Banking

A bank or credit union is infrastructure for holding cash, paying bills, and moving money. Loyalty to one institution is worth almost nothing. Price, access, fees, and deposit insurance are.

Read the order of operations before you optimize APY. Cash that has a job (bills, your emergency fund) comes before chasing a slightly higher rate.

What is in this section

• Banking Basics. What a bank actually does with your money, and the handful of terms worth knowing.
• Choosing a Bank. How to pick a bank, and why loyalty to one is worth almost nothing.
• Getting More From Your Cash. Getting a fair rate on the cash you are not investing.
• Banking Optimization. Small, one-time setup work that quietly pays you every month.