Earn --.--% APY* on T-Bills with a Treasury account
With a competitive yield and no state or local taxes on earned interest, the Atomic Treasury account can offer a smarter way to save. Gain access with your free NerdWallet account today.
*The annualized yield for a Treasury Bill (“T-Bill”) maturing in one month as of when held to maturity is --.--%. Rate shown is gross of fees. Annual percentage yield (APY) is the nominal interest rate of the T-Bill maturing in one month with 12 compounding periods per year. Annualized yield and APY are investment characteristics of the T-bill and should not be regarded as performance or a projection of performance of any Treasury account. The effective return on T-Bills will be reduced by fees which has a compounding impact on returns over time.
What are they?
T-Bills are short-term debt securities issued by the U.S. Government. They’re typically sold in increments of $100 and mature in less than a year.
How do I earn money?
Once you’ve deposited money into your Atomic Treasury account, T-Bills are purchased for you at a discount and are held to maturity (unless you withdraw money early). Your earnings and principal are automatically reinvested into new T-Bills of the same term.
Why trust them?
Because T-Bills are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, they’re nearly risk-free if held for the entire term.
What returns could I get?
It varies, but for example — a $1,000 T-Bill may cost $996.41 to purchase, generating an income of $3.59 over a 4-week period. This equates to 4.68% annualized yield.†
See how much you could earn
Want to know what investing in T-Bills could mean for your money? Let’s run the numbers.
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You can take money out of your Atomic Treasury account at any time, but to capture the full yield, you’ll need to allow your T-Bills to mature — this generally takes 4 weeks from the date of investment.
What sets the Atomic Treasury account apart
| ATOMIC TREASURY ACCOUNT1 | HIGH-YIELD SAVINGS ACCOUNT | REGULAR SAVINGS ACCOUNT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| YIELD* | T-Bills tend to offer higher yields than high-yield savings accounts. Yields are fixed for each T-Bill held in your account. | Yields are typically lower than a Treasury investment account and can fluctuate at any time, and payment of interest is not guaranteed. | Yields are a fraction of what a high-yield account or Treasury investment account may offer, and payment of interest is not guaranteed. |
| TAXES** | Earned interest is exempt from state and local taxes, so you can keep more of your money. | Earned interest is subject to state and local taxes, which can be hefty in areas with high tax burdens. | Earned interest is subject to state and local taxes, which can be hefty in areas with high tax burdens. |
| SECURITY | Protected by SIPC but not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation³. | Insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to maximum limits allowed by law. | Insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to maximum limits allowed by law. |
*This is the money you are paid from investing in T-Bills or keeping your money in savings accounts.†
**Earned interest generated from these accounts is typically taxed — just like your paycheck. Federal tax is due each year on earned interest.
**Earned interest generated from these accounts is typically taxed — just like your paycheck. Federal tax is due each year on earned interest.
NERDY TIP 🤓
Consider using a Treasury account for money that you might need soon — like a down payment on a house. A high-yield savings account may be a smart place to store money that you might need now, like an emergency fund.Start earning up to --.--% APY on T-Bills with a Treasury account
FAQs
What is the Atomic Treasury Account?
The Atomic Treasury account is an investment advisory account offered through our partnership with Atomic Invest LLC (Atomic Invest) and is available at exclusive fees to NerdWallet+ members. The Atomic Treasury account offers customers a competitive APY of up to --.--% through the purchase and reinvestment of 4-week Treasury Bills (T-Bills). Key benefits include:
- High yield: Earn up to --.--% APY on T-Bills through a Treasury account, which can be more attractive than high-yield and regular savings accounts.
- Tax advantages: Earned interest is exempt from state and local income taxes — which can make the Atomic Treasury account more attractive for customers in states with high tax burdens, like New York and California.
- Daily liquidity Access your funds any time with no restrictions on withdrawals.3 However, to capture the full yield, you’ll need to allow your T-Bills to mature — this generally takes up to 4 weeks.
- Security: T-Bills are a low-risk investment backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
- No minimums The Atomic Treasury account has no minimum deposit or balance requirements.
- Automatic management Once funds are deposited into the Atomic Treasury account, they are automatically used to purchase your Treasury Bills. As your Treasury Bills mature, their interest and your principal are re-invested in new T-Bills of the same term — so your money is working hard for you with minimal effort.
How does the Atomic Treasury account work?
Once you open and fund your Atomic Treasury account through Atomic Invest, Atomic Invest will automatically invest funds in high-yielding 4-week T-Bills to maximize returns.
What are Treasury Bills (T-Bills)?
Treasury Bills (T-Bills) are short-term U.S. debt securities issued by the federal government that mature in less than a year. Common maturities are 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 13 weeks, 26 weeks, and 52 weeks. The Treasury account available to NerdWallet+ members invests in T-Bills that mature within 4 weeks. T-Bills are typically purchased in increments of $100 par value — the T-Bill’s value at maturity. T-Bills are purchased at a discount, and the difference between the discounted price and the par value is your yield. For example — a $1,000 T-Bill may cost $996.41 to purchase, generating an income of $3.59 over a 4-week period. This equates to 4.68% annualized yield.† T-Bills generally rise in value and approach par value as the maturity date nears.
What happens when my T-Bills mature?
When your T-Bills mature, the principal and earned interest are automatically reinvested by Atomic Invest in a new T-Bill of the same term.
What fees are associated with the Atomic Treasury account?
For providing its investment services, Atomic Invest charges 0.25%4 annually. NerdWallet+ members unlock a lower fee of 0.18% annually. This amount will be deducted from your Atomic Treasury account on a monthly basis. Learn more about NerdWallet+
Is earned interest from the Atomic Treasury account taxable?
Earned interest earned on T-Bills is subject to federal income tax but is exempt from state and local income taxes. We suggest consulting with a tax advisor to understand the specific tax implications for your situation.
Are the funds I invest in the Atomic Treasury account protected?
Atomic Brokerage LLC is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC (Securities Investor Protection Corporation). The SIPC protects securities customers of its members up to $500,000 (including $250,000 for claims for cash). Explanatory brochure available upon request or at www.sipc.org. Unlike FDIC insurance, which protects deposits in banks; SIPC coverage is specific to brokerage accounts holding stocks, bonds, and other securities. However, SIPC does not cover losses from market declines or bad investments. Instead, it protects against the loss of funds or securities held in a brokerage account if the broker dealer goes bankrupt or mismanages customer assets.
Where can I find more information about NerdWallet+
For more information about NerdWallet+, visit this page
Treasury Bill (“T-Bill”) yields may vary based on dates of issuance and maturity. The value of T-Bills fluctuates and you may receive more or less than your original investment if sold prior to maturity. T-Bills are purchased at a discount to par, with the price being subject to market fluctuation. The amount of T-Bills available at a particular yield will depend upon the sellers’ offer size; any remaining cash balance after the purchase may not earn the same yield. In general, the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. Fixed income securities are subject to increased loss of principal during periods of rising interest rates. Fixed income securities also carry other risks, including inflation risk, liquidity risk, call risk, and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Income earned on Treasuries is exempt from state and local taxes, but taxable by the federal government.The Atomic Treasury account is a managed account that seeks safe, low-risk returns on your investment by investing in short-term T-Bills. Before investing, you should consider whether the strategy is consistent with your overall financial situation, risk tolerance and goals.1The Atomic Treasury account is an investment advisory account managed by Atomic Invest LLC (“Atomic Invest”) and held in a brokerage account through its affiliate, Atomic Brokerage LLC (“Atomic Brokerage”). Atomic Invest is an SEC-registered investment adviser and Atomic Brokerage is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Investments in securities are not FDIC insured, not bank guaranteed, and may lose value.2The total combined maximum rewards amount is $599, which may change without notice. Rewards may be subject to different terms, and additional qualifying actions may be required. See the full terms for details.3The Atomic Treasury account is an investment advisory account. SIPC protects securities customers of its members up to $500,000 (including $250,000 for claims for cash). Explanatory brochure available upon request or at www.sipc.org. Investment advisory accounts are not FDIC-insured. Neither Atomic Invest nor Atomic Brokerage, nor any of their affiliates is a bank.4All eligible products require partner approval. See partner terms and conditions before applying.5Access to your funds is typically available at any time. Transactions will be monitored and may be held, delayed or blocked if the transfer could result in fraud or another form of financial harm. Additionally, sometimes transfers can be delayed.6How Fees are Collected: The annual investment advisory fee of 18 basis points (or 0.18%) for NerdWallet+ members and 25 basis points (or 0.25%) will be accrued daily and collected monthly in arrears or, if you terminate your account before a month-end, the investment advisory fee will be prorated through the Account termination date. Investment advisory fees will also be prorated based on additions or withdrawals to the Account during the applicable billing period. Investment advisory fees will be based on the market value of the securities as determined by Atomic Invest, including any cash in your account at the end of each business day, as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) or as of the immediately preceding close of the NYSE for days when the NYSE is closed. Any cash balance in your account will be held in a money market fund.An investment in a money market fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although a money market fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in a money market fund. Yields fluctuate and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses and other information about the money market fund are found in the fund’s prospectus.†The value of T-Bills fluctuate and you may receive more or less than your original investment if sold prior to maturity. T-bills are subject to price change, yield change and availability. Although T-bills are considered safer than many other financial instruments, you could lose all or a part of your investment. T-Bills carry a variety of risks, including credit risk, interest rate risk, and liquidity risk. Income earned on Treasuries is exempt from state and local taxes, but taxable by the federal government.All images are for illustrative purposes only.