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When it comes to earning interest, many people focus on savings accounts, but overlook the money sitting in their checking account. A high-yield checking account can help your everyday balances work harder by earning interest while still providing the convenience of a traditional checking account.
Unlike standard checking accounts that often pay little or no interest, a high-yield checking account offers a competitive annual percentage yield (APY) on qualifying balances. For example, Vista Bank's Advantage Checking account offers up to 4.33% APY* on balances up to $35,000 when you meet certain account requirements.
One of the biggest advantages of a high-yield checking account is that you don't have to choose between earning interest and having easy access to your money. You can still use your debit card, pay bills, make purchases, access mobile banking, and deposit checks, all while earning interest on eligible balances.
Another benefit is that the requirements to earn the higher rate often align with normal banking habits. For Advantage Checking, you qualify by using online statements, maintaining a $1,000 minimum balance per statement cycle, and making 20+ debit card purchases per statement cycle.
High-yield checking accounts can be especially helpful for people who keep a larger emergency fund or everyday cash reserves readily available. Instead of letting that money sit idle, it can earn more throughout the year.
If you want a simple way to make your money work harder without changing your daily banking routine, a high-yield checking account may be ideal for you. It combines the accessibility of checking with the earning potential typically associated with savings accounts, helping you maximize every dollar you keep on deposit.
High-Yield Advantage Checking FAQs
A high-yield checking account allows you to earn interest on your everyday balance, often by meeting simple monthly requirements. For Advantage Checking, the requirements to earn 4.33% APY* on balances up to $35,000 are:
- Use Online Statements
- Maintain a minimum daily balance of $1,000 per statement cycle
- Make at least 20 posted debit card purchases per statement cycle
You can earn 4.33% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on balances up to $35,000 in your high-yield Advantage Checking Account in three simple steps:
- Use Online Statements
- Maintain a minimum daily balance of $1,000 per statement cycle
- Make at least 20 posted debit card purchases per statement cycle
The portion of your balance above $35,000 earns 0.25% APY.
A high-yield checking account will typically include a debit card, while most savings accounts do not include debit card access. Savings accounts generally come with limits on the number of transactions you can have per month. With Advantage Checking from Vista Bank, you get a free Visa Debit Card and unlimited transactions per month, which makes it more versatile than a traditional savings account for everyday use.
Yes, your deposits are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per depositor.
Vista Bank is a division of NBH Bank, Member FDIC. NBH Bank operates under multiple trade names in multiple states. Divisions of NBH Bank are not separately FDIC-insured banks. The FDIC coverage extended to deposit clients is that of one insured bank.
It's easy to avoid the $10 monthly fee:
Simply have cleared deposits of $1,000 or more per statement cycle
OR
Maintain a $1,000 minimum daily balance per statement cycle.
Our online account opening takes just a few minutes. Here's the information you'll need:
- Social Security Number
- Driver's license or State ID
- Home address
- Email address
- If you want to transfer money from an account at another bank, you will also need the account information and routing number.
Overdraft Privilege* comes with eligible accounts as part of our standard overdraft practices. Visit our Overdraft Protection page for more information.
Direct deposit is not only fast and convenient. It’s also safer than paper checks. Contact your employer or payroll provider to set it up.
Vista Bank combines technology to make banking simple with local expertise to offer you 1:1 service. As your neighbors, we share a passion to do more for our communities. Strengthening our communities means investing in you. When you have a question, real people are here to help.
- Visit a Vista Bank banking center or open an account online.
- Gather information like account numbers and routing numbers from your old bank.
- Switch all direct deposits and automatic payments to your new Vista Bank account.
- Transfer funds from your old account to your new Vista Bank account once you’re sure all direct deposits and automatic payments have been transferred. You can do this quickest through an ACH (online) transfer, or you can use a cashier’s or personal check.
- Once the transfer clears, close your old account.
*4.33% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on balances up to $35,000 per statement cycle when all of the following conditions are met: 1) Enrolled in online statements 2) Have at least a $1,000 minimum daily balance per statement cycle 3) Make at least 20 posted debit card purchases per statement cycle. Balances above $35,000 earn 0.25% APY. Eligibility for the higher interest rate tier is determined based on account activity and balances from the preceding statement cycle. The Bank evaluates account qualification criteria three (3) business days prior to the end of each statement period. Accounts meeting all required criteria at the time of evaluation will qualify for the higher interest rate tier for the subsequent statement cycle. Accounts that do not meet the criteria will be assigned to the lower interest rate tier and will remain in that tier until qualification criteria are satisfied at a subsequent evaluation. If conditions are not met, the entire balance in the account earns 0.05% APY per statement cycle. Rate is subject to change after account opening and without notice. Account fees may reduce earnings. Minimum balance to open account is $100. To avoid the $10 monthly service charge, you must (1) receive cleared deposits totaling $1,000 or more for each statement cycle, OR maintain a minimum daily balance of $1,000 or more each statement cycle and each statement cycle thereafter.
1Please refer to the Electronic Funds Transfer Agreement and Disclosure for a definition of pre-authorized debits.
