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7 Best High-Yield Online Savings Accounts of February 2021
Our list of the best high-interest savings accounts.
The best high-yield savings accounts help you grow funds faster than standard accounts. The products featured on this page have annual percentage yields, or APYs, of around 0.50%. That is many times more than the national average of 0.04%.
Most online banks, credit unions and nonbank providers (often apps that partner with a bank for FDIC insurance) have slashed their rates in response to the Federal Reserve's emergency rate cuts. But the high-interest savings accounts detailed below continue to offer some of the strongest yields available. These accounts can help you boost your emergency fund.
NerdWallet did extensive, independent research on dozens of financial institutions to identify the best options. While we mainly looked at savings interest rates, fees and minimum deposit requirements, we also considered whether the providers offer great digital tools.
Read on for more details about NerdWallet’s top high-yield online savings accounts. Check the bottom of the page for more information about how these financial products work.
The best high-yield savings accounts help you grow funds faster than standard accounts. The products featured on this page have annual percentage yields, or APYs, of around 0.50%. That is many times more than the national average of 0.04%.
Most online banks, credit unions and nonbank providers (often apps that partner with a bank for FDIC insurance) have slashed their rates in response to the Federal Reserve's emergency rate cuts. But the high-interest savings accounts detailed below continue to offer some of the strongest yields available. These accounts can help you boost your emergency fund.
NerdWallet did extensive, independent research on dozens of financial institutions to identify the best options. While we mainly looked at savings interest rates, fees and minimum deposit requirements, we also considered whether the providers offer great digital tools.
Read on for more details about NerdWallet’s top high-yield online savings accounts. Check the bottom of the page for more information about how these financial products work.
Summary of Best High-Yield Online Savings Accounts of February 2021
| Bank/Institution | NerdWallet Rating | APY | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|
 American Express® High Yield Savings Account at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC | 0.50% With $0 minimum balance | at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC | |
0.50% With $0 minimum balance | at Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Member FDIC | ||
0.40% With $0 minimum balance | at Nationwide, Deposits are FDIC Insured | ||
0.40% With $0 minimum balance | at Varo, Deposits are FDIC Insured | ||
0.40% With $10,000 minimum balance | Read review | ||
0.40% With $1 minimum balance | Read review | ||
0.40% With $100 minimum balance | Read review |
at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC
American Express® High Yield Savings Account
APY
With $0 minimum balance
Bonus
at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC
at Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Member FDIC
Marcus by Goldman Sachs Online Savings Account
APY
With $0 minimum balance
Bonus
at Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Member FDIC
at Nationwide, Deposits are FDIC Insured
Nationwide My Savings
APY
With $0 minimum balance
Bonus
at Nationwide, Deposits are FDIC Insured
at Varo, Deposits are FDIC Insured
Varo Savings Account
APY
With $0 minimum balance
Bonus
at Varo, Deposits are FDIC Insured
PurePoint® Financial Online Savings
APY
With $10,000 minimum balance
Bonus
FNBO Direct Online Savings Account
APY
With $1 minimum balance
Bonus
Bank5 Connect High Interest Savings Account
APY
With $100 minimum balance
Bonus
What is a high-yield savings account?
A high-yield savings account is a type of federally insured savings product that earns rates that are much better than the national average. They can earn around 0.50% APY. By comparison, the national savings average is 0.04% APY.
How much interest will I get on $10,000 after a year in a high-interest savings account?
If your money is in an account that earns a strong rate, your balance will grow faster without any additional effort on your part. With a 0.50% APY, a savings balance of $10,000 would earn a bit more than $50 after a year. It may not make you rich, but the earnings are much better than an account with a 0.05% APY, which would earn about five dollars.
How do I choose the best high-interest savings accounts?
Look for accounts that have high interest rates and low service charges. You want to make sure you don’t have to pay a fee each month. Some institutions don’t charge monthly fees, while others do but will waive them if you meet a balance minimum.
Be willing to look beyond the larger, well-known banks. Many smaller institutions — including online banks and apps — feature good rates and low deposit requirements.
» Want to explore checking accounts instead? Take a look at NerdWallet’s best checking accounts
The highest APY savings accounts are easy to access
With online banking, you can access your account securely day or night. Online banks, credit unions and nonbank providers offer the best savings rates on the market while charging fewer fees than traditional banks. They also often offer good websites and mobile apps that typically let customers deposit checks and pay bills.
How to open an account with the best interest rates
Depending on the type of financial institution, you can open an account either online or in person. You’ll need to provide your Social Security number and contact information, along with at least one form of identification, such as a driver’s license or a passport. (For a joint account, everyone wanting access to the account must provide this information and ID.) You will often be required to deposit money into the new account right away. You can do that by depositing cash or checks, or through a wire transfer.
» Find high rates across checking, savings and other accounts in NerdWallet's list of high-interest accounts.
What to do if you can’t open a high-interest savings account
Occasionally, your application to open an account may not be approved. This is likely because of issues with your previous banking history.
Unpaid bank fees and bounced checks can result in a negative file on ChexSystems, a consumer reporting agency that financial institutions use to evaluate a prospective customer’s banking history.
There are options for customers who have a ChexSystems file, including opportunities to open alternative accounts. For more information, read our primer on what to do if you have a ChexSystems record.
Are high-yield savings accounts safe?
In short, yes. High-yield savings accounts at banks and credit unions are federally insured up to $250,000 per depositor, and many nonbank providers partner with banks for insurance. Accounts at banks are backed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., while credit union accounts are backed by the National Credit Union Administration. This means that even if the financial institution fails, the government makes sure your money is safe and accessible. Read NerdWallet's primer on FDIC insurance to learn more.
High-yield savings account terminology
Here’s a look at some important savings terms to know.
Savings account: A deposit account from a financial institution that earns interest.
Money market account: A type of savings account that often offers higher interest rates in return for a steep minimum deposit. (Think $5,000 or more.)
Interest: Money a financial institution pays into an account over time.
Compound interest: Compound interest is the interest you earn on both your original money and on the interest you keep accumulating. In an account that pays compound interest, the return is added to the original principal at the end of every compounding period, typically daily or monthly. Each time interest is calculated and added to the account, the larger balance earns more interest.
Annual percentage yield: The APY, or annual percentage yield, is the amount of compound interest an account earns in a year. The calculation is based on the account's interest rate and the number of times interest is paid during the year. A savings account with the highest APY grows faster than an account with a lower yield.
» Read more about 10 essential banking terms you need to know
More top choices for the best high-interest savings accounts
Here is a summary of even more great choices for high-yield savings accounts. When you're shopping for the account that fits you best, they're worth checking out.
Barclays, 0.40% APY, $0 minimum to open account, Member FDIC.
TAB Bank, 0.65% APY, $0 minimum to open account, Member FDIC.
Vio Bank, 0.57% APY, $100 minimum to open account, Member FDIC.
CIT Bank, 0.40% APY, $100 minimum to open account, Member FDIC.
CIBC U.S., 0.52% APY, $1,000 minimum to open account, Member FDIC.
Synchrony, 0.50% APY, no minimum to open account, Member FDIC.
Salem Five Direct, 0.50% APY, $100 minimum to open account, Member FDIC.
Bank7, 0.45% APY, $100 minimum to open account, Member FDIC.
Discover Bank, 0.40% APY, no minimum to open account, Member FDIC.
Capital One, 0.40% APY, no minimum to open account, Member FDIC.
Ally, 0.50% APY, no minimum to open account, Member FDIC.
Comenity Direct, 0.60% APY, $100 minimum to open account, Member FDIC.
Alliant Credit Union, 0.55% APY, $5 minimum to open account, funds insured by the NCUA.
Citizens Access, 0.40% savings APY, $5,000 minimum to open account, Member FDIC.
Pentagon Federal Credit Union, 0.50% APY, $5 minimum to open account, funds insured by the NCUA.
Chime, 0.50% APY, $0 minimum to open account, funds insured by the FDIC.
First Foundation Bank, 0.60% APY, $1,000 minimum to open account, Member FDIC.
Live Oak Bank, 0.60% APY, no minimum to open account, Member FDIC.
Axos Bank, 0.61% APY, $250 minimum to open account, Member FDIC.
Popular Direct, 0.55% APY, $5,000 minimum to open account, Member FDIC.
» Interested in getting money from banks? See NerdWallet's best bank account promotions and bonuses
Last updated on February 1, 2021
Methodology
We took a close look at over 70 financial institutions, including the largest U.S. banks based on assets, internet search traffic and other factors; the nation’s largest credit unions, based on assets and membership; and other notable and/or emerging players in the industry. We rated them on criteria including annual percentage yields, minimum balances, fees, digital experience and more.
Financial institutions surveyed are: Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, America First Credit Union, American Express National Bank, Associated Bank, Axos Bank, Bank5 Connect, Bank7, Bank of America, Bank of the West, Barclays, BB&T, BBVA, BMO Harris, Boeing Employees Credit Union, Capital One 360, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime, CIBC U.S., CIT Bank, Citibank, Citizens Access, Citizens Bank, Comenity Bank, Comerica Bank, Commerce Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Discover Bank, E*TRADE Bank, Fifth Third Bank, First Foundation Bank, First National Bank, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Flagstar Bank, FNBO Direct, GoBank, Golden 1 Credit Union, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, HSBC Bank, Huntington Bank, KeyBank, Live Oak Bank, M&T Bank, Nationwide Bank, Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC Bank, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, PNC, Popular Direct, PurePoint Financial, Radius, Redneck Bank, Regions Bank, Salem Five Direct, Sallie Mae Bank, Santander Bank, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Security Service Federal Credit Union, Service Credit Union, State Employees' Credit Union of North Carolina, Suncoast Credit Union, SunTrust Bank, Synchrony Bank, TAB Bank, TCF Bank, TD Bank, TIAA Bank, U.S. Bank, UFB Direct, Union Bank, USAA, Varo, Vio Bank, Wells Fargo, Woodforest National Bank and Zions Bank.
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's Best High-Yield Online Savings Accounts of February 2021
- American Express® High Yield Savings Account: 0.50% APY
- Marcus by Goldman Sachs Online Savings Account: 0.50% APY
- Nationwide My Savings: 0.40% APY
- Varo Savings Account: 0.40% APY
- PurePoint® Financial Online Savings: 0.40% APY
- FNBO Direct Online Savings Account: 0.40% APY
- Bank5 Connect High Interest Savings Account: 0.40% APY
Frequently asked questions
In short, yes, online accounts are safe. Most online financial institutions are federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., up to $250,000 per depositor. If the account is with a credit union, the account will likely be insured through the National Credit Union Administration, also for $250,000 per depositor. This means that if a provider were to fail and go out of business, you would not lose the money you have in the account, up to the insured amount.
High-interest savings accounts are deposit accounts from financial institutions that earn above-average yields. Typically, the rates are also better than those offered by checking accounts. Some of the best savings interest rates come from online banks and providers. They don't have the cost of maintaining branches and are able to pass the savings on to customers with better returns.
Money market accounts are a type of savings account. They generally come with high APYs, high minimum deposit requirements and some check-writing privileges. NerdWallet’s guide on money market accounts can help you learn more about these products and help you decide if a money market account is a good place to stash your funds.
A high-interest savings account, on the other hand, typically does not come with checks, though it will still offer a strong APY.
Institutions typically don’t change savings rates on an hourly, daily or even weekly basis. In fact, it’s common to see some rates remain unchanged for several months.
It’s important to note, however, that rates are variable and theoretically can change at any time. In addition, many providers will change their rates based on what their competitors are doing. You will often see groups of financial institutions increase or decrease their APYs at around the same time, especially if the Federal Reserve recently hiked or cut rates, as it did in March 2020.
To get the best yield for your money, check out the best rates on a regular basis.
No, rates are variable and can change over time. The accounts featured in this article are among those with the consistently highest rates.
Financial institutions usually limit the number of certain kinds of withdrawals to a maximum of six per month. These include online withdrawals, overdraft protection transfers and transfers initiated by telephone. If you have more than six of these transactions each statement cycle, your provider may levy an excess withdrawal fee each time you go over the limit. On April 24, 2020, the Federal Reserve allowed providers to eliminate this cap. Contact your financial institution's customer service line to find out if it has eased restrictions. If it has not done so, keep in mind that withdrawing cash from an ATM does not count toward the limit. Read more in our primer on Regulation D.
