High-yield savings rates are holding steady this month. Most top accounts still pay between 3% and 4.3% APY, competitive by recent historical standards. If you’ve been putting off moving your emergency fund, now is a good time.
This article compares the accounts that actually pay. Every rate was checked directly from the bank’s website in late July 2026 and cross-checked against current aggregator data. If a bank’s rate couldn’t be verified, it’s not on the list.
The short version
If you want the highest rate available right now: Elevault at 4.34% APY (app-based) or Newtek Bank at 4.20%. If you want a familiar name: Wealthfront pays up to 4.20% with their new-customer boost, Betterment up to 4.00%. If you want a big national bank: Ally, Capital One, and American Express all pay 3.00% with zero fees.
Top HYSA Rates at a Glance
| Bank | APY | Min Deposit | Monthly Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elevault | 4.34% | $0 | $0 | App-based, daily interest |
| Newtek Bank | 4.20% | $0 | $0 | Small online bank |
| Wealthfront | up to 4.20% | $0 | $0 | Requires boost conditions |
| Betterment | up to 4.00% | $10 | $0 | New-customer boost |
| Forbright Bank | 3.85% (4.15% promo) | $0 | $0 | Promo for new customers |
| Popular Direct | 3.90% | $100 | $0 | Established online bank |
| Openbank | 3.80% | $500 | $0 | Santander-owned |
| Live Oak Bank | 3.80% | $0 | $0 | Best no-strings rate |
| Bask Bank | 3.75% (4.10% promo) | $0 | $0 | Limited-time boost |
| Barclays Tiered | 3.50%–3.65% | $0 | $0 | Higher tiers pay more |
| CIT Platinum | 3.75% (on $5k+) | $100 | $0 | Tiered rate |
| LendingClub / Happen | 4.00%* | $0 | $0 | Requires $250/mo deposits |
| UFB Direct | 3.26% (3.46%) | $0 | $0 | Bundle discount |
| SoFi | 3.10% (3.80% promo) | $0 | $0 | Requires direct deposit |
| Robinhood Gold | 3.35% | $0 | $5/mo | SIPC, not FDIC |
| Synchrony | 3.30% | $0 | $0 | Major online bank |
| Ally Bank | 3.00% | $0 | $0 | Best all-around big name |
| Capital One 360 | 3.00% | $0 | $0 | National bank |
| American Express | 3.00% | $0 | $0 | Simple, no frills |
LendingClub (now Happen Bank) offers 4.00% APY but requires $250 in monthly deposits to qualify. Without it, the rate is lower.
Rates verified from bank websites July 30, 2026. Subject to change.
Detailed Reviews
1. Elevault — 4.34% APY
★★★★½★
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| APY | 4.34% |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| FDIC insured | Yes (via Southern Bancorp) |
| Mobile app | Yes (app-first) |
Elevault is the current rate leader at 4.34% APY, paid daily. It’s a product of Southern Bancorp Bank (Member FDIC), not a fly-by-night startup. Interest compounds daily, which is genuinely unusual for a savings account.
The trade-off: it’s app-first. There’s no traditional online banking portal. You manage everything through the Elevault mobile app. If you’re comfortable with that, the rate is the best verified number on this list.
Pros:
Cons:
2. Newtek Bank — 4.20% APY
★★★★½★
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| APY | 4.20% |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| FDIC insured | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes |
Newtek Bank is a smaller online bank that’s been aggressive on rates. Its high-yield savings account pays 4.20% with no minimum and no fees, verified directly on its site this week.
Newtek is the banking subsidiary of NewtekOne, a publicly traded company. Not a household name, but FDIC insured and regulated like any other bank.
Pros:
Cons:
3. Wealthfront Cash Account — up to 4.20% APY
★★★★☆
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| APY | 3.30% base, up to 4.20% with boosts |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| FDIC insured | Yes (via program banks) |
| Mobile app | Yes |
Wealthfront’s Cash Account is the best rate you can get from a recognizable fintech right now. The base rate is 3.30%, but new customers get a 0.65% boost for three months, bringing it to roughly 3.95–4.20% on the first $150k. Ongoing, you can earn an extra 0.25% by setting up $1,000/month direct deposit and funding an investing account.
It’s not a bank; it’s a brokerage sweep product, with deposits placed across program banks. But it’s FDIC insured (up to $8M across partners) and the app is excellent.
Pros:
Cons:
4. Betterment Cash Reserve — up to 4.00% APY
★★★★☆
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| APY | 3.25% base, +0.75% boost = 4.00% |
| Minimum deposit | $10 |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| FDIC insured | Yes (via program banks) |
| Mobile app | Yes |
Betterment is running a new-customer offer: a 0.75% APY boost on up to $1M in savings through January 15, 2027. That puts the effective rate at 4.00% for qualifying new clients. The base rate is 3.25%.
Like Wealthfront, this is a brokerage sweep product with FDIC insurance spread across program banks. Unlimited free withdrawals, no minimum balance.
Pros:
Cons:
5. Popular Direct — 3.90% APY
★★★★☆
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| APY | 3.90% |
| Minimum deposit | $100 |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| FDIC insured | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes |
Popular Direct is the online arm of Popular Bank, one of the larger Hispanic-owned banks in the US. Its Exclusive Savings account pays 3.90%, a strong rate from an established bank. There’s a $100 minimum to open, but no monthly fees.
Popular Direct has been quietly competitive on rates for years. If you want a real bank (not a fintech app) with a top rate, this is a solid pick.
Pros:
Cons:
6. Forbright Bank — 3.85% APY (4.15% Promo)
★★★★☆
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| APY | 3.85% (4.15% new-customer promo) |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| FDIC insured | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes |
Forbright Bank’s Growth Savings account pays 3.85% standard. New customers who fund $1,000 can get a 0.30% boost to 4.15% through the end of 2026.
Forbright is an FDIC-insured online bank that’s been competitive on rates for a while. The promo requires a one-time $1,000 deposit, which is easy to meet.
Pros:
Cons:
7. Openbank — 3.80% APY
★★★★☆
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| APY | 3.80% |
| Minimum deposit | $500 |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| FDIC insured | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes |
Openbank is the digital arm of Santander Bank. Its high-yield savings account pays 3.80%, verified from its site’s own disclosure this week. The $500 minimum to open is higher than most on this list, but there are no monthly fees.
It’s a real bank with a big-name parent, which some savers prefer over fintech apps or tiny online banks.
Pros:
Cons:
8. Live Oak Bank — 3.80% APY
★★★★½★
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| APY | 3.80% |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| FDIC insured | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes |
Live Oak Bank offers 3.80% with zero strings. No direct deposit requirement. No minimum balance. No monthly fee. Open the account and get 3.80%.
The trade-off: it’s an online-only bank with no branches and no ATM network. The mobile app is functional. This is an account for parking savings, not daily checking.
Pros:
Cons:
9. CIT Bank Platinum Savings — 3.75% APY (on $5,000+)
★★★★☆
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| APY | 3.75% on balances $5,000+ (0.25% below) |
| Minimum deposit | $100 |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| FDIC insured | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes |
CIT Bank (a division of First Citizens Bank) pays 3.75% on its Platinum Savings, but only on balances of $5,000 or more. Below $5,000, the rate is just 0.25%. That’s a big caveat that’s easy to miss on its marketing page.
If you have at least $5,000 to deposit, the 3.75% rate is solid. If you don’t, look at its Savings Connect account instead (3.65%, no minimum).
Pros:
Cons:
10. Bask Bank — 3.75% APY (4.10% Promo)
★★★★☆
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| APY | 3.75% (4.10% limited-time boost) |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| FDIC insured | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes |
Bask Bank is an FDIC-insured online bank. Its standard rate is 3.75% with no strings: no minimum, no fees. It’s currently running a limited-time promotion offering up to 4.10% APY for new customers who meet eligibility requirements.
One thing that sets Bask apart: it also has an airline miles savings account that earns AA miles instead of cash interest. For most people, the standard cash account makes more sense.
Pros:
Cons:
11. Barclays Tiered Savings — 3.50%–3.65% APY
★★★★☆
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| APY | 3.50% (<$250k), 3.65% ($250k–$1M) |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| FDIC insured | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes |
Barclays is running a tiered savings account that pays 3.50% on balances under $250,000 and 3.65% on $250,000–$1M. It’s also offering a $200 bonus for new customers who deposit $25,000 (expires October 31, 2026).
It’s a recognizable global bank, FDIC insured through Barclays Bank Delaware. Its standard Online Savings account pays 3.30%.
Pros:
Cons:
12. LendingClub / Happen Bank — 4.00% APY*
★★★½★☆
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| APY | 4.00% (requires conditions) |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| FDIC insured | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes |
LendingClub rebranded parts of its banking business to Happen Bank, and it’s currently offering 4.00% APY. That’s one of the headline numbers on this list. But there’s a catch: you need to deposit at least $250 per month to qualify. Miss a month and the rate drops.
The 4.00% is real if you can meet the deposit requirement. For someone building savings steadily, $250/month is feasible. But if you want to park a lump sum and earn the best rate without conditions, Elevault, Newtek, or Live Oak are better options.
Pros:
Cons:
13. UFB Direct — 3.26% APY (3.46% Bundle)
★★★½★☆
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| APY | 3.26% (3.46% with bundle) |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| FDIC insured | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes |
UFB Direct offers a straightforward 3.26% on its high-yield savings. If you also open a UFB Direct checking account, the combined rate bumps to 3.46%.
The rates aren’t the highest on this list, but UFB has a clean fee structure: no monthly fees, no ATM fees (they reimburse up to $12/month), and no minimum balance requirements.
Pros:
Cons:
14. SoFi — 3.10% APY (3.80% Promo)
★★★★☆
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| APY | 3.10% (3.80% with direct deposit promo) |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| FDIC insured | Yes (pass-through) |
| Mobile app | Yes |
SoFi is more of a financial app that offers banking, but the savings rate is competitive. The standard APY is 3.10%, but new customers can get 3.80% for a limited time with qualifying direct deposits.
SoFi’s appeal is the package, not just the rate. You get checking, savings, investments, and a solid mobile app in one place. If you prefer having everything in one app, SoFi makes sense.
The catch: the 3.10% rate requires direct deposit to qualify. Without it, the rate drops. So if you can’t or won’t set up direct deposit, SoFi is less attractive.
Pros:
Cons:
15. Ally Bank — 3.00% APY
★★★★½★
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| APY | 3.00% |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| FDIC insured | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes |
Ally is a benchmark in online banking. The 3.00% rate isn’t the highest on this list, but Ally has been consistently competitive for years. It doesn’t chase the top spot with teaser rates; it offers a solid product.
Ally’s savings account comes with features most competitors don’t offer: “buckets” for organizing savings goals, 24/7 customer service, and an excellent mobile app. If you value user experience alongside rate, Ally is hard to beat.
Pros:
Cons:
16. Capital One 360 — 3.00% APY
★★★★☆
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| APY | 3.00% |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| FDIC insured | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes |
Capital One’s online savings account pays 3.00% with no fees and no minimums. The same rate as Ally, but from a massive national bank. If you want a brand you already know, this is a strong option.
Capital One also offers checking accounts and credit cards under the same login, so if you already bank with them, adding a 360 savings account takes about five minutes. The main weakness: its savings rate is below the top-tier competitors by about 0.75%.
Pros:
Cons:
17. American Express — 3.00% APY
★★★½★☆
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| APY | 3.00% |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| FDIC insured | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes |
American Express entered the high-yield savings space a few years ago, and its account is as straightforward as you’d expect from Amex. One rate, no tiers, no hoops. You get 3.00% on any balance, no minimum required.
The downside: American Express doesn’t offer checking accounts, so you’ll need to link this to an external account. It’s a savings account, nothing more. If that’s all you need, it works.
Pros:
Cons:
How to Choose a HYSA
A few things matter more than the rate number:
APY vs. promotional rate. Some banks advertise a high rate but only for a few months. Others require direct deposit, monthly deposits, or a minimum balance to keep the top rate. Check the fine print.
Balance tiers. CIT’s Platinum Savings pays 3.75%, but only on balances over $5,000. Below that, the rate collapses to 0.25%. Always check whether the advertised rate applies to your balance.
Fees. Every account on this list has no monthly fee, except Robinhood Gold ($5/mo, which also buys other perks). If a savings account charges a monthly fee, don’t open it. There are too many free options to pay for basic banking.
Access. Most of these are online-only. That means no branches, no cash deposits. If you frequently deposit cash, you’ll want a local credit union or a bank with a physical presence.
Your existing bank. If you already have a checking account at Capital One, adding its 360 savings account is seamless. Same with SoFi. The less friction between accounts, the more likely you’ll actually use it.
Fintech vs. bank. Wealthfront, Betterment, and Robinhood are not banks; they’re brokerages that sweep your cash to partner banks. They’re FDIC/SIPC protected, but if you prefer dealing with a chartered bank directly, stick with the bank options.
FAQ
What’s a high-yield savings account?
A savings account that pays significantly more interest than a standard savings account at a traditional brick-and-mortar bank. Most HYSAs are offered by online banks, which don’t have the overhead of physical branches and pass the savings on to customers as higher rates.
How is APY different from an interest rate?
APY (Annual Percentage Yield) includes the effect of compounding interest. If two accounts offer the same base interest rate but one compounds daily and the other monthly, the daily compound account will earn slightly more. APY makes them directly comparable.
Are high-yield savings accounts safe?
Yes, as long as the account is FDIC insured (or, in the case of brokerage sweep products like Robinhood, SIPC protected). Every bank on this list is FDIC insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank. That’s the same protection you get at any traditional bank.
Can I lose money in a HYSA?
Unlike stocks or bonds, the principal in a savings account doesn’t fluctuate. You can’t lose money due to market movements. The only risk is that the bank fails, and FDIC insurance covers that up to $250,000.
How often do HYSA rates change?
Banks can change rates at any time. In practice, online banks adjust rates in response to Federal Reserve moves and competitive pressure. The rates in this article are current as of late July 2026.
How These Rates Were Collected
Every rate in this article was checked directly from the bank’s public website on July 30, 2026, and cross-checked against current rate aggregator data (Doctor of Credit’s high-yield savings list, published July 29, 2026). Only accounts that are nationally available, FDIC insured, and free of monthly maintenance fees were included. This is not a sponsored comparison. There are no affiliate relationships or referral incentives tied to any recommendation here.
Banks that could not be verified directly from their own websites (Marcus by Goldman Sachs, PNC, Discover) were excluded rather than estimated.
Rates and terms are subject to change. Please verify directly with the financial institution before opening an account.