Here's How Much $20,000 Earns You in a Savings Account (2024)

The right savings account is a must to get the most from your money.

Since last year, there have been several interest rate hikes. While savings accounts previously offered barely anything, that's no longer the case. Many of the best savings accounts now have APYs from about 3.5% to over 5%.

However, not all banks offer anywhere near that much. For example, if you stick with a big bank, odds are you'll earn a significantly lower interest rate. Some of them offer as little as 0.01%.

It's a smart move to earn as much interest as possible, but it's even more important when you have a large amount of savings. To demonstrate that, let's look at how much $20,000 in savings will grow, depending on the account you choose.

How much $20,000 earns you in a savings account

Savings account APYs (annual percentage yields) vary quite a bit. The table below shows how much you'd earn in one year depending on your account's APY. It compares APYs of 0.01%, since that's what some big banks offer, the current national average of 0.35%, and a few rates available right now through high-yield savings accounts.

Our Picks for the Best High-Yield Savings Accounts of 2024

SoFi Checking and Savings

Here's How Much $20,000 Earns You in a Savings Account (1)

APY

up to 4.60%

Rate infoYou can earn the maximum APY by having Direct Deposit (no minimum amount required) or by making $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits every 30 days. See SoFi Checking and Savings rate sheet at: https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

Min. to earn

$0

Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings

Member FDIC.

APY

up to 4.60%

Rate infoYou can earn the maximum APY by having Direct Deposit (no minimum amount required) or by making $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits every 30 days. See SoFi Checking and Savings rate sheet at: https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

Min. to earn

$0

Barclays Online Savings

Here's How Much $20,000 Earns You in a Savings Account (2)

APY

4.35%

Min. to earn

$0

Open Account for Barclays Online Savings

Member FDIC.

APY

4.35%

Min. to earn

$0

American Express® High Yield Savings

Here's How Much $20,000 Earns You in a Savings Account (3)

APY

4.25%

Rate info4.25% annual percentage yield as of May 29, 2024

Min. to earn

$1

Open Account for American Express® High Yield Savings

Member FDIC.

APY

4.25%

Rate info4.25% annual percentage yield as of May 29, 2024

Min. to earn

$1

APYInterest earned in one year
0.01%$2
0.35%$70
3.50%$700
4.00%$800
4.50%$900
4.75%$950
5.00%$1000

Data source: Author's calculations.

There's no arguing that you lose a lot of money if you keep your savings in the wrong place. You're looking at a difference of several 1,000s between the top savings accounts and those with a subpar to even an average APY.

Why do savings account rates differ so much?

The primary reason why some savings accounts have much higher interest rates is because they're offered by online banks. These banks usually don't have branches you can visit, which saves them money on overhead costs. Banking locations and the staff to run them aren't cheap. Because online banks save in this area, they can pay more interest than brick-and-mortar banks.

Online banks also need to offer those competitive rates to attract and retain customers. Big banks already have established brands and massive customer bases, so they don't need to compete on interest.

This means in-person banking normally isn't an option if you want a high interest rate. Some high-yield savings accounts also don't offer a debit card. You may need to transfer your money to a checking account first to withdraw it. While this isn't always convenient, it's not a huge drawback. After all, savings accounts are designed for storing your savings, not moving money back and forth.

How to maximize your savings

If you don't have a high-yield savings account already, it makes sense to open one. You'll earn much more interest, and there's no downside. Online banks are just as safe, as they offer the same FDIC insurance as the big banks. That covers up to $250,000 per account in the event of bank failure.

There are plenty of high-yield accounts to choose from. While APY is one of the most important features, also look at minimum deposit requirements. Not all accounts have these, but some require a minimum balance to earn the APY. Check for monthly maintenance fees, as well. Most of the top online banks don't charge these, but it's still good to double check.

Once you've found an account you like, you can sign up online. You'll need to provide your address, Social Security number, and possibly a scan of your government-issued ID. The process of opening a bank account online is usually quick and easy. After that, transfer over your savings to start earning interest.

These savings accounts are FDIC insured and could earn you 11x your bank

Many people are missing out on guaranteed returns as their money languishes in a big bank savings account earning next to no interest. Our picks of the best online savings accounts could earn you 11x the national average savings account rate. Click here to uncover the best-in-class accounts that landed a spot on our short list of the best savings accounts for 2024.

Here's How Much $20,000 Earns You in a Savings Account (2024)

FAQs

Here's How Much $20,000 Earns You in a Savings Account? ›

Depositing $20,000

How much will $20,000 make in a high-yield savings account? ›

By keeping your extra savings in a high-yield savings account, you may be able to earn more interest. If you keep $20,000 in a high-yield savings account for one year at 4.50% APY, you can make $900 from interest. The longer you allow your savings to sit in your account, the more interest you'll earn.

How much interest can you make off 20k? ›

Our Picks for the Best High-Yield Savings Accounts of 2024
APYInterest earned in one year
4.00%$800
4.50%$900
4.75%$950
5.00%$1000
3 more rows
Mar 31, 2023

Is $20,000 dollars in savings good? ›

Having $20,000 in a savings account is a good starting point if you want to create a sizable emergency fund. When the occasional rainy day comes along, you'll be financially prepared for it. Of course, $20,000 may only go so far if you find yourself in an extreme situation.

How much will $30,000 make in a high-yield savings account? ›

If you keep $30,000 in a high-yield savings account for one year at 4.50% APY, you can make $1,350 in interest. The longer you let your extra cash sit in your account, the more interest you'll earn.

What is the best investment to make with $20000? ›

10 Best strategies to invest $20K
  1. Pay off debt. ...
  2. Build an emergency fund. ...
  3. Max out your retirement accounts. ...
  4. Invest in an index fund. ...
  5. Invest with a brokerage account. ...
  6. Invest with a robo-advisor. ...
  7. Invest in fine art. ...
  8. Invest in real estate.
Mar 14, 2024

How much is 5% interest on $20,000? ›

For example, if you take out a five-year loan for $20,000 and the interest rate on the loan is 5 percent, the simple interest formula would be $20,000 x .05 x 5 = $5,000 in interest.

How to double 20k? ›

The Best Ways To Double $20,000
  1. Invest In Real Estate. One of the best ways to double 20,000 dollars is to invest in income-generating real estate. ...
  2. Start An Online Business. ...
  3. Invest In Stocks & ETFs. ...
  4. Invest In Small Businesses. ...
  5. Start A Service-Based Business. ...
  6. Try Crypto Investing. ...
  7. Retail Arbitrage. ...
  8. Lend Out Your Money.
7 days ago

Can I live off interest on a million dollars? ›

Once you have $1 million in assets, you can look seriously at living entirely off the returns of a portfolio. After all, the S&P 500 alone averages 10% returns per year. Setting aside taxes and down-year investment portfolio management, a $1 million index fund could provide $100,000 annually.

What are the cons of a high-yield savings account? ›

Cons of high-yield savings accounts
  • Withdrawal limits. All savings accounts used to charge customers fees if they made more than six monthly withdrawals. ...
  • Withdrawals might require a few extra hoops. ...
  • Minimum balance requirements. ...
  • Rates fluctuate. ...
  • Not a good fit for long-term savings.
May 20, 2024

How many Americans have $20,000 in savings? ›

Other answers revealed that 15 percent had between $1,000 to $5,000, 10 percent with savings of $5,000 to $10,000, 13 percent boasted $10,000 to $20,000 of cash in their bank accounts while 20 percent had more than $20,000.

What is considered rich in savings? ›

Someone who has $1 million in liquid assets, for instance, is usually considered to be a high net worth (HNW) individual. You might need $5 million to $10 million to qualify as having a very high net worth while it may take $30 million or more to be considered ultra-high net worth.

What is a good amount of money to have in savings? ›

For savings, aim to keep three to six months' worth of expenses in a high-yield savings account, but note that any amount can be beneficial in a financial emergency.

How much interest does $20,000 earn in a year? ›

How much interest does $20,000 per year in a savings account? If you put your money in a traditional bank that earns 0.01%, you'd have $20,002.00 by the end of the year. In a high-yield savings account that earns 0.60%, you'd have $20,120.

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

You can't lose your money because, just like your regular checking and savings accounts, the money is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to $250,000.

What is the catch to a high-yield savings account? ›

What are the cons of a high-yield savings account? Variable rates. Interest rates on these accounts can and do fluctuate, which means the APY you started with could potentially drop. Keep your eye on such changes and remember that the money is yours; at any time, you can move it to a bank that offers a higher rate.

How much will $10,000 make in a high-yield savings account? ›

If you have $10,000 to invest, here's what your earnings would be at different interest rates: After one year with a regular account at 0.42%: $10,042.00. After one year with a high-yield account at 4.50%: $10,450.00. After one year with a high-yield account at 5.00%: $10,500.00.

How much money can I make with a high-yield savings account? ›

Shopping around for a top APY means you can earn 10 to 12 times more than the national average rate, which is less than half a percent. $5,000 in one of today's best high-yield savings accounts could earn as much as $136 in just six months—compared to about $11 with an average rate. Able to save more than that?

How much return can you expect from a high-yield savings account? ›

A high-yield savings account is a type of federally insured savings product that earns rates that are much better than the national average. They can earn around 5%. By comparison, the national average rate is 0.45%.

What happens if you put 50000 in a high-yield savings account? ›

How much of a difference does this make? If you deposit $50,000 into a traditional savings account with a 0.46%, you'll earn just $230 in total interest after one year. But if you deposit that amount into a high-yield savings account with a 5.32% APY,* your one-year interest soars to over $2,660.

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