Fifth Third VS Home Savings

Which bank is better for you?

  • Financial Rates: 3.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 3.0 Star Icon
No Rate Information
Advertiser Disclosure
Star Icon Star Icon Star Icon Star Icon Star Icon

Pros:

  • Student checking account
  • No required amount to open accounts
  • Interest bonus when savings goals met
  • Business accounts available

Cons:

  • Accounts have a monthly fee
  • Hard to waive checking account fees
  • Accounts not offered everywhere
  • Low-interest rates
  • Financial Rates: 3.0 Star Icon
  • Customer Service: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Website Experience: 5.0 Star Icon
  • Bank Fees: 5.0 Star Icon
No Rate Information
Advertiser Disclosure
Star Icon Star Icon Star Icon Star Icon Star Icon

Pros:

  • Variety of personal deposit accounts
  • Low opening requires amounts
  • Business accounts available
  • Online CDs offers competitive rates

Cons:

  • Cannot open all accounts online
  • Tiered interest rates for MMA
  • Low interest rates
  • High yield accounts have high opening sum
Fifth Third Review

The Fifth Third Student Banking account does not have a monthly fee if the student is 16 years or older. There is no amount required to keep in the account. Five ATM transactions at non-Fifth Third ATMs are free each month.

There is not a set amount required to open a Fifth Third checking account or savings account.

The Fifth Third Goal Setter Savings account offers a one-time interest bonus when you reach your savings goal. The amount you receive is equal to the amount of interest you have earned while the account is open. The account must be open for at least 185 days. The savings goals can range from $500 to $25,000. Interest is only paid on balances under $50,000.

Fifth Third offers a variety of accounts for small or commercial businesses. Various checking accounts are available. These accounts vary to fit how much money your business deals with monthly. Savings accounts, CDs, loans, and credit cards are also available.

Most all Fifth Third accounts have a monthly maintenance fee. The savings accounts have a fee of $5 per month. The checking account fees range from $8 to $25 each month depending on the account. There are ways to have the fees waived, but those vary by account.

Not only do Fifth Third checking accounts have fees, but the requirements to waive the fee are tough. Having a direct deposit into the account lowers the fee but does not waive it. You must have at least $1,500 to $100,000 in Fifth Third accounts depending on the account. Spending $500 on a Fifth Third credit card waives the fees. Having a mortgage, loan, or line of credit with a balance also waives the fee.

Accounts are not offered everywhere. Fifth Third currently offers accounts in ten states. If you do not live in one of those ten states, you are not eligible to open a deposit account with Fifth Third.

The interest rates on accounts are low. Fifth Third rates are typical of other banks. They are not competitive with online-only bank accounts. The more money you invest, the better interest rates you will earn.

Read the full Fifth Third review.

Home Savings Review

Home Savings offers a variety of personal deposit accounts. They offer interest earning and free checking accounts. They offer a checking account for students and those over 50 years old. They offer a holiday savings account and savings accounts for kids and youth. Home Savings offers an online savings account and CDs. The CDs range from 28-days to five-year terms.

Most accounts have low opening requires amounts. The online savings account requires $50 to open. The holiday savings and youth savings accounts require $10 to open. Most checking accounts requires $25 to open. The interest earning checking does require $100 and must be opened in a branch location. The regular CDs require $500 to open.

Home Savings offers a variety of business accounts. They offer checking and savings accounts for small or commercial businesses. Lending options, money market accounts, and deposit services are also offered for businesses. You must visit a branch location to open business accounts.

Home Savings offers two CDs, for new investments, with competitive rates. The terms are an 18-month and 36-month CD. Money deposited in these CDs cannot be from other accounts in Home Savings accounts. The interest rates are competitive with other online CD accounts. These CDs require $500 to open and can be opened online.

Not all Home Savings accounts can open online. Some accounts require visiting a branch location, including the interest-earning checking account. Visit a branch to open the holiday savings account and savings accounts for kids.

The MMA and the Platinum savings accounts have tiered interest rates. These accounts require a $100,000 balance to earn the best rates. Balances lower than $100,000 still earn interest, just lower rates.

Most Home Savings accounts do not offer competitive interest rates. Some accounts have tiered interest rates. Other accounts have interest rates similar to typical brick and mortar bank rates. Only a few accounts offer rates competitive with online accounts.

The high yield Home Savings accounts have high required opening amounts. The Platinum savings account requires $5,000 to open. The money market account requires $10,000 to open. The money market account can be opened online. To open the Platinum Savings requires a branch location.

Read the full Home Savings review.

Sponsored Offers
From Our Partners

Advertiser Disclosure
Sponsored Offers
American Express
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 3.80%
Rate 3.73%
Min to Open $0
Min to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC.
Next >
Openbank
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 4.75%
Rate 4.65%
Min to Open $500
Min to Earn APY $500
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC.
Next >
Capital One
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 3.80%
Rate 3.80%
Min to Open $0
Min to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC.

Promoted offer: It only takes about 5 minutes to open a fee-free account.
Next >
EverBank
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 4.40%
Rate 4.30%
Min to Open $0
Min to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC.

Promoted offer: No monthly maintenance fee, $0 to open, easily grow your money
Next >
Western Alliance Bank
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 4.46%
Rate 4.46%
Min to Open $500
Min to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC.
Next >
Barclays
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 4.35%
Rate 4.35%
Min to Open $0
Min to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC.

Promoted offer: $200 Bonus w/ Tiered Savings Account and Qualifying Activities
Next >
CIT Bank
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 4.35%
Rate 4.35%
Min to Open $100
Min to Earn APY $5,000
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC.

Promoted offer: CIT Bank, a division of First Citizens, 125+ years of experience.
Next >
BMO Alto
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 4.30%
Rate 4.21%
Min to Open $0
Min to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC.
Next >
Sallie Mae
MMA (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 4.10%
Rate 4.02%
Min to Open $0
Min to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook Yes
Member FDIC.
Next >
Synchrony Bank
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 4.10%
Rate 4.10%
Min to Open $0
Min to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC.
Next >
Poppy Bank
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 4.75%
Rate 4.64%
Min to Open $1,000
Min to Earn APY $1,000
Monthly Fee $5.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC.
Next >
Betterment
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 4.75%
Rate 4.75%
Min to Open $10
Min to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
FDIC insured at program banks†.

Promoted offer: var. APY a/o 11/8/24. New customers only. Betterment LLC, not a bank
Next >
Sallie Mae
Savings (Rate as of 12/21/2024)
APY 4.10%
Rate 4.02%
Min to Open $0
Min to Earn APY $0
Monthly Fee $0.00
Min to Avoid Fee $0
Checkbook No
Member FDIC.
Next >