"Earn 2.25% APY when you have up to $10,000 in your account. Amounts over $10,000 will earn 0.50% APY." suggests that you get 2.25% on a balance _up to_ $10,000, not that that's the minimum for that rate.

Ah… You're right. My mistake.

It's the other way around. They only pay the 2.25% on the first $10k in your account. Any balance above that gets a lower rate (0.50%)

Inflation is 2.3%.

What's your point?

I think his point is that it's a pittance of an interest rate and the bank paying any less than that is basically stealing your money.

Is there an option that gives me the liquidity of cash / bank balance, without the loss of money, that isn't a bank account?

Best I can get in an immediate access bank account here is 1.35%. Cash is 0%. I can't pay rent and bills with anything else that I'm aware of.

IE, Is there a way that doesn't result in someone 'basically stealing [my] money', or am I screwed no matter what?

Interest in almost all dutch banks is zero, or damn near zero (.1%), if not going negative soon enough.