Money Market Account Withdrawal Limits 2026 (The 6-Transaction Rule)

The six-withdrawal rule on money market accounts confuses a lot of savers, partly because it half-changed. The federal requirement behind it, Regulation D, was suspended in 2020, so banks are no longer forced to limit you. But many kept their own version of the limit and still charge a fee when you exceed it. Here is what actually applies in 2026 and how to stay clear of the fees.

Key Takeaways

The federal six-withdrawal requirement was suspended in 2020, but many banks still enforce their own limit and charge a fee past six convenient transfers.
ATM withdrawals, in-branch withdrawals, and mailed-check transfers usually do NOT count toward the limit.
If you need frequent access, keep spending money in a checking account and use the money market account for savings you rarely touch.

What the rule is, and what changed

Regulation D historically capped "convenient" withdrawals and transfers from savings and money market accounts at six per month. In April 2020 the Federal Reserve removed that cap, giving banks the option to allow unlimited transactions. Some banks did. Many did not, keeping a six-transaction limit as their own policy and charging an excess-transaction fee when you go over.

So in 2026 the limit is a bank-by-bank policy, not a federal rule. The top money market accounts currently pay around 4.10% APY regardless of the withdrawal policy, so the policy is a convenience question, not a rate question.

What counts, and what does not

When a bank enforces the limit, the transactions that typically count are the "convenient" ones:

Online and mobile transfers to another account
Scheduled or automatic transfers (including automatic bill payments)
Checks and debit-card purchases, at some banks

The transactions that usually do not count:

ATM withdrawals
In-person withdrawals at a branch
Withdrawals made by a mailed check the bank sends you

The exact list is in your account agreement, so confirm it if you plan to move money often.

What going over costs

At banks that still enforce the limit, exceeding six convenient transactions usually triggers an excess-transaction fee, commonly $5 to $15 per transaction over the limit. Repeatedly going over can also lead the bank to convert the account to checking or close it. On a small balance those fees eat into your interest quickly, the same way a monthly maintenance fee does. See money market account minimum balance for how fees erode returns.

How to avoid the fees entirely

Split the jobs. Keep the money you spend in a checking account and the money you save in the money market account. You rarely hit six transfers on true savings.
Use transactions that do not count. ATM and in-branch withdrawals usually fall outside the limit.
Pick a no-limit account. Some money market accounts dropped the limit after 2020. Confirm the policy before opening if frequent access matters.

The live table below ranks the money market accounts we track by rate. Confirm each account's withdrawal policy on the provider's site before opening. Rates last verified recently.

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Related tools

Money Market Earnings Calculator: See what a balance earns after tiers and fees
Overdraft Fee Cost Calculator: If you spend from the account, see what overdrafts cost
Money Market Gap Index: Track the top-vs-average MMA spread month over month
Money Map: See your full cash picture and the next best move

Frequently Asked Questions

How many withdrawals can I make from a money market account?

Historically, federal Regulation D limited savings and money market accounts to six 'convenient' withdrawals or transfers per month. The Federal Reserve suspended that rule in 2020, so banks are no longer required to enforce it, but many still do and charge an excess-transaction fee past six. Check your specific account's terms, because the limit varies by bank.

What transactions count toward the money market withdrawal limit?

When a bank enforces the limit, it typically counts 'convenient' transfers: online and mobile transfers to another account, scheduled or automatic transfers, and debit-card purchases and checks in some cases. Transactions that usually do NOT count include ATM withdrawals, in-person withdrawals at a branch, and transfers made by mailed check. The exact list is in your account agreement.

What happens if I go over the withdrawal limit?

At banks that still enforce the limit, exceeding it usually triggers an excess-transaction fee, often $5 to $15 per transaction over six. Repeatedly going over can also prompt the bank to convert your money market account to a checking account or close it. If you routinely need more transactions, a checking account is the better tool.

Do all money market accounts still limit withdrawals?

No. Since the federal rule was suspended in 2020, some banks dropped the limit entirely, while others kept it. Because it varies, confirm the withdrawal policy before opening if frequent access matters to you. If you want unlimited transactions plus a competitive rate, compare high-yield checking or a no-limit money market account.

How do I avoid money market excess-transaction fees?

Three ways: keep convenient transfers to six or fewer per month; use transactions that do not count, like ATM or in-branch withdrawals; or keep the money you spend from in a checking account and use the money market account for savings you rarely touch. Pairing a money market account for savings with a checking account for spending avoids the problem entirely.

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