Diversify Your Bank Assets
I mentioned in a post last week that online bank sites can sometimes go down without any warning and that one way to mitigate that risk is to establish bank transfer links in both directions. Another way to mitigate this risk is to simply open two accounts and spread your assets across both of them.
Right now, Washington Mutual is offering 3.75% APY, FNBO Direct and HSBC Direct are offering 3.50% APY; that’s three banks offering 3.50% to 3.75% APY for total coverage of $300,000 FDIC insurance. If you have over $300,000 in assets you are putting in savings accounts, you should talk to a financial advisor.
Otherwise, you’re like us and can safely spread it across those three banks and mitigate the risk that any one of those accounts could become inaccessible without giving much interest.
HSBC Direct recently went down for the count for a few days because of technical issues, I hardly noticed because I had my assets spread across multiple banks such that in a dire situation I can still access my cash. I also happen to have external links to my HSBC Direct account and could initiate a transfer out if necessary (the bank was fine, online access was just shaken up).
So, if you’re wary about online banks, diversify this small risk by spreading your money across different accounts.