What Happens When a Savings Account Promo Rate Ends?
When a promo rate ends, your APY drops to the standard rate. Current savings promos, the rate after each one, and first year earnings on $25,000.
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When a savings promo rate ends, your account stays open and your money stays put, but your APY drops to the account’s standard variable rate. You usually do not need to do anything. Example: Western Alliance Bank’s account on Raisin pays 4.30% APY for the first 90 days, then its standard rate, 4.00% APY (as of Oct 27, 2026). Because the standard rate is what you earn most of the time, compare accounts on the rate after the promo, not the promo itself.
Promo rates are a common way for banks to stand out at the top of rate tables. Some are worth it. Others hide a standard rate well below the best accounts that never ran a promo. Here is what happens when the promo ends and how to compare.
What actually changes when the promo ends?
- Your rate: it moves to the account’s standard variable APY, which the bank can change any time.
- Your money: nothing. There is no penalty or lockup, and you can withdraw before or after.
- Your account: it stays open. You do not need to reapply.
Read the terms for two details: when the clock starts (account opening or first deposit) and whether the promo covers your whole balance or only new money.
Which savings promos are running now, and what comes after?
| Account | Promo APY | How long | Rate after | First year on $25,000 | Later years on $25,000 | Rates as of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Alliance (via Raisin) | 4.30% | 90 days | 4.00% | $1,018 | $1,000 | Oct 27, 2026 |
| Openbank High Yield Savings | 4.35% | 6 months | 4.00% | $1,044 | $1,000 | Nov 4, 2026 |
| E*TRADE Premium Savings | 4.25% | 6 months | 3.75% | $1,000 | $938 | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Valley Direct High Yield Savings | 4.00% | 12 months | 3.30% | $1,000 | $825 | Nov 6, 2026 |
| BMW Bank (via Raisin), no promo | None | None | 4.15% | $1,038 | $1,038 | Nov 7, 2026 |
Interest only, if the standard rates stay where they are. Openbank: new customers get a 0.35% boost for 6 months; availability and rate depend on your ZIP code. E*TRADE: accounts opened Sep 22, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027. Valley Direct: new Valley customers only, $1,000 to open. Rates come from each bank’s site or Raisin and change often.
Notice the last row. BMW Bank runs no promo, yet it earns about the same as Openbank and Western Alliance in year one, and more than every account here in later years, at today’s rates.
How do you tell if a promo is worth it?
- Look up the standard rate. That is what you will earn after a few months. If it is well below the best no promo accounts, the promo is a short term perk at best.
- Do the first year math. A 0.30% boost for 90 days adds only about $19 on $25,000. A 0.70% boost for 12 months adds about $175.
- Check who qualifies. Many promos are for new customers, new money or accounts opened by a deadline.
- Plan for the switch. Put a reminder on your calendar for the end date and compare rates again then.
On Raisin, the promo is called a rate lock; see how Raisin rate locks work.
Western Alliance Bank High Yield Savings
Earn 4.30% APY with a 90 day rate lock with Western Alliance Bank's high yield savings- Limited time: use code STACK for a cash bonus up to $1,000*
- No direct deposit, account fees or balance requirements
- Deposits held by Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC
- FDIC insurance up to $250,000 for individual accounts and $500,000 for joint accounts
Should you move your money when the promo ends?
Only if the gap is worth the hassle. On $25,000, a 0.25% difference is about $63 a year; a 1% difference is $250. Moving money between online banks usually takes a few business days and costs nothing, but you will have a new login and a new app to learn. If a new account offers a cash bonus, such as Raisin’s STACK, that can tip the math. New Raisin customers can add a STACK cash bonus: $40 at $10,000, $100 at $25,000, $200 at $50,000, up to $900 at $200,000, plus $10 to $100 for opening a second product type. Code STACK at sign up, first deposit started by Nov 30, 2026, 11:59pm ET, money deposited within 14 days and kept on Raisin for 90 days. Details in our Raisin STACK bonus guide.
Is a CD better than a promo rate?
A CD locks its rate for the whole term, so there is no drop at the end of a promo period, but you pay a penalty to withdraw early. If you can leave the money alone for the term, compare the best CD rates; if you need access, a savings account with a strong standard rate is usually the cleaner choice. See high yield savings vs CDs.
Frequently asked questions
What happens when a savings account promo rate ends?
Your APY changes to the account’s standard variable rate. Your money and the account stay where they are, with no penalty and nothing to sign.
Do I need to do anything when my promo rate ends?
No. The switch is automatic. It is a good moment to compare the new rate with other accounts.
Can I withdraw money during a promo period?
On savings accounts, yes. Check the terms, because some promos and bonuses require you to keep a balance for a set time to earn them.
What is Western Alliance’s rate after the Raisin promo?
Raisin lists the standard variable rate as 4.00% APY, as of Oct 27, 2026, after 4.30% APY for the first 90 days.
Are promo rates a gimmick?
Not always. A promo on top of a strong standard rate is a real extra. A promo on top of a weak standard rate mostly helps the bank’s ranking in rate tables.
Compare today’s top savings rates
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