SmartyPig accounts do not have monthly maintenance fees. There is not a required amount to keep in the account. The first initial deposit to open the account is $25.
This savings account offers tiered interest rates. This means the more money you have in the account, the more interest you will earn. The interest rates do not vary much between tiers. The difference from a low amount to the higher amount is around 0.05%.
With this SmartyPig account, you can set up different savings goals. The savings accounts can be long-term, like saving for a college education. They can also be short term, like saving for a mountain bike or birthday party. You can transfer money from your SmartyPig primary account to different savings goals.
The best way to save money is to set up direct withdrawals. You set up when you want the money to come out of your account and how much to withdraw. Then, SmartyPig does the rest. Once the money is deposited into your account, you can transfer it into different savings goal. The withdrawals can be set up to occur monthly or biweekly.
SmartyPig has only one account offered: a high yield savings account. They do not offer checking accounts, CDs, money market accounts, or business accounts. The interest rate on this savings account is considerably higher than other banks savings accounts.
The website says you can withdraw money anytime, but federal regulation only allows six withdrawals per billing cycle. This includes transfers between your SmartyPig primary account and your different savings goals. The transfer or withdrawal will not take place if you have made more than six in a billing cycle. If you repeatedly try to make more than six, your account will be closed. Once you reach your goal, you cannot withdraw part of your money back to your external funding source. You must withdraw it all, or transfer the money between other savings goals.
This account is not meant for high account balances. There is a maximum account balance of $250,000. If your account has $250,000, you will earn interest on the money in the account, but you cannot add to the account.
Each SmartyPig account is only allowed to have one external funding source set up for it. That means you can only have one bank account connected to each SmartyPig account. You can change your external funding source if you want, but never have more than one.
American Eagle CDs can earn higher interest rates if you earn the relationship bonus. To receive this bonus, you must have $5,000 in a qualifying checking, savings, or money market account. With this bonus, you earn around 0.15% more interest on the money in your CD.
American Eagle offers a Golden Eagle checking account for senior citizens. To qualify for the senior account, you must be over 55 years of age. This account offers unlimited check writing, no monthly fees, and a higher interest rate than their other checking accounts.
The Eagle Saver Kids Klub only requires $1 to open. Kids must be under 17 and have a parent or guardian co-signer. For every deposit made, kids earn ‘Wooden Nickels.’ Kids use those nickels to get prizes.
The American Eagle Platinum NOW checking account is for government and nonprofits. It only requires $100 to open. There is no monthly fee with at least $500 in the account. This account offers unlimited check writing, an ATM or debit card with no fees, and earns interest.
In the name of security, the American Eagle debit card may not work in all areas. Those areas include New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, or Canada. If you travel to these areas, you must call the bank in advance to make sure your debit card will work.
CDs require $1,000 to open and earn interest. The CD terms vary in length from six to sixty months. Special add-on CDs let you make unlimited deposits of at least $1 or more.
The business checking account limits transactions each month. You must not exceed 500 debit and credit transactions per month. There is a fee if you do.
Not all American Eagle accounts are available to everyone. You cannot apply online for an account. You must call a local branch to get information and apply for an account. Some products are only available to current customers and those living in certain areas.