less work for real estate agents.

Agents may have more time in the winter to spend helping individual buyers find the house that meets their exact needs. Also, when it comes time to negotiate, agents may have more hours to go to bat for their clients to secure a better deal.

7. Taking Advantage of Last-Minute Tax Savings

Buying a house by late December (rather than waiting until the following spring) may allow buyers to take advantage of last-minute savings on that year’s taxes.

The mortgage interest deduction allows homeowners to subtract mortgage interest from their taxable income, lowering the amount of taxes they owe. Married couples filing jointly and single filers can deduct the interest on mortgages up to $750,000. Married taxpayers filing separately can deduct up to $375,000 each.

However, you cannot deduct mortgage interest in addition to taking the standard deduction. To take the mortgage interest deduction, you’ll need to itemize. Itemizing only makes sense if your itemized deductions total more than the standard deduction. For the 2023 tax year, the standard deduction is $13,850 for single filers and $27,700 for those married, filing jointly.

Financing Your Home Purchase

No matter what season you may be house-hunting, it’s important to figure out how to finance a potential purchase before you find the home that’s “The One.”

Looking for an affordable option for a home mortgage loan? SoFi can help: We offer low down payments (as little as 3% - 5%*) with our competitive and flexible home mortgage loans. Plus, applying is extra convenient: It's online, with access to one-on-one help.

SoFi Mortgages: simple, smart, and so affordable.

https://www.sofi.com/signup/mort“>

SoFi Loan Products
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.

SoFi Mortgages
Terms, conditions, and state restrictions apply. Not all products are available in all states. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information.

*SoFi requires Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) for conforming home loans with a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio greater than 80%. As little as 3% down payments are for qualifying first-time homebuyers only. 5% minimum applies to other borrowers. Other loan types may require different fees or insurance (e.g., VA funding fee, FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums, etc.). Loan requirements may vary depending on your down payment amount, and minimum down payment varies by loan type.

Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.

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.

SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2024 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 direct deposit activity can earn 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. 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 (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer 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 Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

As an alternative to direct deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.00% 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 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 a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.00% 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 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 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 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 Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% 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 12/3/24. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

SOHL1123001

Nov

2023

Guide to Monthly Maintenance Fees

By Sheryl Nance-Nash | Budgeting & Goals, money | No Comments

If you have a bank account, you may be familiar with the monthly fees that many financial institutions charge their clients simply for having an account. These may be known as “maintenance” or “service” fees and tend to be assessed on checking accounts. However, some banks will charge them on savings accounts too.

If you don’t scrutinize your monthly bank statements, you may not be completely aware of what your charges are on this front or how they can add up over time. And you may not be aware that not every financial institution charges these fees. Some banks will lower them in certain situations, and others don’t collect them at all.

Since maintenance fees can eat away at your hard-earned cash, take a closer look here at how they work and how you might avoid them.

Key Points

• Monthly maintenance fees may be charged by banks for maintaining personal and business checking accounts, and sometimes savings accounts.

• The fees can vary from one bank to another, with average monthly maintenance fees for checking accounts being around $13.95.

• Banks may waive the fees if customers maintain a minimum balance, have multiple accounts, sign up for direct deposit, or use their debit card frequently.

• Other ways to avoid fees include considering online banks or credit unions and signing up for electronic statements.

• It’s important to read bank notifications and understand the terms and conditions to avoid unexpected fees.

What Is a Monthly Maintenance Fee?

Banks often charge fees on personal and business checking accounts and sometimes even some types of savings accounts to help them offset operational costs or help to “maintain” your account.

Institutions may also charge these fees as a way to incentivise customers to make larger deposits. Many banks will waive fees if customers keep their balances high or use their account more frequently, all moves that benefit the bank. (Banks may also encourage activity by assessing inactivity fees if you let your account just sit.)

Monthly maintenance fees are usually automatically withdrawn from a customer’s account each month.

How Much Are Monthly Maintenance Fees?

While not all banks charge a monthly maintenance fee, many of the large traditional financial institutions in the U.S. do charge monthly fees.

For Savings Accounts

Monthly maintenance fees on savings accounts can vary greatly. Typically, though, they range from $1 to $8 per month. Some banks may not charge any fee at all.

For Checking Accounts

How much varies from one bank to another, but the average monthly maintenance fee for a checking account is currently around $13.95 per month, according to a recent MoneyRates.com survey.

While that may not seem like a lot of money when viewed as a one-time charge, it adds up to a whopping $167 per year.
Add in other deductions, like for using an out-of-network ATM or triggering overdraft or NSF fees, and these surcharges can start to chip away at your hard-earned money.

10 Tips on Avoiding Account Maintenance Fees

Fortunately, there is often some wiggle room when it comes to maintenance fees. Here are some simple ways you may be able to minimize, or even completely avoid this type of account fee.

1. Choosing the Right Institution

Fees can vary quite a bit from one major U.S. bank to another. Some charge $4.95 a month just for maintaining a checking account, while others charge $12 or more for the same exact service. Others may not charge any maintenance fee at all. For that reason, it can pay to do a little digging before you open a new account.

When comparing banks, it can be helpful to understand exactly what the monthly maintenance fee (if any) will be, and if there are any ways to avoid the fee.

Many banks will waive the monthly fee If you meet certain requirements. If you won’t be able to meet those conditions, however, you may want to keep shopping around.

2. Maintaining a Minimum Balance

Many institutions will waive the monthly account fee if you keep a certain amount of money in your account, known as a minimum balance.

That means If your average monthly balance dips below this amount, the maintenance fee would be triggered for that month and deducted from your account.

If your average monthly balance is above this threshold, the bank would waive the fee for that month.

3. Opening More than One Account

Many institutions will reward you for loyalty and waive monthly fees if you have multiple accounts with them, such as a savings account, money market account, or certificate of deposit (CD), in addition to a personal checking account.

In some cases, linking your accounts (such as a checking and a savings account) can help you meet the balance requirement to avoid the monthly maintenance fee.

4. Signing up for Direct Deposit

Many checking accounts are free when you elect to have your paycheck or benefits check automatically deposited into your account.

Each bank may have slightly different qualifying criteria. Some banks waive the maintenance fee if you make a certain number of direct deposits to your account each month, while others might require you to deposit a minimum dollar amount.

5. Using Your Debit Card Frequently

You may want to find out if your financial institution waives checking account fees if you use the bank-issued debit card linked to the account to make purchases or bill payments a certain number of times per month.

This number will vary from one bank to another, but 10 is often the number required to make fees disappear.

Banks are able to ease up on customer fees because they get paid transaction fees from the merchants.

6. Reading Your Bank Notifications

Your free checking account is sometimes only free until…it isn’t.

While it’s important to read your account agreement when you first open up an account (and make sure you understand the bank’s requirements to avoid fees), you may also want to keep in mind that your bank can change its rules at any time as long as it notifies you about the change in writing.

For that reason, it’s a good idea to read the notifications the bank sends (via email or snail mail) about changes to its terms and conditions.

This will allow you to keep up to date on what you need to do to avoid monthly service fees before you start seeing these debts show up on your account.

7. Giving up an Interest-Bearing Checking Account

If you have an interest-bearing checking account with your bank, it may be worth checking to see whether you can avoid a monthly maintenance fee by switching bank accounts to an interest-free one. This could actually help you come out ahead.

Today’s interest rates are so low that the interest you are earning on your checking account may not even cover the monthly service fee you are paying in order to have an interest or “rewards” checking account.

8. Considering an Online Bank or Credit Union

Because online-only banks typically have lower overhead expenses than brick-and-mortar institutions, they can be less likely to charge their customers monthly fees. (They often pay considerably higher interest rates as well.)

Credit unions can be worth checking out as well. As nonprofit, member-owned institutions, credit unions typically aren’t as focused on the bottom line as for-profit banks. This enables them to charge lower rates on credit products and levy fewer (and lower) account fees compared to banks.

9. Asking About Student and Senior Discounts

Many banks will offer a break on monthly fees to students. So, if you are currently in school it can be worthwhile to ask if a discount is offered, what age group is covered, what proof you’ll need to show that you’re a student, and what types of schools are included.

Similarly banks may offer a lower fee or no monthly fee if you’re over a certain age, and qualify as what they consider a “senior.”

10. Signing up for Electronic Statements

You may be used to getting that statement in the mail and there is something to be said for having it handy, but is it worth paying a fee for?

Since financial institutions save money by not printing and mailing you a paper statement each month, they often pass that savings along by offering discounts to customers who agree to go paperless.

The discount is often a reduced or eliminated monthly maintenance fee.

The Takeaway

You don’t necessarily have to settle for high monthly checking account fees.

Many financial institutions will waive monthly fees if you maintain a certain balance, make a minimum number of purchases with your debit card each month, or sign up for direct deposit.

Another way to avoid paying monthly fees is to consider a SoFi Checking and Savings Account. With SoFi, you can earn a competitive annual percentage yield (APY) and save and spend, all in one account. And SoFi Checking and Savings doesn’t have any account fees which could eat away at your savings.

Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy up to 4.00% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

FAQ

How can you avoid monthly maintenance fees?

There are several ways to avoid monthly maintenance fees on your bank account, including switching banks, meeting minimum balance requirements, opening additional accounts, and skipping paper statements, among other moves.

Why are you getting charged a monthly maintenance fee?

Banks typically charge maintenance fees as a way to recoup some of their operating costs. You may be able to take steps, however, to avoid these fees in part or totally.

Are maintenance fees yearly?

Bank maintenance fees are typically deducted automatically from your account on a monthly basis.

SOBK0523021

What Are the Differences Between FDIC and NCUA Insurance?

What Is the FDIC?

What Is the NCUA?

FDIC vs NCUA Insurance: Similarities and Differences

What Does NCUA Coverage Protect?

What Isn’t Covered by NCUA?

What Does FDIC Coverage Protect?

Get up to $300 when you bank with SoFi.

What Isn’t Covered by FDIC?

How to Know if Your Institution Is Insured by the FDIC or NCUA

Are All Banks FDIC Insured?

Are All Credit Unions NCUA Insured?

How to Maximize FDIC and NCUA Insurance

Open an Account That Insures for More Than $250,000

Open Accounts at Multiple Financial Institutions

Use Account Ownership Categories to Your Advantage

Open Accounts for Various Family Members

Consider a Revocable Trust

The Takeaway

FAQ

What does the NCUA not cover?

How are the FDIC and NCUA similar?

Why are credit unions not FDIC insured?

How much of your money is protected by FDIC or NCUA?

Routing Number vs Account Number: How to Find Both

What Is a Routing Number?

What Is an Account Number?

Get up to $300 when you bank with SoFi.

When You’ll Need A Routing Number or Account Number

Finding Your Bank Routing and Account Numbers

Contacting Your Bank

Accessing Your Online Account

Looking at a Check

Protecting Your Routing and Account Numbers

The Takeaway

3 Great Benefits of Direct Deposit

It’s Faster

It’s Like Clockwork

It’s Secure

FAQ

Do you need both a routing and account number?

What comes first on a check, a routing or account number?

Do I give my account number or routing number for a direct deposit?

Guide To Budgeting Living Expenses

What Are Living Expenses?

Housing

Food and Beverage

Clothing

Healthcare

Transportation

Other Expenses

Minimum Debt Payments

Average Living Expenses in the USA

Wants Versus Needs

Allocating Your Income

Get up to $300 when you bank with SoFi.

3 Types of Living Expense Budgeting Methods

1. Proportional Budget

2. Line-Item Budget

3. Envelope Budget

Budgeting Tips

What If Your Income Doesn’t Cover Your Living Costs?

Budgeting and Saving With SoFi

FAQ

What are considered living expenses?

What is the average living cost in the U.S.A.?

What salary is needed to live comfortably in the U.S.A.?

7 Tips for Buying a Home in the Off-Season

Why You Should Buy a Home in Winter

1. Having Less Competition for Homes

2. Profiting from a Buyer’s Market in Winter

3. Closing on Your Purchase Faster in Winter

4. Understanding a Home’s Condition More Clearly

5. Hiring Movers Can Be Easier in Winter

6. Getting More Time and Attention from Realtors

7. Taking Advantage of Last-Minute Tax Savings

Financing Your Home Purchase

Guide to Monthly Maintenance Fees

What Is a Monthly Maintenance Fee?

How Much Are Monthly Maintenance Fees?

Student Loan
Refinancing

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Loans

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