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Liquidity & Balance Sheet

Money Market Deposit Accounts

Also known as MMDAs

Money market deposit accounts (MMDAs) are interest-bearing savings accounts that allow limited transactions and typically pay more than basic savings. They are FDIC-insured bank deposits — not to be confused with money market mutual funds.

Formula

MMDAs = Money Market Deposit Account balances (reported within savings deposits)

Schedule RC-E reports MMDAs within interest-bearing nontransaction savings deposits. They blend savings-like stability with a higher, more rate-sensitive yield, so they tend to carry a higher deposit beta than plain statement savings.

Why it matters

MMDAs are often where rate-aware but relationship-minded customers park cash. Their balances and pricing are an early read on deposit competition: when rates rise, MMDA rates usually move first among core accounts, nudging up the cost of funds.

How to interpret

Track MMDA balances and rates alongside checking and CDs. Growth in MMDAs at the expense of noninterest-bearing checking is a deposit mix shift that raises funding cost; growth funded from CDs can actually lower it.

Thresholds

RangeLabelInterpretation
Stable, well-pricedStrongHealthy MMDA base at a competitive but contained rate.
NormalAdequateTypical MMDA contribution to funding.
Rate-driven inflowsWatchBalances chasing rate; funding cost rising.
High-beta relianceConcernHeavy dependence on rate-sensitive MMDA money.

Worked example

When rates rose, a bank lifted its MMDA rate to 3% to retain balances, drawing $150 million in new money market deposits. The balances stayed, but the higher rate flowed straight into the bank's cost of funds — the trade-off MMDAs always present.

Frequently asked

Are money market deposit accounts insured?

Yes. MMDAs are bank deposits covered by FDIC insurance up to the standard limits. Money market mutual funds, by contrast, are investment products and are not FDIC-insured.

How do MMDAs differ from regular savings accounts?

MMDAs typically pay a higher, more rate-sensitive yield and allow limited check-writing or transfers. They are reported with savings deposits but tend to have a higher deposit beta.

Direction: Higher is betterUnits: $Call report: Schedule RC-EBrowse banks

Sources

  • FFIEC Call Report Schedule RC-E (Deposit Liabilities)

See MMDAs across 4,335 US banks

BankRegReports ranks every FDIC-insured institution by MMDAs, refreshed quarterly within 48 hours of FFIEC release.