Barclays to offer online U.S. savings accounts: FT

British bank Barclays is moving into the U.S. retail banking market for the first time in decades with the launch of an online savings account, the Financial Times said on Monday. The bank will from Monday ...

Online-only banking is one of the hottest trends in personal finance, but plenty of people are still curious as to whether it's worth making the switch. The real difference lies in savings rates.

The bank will offer savers both instant access and longer-term cash products as it seeks funding to grow its international credit card business

Saving money for a specific near-term goal, say a dream vacation or a home, can be easy. You know what you want, you know about how much you need, and you know when you need it. Becoming a lifelong saver, however, requires a bit more discipline and a commitment to changing spending habits.

Depositing money into a savings account is only the first step toward personal finance empowerment. The fees and features of that account are equally important to your saving strategy. As the year begins, you should think about where your savings are and how they might best work for you, no matter what your age.

For the most part, a savings account is not deemed a complicated banking tool. You open an account, add some money then watch it earn interest.

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FoundersCard CEO Eric Kuhn created his business — an exclusive credit card for founders and serial entrepreneurs that offers perks like instant elite status on airlines, discounts with Apple and AT&T, and more — because it's something he wishes had been around when he started his first company.