Compare private banking, money markets, high-yield savings, brokered CDs, and T-bills for $100K+ deposits — with FDIC coverage strategies for every tier.
HNW Savings Advisor
Ask about deposit tiers, FDIC coverage, or rate comparisons
Every option for $100K+ deposits — rated by yield, safety, and liquidity.
Private Bank Savings
Ultra-high-net-worth ($5M+) who want white-glove service
Min. Deposit
$1,000,000+
FDIC Coverage Standard $250K per account; spread across entities
Pros
Cons
Money Market Account
Active HNW savers who need liquidity with yield
Min. Deposit
$100,000
FDIC Coverage $250K FDIC per depositor, per institution
Pros
Cons
High-Yield Savings (Online)
Tech-comfortable savers parking $50K–$500K across institutions
Min. Deposit
$0–$10,000
FDIC Coverage $250K FDIC per depositor, per institution
Pros
Cons
Brokered CDs
HNW savers locking yield while building a CD ladder for FDIC coverage
Min. Deposit
$1,000
FDIC Coverage $250K FDIC per issuing bank; brokerage holds multiple issuers
Pros
Cons
Treasury Direct / T-Bills
HNW savers with $500K+ who want to eliminate FDIC ceiling risk entirely
Min. Deposit
$100
FDIC Coverage Backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government
Pros
Cons
Current APY ranges across all account types. Rates are variable unless noted.
| Account Type | APY Range | Best Tier | Liquidity | FDIC / Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 T-Bills (13-week) | 4.50–5.35% | $100+ | 4–52 weeks (ladder) | U.S. Gov't backed — no cap |
| 🔒 Brokered CDs | 4.80–5.40% | $1,000+ | Fixed term; secondary market | $250K per issuing bank |
| ⚡ High-Yield Savings | 4.75–5.25% | $0–$10K | Daily access | $250K FDIC per institution |
| 📊 Money Market Account | 4.50–5.10% | $100K+ | Daily access + checks | $250K FDIC per institution |
| 🏛️ Private Bank Savings | 4.25–5.00% | $1M+ | Flexible | Standard FDIC; spread required |
* Rates sourced from Federal Reserve H.15 release, TreasuryDirect.gov, and published bank rates as of May 2026. Rates are subject to change.
The right structure depends on your total deposit. Here's the playbook for each tier.
Single high-yield savings or money market account. You're under the $250K FDIC limit — no spreading required. Maximize APY by shopping online banks.
Interest is ordinary income — consider I-Bonds for a slice of this tier
Spread across 2 institutions to stay under FDIC limits per depositor. Example: $250K at Institution A (individual account), $250K at Institution B. Or use a joint account (doubles to $500K at one bank).
Consider 6-month T-bills for state tax exemption on larger balances
Use a CD ladder across multiple brokerage-held CDs (one brokerage, multiple issuing banks = separate FDIC coverage per bank). Or split between T-bills (no cap) and HYSAs.
T-bills save state income tax (especially high-tax states like CA, NY)
Combine T-bills (no FDIC ceiling, fully government-backed) with private banking relationships for custom rate negotiation. Some CDARS programs extend FDIC coverage up to $50M via network banks.
Work with a tax advisor — state exemptions and municipal funds become more impactful at scale
At high income, after-tax yield matters more than headline APY. Here's how to optimize.
Interest on T-bills, T-notes, and T-bonds is exempt from state income tax. In California (13.3% top rate) or New York (10.9%), this boosts after-tax yield by 0.5–0.7% versus a savings account. On $1M, that's $5,000–$7,000 per year — significant.
Municipal money market funds pay interest exempt from federal income tax and sometimes state tax. For top-bracket earners (37% federal), a 3.5% tax-exempt yield equals a 5.56% taxable equivalent. Best for savers with $500K+ in a high-tax state.
I-Bonds are limited to $10,000/year per person but offer inflation-indexed returns (3.11% composite rate, May 2026), state tax exemption, and deferred federal tax until redemption. Best as a inflation-protected slice of a HNW emergency fund.
Interest on CDs is taxed when received, not at maturity for cash-basis taxpayers. Structuring a CD ladder with year-end maturity dates can spread taxable interest across tax years — particularly useful for those near bracket boundaries or with variable income years.
A joint account between two owners provides $500,000 in FDIC coverage at a single institution — double the individual limit. This is the simplest way for couples to cover $500K without opening multiple accounts. Each joint owner is covered separately.
Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service spreads deposits across a network of banks, each under the $250K FDIC limit, extending effective FDIC coverage up to $50M — all through one bank relationship. Contact your private bank to access CDARS program eligibility.
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