Jerome Powell-Led Fed Has Left Interest Rate Unchanged: What Does It Mean For Savings, Mortgages, Credit Cards And Your Bank Account

BY Benzinga | ECONOMIC | 06/19/25 03:29 AM EDT

The Federal Reserve left its benchmark rate unchanged at 4.25%-4.50% for a sixth straight meeting and Chair Jerome Powell signaled no near-term cuts despite mounting White House pressure. While traders still price in two quarter-point reductions later this year, the Fed's pause keeps borrowing costs and deposit payouts locked near current levels across the economy.

What It Means For Savers?

Checking and savings: The average interest on basic checking remains 0.07%, according to the FDIC and standard savings pay just 0.38%, leaving everyday depositors with microscopic earnings. High-yield online accounts still offer about 4?4.7% according to NerdWallet, so shopping around matters more than ever.

Money markets: Traditional money-market accounts average 0.59%, but top high-yield versions also skirt the 4% line, offering a better parking spot for large cash cushions.

Certificates of deposit: The typical 12-month CD yields 1.62% as per Forbes, yet national leaders advertise yields of more than 4%. Savers willing to open an online account or lock up funds longer can quadruple that rate.

See also: Elizabeth Warren Says Americans ‘Deserve’ Lower Interest Rates, But Trump’s ‘Reckless’ Tariffs Stand In The Way: ‘The Fed Is Getting Boxed Out’

What It Means For Borrowers?

Mortgages: Thirty-year fixed home-loan rates hover near 6.8% according to an AP report, down slightly but still double pandemic lows. Forecasts from Realtor.com suggest rates will stay in the 6?7% corridor into 2026 unless growth stalls.

Personal loans: Average APRs sit at 12.65%, up three points from pre-2023 levels as per Bankrate. Analysts say meaningful relief will lag any eventual Fed cuts by months.

Credit cards: Credit-card APRs have climbed with every Fed move since 2022. The average rate sits above 21%, Investopedia reports.

Photo Courtesy: Poetra.RH On Shutterstock.com

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In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.

Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.

Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.

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