Earn a 4.33% yield*
Get a higher yield than a high-yield savings account with a Treasury Account on Public.**
Sign up
Lock in your rate
in 3 simple steps
Create your Treasury Account
It’s easy to create a Treasury Account on Public. Plus, you can invest in stocks, ETFs, crypto, and alternative assets.
Transfer your savings
Once you’ve created an account, you can transfer your savings by linking a bank account or making a deposit with your debit card.
Lock in your rate
Treasury bills are a fixed-income asset, which means their rate of return is locked in at the time of purchase.***
Upgrade your high-yield savings account
Treasury bills currently offer yields higher than a traditional high-yield savings account.** Plus, you don’t have to pay state or local taxes on the income you generate from Treasury bills, so you can take home even more of your earnings.
* Investment income on T-bills is taxed federally by the Internal Revenue Service. Income earned from T-bills is not subject to state tax, and is not subject to local income taxes. Calculated return is shown gross of fees
Insurance
Get built-in protection
When you move your cash into a Treasury Account on Public, you automatically qualify for SIPC protection of up to $500,000 for the Treasury securities in your account.**** For details, please see www.sipc.org. You also get the complete backing of the US government for all the underlying Treasury bills in your account—no matter how much money you have invested.
Have questions? Find answers.
What are Treasuries?
A Treasury bill (or T-bill) is a short-term debt security issued by the US Treasury with a maturity period ranging from four weeks to one year. T-bills are purchased at a discount rate to their face value, which is paid out in full when the T-bill reaches maturity. For example, a $1,000 T-bill might cost $950 to purchase, generating a $50 return. T-bills generally rise in value and approach par value as the maturity date nears.
How does purchasing Treasuries work on Public?
Treasury bills on Public are provided by Jiko Securities, Inc., a registered broker-dealer, member FINRA and SIPC. As a Public member, you can invest in Treasuries for as little as $100 and track their yield over time directly in the app. Plus, you can manage your investments right alongside your stocks, ETFs, crypto, and alternative assets.
Why should I consider Treasuries for my portfolio?
Treasuries are considered one of the safest types of investments, making them an attractive option for mitigating risk. They also typically offer a higher return than traditional savings and high-yield savings accounts, giving investors an easy way to do more with their cash.
What are the fees for a Treasury Account?
In exchange for the management, trading, and custody of Treasury services, Jiko charges a flat management fee of 5 basis points per month based on the average daily balance of your Treasury account. This amount will be deducted from your Treasury account on a monthly basis. Public receives a portion of that management fee as a referral fee.
Is the Treasury Account insured under FDIC or SIPC?
Treasury Accounts are custodied at The Bank of New York Mellon. Balances below $500k are covered by SIPC insurance. The underlying Treasury bills held in the account are fully backed and guaranteed by the US Government. Investments in Treasury bills are not FDIC insured or bank guaranteed, as this type of protection only applies to savings accounts and other banking products.
Have additional questions about investing in treasuries with Public?
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* Yield is an annualized 26-week T-bill rate (as of 9/11/24) when held to maturity. Rate is gross of fees. T-bills are purchased in increments of $100 par value at a discount; any remaining balance after purchase is held in cash. For other important disclosures, see risks.
** As compared to the average of the best high-yield savings accounts, compiled by NerdWallet.com as of 10/11/23. Public is not responsible for the accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of information on third-party websites. Open to the Public Investing is not a bank and does not offer savings accounts. You should contact your bank for current and complete information about available account types, including applicable interest rates. For other important disclosures, see risks.
*** Rate of return is annualized and assumes holding T-bill until maturity.
**** Treasury accounts and SIPC coverage on treasury securities are offered by Jiko Securities Inc. (JSI), a Member of SIPC. For details, please see www.sipc.org.