Is it better to keep my money in the bank or at home?
“It [varies from] person to person, but an amount less than $1,000 is almost always preferred,” he said. “There simply isn't enough good reason to keep large amounts of liquid cash lying around the house. Banks are infinitely safer.”
No earning potential: One of the major benefits of keeping cash in a bank account is that it can grow, thanks to interest earned on bank balances. If you keep your money in cash, it never grows. Your $20 is still $20 a year later, and that same $20 actually becomes less valuable due to inflation.
The safest way to do this is to put your savings in a bank account. After all, in your account, your money is free from most risks and can slowly accumulate over time.
A regular savings account is "liquid." That is, your money is safe and you can access it at any time without a penalty and with no risk of a loss of your principal. In return, you get a small amount of interest. Check rates online as they vary greatly among banks.
A savings account is a very safe way of storing money. Banking regulation protects your deposits in a much more effective way than your alarm system protects your valuables from robbery or home jacking.
Generally, money kept in a bank account is safe—even during a recession. However, depending on factors such as your balance amount and the type of account, your money might not be completely protected. For instance, Silicon Valley Bank likely had billions of dollars in uninsured deposits at the time of its collapse.
- The money can be lost or stolen. Hiding cash under the mattress, behind a picture frame or anywhere in your house always carries the risk of being misplaced, damaged or stolen. ...
- The money isn't growing. When cash doesn't grow, it loses some of its value.
Investors seeking stability in a recession often turn to investment-grade bonds. These are debt securities issued by financially strong corporations or government entities. They offer regular interest payments and a smaller risk of default, relative to bonds with lower ratings.
The government has no regulations on the amount of money you can legally keep in your house or even the amount of money you can legally own overall. Just, the problem with keeping so much money in one place (likely in the form of cash) — it's very vulnerable to being lost.
Savings accounts are a safe place to keep your money because all deposits made by consumers are guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for bank accounts or the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) for credit union accounts.
How much money is too much to keep in one bank?
How much is too much cash in savings? An amount exceeding $250,000 could be considered too much cash to have in a savings account. That's because $250,000 is the limit for standard deposit insurance coverage per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, per ownership category.
FDIC and NCUA insurance limits
So, regardless of any other factors, you generally shouldn't keep more than $250,000 in any insured deposit account. After all, if you have money in the account that's over this limit, it's typically uninsured. Take advantage of what a high-yield savings account can offer you now.
Unless your bank requires a minimum balance, you don't need to worry about certain thresholds. On the other hand, if you are prone to overdraft fees, then add a little cushion for yourself. Even with a cushion, Cole recommends keeping no more than two months of living expenses in your checking account.
Lose out on interest
Unless you specifically choose an interest-paying checking account, you're not making any money on your money. Savings accounts, on the other hand, can pay you interest just for keeping your money in the bank.
This lack of growth or return on investment is a significant disadvantage of saving money in banks, especially compared to other investment options like stocks, bonds, or real estate, which have the potential to offer higher returns.
Keeping too much of your money in savings could mean missing out on the chance to earn higher returns elsewhere. It's also important to keep FDIC limits in mind. Anything over $250,000 in savings may not be protected in the rare event that your bank fails.
Here's Who's Pulling Their Money. Total deposits at commercial banks fell by just over $1 trillion from April 2022 to May 2023. People 40 years old and younger are more likely to pull their money, with 38% of them reporting that they moved deposits compared to 23% of those over 40.
Customers in bank runs typically withdraw money based on fears that the institution will become insolvent. With more people withdrawing money, banks will use up their cash reserves and can end up in default.
Your money will be secured in a bank account during a recession, but only if the bank is FDIC-insured. And if you bank with a credit union, your money is secured if the credit union is insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).
You Shouldn't Keep Much Cash at Home
Experts are generally in agreement that you shouldn't keep too much cash in any hiding place — even a safe.
Is it wise to keep cash at home?
While it's perfectly OK to keep some cash at home, storing a large amount of funds in your house has two significant disadvantages: The money can be lost or stolen. Hiding cash under the mattress, behind a picture frame or anywhere in your house always carries the risk of it being misplaced, damaged or stolen.
Reasons to Keep Some Cash at Home
While your home isn't a place to store all of your savings, cash set aside with survival supplies like extra water, flashlights, first-aid kits and canned food should be part of your emergency plan.
During an economic downturn, it's crucial to control your spending. Try to avoid taking on new debt you don't need, like a house or car. Look critically at smaller expenses, too — there's no reason to keep paying for things you don't use.
What Are the Biggest Risks to Avoid During a Recession? Many types of financial risks are heightened in a recession. This means that you're better off avoiding some risks that you might take in better economic times—such as co-signing a loan, taking out an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), or taking on new debt.
It's safe from the stock market: If a recession causes short-term market volatility, you won't lose money on your high-yield savings deposits, unlike investing in the stock market.
