Editor’s Note: APYs listed in this article are up-to-date as of the time of publication. They may fluctuate (up or down) as the Fed rate changes. CNBC Select will update as changes are made public.
With a high-yield savings account, you can get a solid interest rate and your money grows even faster, thanks to compound interest. The higher your rate, the faster your money grows and the better the return you get.
CNBC Select chose the top HYSAs based on APY, fees, minimum balance requirements and more. See our methodology for more information on how we made our selections.
Best high-yield savings accounts: Earn up to 5% APY
Compare savings account offers
Best for ATM card
- Strong APY on savings balances
- No minimum deposit or balance required for savings
- No monthly fees
- Free ATM card with unlimited withdrawals
- Free transfers between direct deposit accounts
- Online and SMS banking available
- Mobile check deposits
- Security features include fraud and anti-virus protection, SSL encryption for connection, automatic logouts after inactivity
- Potential overdraft fee, though overdraft protection is offered
- Certain types of withdrawals and transfers may be limited
- $10 excessive transaction fee per transaction over 6/month
- No physical branch locations
Who’s this for? UFB Portfolio Savings is ideal if you want easy access to your savings. Although the bank doesn’t have physical branches, it offers a free ATM card, giving you a way to access cash when needed.
Standout benefits: There is no cap on APYs, no monthly fees and no minimum deposit requirement. Savers can earn even more interest by opening a UFB checking account.
Best for earning a high APY
EverBank Performance℠ Savings
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Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
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Minimum balance
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Monthly fee
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Maximum transactions
You may conduct up to 20 external transfers per day, subject to a maximum of 10 transfers that pull deposit funds from a linked external account into your accounts at EverBank and a maximum of 10 transfers that send deposit funds from your accounts at EverBank to a linked external account, and up to 50 total external transfers per month.
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Excessive transactions fee
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Overdraft fees
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Offer checking account?
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Offer ATM card?
Pros
- Strong APY
- No minimum balance required
- No monthly fees
- Free ATM card and no ATM fees
Cons
- Limited physical branch locations
Who’s this for? The EverBank Performance Savings is great for maximizing the interest you earn through a high-yield savings account.
Standout benefits: This account also has no minimums required or monthly fees.
Best for no minimum deposit
Western Alliance Bank High-Yield Savings Account
Western Alliance Bank is a Member FDIC.
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Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
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Minimum balance
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Monthly fee
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Maximum transactions
Up to 6 transactions each month
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Excessive transactions fee
The bank may charge fees for non-sufficient funds
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Overdraft fee
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Offer checking account?
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Offer ATM card?
Pros
- Strong APY
- Low minimum deposit required
- No monthly fees
Cons
- Bank may charge non-sufficient funds
- Doesn’t offer checking account or ATM access
- Accounts are opened and managed on Raisin.com
Who’s this for? The Western Alliance Bank High-Yield Savings Account is for you if you’re focused on maximizing your return, as it offers one of the highest savings rates we found and has just a $1 minimum deposit to open an account.
Standout benefits: There’s no cap to earning Western Alliance Bank’s high APY and there are no monthly fees.
Best for direct deposits of $5K or more
- Impressive welcome bonus
- Strong APY with direct deposit
- No minimum balance or deposit needed
- No monthly fees
- Comes with checking account and ATM access
- Receive your paycheck in your account up to 2 days early automatically when you set up direct deposit
- Save change automatically with Roundups and set savings goals with Vaults
- No foreign transaction fees
- FDIC insurance up to $3 million additional through the SoFi Insured Deposit Program*
- Non-direct deposit APYs are low compared to other high-yield savings accounts
- No reimbursement for out-of-network ATM fees
- No physical branches
Who’s this for? The SoFi Checkings and Savings account stands out for offering a valuable welcome bonus after you set up direct deposit payments: Earn $50 or $300 bonus: New and existing checking and savings members who have not previously enrolled in direct deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus when they set up direct deposit of at least $1,000 during the direct deposit bonus period. Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of direct deposit. *Collect cash bonus of $50 or $300 depending on direct deposit amount.
Standout benefits: As a SoFi member, there are no account or overdraft fees*, up to $2 million of additional FDIC insurance, and two-day early paychecks.
Best for no fees
Marcus by Goldman Sachs High Yield Online Savings
Goldman Sachs Bank USA is a Member FDIC.
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Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
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Minimum balance
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Monthly fee
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Maximum transactions
At this time, there is no limit to the number of withdrawals or transfers you can make from your online savings account
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Excessive transactions fee
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Overdraft fee
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Offer checking account?
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Offer ATM card?
Pros
- Strong APY
- No minimum balance or deposit
- No monthly fees
- No limit on withdrawals or transfers
- Easy-to-use mobile banking app
- Offers no-fee personal loans
Cons
- Higher APYs offered elsewhere
- No option to add a checking account
- No ATM access
Who’s this for? The Marcus by Goldman Sachs High-Yield Online Savings Account offers no fees, no minimum deposit requirement and easy mobile access. It’s one of the most straightforward savings accounts to use when all you want to do is grow your money with zero conditions attached.
Standout benefits: Marcus offers a strong APY and there’s no limit to the number of withdrawals or transfers you can make from your online savings account.
Find the right savings account for you
Best for a large deposit
CIT Bank Platinum Savings Account
CIT Bank is a division of First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company, a Member FDIC.
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Annual Percentage Yield (APY)*
3.75% APY on balances of $5,000 or more; balances less than $5,000 earn 0.25% APY
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Minimum balance
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Monthly fee
-
Maximum transactions
No limit – Max currently paused
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Excessive transactions fee
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Overdraft fee
-
Offer checking account?
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Offer ATM card?
Yes, if have a CIT Bank checking account
Pros
- Strong APY
- Minimum deposit required is low
- No monthly fees
- No overdraft fee
- Option to add a checking account with ATM access
Cons
- Only earn high APY on balances of $5,000 or more
- $100 minimum deposit
- Excessive transactions fee
- No physical branch locations
For complete list of account details and fees, see our Personal Account disclosures.
*Platinum Savings is a tiered interest rate account. Interest is paid on the entire account balance based on the interest rate and APY in effect that day for the balance tier associated with the end-of-day account balance. *APYs — Annual Percentage Yields are accurate as of January 9, 2026: 0.25% APY on balances of $0.01 to $4,999.99; 3.75% APY on balances of $5,000.00 or more. Interest Rates for the Platinum Savings account are variable and may change at any time without notice. The minimum to open a Platinum Savings account is $100.
Who’s this for? The CIT Bank Platinum Savings Account offers a solid APY on balances of $5,000 or more, making it ideal for those with a large deposit.
Standout benefits: In addition to offering a competitive savings rate on a minimum balance of $5,000, the CIT Bank Platinum Savings has no monthly service fees. There’s a minimum account opening deposit of just $100.
Best if you want extra help saving
Varo Savings Account
Bank Account Services are provided by Varo Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.
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Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
Start earning 2.50% APY, then qualify to earn 5.00% APY on your balance up to $5,000.00 by receiving direct deposit(s) totaling $1,000 or more; and end the month with a positive balance in all your Varo accounts.
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Minimum balance
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Monthly fee
-
Maximum transactions
Up to 6 free withdrawals or transfers per statement cycle
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Excessive transactions fee
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Overdraft fee
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Offer checking account?
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Offer ATM card?
Yes, if have a Varo Bank Account
Pros
- Strong APY and option to earn even higher
- No minimum deposit and low minimum balance
- No monthly fees
- Option to add a checking account with ATM access
- Offers 2 programs to help automate your savings
Cons
- Have to meet requirements to earn higher APY
- Cash deposits are only available through third-party services, which charge a fee
Who’s this for? With the Varo Online Savings Account, you get access to two programs that automatically transfer money from your Varo bank account to your savings account: Save Your Pay, which automatically transfers a percentage of your paycheck into your savings, and Save Your Change, which rounds up checking account transactions to the nearest dollar and transfers the difference to savings.
Standout benefits: The Varo Online Savings Account offers zero fees or minimums and a strong APY on balances up to $5,000. To earn the high APY, you must have at least $1,000 in monthly direct deposits and a positive balance at the end of the month in your Varo bank accounts.
Best from a big bank
American Express® High Yield Savings Account
On the American Express site
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Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
3.30% APY as of 12/30/2025
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Minimum balance
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Monthly fee
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Maximum transactions
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Excessive transactions fee
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Overdraft fee
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Offer checking account?
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Offer ATM card?
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American Express National Bank is a Member FDIC.
Pros
- Strong APY
- Min deposit / Min balance = $0
- $0 monthly fees
- 24/7 customer support
- Helpful “Tips & Tools” section on website
Cons
- Higher APYs offered elsewhere
- No option to add a checking account
- No ATM access
- You can’t deposit a check via the mobile app
The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) as advertised is accurate as of 12/30/2025. Interest rate and APY are subject to change at any time without notice before and after a High Yield Savings Account is opened. Interest Rate and APY of a Certificate of Deposit account is fixed once the account is funded
There is no minimum balance required to open your Account, to avoid being charged a fee, or to obtain the Annual Percentage Yield (APY) disclosed to you
For purposes of transferring funds to or from an external bank, business days are Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. Transfers can be initiated 24/7 via the website or phone, but any transfers initiated after 7:00 PM Eastern Time or on non-business days will begin processing on the next business day. Funds deposited into your account may be subject to holds. See the Funds Availability section of your Consumer Deposit Account Agreement and Savings Schedules for more information.
Who’s this for? If you prefer sticking to high-yield savings accounts offered by big-name banks because they’re familiar, the online *American Express High Yield Savings Account stands out.
Standout benefits: With the American Express High Yield Savings Account, you get a good savings rate for no minimum balance and no monthly fees, plus 24/7 customer service.
*There is no minimum balance required to open your Account, to avoid being charged a fee, or to obtain the Annual Percentage Yield (APY) disclosed to you
Best for checking/savings combo
Axos ONE® savings and checking bundle
Axos Bank® is a Member FDIC.
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Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
Axos ONE Checking: 0.00% APY base rate and 0.51% APY promotional rate; Axos ONE Savings: 1.00% APY base rate and 4.21% APY promotional rate
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Minimum balance
None. To earn promotional rates, monthly direct deposits of at least $1,500 and daily balance greater than $1,500
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Monthly fee
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ATM network
Over 95,000 fee-free ATMs
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Overdraft fee
Pros
- Checking and savings combined for seamless banking
- Promotional APYs offered on both checking and savings
- No minimum deposit or balance (besides to earn promotional APY)
- No monthly maintenance, account opening or overdraft fees
- Early payday
- Expanded FDIC insurance
- Over 95,000 fee-free ATMs
- Can link external accounts
Cons
- Online-only bank, which means no in-person access
- Base APYs are low
- Promotional APYs require at least $1,500 in direct deposits and daily balance greater than $1,500
Who’s this for? The Axos ONE Savings and Checking is great if you want to keep all your banking in one place while earning interest on both your savings and your checking — a rare perk. You’ll get the best rates if you meet the requirements, either by maintaining at least a $1,500 daily balance and receiving $1,500 in monthly direct deposits, or by keeping a $5,000 daily balance and receiving $5,000 in monthly external transfers or checks.
Standout benefits: This account charges no monthly maintenance fees, no minimum balance fees, no minimum opening deposit and no overdraft fees. Customers also have access to over 95,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide for convenient cash withdrawals.
Latest news on high-yield savings accounts
As of early 2026, the best high-yield savings accounts are offering rates in the low-to-mid 4% APY range, down modestly from early and mid-2025, when top rates were more consistently in the mid-4% range and even reached 5% or higher. By late 2025, yields had already begun to ease as expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts grew. In a rate-cutting environment, banks typically reduce the returns they pass on to savers.
How to compare high-yield savings accounts
You can compare high-yield savings accounts by the interest rate they offer, their minimum balance or deposit requirements, their fees and the access they give you to your money.
Compare the best high-yield savings accounts
| Savings account | Minimum deposit | Monthly fee | Withdrawal/transfer limit | ATM card with savings account? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express® High Yield Savings Account | $0 | $0 | Unlimited | No |
| Axos ONE® Savings and Checking | None | None | Up to 6/month | Yes |
| CIT Bank Platinum Savings | $100 | None | Up to 6/month | No |
| EverBank Performance℠ Savings | None | None | Up to 6/month | No |
| Marcus by Goldman Sachs® High-Yield Online Savings Account | None | None | Unlimited | No |
| SoFi® Checking and Savings | None | None | Up to 6/month | Yes |
| UFB Portfolio Savings | None | None | Up to 6/month | Yes |
| Varo Online Savings Account | $0.01 | None | Up to 6/month | No |
| Western Alliance Bank High-Yield Savings Account | $1 | None | Up to 6/month | No |
What is a high-yield savings account?
A high-yield savings account is like a normal savings account but offers a higher interest rate, or APY, on your cash. With a higher APY, your money grows faster as it sits in your account. Note, however, that unlike with certificates of deposit (CDs), these interest rates are variable, meaning they can go up or down at any time.
Not only does your money earn a better return in a high-yield savings account than in traditional savings, but you still have access to your cash when you need it as you would in a normal savings account. Your money in a high-yield savings account is federally insured by the FDIC or NCUA, which means that deposits up to $250,000 are protected if the bank were to suddenly collapse.
Are high-yield savings accounts safe?
Like traditional savings accounts, high-yield savings accounts are FDIC-insured, meaning your funds are protected up to $250,000, per depositor, per institution. This includes accounts from online banks, which are either FDIC-insured themselves or tied to a partner bank that is. While your savings interest rate is variable and can fluctuate at any time, your principal remains secure.
How to choose a high-yield savings account
By nature, when choosing which high-yield savings account to open, you’re likely looking for the highest APY offering. While this is an important aspect to consider, make sure you’re reading the fine print.
High returns banks advertise may require large minimum deposits to open an account or earn the attractive APY. Ensure any minimum is an amount you’re comfortable putting into a savings account. Sometimes, there are also caps that limit the dollar amount that can earn the high APY, thus limiting your interest-earning potential.
Is it worth putting money into a high-yield savings account?
Yes, it’s worth putting money into a high-yield savings account. You’ll earn a higher return than you would with a traditional savings account for no additional effort on your part. If your money is going to sit in a savings account, it might as well work harder for you, earning you the most interest possible.
What are the benefits of the best savings account rates?
The biggest benefit of the best savings account rates is the ability to earn more interest than you would with a savings account that doesn’t have a top APY. The national average savings rate pales in comparison to some of the best high-yield savings account rates.
How much will $10,000 make in a high-yield savings account?
Using a hypothetical APY, $10,000 in a high-yield savings account earning 5% APY would earn you $500 in interest alone over the course of a year. For context, $10,000 in a savings account earning just the national average 0.39% APY, for example, would earn you only $39 in a year.
Common high-yield terms you should know
- ACH transfer: When you want to make small, frequent payments electronically (direct deposit, automated bill payments, etc.), it is typically free but usually takes at least one business day to complete.
- Annual percentage yield (APY): The amount of interest an account earns in a year.
- ATM networks: ATMs can either be in-service or out-of-network, depending on which bank you have. When you make a transaction at an ATM that is outside your bank’s network, then a fee will most likely be applied by both the ATM operator and your bank.
- Mobile deposit: Instead of going to the bank to deposit a check, you can use your mobile banking app to scan a photo of the check and have the funds immediately deposited into your account. It can sometimes take a day or two for the funds to be accessible.
- Wire transfer: When you want to move funds from one bank account to another and have the money available for use on the same business day, banks usually charge a fee.
Alternatives to high-yield savings accounts
Aside from high-yield savings accounts, there are other ways to save money and earn interest:
- CDs: With a CD, you agree to leave your money in the bank for a fixed time — like 6 months or a year — in exchange for a higher interest rate than a savings account. Unlike high-yield savings accounts, you can’t take your money out early without paying a penalty.
- Money market accounts: Think of these as a mix between a savings and checking account. They usually pay better interest than traditional savings accounts and let you write a few checks or use a debit card. But they often require a higher minimum balance to avoid fees.
- Investment accounts: These include accounts like Roth IRAs, 401(k)s and regular brokerage accounts. They’re designed for longer-term saving and investing, which can help your money grow more over time. However, because they involve the stock market, your money’s value can go up and down, so there’s some risk involved.
Pros and cons of having a high-yield savings account
Pros
- Above-average APYs
- FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per account
- Funds are accessible up to a limit
- Some accounts offer ATM cards for savers
- Easy to find an account with zero monthly fees and zero, or low, minimum requirements
- Most accounts are online and easy to manage on the go with mobile banking apps
- Easy to transfer money between other bank accounts
- Good vehicle for emergency savings or a short-term savings goal
Cons
- APYs are variable and can change at any time
- Some banks impose monthly withdrawal or transfer limits
- Not all accounts offer ATM cards
- Since most accounts are online, there are limited to no in-person banking options available
- While you can transfer your funds from one bank to another, it typically takes 24 to 48 hours
- Not a good way to grow your wealth long-term since inflation can outpace the interest you earn over time
FAQs
What’s the difference between a high-yield savings account and a traditional savings account?
The main difference between high-yield savings accounts and traditional savings accounts is that high-yield savings accounts offer higher interest rates, which in turn allow your money to grow faster. Also, unlike traditional savings accounts, high-yield savings accounts are generally offered by online banks without physical branches.
Why are most high-yield savings accounts online?
High-yield savings accounts, by nature, offer higher returns largely because they operate solely online. They do this because of the savings they achieve by not paying for overhead costs that traditionally come with operating physical branches, such as real estate costs and additional workers.
How do online savings accounts work?
While online savings accounts offer some of the highest APYs, it’s also more tedious to access your money than banking at a brick-and-mortar institution, since you’ll usually have to transfer to a checking account to use your money. This is arguably a good thing if you’re trying to grow your emergency savings, since you won’t have easy access to the account.
While it may seem nerve-wracking to have limited access to your savings, one of the big reasons to put your emergency fund into a high-yield account is to watch it grow. The higher your account balance is, the more money you will earn in compound interest over time.
How often do savings rates change?
Interest rates on high-yield savings accounts are variable and can fluctuate at any time. In general, savings rates change every few months after the Fed meets to adjust the federal funds rate.
Are high-yield savings rates increasing?
High-yield savings rates are actually going down, as the Fed lowers its benchmark lending rate.
Can you lose money in a high-yield savings account?
There’s a near-zero risk of capital loss when you open a savings account at an FDIC-insured bank, as your account is insured for up to $250,000. Interest rates may decrease, but your cash will not. Theoretically, your money would lose value if the inflation rate is higher than your APY, but that’s no different than a traditional savings account. So, opening a high-yield savings account is safe and worth considering.
Can you withdraw money from a high-yield savings account?
You can withdraw funds from a high-yield savings account like you can a traditional savings account.
How often can I take money out of a high-yield savings account?
It used to be a rule that you could withdraw or transfer cash from a high-yield savings account up to 6 times per month without paying any fees. This rule has ended, however, and it is now up to each bank’s discretion to choose how often savers can withdraw. Most banks have stuck to this six-times-per-month rule, while others let you make unlimited withdrawals at no cost.
Do you pay taxes on a high-yield savings account?
Interest accrued on a high-yield savings account is taxed as ordinary income. You must report the interest on your tax return for any account that earned more than $10 in one year.
What does APY mean?
APY is the acronym for “annual percentage yield” and it represents the total amount of interest a bank account earns over one year, taking into account compound interest. APY is different from an account’s actual interest rate, the latter meaning simply the percentage of interest you’d earn on a bank account.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed financial decisions. Every high-yield savings account list is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of savings and banking products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best high-yield savings accounts.
Our methodology
To determine which high-yield savings accounts offer the best return on your money, CNBC Select compared dozens of U.S. savings accounts offered by various financial institutions, including brick-and-mortar banks, online banks and large credit unions. Though most online banks don’t have physical branches, they often offer higher APYs, lower fees and overall better benefits than national brick-and-mortar banks.
We narrowed down our ranking by only considering those savings accounts that offer an above-average interest rate, no monthly maintenance fees and low (or no) minimum balance/deposit requirements.
While the accounts we chose in this article consistently rank among the highest APYs, we also compared each savings account across a range of features, including ease of use and account accessibility, as well as insurance policies and customer reviews when available. We also considered users’ deposit options and each account’s compound frequency. We took into account CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
All accounts included on this list are FDIC- or NCUA-insured up to $250,000. Note that the rates and fee structures for high-yield savings accounts are not guaranteed forever; they are subject to change without notice and they often fluctuate per the Federal Reserve rate. Your earnings depend on any associated fees and the balance you have in your high-yield savings account. To open an account, most banks and institutions require a deposit of new money, meaning you can’t transfer the money you already had in an account at that bank.
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*Platinum Savings is a tiered interest rate account. Interest is paid on the entire account balance based on the interest rate and APY in effect that day for the balance tier associated with the end-of-day account balance. *APYs — Annual Percentage Yields are accurate as of January 9, 2026: 0.25% APY on balances of $0.01 to $4,999.99; 3.75% APY on balances of $5,000.00 or more. Interest Rates for the Platinum Savings account are variable and may change at any time without notice. The minimum to open a Platinum Savings account is $100.
New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 12/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.30% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. Earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 12/23/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 3/30/2026. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
