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Best Savings Accounts of September 2026

Discover premium savings accounts with high yields, zero fees, and instant access

E*TRADE Premium Savings Account

MoneyAtlas

Rating

For a limited time, earn a cash bonus of $800¹

Boost your savings with 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield² for 6 months
Manage your money from anywhere with their mobile app
View Rates
on E*TRADE's site

Synchrony Bank High Yield Savings

MoneyAtlas

Rating

Competitive APY, zero fees, no minimum balance

3.30% APY on all balances
No monthly fees or minimums
View Rates
on Synchrony's site

SoFi Checking and Savings

MoneyAtlas

Rating

Checking & savings combined into one account

New accounts with eligible direct deposit get a +0.70% APY boost to 3.80% for up to 6 months*
$400 direct deposit bonus. Terms apply.
View Rates
on SoFi's site

Peak Bank

MoneyAtlas

Rating

High-yield savings with no monthly fees

Earn up to 4.01% APY on your savings
No monthly maintenance fees
View Rates
on Peak Bank's site

Ivy Bank

MoneyAtlas

Rating

Earn 10x the national average saving account rate⁴

Earn 4.00% APY¹ on balances of $2,500+
FDIC insured up to $250,000
View Rates
on Ivy Bank's site

Always.bank

MoneyAtlas

Rating

High 4.10% APY with no fees or minimums

Earn 4.10% APY on your entire account balance
No monthly fees, minimum balance, or transaction limits
View Rates
on Always.bank's site

CIT Bank Platinum Savings

MoneyAtlas

Rating

No account fees or transfer fees

Earn 4.10% APY¹ with a 5k minimum balance
Open an account with just $100
View Rates
on CIT Bank's site

Review Our Top Savings Accounts

Learn more about why we chose these savings accounts

E*TRADE Premium Savings Account

E*TRADE Premium Savings Account

For a limited time, earn a cash bonus of $800¹

Read Review

In a Nutshell

E*TRADE Premium Savings, from Morgan Stanley Private Bank, opens new accounts with a 4.00% APY intro rate for six months, then moves to a 3.25% standard rate. New accounts must be opened by June 9, 2026 to get the promotion. There is no monthly fee and no minimum balance. A multi-bank sweep raises FDIC coverage to $500,000 for individuals and $1 million for joint accounts. Outbound transfers are limited to six per calendar month, and there is no ATM or debit access.

Read Review →

Why we rate it 5.0/5

Cost5.0

No monthly maintenance fee and no minimum balance to open or keep, though the account closes if you do not fund it within 90 days.

Account options4.6

A single savings product. Checking and lending sit at Morgan Stanley Private Bank as separate accounts rather than part of this one.

Customer experience5.0

Backed by Morgan Stanley Private Bank with E*TRADE's established phone and secure-message support, but nothing that stands out against dedicated online banks.

Digital tools5.0

The E*TRADE platform is mature, and moving cash between savings and a linked brokerage account is the smoothest part of the product.

Branch access4.3

No debit card, no ATM access, and no branch network for this account. Every withdrawal runs through a transfer to a linked account.

Pros

  • Strong six-month intro rate: new accounts earn 4.00% APY for the first six months before the rate reverts to standard.

  • Higher FDIC coverage: a multi-bank sweep insures up to $500,000 for individual accounts and $1 million for joint accounts.

  • No fees or minimums: no monthly maintenance fee and no minimum balance to open the account.

Cons

  • Modest standard rate: after the intro period the APY drops to 3.25%, below many ongoing high-yield rates.

  • Six-transfer monthly limit: outbound transfers are capped at six per calendar month, so it suits saving over frequent access.

  • No ATM or debit card: the savings account moves money only through transfers to a linked account.

Synchrony Bank High Yield Savings

Synchrony Bank High Yield Savings

Competitive APY, zero fees, no minimum balance

Read Review

In a Nutshell

Synchrony Bank High Yield Savings offers a competitive APY with zero monthly fees and no minimum balance requirement — making it accessible to savers of all sizes. The optional Visa ATM card, available at 400,000+ fee-free machines nationwide, is a rare perk for a high-yield savings account. Mobile app ratings are strong on both iOS (4.8/5) and Android (4.6/5). The main drawback is that Synchrony offers no checking account, so this works best as a dedicated savings vehicle alongside your primary bank.

Read Review →

Why we rate it 4.9/5

Cost5.0

No monthly fee and no minimum balance to open or to earn the APY, though the headline rate itself now trails the strongest online banks.

Account options4.3

Savings, CDs, money market and IRAs. No checking account, so this cannot serve as a primary bank and must be paired with one elsewhere.

Customer experience5.0

Phone support seven days a week and strong app store ratings (4.8 iOS, 4.6 Android), though there are no branches for in-person escalation.

Digital tools5.0

Well-rated mobile apps on both platforms, with straightforward external transfers and clear rate visibility.

Branch access4.5

Online-only with no branch network, but the optional Visa ATM card reaches 400,000+ fee-free machines, a genuine rarity for a savings-only account.

Pros

  • Competitive APY with no minimum balance: earn the full rate from your first dollar with no tiers or conditions

  • No monthly fees: zero maintenance fees with no conditions or minimum balance needed to waive them

  • Optional ATM card: access to 400,000+ fee-free ATMs nationwide, which is rare for a high-yield savings account

  • Highly rated mobile app: 4.8/5 on iOS and 4.6/5 on Android with 130,000+ combined ratings

  • FDIC insured: deposits protected up to $250,000 per ownership category through federal deposit insurance

Cons

  • No checking account: you will need a separate bank for everyday spending and bill pay

  • No cash deposits: all deposits must come via ACH, check, or direct deposit

  • Transfer limits: outgoing electronic and phone transfers capped at 6 per statement cycle

  • Mobile check deposit cap: $2,000/day limit may be a limitation for larger deposits

SoFi Checking and Savings

SoFi Checking and Savings

Checking & savings combined into one account

Read Review

In a Nutshell

SoFi Checking and Savings pairs a high-yield savings rate with a no-fee checking account in a single product. With direct deposit, savings earns 3.10% APY (up to 3.80% with the limited-time new-member boost), checking earns 0.50%, and you can stash money in named Vaults. There are no monthly fees, no minimum balance, and access to 55,000+ fee-free Allpoint ATMs. Without direct deposit, savings drops to 1.00% APY; the headline rate really only applies if your paycheck arrives via ACH.

Read Review →

Why we rate it 4.8/5

Cost5.0

Zero monthly fees, no minimum balance, no overdraft charges, and fee-free access to 55,000+ Allpoint ATMs.

Account options4.9

Combined checking-and-savings with named Vaults for goal tracking, though no standalone CD or lending products within the account.

Customer experience4.6

24/7 phone and chat support backed by a broad financial learning hub, but no physical branches for in-person help.

Digital tools5.0

Feature-rich app with Vaults, automated savings, round-ups, and spending insights that rival dedicated fintech platforms.

Branch access4.3

No physical branches, but 55,000+ fee-free Allpoint ATMs provide strong nationwide cash-access coverage.

Pros

  • High savings APY with direct deposit: SoFi pays 3.10% APY on savings (up to 3.80% with the new-member boost) when you set up direct deposit, with no minimum amount required to qualify.

  • No monthly fees and 55,000+ free ATMs: There are no maintenance fees and no minimum balance, plus the Allpoint ATM network covers most U.S. retail locations surcharge-free.

  • FDIC insurance up to $3 million: SoFi's Insured Deposit Program spreads balances across partner banks, extending coverage well above the standard $250,000 cap at no extra cost.

Cons

  • Top APY requires direct deposit: Without direct deposit or $5,000/month in qualifying deposits, savings drops to 1.00% APY — below most no-strings high-yield accounts.

  • No physical branches or cash deposits: SoFi is online-only, so depositing physical cash requires a workaround through another bank or a money order.

  • Joint and individual accounts can't coexist: SoFi lets you hold either an individual or a joint account, but not both at the same time — a problem for couples who want separate funds plus a shared one.

Why Open a Savings Account?

  • The rate gap is real. Traditional savings accounts at big banks often pay close to nothing, while top high-yield accounts pay several times the national average, which can add up to hundreds of dollars a year on a $10,000 balance. Use our savings calculator to see the exact difference for your balance.
  • Federal insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership type shields principal even if the institution fails.
  • Household saving matters again. With most households saving only a low single-digit share of their disposable income, every extra basis point of yield helps.

How Savings Accounts Earn—and Keep—Yield

Account StyleTypical YieldBest UseGotchas
Standard branch savingsNear the national averageConvenience, in-person cashMonthly fees kick in below set balances.
High-yield online savingsSeveral times the national averageEmergency fund, short goalsRates float; bank can drop APY anytime.
Money-market accountComparable to high-yield savingsNeed debit/check access plus yieldMay require higher minimums.
“Bucket” or goal accountsSame as parent HYSAVisual goal-tracking, automationUsually ACH only—no ATM card.

Prefer to lock in a rate? Compare the best CD rates for fixed-term yields. Or read how a brokerage account vs. savings compares if your timeline is longer.

Access & Liquidity

  • Reg D cap lifted. The Fed permanently suspended the six-per-month withdrawal limit in 2020; banks may still impose their own caps, so read each disclosure.
  • ACH transfers now clear faster. Same-day ACH is common, but large outbound pulls can trigger 1–3-day security holds.
  • Check-writing? Choose a money-market account if occasional checks or a debit card are essential.

What to Compare Before You Apply

CategoryWhat to AskWhy It Matters
APY & compoundingDaily vs. monthly? Historical rank?A seemingly tiny 0.25% edge is $25/year on $10,000.
Fees & minimumsAny monthly, excessive-withdrawal, paper-statement charges?Even a $5 fee wipes out interest on modest balances.
Transfer rulesExternal-link limits, hold times, wire feesDetermines how fast you can move cash in an emergency.
Security stackFDIC/NCUA certificate, 2FA, alertsOnline banks are as safe as branches when insured and secured.
Digital toolsBuckets, round-ups, auto-sweepsAutomation triples success rates for new savers.

Not sure which account type fits your needs? Our checking vs. savings account guide breaks down the differences. For everyday banking options, compare the best checking accounts. If a welcome offer matters, browse bank account bonuses.

Strategies to Maximize Yield

  1. Automate deposits the day you get paid. “Pay yourself first” keeps goals funded before money hits checking.
  2. Rate-check twice a year. Moving $25,000 for an extra 0.60% earns $150 more with the same risk profile.
  3. Mind the insurance cap. Spread balances across separate FDIC charters or ownership categories to stay fully covered.

Use our retirement savings calculator to model long-term goals, or try the CD rate calculator to compare whether a CD or HYSA makes more sense for funds you won’t need for 6–12 months.

Best Banks for Savings Accounts

The best bank for a savings account is usually the one that pays the highest ongoing APY with no monthly fee or minimum balance requirement. Online banks and credit unions such as Ally, SoFi, Marcus, and Alliant consistently pay several times the national average because they carry lower overhead than branch networks. If you want savings sitting next to your checking for instant transfers, keeping both at the same online bank is often the simplest setup. Watch for introductory rates that drop after a few months, and confirm the account carries FDIC or NCUA insurance up to $250,000 before you move a large balance.

125+

Accounts Reviewed

4

Scoring Factors

$250K

FDIC Coverage

Our Methodology

How we pick the best savings accounts

Accounts are scored on the yield you keep after fees, how easily you can reach your money, and how safely it is held.

APY & Yield

The real annual percentage yield, how it compares to the national average, and whether the rate is introductory or ongoing.

Fees & Minimums

Monthly maintenance fees, minimum opening deposits, and any balance rules needed to earn the headline rate.

Access & Liquidity

Transfer speed in and out, withdrawal limits, and the quality of the mobile and online tools.

Safety & Insurance

FDIC or NCUA coverage up to $250k, account security, and the bank's overall stability.

FAQs