Regions Bank savings rates change regularly and depend on the account type you choose
Regions Bank does not publish a single savings rate across all accounts. The interest rate you earn depends on which savings product you open—whether that is a standard savings account, a money market account, or a certificate of deposit (CD)—and rates shift based on what the Federal Reserve does with its benchmark rate. The bank's current rates are listed on their website, but the number you see today may not be the number you lock in next month.
If you are comparing Regions to other banks, you need to know that Regions is a regional bank with branches mainly in the South and Midwest. Their savings rates are typically lower than what online-only banks offer, because Regions maintains physical branches and the costs that come with them. That trade-off means you get a local branch to visit, but you pay for it in lower interest earnings.
Key Takeaways
- Regions Bank savings rates vary by account type and change when the Federal Reserve adjusts its benchmark rate.
- Standard savings accounts at Regions typically earn less interest than money market accounts or CDs with the same bank.
- Online banks usually offer higher savings rates than Regions because they have no branch costs to pass along.
- You can find Regions' current rates on their website, but call your local branch or log into your account to confirm the exact rate before you deposit.
How Regions structures its savings products
Regions offers three main ways to save: a basic savings account, a money market account, and certificates of deposit. The basic savings account typically has the lowest rate but no minimum balance requirement and lets you withdraw money anytime. The money market account usually pays more interest but may require a higher opening balance—often $2,500 or more—and limits how many withdrawals you can make per month.
Certificates of deposit (CDs) lock your money away for a set term—usually three months, six months, one year, or longer—and pay a fixed rate for that entire period. The longer you agree to lock the money away, the higher the rate Regions will pay. If you withdraw before the term ends, you pay an early withdrawal penalty that can eat into your earnings or even your principal.
Regions also offers high-yield savings accounts in some markets, though availability and rates vary by location. These accounts pay more than the standard savings account but may have higher minimum balance requirements. Call your local Regions branch to ask whether a high-yield option is available where you live.
Where to find Regions' current rates
The most reliable place to check Regions' current savings rates is their official website under the savings and CDs section. Rates are listed by account type and term length (for CDs). However, the rates shown online may not reflect what you personally may have access to for—some banks offer different rates based on your account history, deposit amount, or whether you have other products with them.
The second step is to call or visit your local Regions branch. A banker can tell you the exact rate you would receive on a new account and whether any promotional rates are running. Promotional rates—higher than the standard rate for a limited time—come and go, and you will only know about them if you ask or check the website regularly.
Do not rely on rate comparison websites alone. While they can give you a general sense of where Regions stands against competitors, they often lag behind real-time changes and may not show all of Regions' products or local variations.
Why Regions rates are usually lower than online banks
Online banks like Marcus, Ally, and American Express Personal Savings typically offer higher rates than Regions because they have no physical branches. They do not pay for building leases, tellers, or branch managers. That cost savings gets passed to customers in the form of higher interest rates on savings accounts and CDs.
Regions' rates reflect the cost of maintaining hundreds of branches across multiple states. If you value having a physical location to visit, deposit checks in person, or speak to a banker face-to-face, that service costs money. If you are comfortable banking entirely online and want the highest possible rate, an online bank will almost always beat Regions.
The difference can be significant. As of early 2024, online savings accounts were paying 4% to 5% annual interest, while Regions' standard savings accounts were typically paying less than 1%. That gap narrows for CDs, where Regions sometimes offers competitive rates, but savings accounts are where the difference is most noticeable.
What happens to your rate when the Federal Reserve changes policy
The Federal Reserve sets a benchmark interest rate that influences what all banks pay on savings. When the Fed raises its rate, banks eventually raise what they pay savers. When the Fed cuts its rate, banks cut savings rates too. However, banks do not always move at the same speed. Some raise rates quickly when the Fed moves up, but cut slowly when the Fed moves down. Others do the opposite.
Regions typically adjusts its savings account rates within a few weeks of a Fed move, but the exact timing varies. CDs are different: once you lock in a rate, it does not change, even if the Fed moves. That is the trade-off of a CD—you get a may provide rate for the full term, but you cannot benefit if rates rise.
If you are holding money in a Regions savings account and rates are falling, you might want to lock in a CD rate before it drops further. If rates are rising, a savings account lets you benefit from the increases without waiting for a CD to mature.
Minimum balances and fees that affect your actual earnings
Regions' savings accounts may have minimum balance requirements that vary by product. A standard savings account might have no minimum, while a money market account could require $2,500 or more to open and maintain. If your balance falls below the minimum, Regions may charge a monthly fee that reduces your interest earnings.
Some Regions accounts also charge fees for excess withdrawals—typically more than six per month—or for falling below the minimum balance. These fees are small (usually $5 to $10 per occurrence), but they add up if you are earning less than 1% interest. A $5 fee on a $5,000 balance earning 0.5% interest wipes out an entire month of earnings.
Before you open an account, ask about all fees and minimums. The interest rate alone does not tell you what you will actually earn. A 0.75% rate with no fees and no minimum is often better than a 1% rate with a $2,500 minimum and a $10 monthly fee if your balance falls below it.
How to compare Regions to other banks
Start by listing what matters to you: Do you need a physical branch? Do you want the highest possible rate? Are you saving for a specific goal with a important date? Your answers determine whether Regions is the right choice.
If you want the highest rate and do not need a branch, compare Regions' rates to online banks like Marcus, Ally, American Express Personal Savings, and Discover. These typically pay 4% to 5% on savings accounts and competitive rates on CDs. If you want a branch and do not mind a lower rate, compare Regions to other regional banks in your area and to national banks like Bank of America or Wells Fargo.
For CDs specifically, Regions sometimes offers rates that match or beat online banks, especially for longer terms. If you are locking money away for two years or more, it is worth comparing Regions' CD rates to online options before you decide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Regions offer different rates for different deposit amounts?
Regions does not typically offer tiered rates based on how much you deposit into a savings account. However, some promotional offers or special accounts may have different rates for larger deposits. Call your local branch to ask whether any deposit-based rate tiers are available.
Can I lock in a Regions savings rate so it does not go down?
No. Savings account rates at Regions (and all banks) are variable, meaning they can change anytime. If you want a may provide rate that does not change, you need a CD. The longer the CD term, the higher the rate Regions will typically offer.
What is the penalty for withdrawing from a Regions CD early?
Early withdrawal penalties vary by CD term length. Shorter CDs (three to six months) usually have smaller penalties, while longer CDs (two years or more) have larger ones. The penalty is typically a certain number of months' worth of interest. Ask Regions for the exact penalty before you buy a CD.
Does Regions pay interest on checking accounts?
Most Regions checking accounts pay little to no interest. If interest-bearing checking is important to you, ask your branch whether they offer a money market checking account, which sometimes pays a small amount of interest in exchange for a higher minimum balance.
How often does Regions compound interest on savings?
Regions compounds interest daily on most savings accounts and money market accounts, meaning interest earned each day gets added to your balance and earns interest itself the next day. This compounds your earnings over time. Ask your branch or check your account agreement for the exact compounding schedule.