SmartyPig Review: A Simple Way to Save Money

If you haven’t heard of SmartyPig, you’re not alone. Unlike some of the other online banks available, SmartyPig doesn’t get tangled up in anything other than savings accounts. Their tagline of “Simple, Smart, Savings” says it best. And while Smarty Pig offers only one centralized product, they do so in a variety of innovative ways.

So, what makes SmartyPig so unique?

• Currently, SmartyPig offers a 1.55% APY on its savings account, making it a top-notch choice to store your funds. Looking around at online savings account interest rates, you would be hard-pressed to find a percentage that starts with a 1, let alone higher than that.
• SmartyPig is FDIC insured and financially backed by West Bank, one of the oldest and most trusted banks in the US today.
• There are no fees!
• You don’t see a pig wearing glasses every day, now do you?

What the Accounts Are About

The SmartyPig concept has changed quite a bit since it launched a few years ago. Originally, there was a fee charged for almost every move you made, making SmartyPig a very undesirable option.

However, with the removal of almost every fee, SmartyPig has become an amazing way to save towards the goals you have set for yourself, and even allow for your friends and family to join the cause.

So, how does it work? Let’s take you through the SmartyPig process.

• Signing up for a SmartyPig account: Signing up for an account is fast and simple. Just like you would for any other online savings account, SmartyPig asks for your basic contact information as well as the usual social security number and security questions. Once you have completed the sign-up process, it’s time to set your savings goals.
• Savings Goals: In order to participate in the SmartyPig experience, you must set a savings goal and contribute towards that goal once a month. If you decide at any time to change your goal or your contribution amount (even if you want to set your monthly contribution to $0), that is perfectly fine. The motivation behind this idea is that you should be saving for your future. With that said, there is no penalty if you can’t make your automatic deposits.
• Get Friends & Family Involved: In addition to contributing your own money to your savings account, you can also have your friends and family help you reach your goals. If another user also has a SmartyPig account, they can transfer funds to your account at no charge. However, if they want to add funds with the use of a debit or credit card, there is a 2.9% fee charged to the sender.
• The Finish Line: Now that you have met your savings goal, it’s time to withdraw your funds. SmartyPig offers three ways to withdraw your money, which is pretty cool. You can have the funds transferred back to the bank account that you were making deposits from. You can also request an ATM debit card be sent to you or shop for gift cards from premium merchants who have partnered with SmartyPig. With the last option, you not only receive gift cards, but you also receive a bonus in the gift card amount, depending on the merchant.

When compared to other online savings accounts, SmartyPig lacks the usual options such as CDs, Money Market accounts, checking accounts, and investment opportunities. However, SmartyPig has created a unique and rewarding way to help you save money.

Looking through the list of merchants that offer discounts, several stand out to me. For example, it would be great to get 4% off our next appliance purchase at Sears, or 2% off the next entertainment system from Best Buy.

Among the many offerings of high yield savings accounts out there, the folks at SmartyPig have come up with a unique way to save money.

Learn More: How Much Should You Be Saving?

While SmartyPig isn’t going to replace your everyday banking needs, it’s worth looking into for your savings accounts. Earning 1.12% interest, setting specific savings goals, and receiving bonuses for redeeming gift cards are all great reasons to look into the bank.