Sweep Definition
An arrangement to maximize the interest earned by a customer who has both a high-interest rate account and a low- or no-interest account at the same financial institution. Funds not being immediately used in the low-interest account are automatically transferred (swept) to the high-interest account, where they remain until the balance in the low-interest account drops below a certain minimum and the funds are transferred back to the first account. The funds may be swept to the high-interest account overnight, or for longer periods of time.