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Can a non-profit organization have a savings account?

Author

Sarah Martinez

Updated on January 01, 2026

Can a nonprofit organization have a savings account or a CD? A: Yes, nonprofit organizations can certainly have different types of bank accounts. The key to make the most of your not-for-profit status and get the best terms possible from the bank.

How much money can a nonprofit have in a bank account?

There’s no legal limit on how big your savings can be. Harvard University, at one point, had $34 billion in reserves banked away. The bare minimum for a typical nonprofit is three months; if you’ve got more than two years’ of operating funds socked away, you have too much.

Can a non-profit organization have a bank account?

You must be a non-profit Non-profit organizations are exempt from that rule. Based on this, to open a non-profit bank account, the organization must present their incorporation paperwork, their IRS tax identification number, and the IRS letter of Exempt Status.

Can corporations earn interest on checking accounts?

As a result, corporations and partnerships can now have interest-bearing checking accounts that are insured for up to a total of $250,000 combined with any other interest-bearing deposits the business may have at the same bank, including certificates of deposit (CDs), savings accounts and money market deposit accounts.

How much money should a nonprofit have in savings?

A commonly used reserve goal is 3-6 months’ expenses. At the high end, reserves should not exceed the amount of two years’ budget. At the low end, reserves should be enough to cover at least one full payroll. However, each nonprofit should set its own reserve goal based on its cash flow and expenses.

What happens when a nonprofit makes too much money?

If a nonprofit’s unrelated money-making activities get too big and swallow up the charitable goals, then the organization can lose its tax exemption. The IRS comes to the conclusion that it wasn’t organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes after all.

Who should sign checks for a nonprofit?

In some cases, the best answer lies in having members of the board of directors serve as check signers. This option is usually most viable if there are several board members living in the area of the organization’s office. At a minimum an organization should have two people involved in this process.

Which bank is best for nonprofit?

The best banks for nonprofits are:

  • U.S. Bank: Best overall for full-service nonprofit banking.
  • PNC Bank: Best for nonprofits with balances of at least $500.
  • TIAA Bank: Best for earning annual percentage yield (APY) on any balance.
  • Wells Fargo: Best for small nonprofits.

How much money do I need to open a Chase business Bank account?

Chase Business Complete Checking at a glance

Monthly fee:$15 (multiple ways to waive including maintaining a minimum daily balance of $2,000).
Minimum opening deposit requirement:$0
APY:None
Transactions:Unlimited electronic deposits; 20 free teller and paper transactions per month.
Bonus:$300 sign-up bonus

Can my LLC have a savings account?

Both LLCs and corporations can have interest earning deposit accounts.

Can a nonprofit make too much money?

There is no set limit on the amount of money a nonprofit organization can earn, but there are rules about how it can be spent and when it can be taxed.

How do you pay yourself from a non-profit?

Nonprofit secrets Directors and officers of the nonprofit cannot be paid, but people who hold a position within the company can be. When you create a nonprofit, you can put yourself in any position you want within the company, with a salary you set. But this isn’t an invitation to give yourself an unlimited paycheck.

Can a nonprofit have a debit card?

Non profit debit cards are designed with the needs of charitable organizations in mind. These cards are linked to an organization’s existing debit accounts. When employees use the non profit debit cards to make purchases or payments, the costs are subtracted from the organization’s existing account balances.