Although I have reviewed and recommend several online savings accounts, the one I use is ING Direct.
Ten years ago, ING revolutionized banking by offering an “online only” savings account paying interest that was about five times that national average. Today, dozens of banks have followed suit. I’ve been loyal to ING Direct because they offer:
- A great interest rate; currently 1.10% APY.
- No minimums or fees.
- A super secure and user-friendly Website.
- Up to 30 sub-accounts to save for specific goals.
- [Optional] A free online checking account with debit MasterCard
To open an account you simply need a checking account from which to transfer money. The process takes just five or ten minutes. Once your account is open, your checking and ING accounts are “linked” and you can transfer money back and forth at any time (transfers take two business days). If you choose, you can link up to two additional accounts to your savings account.
The best way to fund your savings account is by “paying yourself first”—putting money into savings as soon as you get paid—and ING makes it easy with their automatic savings plan feature. Just choose how much you want to save and how often, and money will automatically be transferred to your account on a recurring basis.
Need to get at your cash? You can request a withdrawal online 24 hours a day and the money will be sent to your checking account within a day or two. If you need ATM access, ING has a free, interest-bearing online checking account option that includes a MasterCard debit card.
Have $1 and a checking account? Open an ING Direct Savings Account now »
I'm David Weliver. At 26, I had NO savings and NO financial plan. I was maxed out, stressed out, and fed up. Then, I changed. I repaid $80k of debt, tripled my income, and bought a home. I'll show you how to get similar results. 