One of the most talked about online savings accounts is SmartyPig, a bank designed to help customers reach their savings goals. SmartyPig offers competitive yields, and an interesting system aimed at making it difficult for depositors to get their money before their savings goals are reached. Savings account are fee-free.
With SmartyPig, depositors specify a goal, and then put money in an account to save toward the goal. If you want to withdraw money before your goal is reached, you have to empty the entire account; there are no partial withdrawals. One of the most attractive practices of SmartyPig is that you can receive a bonus if you decide to withdraw your money in the form of a gift card from one of SmartyPig’s retail partners. The 10% bonus means that you get an extra $10 for every $100 in your account. SmartyPig also offers a cash rewards prepaid debit card that offers upto 10% cash back that can be kept on your card are put into the SmartyPig goal.
SmartyPig’s savings accounts are held at BBVA Compass. The switch was made in August 2010, after SmartyPig decided that West Bank was no longer able to support the volume of depositors. Because the accounts are held at BBVA Compass, they are FDIC-insured.
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6/19 - SmartyPig Savings Account Yield Increases to 1.00%
6/19 - Smartypig Rate Rises To 1.0%
5/24 - Used to Give Savings Bonds as Gifts? Consider SmartyPig Gift Cards
1/31 - Details Of Closing A SmartyPig Account
6/2 - SmartyPig Announces Major Rate Cut
6/2 - SmartyPig Is Cutting Its Savings Account Rate to 1.10% APY
4/18 - SmartyPig Savings Account: Gift for Grads & Improvements for Cashing Out Goals
2/15 - Another High Yield Savings Account is Sold Out - Today's Best Choices?
1/7 - Changing Business Model And Future Rates At SmartyPig?
1/3 - SmartyPig Quietly Cuts its Savings Account Rate
10/15/10 - Update on My Short List of Top Online Savings Accounts
10/1/10 - Best Place for Your Savings? Reward Checking, Savings Accounts or CDs?
9/27/10 - Is SmartyPig's Cash Boost Worthwhile?
9/25/10 - Future Interest Rates At Smartypig?
9/3/10 - SmartyPig Announces Rate Cut - Savings Account Yield Remains Competitive
9/2/10 - Smartypig Is Cutting Its Rates To 1.75% APY Effective Sept. 7, 2010
8/27/10 - Internet Savings Accounts - Is Rate Chasing Still Worthwhile?
8/10/10 - Tips and Warnings about the SmartyPig Savings Account
8/3/10 - SmartyPig Savings Account Review
8/1/10 - SmartyPig's New Alliance with BBVA Compass
6/7/10 - SmartyPig's Deposits Will Be Held by BBVA Compass
5/31/10 - SmartyPig Gift Card for a Graduation Gift
5/18/10 - Reminder for Those with SmartyPig Accounts
5/1/10 - More SmartyPig Details Released in West Bank's 1st Quarter Results
4/27/10 - Important Note about SmartyPig's Soon-to-Be Rate Tier
4/19/10 - SmartyPig Will Be Raising its Savings Account Rate But Will Cap Top Rate
3/18/10 - SmartyPig Account Opening Review
1/29/10 - SmartyPig Is Outgrowing Its Bank
1/27/10 - Problem with 1099 from SmartyPig?
12/4/09 - Update on SmartyPig's High-Yield Savings Account
8/14/09 - SmartyPig Savings Account Rate Scheduled to Drop from 2.75% to 2.01%
5/28/09 - Update on SmartyPig's High Yield Savings Account
10/27/08 - Improvements to SmartyPig's High Yield Savings Account
4/3/08 - High Yield Savings Account with Some Twists at SmartyPig
Very Wacky System
They have a very wacky and confusing system of "savings goals." It appears designed to lock you in to them, and make you jump through a bunch of hoops in order to get the promised rates. I became very frustrated with this scheme and cancelled my account.
Awful - Stay Away From Smarty Pig
Be aware that smarty pig doesnt actually hold your money, and should there be any problem with your account, or should you need to withdraw funds, you have to jump through hoops. They wont even give you a contact number at BBVA Compass - the bank that holds the funds -- they tell you to hang by the phone and the bank will call you. Inexcusable. I've been locked out of my account twice in a week and both times the bank has taken 2 DAYS to contact me to resolve the isue.
I Love Smartypig
I have never had a problem with SmartyPig and have had an account there for about 3 years, I have saved and used the money to pay off 2 cars and put a down payment on a house. I have the money automatically withdrawn and forget that it's there until I need it - I like that I can't get to it immediately. It takes 1-2 days to withdraw your money but I don't consider this "Jumping through hoops" it's just the way it is (and it's not a secret). You aren't locked into anything you just can't cash out partial amounts- there is a way around, you can create a new goal and split your funds if you only want to withdraw a portion (this may be jumping through hoops but it keeps me from withdrawing on a whim). You don't have to do anything to get the promised rate (there is a limit though, the interest rate drops once you reach $50K in your account so just keep it below that and you are fine- and I felt like this was all disclosed up front, I wasn't surprised by anything) The interest rate can't be beat. I have never cashed out money into retailer gift cards but it's a unique option (and bonus money) if you were going to buy something from one of the partners anyways.
The Worst Choice Ever!
I wish I could give "negative" stars to Smartypig. Even one star is too many. There is nothing smarty about this pig.
My account has been locked for a week now for the reasons that I don't know. I am not even provided any explanation. Each and every time I contact the customer service, I am told that the account is being "reviewed" by BBVA (the "real" bank that SmartyPig operates with), and that someone is going to contact me. That's all I got! Even Smartypig is unable to get into my account, and they don't know what BBVA is doing. Not only I can't get any explanation from Smartypig, they also don't provide any contact information where I can seek an explanation. My money is being held up by someone for some reason and I am denied to have access to it! Is this legal?! In any case I deserve an explanation, which would be provided If I had chosen a reliable financial choice over Smartypig.
As of now (after a week), noone has gotton back to me yet, and Smartypig is (apparently) unable to do anything until BBVA gets back to them (or to me). All I have been told is to wait. Why and how long, no clue... I didn't know Smartypig was just a puppet company of a bank, with no power over that bank. I would certainly have never chosen Smartypig if I had known I could be locked out of my own account indefinetely for the reasons that even the Smartypig customer service is unaware.
I am currently planning to contact BBVA (found the contact info in Google). I am also considering to pass this issue to an attorney.
Data for Q3 2013
Institution Health
Texas Ratio
The Texas Ratio is an indicator of how much funds a bank has available compared to the total value of loans considered at risk. As of September 30, 2013 SmartyPig had $628.43 million in non-current loans and owned real-estate with $11.9 billion in equity and loan loss allowances on hand to cover it. This gives SmartyPig a Texas Ratio of 5.28% which is excellent. Any bank with a Texas Ratio near or greater than 100% is considered at risk.
Texas Ratio Trend
The Texas Ratio for SmartyPig decreased dramatically from 9.88% as of September 30, 2012 to 5.28% as of September 30, 2013, resulting in a positive change of 46.58%.This indicates that the balance sheet and financial strength for SmartyPig has improved dramatically in recent periods.
Deposit Growth
In the past year, SmartyPig has increased its total deposits by $2.18 billion, resulting in 4.35% growth for the year. A strong track record of growth is an indicator of consumer confidence and the bank's ability to strengthen its balance sheet. The growth SmartyPig has shown is excellent.
Capitalization
Both FDIC and NCUA consider capitalization levels of banks and credit unions to be of high importance. Higher capitalization allows for a greater buffer when cover loans that may fail in the future. SmartyPig has $69.79 billion in assets with $11.9 billion in equity, resulting in a capitalization level of 17.05%, which is excellent.
Institution Statistics
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| FDIC Certificate # | 19048 |
| Year Established | 1964 |
| Employees | 10671 |
| Primary Regulator | FED |
| Assets and Liabilities | |
|---|---|
| Assets | $69.79 billion |
| Loans | $48.74 billion |
| Deposits | $52.39 billion |
| Equity Capital | $11.18 billion |
| Loan Loss Allowance | $717.94 million |
| Unbacked Noncurrent Loans | $600.25 million |
| Real Estate Owned | $28.17 million |
| Historic Data - September 2012 | |
|---|---|
| Assets | $67.93 billion |
| Equity Capital | $10.83 billion |
| Loan Loss Allowance | $903.83 million |
| Unbacked Noncurrent Loans | $600.25 million |
| Real Estate Owned | $63.34 million |
| Profit Margin - Quarterly | |
|---|---|
| Net Interest Margin | 3.46% |
| Return on Assets | 0.68% |
| Return on Equity | 4.26% |
| Interest Income | $1.75 billion |
SmartyPig is an Internet only bank and does not have branch locations. Its headquarters is located at 15 South 20th Street - Birmingham, AL 35233