Can you take money out of a savings account? Pros, cons, and ways to withdraw (2024)

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  • You can take money out of a savings account if you need it to cover an expense.
  • Some financial institutions only permit six free withdrawals per month.
  • If you make frequent withdrawals from a savings account, it may affect how much interest you'll earn.

Can you take money out of a savings account? Pros, cons, and ways to withdraw (1)

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Can you take money out of a savings account? Pros, cons, and ways to withdraw (3)

Savings accounts are ideal places to store money you don't want to touch, while checking accounts are better for managing your expenses. That said, if you need to withdraw money from your savings, it's possible. You don't want to get charged an excess withdrawal fee, though.

Here's what you need to know about withdrawing money from a savings account so you can avoid fees.

Can you take money out of a savings account?

You can take money out of a regular savings account at any time. However, some financial institutions have free withdrawal limitations.

Savings accounts may have monthly transaction limits per federal rule Regulation D, which stated that banks must penalize consumers for withdrawing from savings more than six times per month. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve amended Regulation D during the COVID-19 pandemic. Banks have the option to enforce a six-per-month transaction limit, increase the withdrawal limit, or delete the limit so customers can make unlimited transfers and withdrawals from their savings accounts.

Why do some financial institutions impose a monthly transaction limit? They want to encourage customers to grow their money in savings accounts and manage expenses through a checking account. Checking accounts do not have monthly withdrawal limits, regardless of where you bank. It also benefits banks to have a monthly transaction limit on savings so they can maintain cash reserves.

How withdrawals affect money in savings accounts

If you frequently withdraw money from a savings account, it could impact your savings.

For instance, some financial institutions will charge a fee for withdrawals that surpass their six-per-month withdrawal limit. This common bank fee is referred to as an excess transaction fee. It can cost up to $10 per transaction.

Frequent withdrawals also affect the amount of interest you can earn on a savings account.

Sarah Wicker, manager for deposit account and IRA services at Georgia's Own Credit Union, says the interest you'll earn on an account is determined by your account balance. If your savings account is being used for transactions, your balance will become lower. As a result, you may not earn as much interest. If you have a tiered interest savings account, you could also drop to a tier that has a lower annual percentage yield (APY).

Ways to withdraw money from a savings account

If you need to take out money from your savings account, here are three convenient ways to make a withdrawal:

  • Withdraw money at an ATM: You can usually withdraw money from your savings account at an ATM. All you'll have to do is use an ATM card or debit card, and select that you want to take out money from a savings account. Bear in mind that financial institutions have daily ATM withdrawal limits. That means you can only take out a certain amount of money from an ATM per day. If you use an out-of-network ATM, the ATM issuer and/or the financial institution may charge you a fee.
  • Visit a branch:If you bank with a brick-and-mortar financial institution, you could visit a branch to take out money from your savings account. You'll go to a teller, provide your account information, and tell them you want to take out money from your savings account.
  • Transfer money to a checking account:If you use online banking, you can transfer money to your checking account. That way, you can use your account's debit card to access to your money. Similar to ATM cards, debit cards also have daily maximum limits. You can only spend a certain amount from your debit card per day.

Savings account withdrawals FAQS

Can people take money out of your savings account?

Another person can only take out money from your savings account if you give them your private information, including your bank account number. To avoid debit card fraud, monitor your bank account transactions routinely.

Do you lose interest if you withdraw from a savings account?

The interest earned on your account is based on your account balance. If you withdraw money from a savings account, you may not earn as much interest as you would have if you kept all your money in the account.

Is there a savings account you can't take money out of?

You cannot take money out of traditional CDs without paying a penalty. One of the biggest differences between CDs versus high-yield savings accounts is that CDs don't let you take out money before their terms end.

Does pulling from your savings account hurt your credit?

No, taking out money from a savings account does not hurt your credit score.

Sophia Acevedo, CEPF

Banking Editor

Sophia Acevedo is a banking editor at Business Insider. She edits and writes bank reviews, banking guides, and banking and savings articles for the Personal Finance Insider team. She is also a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF).Sophia joined Business Insider in July 2021. Sophia is an alumna of California State University Fullerton, where she studied journalism and minored in political science. She is based in Southern California.You can reach out to her on Twitter at @sophieacvdo or email [email protected].Read more about how Personal Finance Insider chooses, rates, and covers financial products and services >>Below are links to some of her most popular stories:

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Can you take money out of a savings account? Pros, cons, and ways to withdraw (2024)

FAQs

Can you take money out of a savings account? Pros, cons, and ways to withdraw? ›

You can usually withdraw money from your savings account at an ATM. All you'll have to do is use an ATM card or debit card, and select that you want to take out money from a savings account. Bear in mind that financial institutions have daily ATM withdrawal limits as well.

What happens if I take money out of my savings account? ›

Typically, yes — your money is yours. But a savings account is designed to discourage frequent transactional use and may carry monthly withdrawal limits. Exceeding these limits can incur fees, have your account re-classified or have it closed altogether.

What are the pros and cons of savings accounts? ›

Advantages and Disadvantages of Savings Account
  • Advantages.
  • Earn Interest. A savings account helps you earn interest on the deposited amount. ...
  • Safest Investment Option. ...
  • Minimum Investment Amount. ...
  • Disadvantages.
  • Interest Rates Can Change. ...
  • Easy Access. ...
  • Minimum Balance Requirement.

What kind of savings account can you not withdraw from? ›

CDs have a fixed term, usually ranging from a few months to several years, and often lack liquidity compared to other savings accounts. You can't withdraw funds before the term without paying a penalty.

Is there a limit to withdraw from a savings account? ›

What are withdrawal limits and why do financial institutions set them? Withdrawal limits are typically set at six penalty-free withdrawals per month from your savings account or money market account. Before the coronavirus pandemic, this limit was set by the Federal Reserve, known as Federal Regulation D.

What is the downside about withdrawing money from a savings account? ›

Fees for savings account withdrawals

Some financial institutions will charge a fee for withdrawals that surpass their six-per-month withdrawal limit. This common bank fee is referred to as an excess transaction fee. It can cost up to $10 per transaction.

Is it bad to leave money in a savings account? ›

It's a good idea to make sure you have enough money in savings for emergencies. Keeping too much cash in a savings account over time could mean losing out on higher returns in a brokerage account.

What is the negative side to a savings account? ›

Savings account benefits include safety for your savings, interest earnings and easy access to your money. However, savings accounts may have drawbacks, such as variable interest rates, minimum balance requirements and fees.

Is it worth keeping money in a savings account? ›

A savings account is a safe place to put your money when you can't afford to lose any or think you'll need it in an emergency. It's also a good place to put some of your investments as a hedge against losses – you can't lose everything if some of your money is in an ordinary savings account, after all.

How much money should you keep in a savings account? ›

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.

What is safer than a savings account? ›

Money market accounts are worth considering as well. They're FDIC-insured, and combine features of checking and savings accounts. U.S. government securities—such as Treasury notes, bills, and bonds—have historically been considered extremely safe because the U.S. government has never defaulted on its debt.

How to put money away and not touch it? ›

4 tips to put money away and not touch it
  1. Separate your savings and checking funds. Simply keeping your savings in a separate bank account from your checking funds is a way to keep your savings out of sight, out of mind.
  2. Get rid of the ATM card. ...
  3. Open an account with an online bank. ...
  4. Lower your contributions.
Jul 13, 2024

Can you empty a savings account? ›

Some banks have minimum balance requirements, meaning that if you withdraw all your money from the account, you'll no longer be able to keep it open.

Can I take all my money out of my savings account? ›

Yes. You can withdraw from your savings (after all, it is your money), but keep in mind that some banks may have monthly withdrawal limits. But there's no limit to the number of times you can make a deposit.

How much cash can I withdraw from my savings account at one time? ›

The maximum limit differs from one bank to another and depends on the type of account. For instance, some banks may allow a maximum withdrawal limit of Rs. 25,000 per day on the basic account type. On the other hand, others may offer a daily withdrawal limit of Rs. 40,000 on their basic account.

Can I withdraw 10000 from my savings account? ›

Thanks to the Bank Secrecy Act, a report must be made to the federal government when you withdraw $10,000 or more from your savings account. Banks have learned to identify customers who may be trying to skirt the rules. As long as you aren't hiding illegal activity, you have nothing to fear.

What happens if you empty your savings? ›

You could incur costs you can't easily borrow to pay.

If you've drained your savings and need cash quickly, you could end up in dire straits and be forced to use a very expensive borrowing option such as a payday loan.

Can money be deducted from savings account? ›

Can my bank take money from my savings account? Yes, if you have loans or credit cards EMI in such cases bank ask you a permission for deduction of such amount . And bank also chargers some amounts like for sms services , low acount balance penalty etc in that cases they directly deduct money form your saving amount .

How much cash can be withdrawn from a savings account? ›

The maximum limit differs from one bank to another and depends on the type of account. For instance, some banks may allow a maximum withdrawal limit of Rs. 25,000 per day on the basic account type. On the other hand, others may offer a daily withdrawal limit of Rs. 40,000 on their basic account.

Can a bank take money from your savings account without permission? ›

To be clear, a bank won't withdraw funds without your permission for any other purpose than to cover outstanding debts.

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