Deposits are normally assumed to be “sticky”, meaning that customers do not bother to move their money around very often in search of higher rates. Changing banks is simply too much hassle. That effect may be diminishing, however, as technology makes it easier to find and exploit better deals.
other banks are not the only entities competing for savings. Money-market mutual funds, which have ceased to provide much competition to banks as the securities they must invest in provide little return, might become fiercer rivals if rates rose.