On Thursday, the Federal Reserve increased the federal funds rate for the first time in over three years, raising it to a range between 3.75% and 4.00%. This hike is expected to result in higher interest rates for savers across various account types. The article recommends that savers act quickly by moving their accessible cash into high-yield savings accounts or certificates of deposit (CDs), emphasizing the importance of shopping around for the best rates online while being cautious about locking funds into long-term CD commitments given the potential for further rate increases in October.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 16, 2023, the Federal Reserve is poised to raise its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to a range between 3.75% and 4.00%, according to the CME Group's FedWatch tool, which predicts this with nearly a 90% likelihood. This move comes amid surging inflation pressures, including crude oil prices that surpassed $100 per barrel for the first time since July due to Middle East conflicts. Despite pressure from President Donald Trump, who demands lower interest rates, financial markets expect Chair Kevin Warsh and his board to hike rates in response to stubbornly high core inflation figures. The decision could affect borrowing costs significantly, pushing them out of reach for homebuyers and those seeking refinancing options but offering better returns for savers if they shift their funds from traditional savings accounts with average interest rates under 0.40% to high-yield savings accounts that can adapt to rising rates more flexibly.
Written for “Fed Interest Rate Hike” on 2026-09-18,
grounded in this article and the 45 other(s) covering the same event.
Savers on Thursday woke up to a new financial climate marked by the
in more than three years.
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Savers → wake → years
Now at a range between 3.75% and 4.00%, a new, higher federal funds rate is expected to lead to even higher rates for savers than they've already been accustomed to in recent years.
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they → expect → years
And while that change will look different based on the account type and the bank in question, savers are undoubtedly now entering a more profitable period, especially if the Fed proceeds with another interest rate hike when it meets again in October.
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it → look → October
Taking advantage of new, better interest-earning opportunities will take a bit of a strategic approach from savers, however.
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Taking → take → savers
While there are always costly
worth avoiding, making the right, proactive moves now could be the difference between earning a standard rate on your money or one that's exponentially higher.
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that → be → money
And these moves should happen relatively quickly, both to boost your savings as much as possible and to you may already be enduring with other account types.
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Below, we'll break down three specific savings moves to make now, post-Fed rate hike.3 savings moves to make post-Fed rate hike
To position yourself for savings success as quickly as possible, consider making these three moves right now:
Move the money you need to maintain access to into a high-yield savings account
Traditional savings accounts should have been closed already, but if you haven't yet done so, consider acting now.
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you → break → account
With an average interest rate of just 0.38% currently, you're essentially losing money by not shifting your funds into an alternative account type.
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you → lose → type
Move the money you need to maintain access to, then, into a instead.
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you → move → instead
These accounts operate the same way a traditional account does, albeit with significantly more interest earnings to be had.
And you won't have to worry about making withdrawals, deposits or paying any fees the way you would with a
with a .
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you → operate → a
With a variable rate structure, too, they're well-positioned to take advantage of a rising interest rate environment if the Fed continues to hike rates.
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Fed → position → rates
Consider shopping around for high-yield savings accounts online, then, and move the money you need to keep flexible into the most profitable option you can find right away.
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you → consider → option
Use CDs, but in a more cautious way than usual
Technically, CDs have slightly higher rates than high-yield savings accounts do.
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accounts → use → rates
And they're fixed, adding a layer of protection that the variable-rate high-yield account can't offer.
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account → fix → that
Because your money will be locked in the account at that fixed rate level, however, your interest-earning potential will be limited.
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potential → lock → level
This doesn't mean that CD accounts aren't still worth opening (they are), but it does mean that savers should use them in a more cautious way than usual, especially compared to the climate in which interest rates were consistently declining in 2024 and 2025.
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rates → mean → 2024
So open a CD account, but don't deposit more than you can afford to part with, and don't lock it into a term that you can't easily see through to the maturity date.
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you → open → date
Explore alternative accounts that can help you take advantage of a higher rate climate
CDs and high-yield savings accounts may be ubiquitous, but they're not the only accounts that will help you take advantage of a higher interest rate climate.
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you → explore → climate
A
functions as a savings account that you can write checks from and, right now, interest rates on the account are averaging only slightly below those tied to high-yield savings accounts.
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rates → write → accounts
So, if you want to earn a high rate while streamlining your banking needs, this could be the right account for you now.
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this → want → you
, meanwhile, should also be considered as they can allow you to earn a competitive rate on the money you already have sitting idle waiting for the next bill to be paid.
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bill → consider → money
Earning some extra interest there, too, won't hurt.
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Earning → earn → interest
The bottom line
A rising interest rate environment isn't great news for borrowers, but it does have a silver lining for savers who position themselves appropriately now.
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who → rise → themselves
By moving the money you need access to into a high-yield savings account, closing the traditional account (if you still have one), using CDs in a more cautious way, and exploring alternative account types that you may not have thought about previously, you can do just that.
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you → move → that
Consider the use, too, of online marketplaces that list all of the relevant account information you'll need in one spot and don't discount the benefits of speaking with banks directly as they can often outline accounts and approaches that may align with your unique financial circumstances.
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that → consider → circumstances
The Aporia
