BELLEVUE, Wash. — Having more in common than most may think, ShareBuilder Corp. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. have come together to make investing easier for those new to investing and at the same time, put a dent in the nation's dismal savings rate.

Launched April 27, ShareBuilder's "Easy Investing" service was presented to Wal-Mart customers and employees. In many ways, Easy Investing is the ShareBuilder service in its regular form and at usual prices. The differences are the standard program costs $8 instead of $12 per month, and investors get four instead of six pre-paid purchase transactions. The "Advantage" recurring investment program costs $16 instead of $20 per month, and investors get 16 instead of 20 pre-paid purchase transactions. Customers are also presented early with ShareBuilder's Money Market Investing or Stock Market Investing. ShareBuilder's regular format takes users right to a page to buy stocks or exchange traded funds. Wal-Mart employees get a $25 reward for opening and funding an account.

"It was clear from the beginning that we shared the vision of wanting people to save," said Stephan Roche, vice president of ShareBuilder and general manager of the company's Small Business Group. "It's about lowering the barrier to entry."