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Best Compound Interest Savings Accounts
By: Conor Keenan | Last updated: March 15, 2026
Conor Keenan, AWMA®, is the Co-Founder of CompareAccounts. An Accredited Wealth Management Advisor with over a decade of experience covering consumer banking and investing trends, his work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and Yahoo Finance.
Editorial Independence: Our opinions, reviews, and recommendations are our own. Partner commissions keep our site free, but our content remains independent.
You’re in the right place. Every day, we help thousands earn 10x more compound interest than the sad 0.39% national average APY through vetted, FDIC-insured accounts we trust for our own families & friends. Find yours below to start earning more today.
up to APY
4.00%
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
- Checking & Savings Account
- Min. to Open: $0
- Bonus: up to $300 with Direct Depositⓘ
- Up to 4.00% APY on Savings Balances with Qualifying Activities
- $0 Monthly Fees
- FDIC Insured up to $250,000
- Earn $50 or $300 with direct deposit, terms apply
- Limited Time Offer: +0.70% Boost to 4.00% APY for up to 6 Months on New Accounts with Eligible Direct Deposit.
- Terms Applyⓘ
- See Site for Details
1. Up to $300 Bonus Tiered Disclosure
New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 12/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.30% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
2. APY disclosures
Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet
3. Fee Policy
We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Bank Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
4. Additional FDIC Insurance
SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $2M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/terms See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/receivingbanks
5. ATM Access
We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees
may be incurred when using out-of-network ATMs. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.
6. Early Access to Direct Deposit Funds
Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.
7. Overdraft Coverage
Overdraft Coverage is a feature automatically offered to SoFi Checking and Savings account holders who receive at least $1,000 or more in Eligible Direct Deposits within a rolling 31 calendar day period on a recurring basis. Eligible Direct Deposit is defined on the SoFi Bank Rate Sheet, available at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. Members enrolled in Overdraft Coverage may be covered for up to $50 in negative balances on SoFi Bank debit card purchases only. Overdraft Coverage does not apply to P2P transfers, bill payments, checks, or other non-debit card transactions. Members with a prior history of unpaid negative balances are not eligible for Overdraft Coverage. Eligibility for Overdraft Coverage is determined by SoFi Bank in its sole discretion. Members can check their enrollment status, if eligible, at any time by logging into their account through the SoFi app or on the SoFi website.
8. 0.70% Savings APY Boost
Earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 12/23/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 3/30/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
On SoFi's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
APY
3.79%
- High Yield Savings Account
- Min. Initial Deposit: $1.00
- 3.79% APY
- No Monthly Fees
- Interest Compounded Daily
- Founded in 1927, Valley Bank has served customers for nearly 100 years.
- High-Performing Regional Bank with Assets Greater Than $62 Billion
- FDIC Insured up to $250,000
- $10K+Deposit? Get $70 - $1,500 Cash Bonus
- Use code HEADSTART
- See Site for Details
On Raisin's Secure Site
For Valley Bank, Member FDIC
APY
3.80%
- High-Yield Savings Account
- 3.80% APYⓘ
- Min. Opening Deposit: $500
- Min. to Earn APY: $0.01
- $0 Account Fees
- Interest Accrues Daily and is Paid Monthly
- Open an Individual or Joint Account
- FDIC Insured up to $250,000 per depositor
- U.S.-based Customer Service Available from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PDT Monday – Friday
- Ranked #1 Top-Performing Large Bank with Assets $50 Billion and Above in 2021, 2022, 2023, & 2024 by American Banker
- See Site for Details
Western Alliance Bank APY Disclosure
ⓘ The annual percentage yield (APY) is accurate as of January 20, 2026 and subject to change at the Bank’s discretion. Refer to product’s website for latest APY rate. Minimum deposit required to open an account is $500 and a minimum balance of $0.01 is required to earn the advertised APY.On Western Alliance Bank's
Secure Site, Member FDIC
APY
3.80%
- High-Yield Savings Account
- 3.80% APYⓘ
- Min. Opening Deposit: $500
- Min. to Earn APY: $0.01
- $0 Account Fees
- Interest Accrues Daily and is Paid Monthly
- Open an Individual or Joint Account
- FDIC Insured up to $250,000 per depositor
- U.S.-based Customer Service Available from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PDT Monday – Friday
- Ranked #1 Top-Performing Large Bank with Assets $50 Billion and Above in 2021, 2022, 2023, & 2024 by American Banker
- See Site for Details
Western Alliance Bank APY Disclosure
ⓘ The annual percentage yield (APY) is accurate as of January 20, 2026 and subject to change at the Bank’s discretion. Refer to product’s website for latest APY rate. Minimum deposit required to open an account is $500 and a minimum balance of $0.01 is required to earn the advertised APY.On Western Alliance Bank's
Secure Site, Member FDIC
APY
3.50%
- High-Yield Savings Account
- Min. initial deposit: $0.00
- 3.50% APY — far above the national average
- Member FDIC
- No Minimum Balance
- No Monthly Fees
- Interest Compounded Daily
- Full Liquidity - Withdraw Funds Anytime
- Terms Applyⓘ
- Trusted Fortune 500 Bank with Nationwide Reach Serving Millions of Customers
- See Site for Details
Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is subject to change at any time without notice. Offer applies to personal accounts only. Fees may reduce earnings. For High Yield Savings accounts, the rate may change after the account is opened. Visit synchrony.com/banking for current rates, terms and account requirements. Member FDIC.
On Synchrony Bank's
Secure Site, Member FDIC
APY
0.01%
Chase Bank Details
- Savings Account
- 0.01% APY
- Min. Balance to Avoid Service Fee: $300
- Monthly Service Fees: up to $5
- Limit 6 Withdrawals per Monthly Statement Period
- Withdrawal Overage Fees: up to $15 per month
- Other Miscellaneous Fees Apply
APY
3.75%
- High Yield Savings Account
- Balance for APY: $5,000
- 3.75% APY1
- No Monthly Service Fees
- Earn a Higher APY with a Higher Min. Balance
- Mobile App Online Banking
- Deposit Checks Remotely & Make Transfers Easily
- FDIC Insured up to $250,000
- Sign Up in Under 5 Minutes
- Terms Applyⓘ
- See Site for Details
Platinum Savings Account Disclosure
1 Platinum Savings is a tiered interest rate account. Interest is paid on the entire account balance based on the interest rate and APY in effect that day for the balance tier associated with the end-of-day account balance. *APYs — Annual Percentage Yields are accurate as of January 9, 2026: 0.25% APY on balances of $0.01 to $4,999.99; 3.75% APY on balances of $5,000.00 or more. Interest Rates for the Platinum Savings account are variable and may change at any time without notice. The minimum to open a Platinum Savings account is $100.
For complete list of account details and fees, see our Personal Account disclosures.” (link:https://cit-fcb-t.cit.com/cit-bank/resources/forms)
On CIT Bank's Secure Site, Member FDIC
APY
2.51%
- High Yield Savings Account
- Min. initial deposit: $1
- 2.51% APY
- FDIC Insured up to $250,000
- No Monthly Fees
- Interest Compounded Daily
- Established 1901 (Oklahoma community bank)
- Available Nationwide Through Raisin Platform
- See Site for Details
On Raisin's Secure Site for
State Exchange Bank,
Member FDIC
To recap our recommendations.
Best Savings Accounts According To CompareAccounts™
SoFi® Checking and Savings: 4.00% APY & Earn up to $300 with qualifying activities
Valley Bank High Yield Savings Account: 3.79% APY
CIT Bank® Platinum Savings Account: 3.75% APY
Customers Also Viewed: Bonus Checking Accounts
Top choice for bonus + APY
Bonus: up to $300 with Direct Depositⓘ
Limited Time Offer: +0.70% Boost to 4.00% APY for up to 6 Months on New Accounts with Eligible Direct Deposit.
On SoFi's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
- Checking & Savings Account
- No Monthly Fees
- No Overdraft Fees
- Fee-Free Overdraft Coverage Available
- Bonus: up to $300 with Direct Depositⓘ
- Set Up Direct Deposit & Access Funds up to 2 Days Sooner with Early Pay
- Access 55,000+ Fee-Free ATMs within the Allpoint® Network
- Send Money with SoFi's Peer-to-Peer Payment System
- Earn 0.50% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on Checking Balances
- Earn $50 or $300 with direct deposit, terms apply.
- Limited Time Offer: New account holders earn +0.70% boost to 4.00% on their Savings APY for up to 6 months with eligible direct deposit. Terms applyⓘ
- See Site for Details
1. Up to $300 Bonus Tiered Disclosure
New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 12/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.30% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
2. APY disclosures
Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet
3. Fee Policy
We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Bank Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
4. Additional FDIC Insurance
SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $2M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/terms See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/receivingbanks
5. ATM Access
We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees
may be incurred when using out-of-network ATMs. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.
6. Early Access to Direct Deposit Funds
Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.
7. Overdraft Coverage
Overdraft Coverage is a feature automatically offered to SoFi Checking and Savings account holders who receive at least $1,000 or more in Eligible Direct Deposits within a rolling 31 calendar day period on a recurring basis. Eligible Direct Deposit is defined on the SoFi Bank Rate Sheet, available at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. Members enrolled in Overdraft Coverage may be covered for up to $50 in negative balances on SoFi Bank debit card purchases only. Overdraft Coverage does not apply to P2P transfers, bill payments, checks, or other non-debit card transactions. Members with a prior history of unpaid negative balances are not eligible for Overdraft Coverage. Eligibility for Overdraft Coverage is determined by SoFi Bank in its sole discretion. Members can check their enrollment status, if eligible, at any time by logging into their account through the SoFi app or on the SoFi website.
8. 0.70% Savings APY Boost
Earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 12/23/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 3/30/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
On SoFi's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
- Checking Account
- Chime Visa® Debit Card
- No Monthly Fees
- No Overdraft Fees
- 24/7 Live Support with a Real Human
- Access to Over 47,000 Fee-Free ATMs at stores like Walgreens®, 7-Eleven®, CVS Pharmacy® & more
- Some Direct Deposit Benefits Include:
- MyPay®1: Get up to $5002 of your pay before payday. Note: Only offered in select states.
- Early Pay Access: Get your paycheck up to 2 days earlier with direct deposit
- SpotMe®: Overdraw your account by up to $200 on debit card purchases without incurring any fees
- Terms & Conditions Apply to The Features of this Accountⓘ
- See Site for Details
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC.
SpotMe Disclosure: SpotMe® on Debit is an optional service that provides fee-free overdraft if a member meets certain qualification criteria. Chime SpotMe enables members to draw their Chime Checking Account negative for debit card transactions, ATM withdrawals, cash back transactions or “over the counter” or OTC withdrawals (“Qualifying Transactions”) up to a specified amount (the “Limit”). This Limit is determined by Chime in its sole discretion based on the history of any Chime-branded accounts you have, direct deposit history and direct deposit amounts, spending activity and other risk-based factors. SpotMe on Debit is not a credit product, cash advance, a loan, or overdraft protection. Comparing SpotMe to any of these other products is not accurate and would diminish integrity of the product's structure.
SpotMe® on Credit is an optional, no interest / no fee overdraft line of credit tied to the Secured Deposit Account available to qualifying members with an active Chime Card Account. To qualify for the SpotMe on Chime Card service, you must receive $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime® Checking Account each month and have activated your physical secured Chime Visa® Credit Card or Chime Visa® Debit Card.
Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Secured Deposit Account up to $20, but may later be eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on Chime account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. The SpotMe on Chime Card Limit will be displayed within the Chime mobile app and is subject to change at any time, at Chime’s or its banking partners’ discretion. Although Chime does not charge any overdraft fees for SpotMe on Chime Card, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions and fees associated with OTC cash withdrawals. SpotMe on Chime Card won’t cover non-card transactions. SpotMe on Chime Card Terms and Conditions apply.
Chime ATM Disclosure: Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM.
Chime Early Pay Disclosure: Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.
Chime MyPay® Disclosure: MyPay® line of credit provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A. MyPay services provided by Chime Capital, LLC (NMLS 2316451).
To be eligible for MyPay, you must receive qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account as set forth in the MyPay Agreement. A qualifying direct deposit is a deposit from an employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, government benefits payer, or other permitted source of income by Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) or Original Credit Transaction (“OCT”). Your MyPay Credit Limit and Maximum Available Advance may change at any time. MyPay is a line of credit and available limits are based on estimated income and risk-based criteria. Eligible members may be offered a $20 - $500 Credit Limit per pay period. Your Credit Limit and Maximum Available Advance will be displayed to you within the Chime app. MyPay is only offered in select states and is currently only available to eligible Chime members in certain states. Other restrictions may apply. See Bancorp MyPay Agreement or Stride MyPay Agreement for details.
MyPay®: MyPay is a line of credit that allows members to get up to $500 of their pay anytime before payday with no interest, no credit check, and no mandatory fees. Most members’ credit limits start between $50 and $100, and can increase over time up to $500 depending on factors such as length and amount of your direct deposit activity. Members can get funds for free within 24 hours, or instantly for a fee of 3% of the advance amount ($2 minimum, $5 maximum) per advance. See Bancorp MyPay Agreement or Stride MyPay Agreement for details. MyPay is not an earned wage access product.
State Eligibility: You must live in one of the following states or the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.) to be eligible for MyPay: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.), Georgia, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. Please see the MyPay Agreement for the most up-to-date state eligibility.
Optional services and products may have fees or charges, such as outbound instant transfers, out-of-network transactions, and credit products.
On Chime's Secure Site,
FDIC Insured
Frequently Asked Questions About Compound Interest Savings Accounts
What is a Savings Account?
A savings account is a type of bank account that offers a higher Annual Percentage Yield (APY) than a checking account.
Money in your savings account earns interest that compounds at set intervals. This compounding interest allows your money to make money for you.
A checking account is used for money that needs to be moved quickly such as to pay bills or use for everyday spending.
Whereas a savings account is a better option for money that doesn’t need to be used right away, for example, your emergency fund.
How to Find The Best Savings Account?
Arguably the best way to find the best savings accounts is right here on www.compareaccounts.com. Although we don’t showcase every single savings account available, we stand by our recommendations as the highest tier of the best accounts in America.
Why are Online Savings Accounts Better Than Traditional Ones?
Traditional banks offer low rates on savings accounts. This is because they’re managing insanely large amounts of money and need to manage their risk profile. The less “guaranteed returns” they provide, the less risky their overall portfolio becomes. As a result, traditional banks only offer about .01-.10% interest on their savings accounts. A high yield account offers up to 3.86% interest on your savings. Which is much higher than 10x the national average. Now you know why so many people are switching to a high-yield savings account.
Is My Money Safe?
Yes! Savings accounts listed on this page are protected by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insures Bank and thrift deposits of up to $250,000.
How Do I Open a Savings Account?
Easy. Simply pick your bank and click on the “open account” button above. Once you arrive at our partner’s site, you’ll be able to open your new savings account safely and securely.
What is Compound Interest?
Compound interest is the interest that is earned on the initial principal of a loan or deposit, as well as on the accumulated interest of previous periods. In other words, compound interest is the interest that is calculated not only on the initial amount of money that you deposit or borrow, but also on the interest that has been accumulating over time.
For example, let’s say that you deposit $1000 in a savings account that earns 3% annual compound interest. After the first year, you will have earned $30 in interest, so the balance of your account will be $1030. In the second year, you will earn 3% interest on the new balance of $1030, which is $30.90. This means that your balance at the end of the second year will be $1060.90.
Compound interest can be a powerful tool for growing your wealth over time, especially if you are able to save and invest a large amount of money. However, it can also work against you if you are borrowing money and have to pay compound interest on your loans. In this case, the interest that you pay will continue to grow over time, which can make it more difficult to pay off your debt.
How to Calculate Compound Interest:
There are several ways to calculate compound interest, but one common method is to use the following formula:
Compound Interest = Principal * (1 + Interest Rate/n)^(n*t) – Principal
In this formula, “Principal” is the initial amount of money that you are depositing or borrowing, “Interest Rate” is the annual interest rate, “n” is the number of times that interest is compounded per year, and “t” is the number of years that the money is invested or borrowed.
Here is the same example with a 3% annual interest rate and quarterly compound interest:
Let’s say that you have a savings account with an initial balance of $1000 and an annual interest rate of 3%. The interest is compounded quarterly, which means that n = 4. If you leave the money in the account for 2 years, then t = 2. To calculate the compound interest earned over these 2 years, we can use the following formula:
Compound Interest = Principal * (1 + Interest Rate/n)^(n*t) – Principal
Plugging in the values from the example, we get:
Compound Interest = $1000 * (1 + 0.03/4)^(4*2) – $1000
= $1000 * (1.0075)^8 – $1000
= $1060.38 – $1000
= $60.38
This means that you would have earned a total of $60.38 in compound interest on your initial deposit of $1000 over the course of 2 years, with a 3% annual interest rate and quarterly compound interest.
However, many of the savings accounts we recommend compound interest daily. This means that you’ll earn a slightly higher return the longer you leave your funds in the account.
When it comes to compound interest, higher is always better.
Before the invention of electronic calculators, bankers and other financial professionals used various methods to calculate compound interest. These methods included:
1. Using tables: Some bankers used tables that provided pre-calculated values for compound interest, based on different interest rates and time periods. These tables could be used to quickly and easily determine the amount of compound interest that would be earned or paid on a given principal.
2. Using slide rules: Slide rules were mechanical devices that could be used to perform mathematical calculations, including compound interest. To use a slide rule to calculate compound interest, a financial professional would set the interest rate and time period on the slide rule, and then use the device to determine the compound interest.
3. Using pencil and paper: Some bankers and financial professionals calculated compound interest by hand, using pencil and paper. This method involved using the compound interest formula to perform the necessary calculations.
4. Using mechanical calculators: Mechanical calculators were early mechanical devices that could be used to perform mathematical calculations, including compound interest. These calculators were more advanced than slide rules, and could perform a wider range of calculations. However, they were still slower and less accurate than modern electronic calculators.
Compound Interest the 8th Wonder of the World
Albert Einstein is often credited with saying that “compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world,” and that “he who understands it, earns it; he who doesn’t, pays it.”
Einstein’s quote highlights the power of compound interest to generate wealth over time. When you earn compound interest on your investments or savings, the interest that you earn in each subsequent period is based not only on the initial amount of money that you invested, but also on the accumulated interest of previous periods. This means that the longer you leave your money invested or saved, the more compound interest you will earn, and the faster your wealth will grow.
On the other hand, if you have to pay compound interest on a loan or debt, the interest that you pay will continue to grow over time, which can make it more difficult to pay off the debt. In this case, understanding the principle of compound interest can help you make informed decisions about borrowing and repayment, and avoid paying more interest than necessary.
Warren Buffet, a successful investor and business magnate, has also spoken about the power of compound interest. In one of his annual letters to shareholders, Buffet wrote:
“The most powerful force in the universe is compound interest. He who understands it, earns it … he who doesn’t … pays it. Einstein called it the greatest mathematical discovery of all time.”
Buffet’s quote emphasizes the importance of understanding compound interest and how it can be used to grow wealth over time. By investing and saving wisely, and taking advantage of the power of compound interest, it is possible to build a significant amount of wealth over the long term. On the other hand, if you don’t understand compound interest, or if you make poor financial decisions that result in paying high levels of interest on debt, you may end up losing money rather than earning it.
When it comes to investing you should listen to people like Albert Einstein and Warren Buffet. That’s why its important to have a savings account that not only compounds interest, but that has a high yield and preferrably compounds on a daily basis.
To take advantage of the power of compound interest, it is important to start saving and investing as early as possible. The longer you are able to leave your money invested, the more compound interest you will earn, and the faster your wealth will grow.
*National Savings Rate Average as published by FDIC









