VALLEY FORGE, PA — Nearly half of U.S. women are keeping savings in low-yield accounts that may not outpace inflation even as most report feeling financially confident, according to a new survey released by Vanguard.
The survey of more than 1,000 women found that 46% hold savings in accounts earning less than 3% interest, while 20% reported having no savings outside retirement accounts.
More than 70% of respondents said they felt confident about saving money, highlighting what Vanguard described as a disconnect between financial goals and savings strategies.
“Savings are a crucial part of everyone’s holistic financial strategy, and yet, the survey found a clear disconnect between women’s overarching financial goals and how and where they save,” Sonia Fraher, Vanguard’s head of cash management, said in a statement.
Financial security ranked as the top savings priority for nearly half of respondents. At the same time, many women reported setbacks that undermined long-term savings goals.
Twenty-seven percent identified unnecessary spending as their biggest financial regret, while 18% said they waited too long to save for important goals. Another 14% said they prioritized helping family or friends financially instead of building their own savings.
The survey also found that 47% of women used savings during the past year for expenses unrelated to their primary financial goal, including 14% who did so four or more times.
Vanguard said respondents indicated that education and trusted financial guidance could increase confidence in moving money into higher-yield savings products.
Thirty-five percent said recommendations from trusted sources would make them more comfortable changing savings strategies, while 30% cited financial education and 29% pointed to guidance from certified professionals.
Among generational groups, 43% of Gen Z respondents said trusted recommendations would influence their savings decisions, while 37% of millennials pointed to financial education as the most important factor.
Mothers were also more likely than the broader survey population to say additional education would make them more willing to change savings strategies.
“I work with many women, particularly mothers, who are juggling competing priorities and often putting their own financial goals on hold,” Tiana Patillo, a certified financial planner and financial advisor manager at Vanguard, said in a statement.
The survey comes as higher interest rates continue reshaping consumer savings behavior. Vanguard noted that its Cash Plus Account, launched in March 2024, has surpassed 500,000 accounts and carried a 3.35% annual percentage yield as of May 6, 2026.
The survey was conducted in April 2026 by Big Village using a nationally representative sample of 1,007 U.S. women age 18 and older.
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