Checking accounts are your financial hub for daily life — unlimited transactions, debit cards, bill pay, but little to no interest. Savings accounts are where you park money you’re not touching, earning interest (often 4–5% APY at online banks) while staying separate from your spending. For most people, using both — linked but separate — is the smartest setup. Here’s exactly how each one works and which you need.

Automating your savings means setting up recurring transfers, direct deposit splits, or app-based rules that move money into savings without relying on willpower. People who automate consistently save two to three times more than those who transfer manually, because automation removes the decision point where most people falter.

Earnest and Discover both offered student loan refinancing with fixed and variable APRs, but Discover exited the student loan business in February 2024. Earnest is still lending and offers customizable repayment terms, but it’s worth comparing against other lenders before you apply. If you were considering Discover, refinance lenders such as Splash Financial, ELFI and LendKey are the closest current alternatives.

SoFi and Earnest are two leading student loan refinance lenders offering competitive fixed and variable APR options. SoFi combines refinancing with member benefits and flexible protections, while Earnest emphasizes customizable repayment terms and precision rate pricing based on detailed financial profiles.

Laurel Road and Ascent both offer student loan solutions, but they serve different borrower needs. Laurel Road specializes in student loan refinancing with competitive rates and relationship banking incentives, while Ascent focuses on private student loans and flexible approval options, including non-cosigned loans for qualifying students.

College Ave and Laurel Road both offer competitive student loan refinancing with fixed and variable rate options, but they serve slightly different borrower priorities. College Ave focuses on flexible term customization and a streamlined digital experience, while Laurel Road emphasizes relationship banking benefits and specialized programs for certain professions.

ELFI (Education Loan Finance) and SoFi both offer competitive student loan refinancing, but they focus on different borrower experiences. ELFI emphasizes personalized service and competitive rate structures, while SoFi combines refinancing with flexible repayment tools and member benefits.

College Ave and SoFi both offer student loan refinancing with competitive rates and no prepayment penalties, but they take different approaches. College Ave focuses on straightforward refinancing with clear rate structures, while SoFi emphasizes flexible repayment options and added member benefits.

LendKey and Ascent both offer private student loans for undergraduate and graduate borrowers, but they use different approval models. LendKey partners with credit unions and community banks, while Ascent is known for flexible underwriting options, including outcome-based approval for borrowers with limited credit history.

Ascent and Earnest both offer student loan refinancing, but they focus on different borrower profiles. Earnest emphasizes flexible, customizable repayment options, while Ascent is known for outcome-based underwriting and accessibility for borrowers with limited credit history.