# Can earned interest be negotiated with banks?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-earned-interest-be-negotiated-with-banks/302863>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 7, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-earned-interest-be-negotiated-with-banks/302863 "2005-05-07T21:08:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-earned-interest-be-negotiated-with-banks/302863/1 "2005-05-07T21:08:15Z")

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If I’m earning, say 1.5% (a guess) on my savings, could I tell my bank that I’ve found a competitor that will give me 3.25%? Would they be willing to go up in the interest rate to match other competitors, or are bank interest rates at a set amount for everyone?

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**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-earned-interest-be-negotiated-with-banks/302863/2 "2005-05-07T21:28:53Z")

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I find that most everything with a bank can be negotiated if you’re a sufficiently large depositor. If you’re Joe Blow checking account then I’d be very doubtful such a tactic would work.

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**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-earned-interest-be-negotiated-with-banks/302863/3 "2005-05-08T02:03:00Z")

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> [@ParentalAdvisory](#):
>
> If I’m earning, say 1.5% (a guess) on my savings, could I tell my bank that I’ve found a competitor that will give me 3.25%? Would they be willing to go up in the interest rate to match other competitors, or are bank interest rates at a set amount for everyone?

If you were willing to switch banks I know INGdirect whioch is an online bank offer 3% and there are others that offer even higher rates.

I also know ING offeres a $25.00 bonus to anyone who opens an account with a referral code. The person who gives out the code also gets some money. I belive it is $10.00

Yes I have an ING account and I find the speed to transfer funds in and out is not bad.

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**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-earned-interest-be-negotiated-with-banks/302863/4 "2005-05-08T02:28:20Z")

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I use INGdirect too. 3% and no complaints here.

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**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-earned-interest-be-negotiated-with-banks/302863/5 "2005-05-08T05:24:45Z")

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Another vote for Ing, 3% and going up every few months or so. It was a pleasent switch from US Bank at .25%, plus I got a $50 sign on bonus.

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**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-earned-interest-be-negotiated-with-banks/302863/6 "2005-05-08T12:35:21Z")

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.25%? Oh my…