Is chasing the highest savings rate worth it?

Last year, Peter Hsiao learned about high-yield savings accounts from his friend, and within a week, he had opened one. His rate was above 2 percent.

High-yield savings accounts pay interest rates far higher than the national average of 0.09 percent annual percentage yield. They’re generally offered by online-focused banks and credit unions.

Months later, Hsiao’s bank emailed him to say it had lowered his rate.

“At that point, I didn’t think much of it,” said Hsiao, a digital marketing professional in Dallas.

But his rate kept falling.

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“When it dropped to 1.70 percent (from 1.90 percent), I thought maybe I should consider more options” and switch accounts, Hsiao said.

If getting the best rate made you choose an online savings account, should you keep chasing the highest rate — even if it means switching accounts again? Here’s what experts recommend.

KNOW HOW YOUR RATE COMPARES

If the rate on your savings account is close to the national average and you’re comfortable with an online bank, consider switching to a high-yield account. But if you’re earning a rate above 1 percent APY, should you opt for a higher one?

The short answer is probably no, but it depends.

Certified financial planner Dan Stous recommends doing some quick math to decide. Multiply your current rate by your savings balance to estimate your annual interest. Now do the same with the better rate.

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The result might surprise you. The difference between the interest 2.00 percent and 1.50 percent will earn you on a balance of $10,000 over one year is only $50 — and that’s before taxes.

For some, however, the difference may be significant.

“The higher the balance in (your) account, the more reason there is to switch to a higher rate," said Stous, director of financial planning at Flagstone Financial Management in Lincoln, Nebraska.

WEIGH THE PROS AND CONS

The perk to chasing the highest savings rate is, of course, maximizing your interest earnings. But the reality is more complicated. Competitive rates change over time and usually follow a similar trend. If the Federal Reserve drops its benchmark federal funds rate, many banks drop theirs, too — so the bank with the highest rate might not stay that way for long.

Plus, every account you open takes some effort to maintain. And a more abstract downside to chasing rates is losing perspective.

“The habit of saving is more important than the rate,” said Natalie Slagle, CFP and founding partner at Fyooz Financial Planning in Rochester, Minnesota. “If you don’t have a great habit of saving, it doesn’t matter what the rate is.”

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Saving money is a gradual effort. Regular contributions to your savings account, such as monthly transfers from your checking account, usually play a bigger role in growing your money than interest does.

THINK BIG PICTURE ABOUT YOUR MONEY

The cash in your savings account is best for goals you’ll reach within five years. This includes your emergency fund, which should ideally be roughly three to six months’ worth of living costs, in case of an accident or job loss.

If you have considerably more in a savings account — enough that a slight difference in rate matters — consider investing more for retirement. After all, the stock market’s average annual return is about 7 percent to 8 percent historically, after inflation, and that’s much more than any savings account pays in interest.

LOOK BEYOND THE RATE

Whenever you choose to open a new savings account, the rate is important, but so are other features. Factor in fees, minimum balances required to earn interest and access to customer support. Your online bank’s phone line or Twitter page might be your main lifeline in case of issues.

Hsiao ended up choosing a new high-yield savings account with the same rate as his first one, but with an important difference: a $200 sign-up bonus.

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“I learned that it’s pretty easy to open an online savings account,” Hsiao said. “Going in, I thought it’d be scarier.”

But he doesn’t plan to open another one anytime soon.