With interest rates rising, here’s what savers should do

Earlier this month, the Federal Reserve took a pass on raising rates — for now. But the central bank has indicated that it plans to raise its benchmark interest rate perhaps twice yet this year.

Following a recent positive jobs report, the Fed could increase the federal funds rate as soon as June.

As you prepare for interest rates to climb, here are four different moves you should consider to boost your savings.

Act now

Savers shouldn’t wait until the Fed raises rates to see if their bank will offer higher yields. Not all banks adjust their rates when interest rates rise. For the ones that do, it may not happen immediately.

As you wait for the Fed’s next move, you should comparison-shop.

“Put your money in with someone who’s already paying an attractive return,” says Greg McBride, CFA, Bankrate’s chief financial analyst. “They’re most likely to continue to pay a good return as interest rates go up.”

Proceed with caution

As you review rates, look for an account insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. or the National Credit Union Administration. That way, you won’t risk losing your savings in the event a bank or credit union closes.

Also, watch out for attractive deals with expiration dates. Many credit unions and online banks offer rates that are more competi- tive than the ones provided by traditional banks. But some of them are only temporary.

“They have to look at the terms of those accounts that they’re putting their money in because some might only offer teaser rates for a short period of time, and then the rates come down from there,” says Ted Snow, a certified financial planner professional in Addison, Texas, and the founding principal of Snow Financial Group.

You’ll also need to think about inflation. If you dump a large sum of money into a single deposit account, your savings could lose value over time.

Mark Vermillion, a certified financial planner professional with JGC Wealth Management in Salem, Oregon, recommends grouping assets into buckets based on when you plan to spend them. If you have funds you intend to save for at least five years, he suggests finding ways to hedge against inflation.

Building a portfolio of stocks, real estate, commodities and bonds outside of your government-insured deposit accounts often is the best way to do that.

Whatever strategy you use, it’s important to diversify.

Look for short-term CDs

If you want to earn as much interest as possible in a rising interest rate environment, consider comparing CDs that mature in 12 months.

“A one-year CD is really that sweet spot because it gives you some additional return over what you’re getting on the best savings accounts,” McBride says. “It also gives you the ability to reinvest 12 months down the road when interest rates are likely to be higher.”

You could also try laddering by purchasing CDs with varying term lengths. As each one matures, you’ll have funds you can put into accounts with higher yields.

Use savings to pay off debt

If you have short-term savings, you may want to use it to pay off credit card balances and home equity lines of credit. Carrying those types of debt will get more expensive when the Fed hikes rates.

“Using those short-term reserves that are hardly paying anything to pay down credit card or other kinds of debt that are charging them higher interest in a way is getting an immediate return,” Vermillion says.