8 votes

Robinhood launching checking and savings account with 3% interest

Posted by doug3465
Tags: banking, robinhood, usa
https://blog.robinhood.com/news/2018/12/13/introducing-robinhood-checking-amp-savings

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Title
Introducing Robinhood Checking & Savings
Authors
Robinhood Team
Published
Dec 13 2018
Word count
185 words

7 comments

  1. [3]
    Comment deleted by author
    Link
    1. cge
      Link Parent
      The SIPC has now complained about this offering, and it actually looks like Robinhood has deleted this post and delayed the whole thing. The SIPC doesn't cover the value of investments at all, so...

      The SIPC has now complained about this offering, and it actually looks like Robinhood has deleted this post and delayed the whole thing.

      The SIPC doesn't cover the value of investments at all, so this wouldn't be insured in any practical sense, unless the account is actually just cash, and the "interest" is a casino-style incentive connected with Robinhood being confident that they can convince these accountholders to invest their deposits.

      8 votes
  2. [2]
    MimicSquid
    Link
    The majority of Americans do not even have $1,000 in savings. The people who do have larger savings will be able to get better returns through other investments. Who is this for?

    That’s an extra $240 a year for the average American household with $8,000 in the bank

    The majority of Americans do not even have $1,000 in savings. The people who do have larger savings will be able to get better returns through other investments. Who is this for?

    4 votes
    1. rkcr
      Link Parent
      Investment is more than just return rate. In this case, savings/checkings accounts are more liquid than other instruments. Some even say that cash is king. Also, if you are planning on spending a...

      Investment is more than just return rate. In this case, savings/checkings accounts are more liquid than other instruments. Some even say that cash is king.

      Also, if you are planning on spending a lot of money soon (e.g. buy a house) then you may want to sock away money in an account that can't possibly lose value. Otherwise you could be at risk if the market suddenly tanks.

      3 votes
  3. [3]
    rkcr
    Link
    I am quite suspicious of this deal because the sales pitch of other online banks (like Ally) are that they give you a great interest rate because they cut out a lot of the overhead. How is it that...

    I am quite suspicious of this deal because the sales pitch of other online banks (like Ally) are that they give you a great interest rate because they cut out a lot of the overhead. How is it that Robinhood can cut out so much more that they can offer 50% more than the next highest competitors?

    It seems like this is a loss-leader strategy to get more people to use the other parts of Robinhood (that actually make them money). It's rather convenient, for example, that this isn't an actual bank account, but rather a brokerage account that can easily be used to trade on RH.

    2 votes
    1. [2]
      frostycakes
      Link Parent
      So not much different from Fidelity and Schwab's cash account offerings then, no?

      So not much different from Fidelity and Schwab's cash account offerings then, no?

      1 vote
      1. JamesTeaKirk
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        Except that those are well established banks with billions in revenue over decades as opposed to a unicorn tech startup offering more than they can sustainably afford on account of VC funding.

        Except that those are well established banks with billions in revenue over decades as opposed to a unicorn tech startup offering more than they can sustainably afford on account of VC funding.