Sometimes, you can get a bank to raise your interest rate simply by asking. Many banks tend to keep customers in low-yielding accounts until the customers snap out of their stupor. If you have more than one account at a bank — say a checking and savings account and a mortgage — the bank might combine those assets to reach the minimum required for a higher-yielding account. If you can tie up your money for several months or years, consider a certificate of deposit.

If your bank won’t budge, consider moving your savings. Many online banks, which don’t have to pay for branches, offer significantly higher yields that brick-and-mortar banks. You can search for high-yielding checking and savings accounts at www.bankrate.com.