18 bank accounts that help track personal finance goals with budgeting tools
Some financial institutions have bank accounts that let you set up and track goals. This may help with setting up an emergency or vacation fund.
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- Some financial institutions have bank accounts with special budgeting features.
- Our list covers accounts that let you separate savings into specific goals.
- To set up goals, you'll need to set up online or mobile banking.
Saving money for personal finance goals is a tall task if you don't know where to start. Some financial institutions have bank accounts with budgeting tools that you can use to separate your savings into specific goals or create a budget.
If you're looking to open or switch to a new account that helps you maintain financial goals, we've put together a list of bank accounts with these features. Our list includes credit unions, online banks, and online banking platforms included in our best product guides.
18 bank accounts with savings features
1. Alliant Credit Union
How savings tool works: Alliant's savings account offers "supplemental savings accounts," which let you save for specific goals. Add goals by logging in to online banking. Select a new account under your existing Alliant Account. When you select "supplemental savings," you'll be prompted to add your savings account.
2. Ally
How savings tool works: Ally lets you open savings buckets for different goals. Log in to online banking and create new buckets when you click on your savings account. You'll also be able to track and set deadlines for goals.
3. Barclays Online Savings Account
How savings tool works: Set up savings goals through the Barclays app. You'll need to select a bank account to start a new goal.
4. Capital One 360
How savings tool works: Capital One's bank accounts allow you to establish goals through the bank's mobile app. You'll also be able to set deadlines and monitor your progress.
5. Chase Savings℠
How savings tool works: Chase allows you to create three types of goals: safety net, custom goals, and general savings. A safety net helps you establish an emergency fund. Custom goals help save for occasions you'd like to save for — for example, vacations or birthdays. General savings is where you will keep savings that aren't for specific occasions.
6. Connexus Credit Union
How savings tools work: Connexus Digital Banking offers a savings goal feature. Implement the savings goal feature in online banking, so you're able to assign target amounts.
7. Current Account
How savings tools work: Current is a mobile banking platform with banking products for adults and teens. The
8. Daylight Account
How savings tools work: Daylight is a mobile banking platform that serves and supports LGBTQ+ folks. Through the mobile app, you'll be able to set up and track individual financial goals.
If you plan to have a gender-affirming surgery in the future, Daylight also has a guided goal feature, which has a virtual assistant that can help you understand more about the process.
9. LendingClub Rewards Checking Account
How savings tool works: LendingClub has a special mobile feature for checking accounts called Goalkeeper. To access Goalkeeper, log in to mobile banking and create a goal for anything you'd like.
10. NBKC Everything Account
How savings tool works: NBKC has a hybrid checking/savings account. Set up individual goals through the account through online and mobile banking.
11. One account
How savings tool works: One simplifies banking with a hybrid checking/savings account. You'll be able to manage individual goals or through what are called pockets. You'll start with three pockets: a Spend Pocket, a Save Pocket, and an Auto-Save Pocket (for automatic savings deposits). You may also add more pockets for customizable goals.
12. Qapital Goals Account
How savings tool works: Qapital is a mobile banking platform that can help you save and invest. If you open the Qapital Goals Account, you'll be able to use unique savings tools called "Rules." When you apply a Rule, any money saved will go toward a goal set up in your Goals Account.
For example, let's say you use "The 52 Week Rule." Every week, some money will be transferred into your account until you have $1,378 saved up over the course of 52 weeks.
13. Regions Bank
How savings tool works: MyGreenInsights is a unique online banking feature if you have a Regions bank account. You'll be able to create a budget and establish goals for how much you'd like to save or spend in a certain area.
14. Sallie Mae SmartyPig Account
How savings tool works: Through Sallie Mae's savings accounts, you'll be able to set up specific savings goals online and monitor them.
15. SoFi Checking and Savings
How savings tool works: You can set individual goals through SoFi's Money Vaults. Create categories for Money Vaults through online or mobile banking.
16. Tellus Boost Account
How savings tool works: Tellus is an online fintech company with a high-yield cash account. If you open the
The Tellus Boost Account is not a savings or checking account, and it is not FDIC insured. According to a disclosure on the Tellus website, your money will still be returned to you if Tellus goes bankrupt. Banking services are also provided by Chase Bank, Member FDIC.
17. Wealthfront Cash Account
How savings tool works: Save for distinct savings goals through Wealthfront's mobile app. You can also set up goals, so they're completed in a specific order.
18. Wings Financial Credit Union
How savings tool works: Money Tracker is a special mobile banking feature for Wings Financial Credit Union account holders. You'll be able to create goals and track them each month. Money Tracker also lets you establish a budget and assign categories for spending.
Frequently asked questions
How do you use bank budgeting tools?
You'll need to set up online banking and have money deposited into your account to utilize the budgeting tools for most of the accounts listed. Once you set up an account, you can separate your savings into specific goals.
Why are budgeting tools important?
Brian Walsh, CFP® professional and senior manager of financial planning at SoFi, says budgeting tools can play an important role in the way a person manages their finances.
"People who use budgeting tools are actually much more likely to spend more responsibly, have an emergency, fund, pay off their credit cards, have a retirement account — all these great things when it comes to their personal finances. There is significant research that shows that using these types of tools can be very powerful for everyday people," Walsh says.
When should you consider a bank with budgeting tools?
Walsh says budgeting tools are helpful for people who would prefer to have a general idea of where their money is going but don't want granular details or specifics.
"Most people, they just want a high-level overview, and they want it in the palm of their hand. So, it can help them kind of nudge them into making slightly more responsible decisions on their spending," adds Walsh.
If you find it overwhelming to save for goals using a spreadsheet or calculator, a bank account with budgeting tools may ultimately provide a unique option worth exploring.