Can you get an ATM card for a savings account?

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While savings accounts typically don't offer a debit card, some come with an ATM card, making it easier for you to access cash from your savings when you need it.

Savings accounts aren't meant for everyday spending. But when an emergency strikes, the option to withdraw the money you have saved at an ATM can be helpful. Below, CNBC Select lists the best savings accounts that offer ATM cards and explains what to consider before pulling cash from your savings.

Since the primary goal of your savings account is to allow your money to grow safely, ATM access isn't the most common feature.

However, several of CNBC Select's picks for the best high-yield savings account offer ATM cards:

• LendingClub LevelUp Savings
• UFB Portfolio Savings
• Synchrony Bank High Yield Savings

The LendingClub LevelUp Savings account ranked as the "best overall," mainly due to its high APY. Plus, it provides a free ATM card and doesn't charge any ATM fees.

UFB Portfolio Savings also offers excellent returns. UFB Direct is an online-only bank and doesn't have any physical branches, but it does offer free ATM cards for savings account holders.

Finally, Synchrony Bank High Yield Savings is our top pick for easy access to your cash. Besides getting an optional ATM card, you can access your cash by wire transfer or through an electronic transfer. Even better, you can conduct unlimited ATM transactions.

Synchrony doesn't charge ATM fees, but the ATM provider may. Synchrony Bank refunds ATM fees in the U.S. up to $5 per statement cycle.

When it comes to high-yield savings accounts from big banks and brick-and-mortar savings accounts, many offer ATM access if you also have a checking account with the bank. The Citi® Savings Account stands out for providing an ATM card even if you don't have a checking account with Citi.

Here are some additional options for savings accounts with an ATM card from smaller financial institutions:

• Amalgamated Bank Give-Back Savings account
• Alliant High-Rate Savings Account
• Bank of South Texas Savings Account
• Beneficial State Bank Savings Account
• Bethpage Federal Credit Union Savings Account
• Citizens State Bank Personal Savings Account
• Connexus Credit Union Members Savings Account
• First Independence Bank Personal Savings Account
• Golden Bank Regular Savings Account
• Hope Credit Union Savings Account
• Interamerican Bank Regular Savings Account
• Puerto Rico Federal Credit Union Regular Actions Account
• The Harbor Bank of Maryland Statement Savings Account
• Transit Employees Federal Credit Union Share Savings Account
• Valley All Access Savings Account
• Zapata National Bank

Unlike debit cards, ATM cards can generally only be used to withdraw cash from your savings account and not to make purchases from stores. Having quick access to your savings with an ATM card can be convenient, but it's best not to make withdrawing money from your savings account a habit.

There may be limitations and fees in place when it comes to using your ATM card. Normally, you're limited to six withdrawals from a savings account per month. With an ATM card, the limit may be different or not apply at all, so make sure to look for this information before taking cash out of your savings account. To add to that, you might be hit with ATM fees for each transaction.

Even if your bank allows unlimited ATM withdrawals and you have no fees to worry about, it's wise to still avoid tapping into your savings if you can. Savings are an essential part of your financial well-being, and a savings account is meant to keep these funds intact. That's why unlike a checking account designed for daily spending, a savings account has features in place to prevent frequent withdrawals.

If you find yourself often needing to access your savings to cover daily expenses, it may be a good idea to revise your budget. Ensure you've set realistic goals and know how you're planning to achieve them. You can use a budgeting app to help you with that. For instance, here are some of CNBC Select's favorite budgeting apps:

There's one type of savings an ATM card can be beneficial for: an emergency fund.

Your emergency fund is a financial cushion you can fall on in case of large unexpected expenses or situations such as job loss. It's generally recommended to have between three and six months' worth of basic expenses saved for emergencies. You never want to touch this money unless absolutely necessary, but when an emergency happens, you want to have quick and easy access to the funds.

If your checking and savings accounts are at different financial institutions, an electronic transfer can take days. When you need cash urgently, this may become a major obstacle. In such cases, an ATM card can be incredibly helpful, allowing you to get money when you need it.

Until April 2020, Regulation D limited the number of withdrawals and transfers you can make from a savings account to six per statement cycle. These restrictions were lifted in response to financial hardships associated with the coronavirus pandemic and there are no plans to re-impose the transfer limits at this time. However, these changes were optional for banks, meaning they weren't required to alter or lift their limits — and many haven't.

That said, even before the changes, Regulation D limited only certain withdrawals, such as electronic transfers and withdrawals via checks. The rule didn't apply to withdrawals from an ATM or bank teller.

Some financial institutions offer savings accounts with an ATM card, with the three main ones being LendingClub LevelUp Savings, UFB Portfolio Savings and Synchrony Bank High Yield Savings. In emergencies where you need cash quickly, the option to use an ATM to draw from your savings can be a lifesaver. At the same time, make sure not to make it a habit to dip into your savings too often — they're less liquid than money in your checking account for a reason.

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Information about the Synchrony Bank High Yield Savings Account has been collected independently by CNBC and has not been reviewed or provided by the bank prior to publication.