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Best high-yield savings accounts of September 2026 (Up to 4.20%)

Karen Bennett Written by
Karen Bennett
Rhys Subitch Edited by
Rhys Subitch,
Ted Rossman Reviewed by
Ted Rossman,
Verified Badge IconExpert verified
September 29, 2026

A high-yield savings account can be a safe place to earn interest on your money while keeping it easily accessible for emergencies and planning for economic downturns. Today's top savings rate is 4.20% APY offered by Happen Bank, which is around six times the current national average of 0.65% APY.

In addition to a high APY, the best high-yield savings accounts don’t charge fees and have low minimum deposit requirements. The accounts on this list are Bankrate’s highest-rated savings accounts from FDIC banks or NCUA credit unions.

Bankrate is always editorially independent. While partners may compensate us from links on this page, they never influence our product evalutations. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is always honest and accurate. Here's an explanation for .Our is to ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy.

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Best savings accounts

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Capital One 360 Performance Savings™
Bankrate score: 4.5 out of 5Member FDIC
APY as of 9/29/2026
3.10%
Minimum balance for APY
$0
Estimated earnings
$1,550
Bankrate score
Bankrate score: 4.5 out of 5
Marcus by Goldman Sachs savings
Bankrate score: 4.3 out of 5Member FDIC
APY as of 9/29/2026
3.50%
Minimum balance for APY
$0
Estimated earnings
$1,750
Bankrate score
Bankrate score: 4.3 out of 5
LevelUp Savings
Bankrate score: 4.8 out of 5Member FDIC
APY as of 9/29/2026
4.20%
Minimum balance for APY
$0
Estimated earnings
$2,100
Bankrate score
Bankrate score: 4.8 out of 5
Mitten High Yield Savings
Bankrate score: not availableInsured by NCUA
APY as of 9/29/2026
4.01%
Minimum balance for APY
$10,000
Estimated earnings
$2,005
Bankrate score
Bankrate score: not available
Bread Savings - High Yield Savings Account
Bankrate score: 4.7 out of 5Member FDIC
APY as of 9/29/2026
4.00%
Minimum balance for APY
$100
Estimated earnings
$2,000
Bankrate score
Bankrate score: 4.7 out of 5

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Bankrate’s editorial picks

Our expert’s curated selection of competitive savings account offers. Bankrate's editorial team selects these offers based on competitive rates, minimal fees, and overall value to consumers. Our experts regularly review and update these picks to ensure they represent the best options available. How we choose our picks

CIT Bank savings

Member FDICBankrate score: 4.6 out of 5
Read review, opens in a new tab
APY as of 9/29/2026
4.10%
Minimum balance for APY
$5,000
Minimum opening balance
$100
Estimated earnings
$2,050

Why CIT Bank:

CIT Bank’s Platinum Savings account earns a competitive yield on balances of $5,000 or more. Lower balances earn an APY that’s below the national average. The account requires a low minimum opening deposit, and it doesn’t charge monthly maintenance fees.

Western State savings

Member FDICBankrate score: 4.3 out of 5
Read review, opens in a new tab
APY as of 9/29/2026
4.20%
Minimum balance for APY
$0
Minimum opening balance
$1,000
Estimated earnings
$2,100

Why Western State:

Western State Bank has an online savings account that has a competitive APY and no minimum balance fees. Despite the lack of minimum balance fees, there is a required opening deposit of $1,000 or more.

LendingClub savings

Member FDICBankrate score: 4.8 out of 5
Read review, opens in a new tab
APY as of 9/29/2026
4.20%
Minimum balance for APY
$250
Minimum opening balance
$0
Estimated earnings
$2,100

Why LendingClub:

Happen Bank offers a LevelUp Savings account that rewards you with a top yield when you make deposits totaling at least $250 per month. The account has no monthly service fees and no minimum balance required to earn interest, though your savings rate can vary if you don't meet the $250 requirement in a given month.

Accordia savings

Member FDICBankrate score: 4.6 out of 5
Read review, opens in a new tab
APY as of 9/29/2026
4.00%
Minimum balance for APY
$0
Minimum opening balance
$100
Estimated earnings
$2,000

Why Accordia:

Accordia Bank is a saver’s bank. In addition to high-yielding CDs, it also offers a high-yield savings account. There’s no monthly fee for the account, but the best yields are only available to Utah residents.

Vio Bank savings

Member FDICBankrate score: 4.8 out of 5
Read review, opens in a new tab
APY as of 9/29/2026
4.01%
Minimum balance for APY
$0
Minimum opening balance
$100
Estimated earnings
$2,005

Why Vio Bank:

Vio Bank Online Savings account offers a great yield on your whole balance. And you won't give any of your interest back in monthly fees, either. Plus the minimum deposit to open is fairly low at $100.

Bread Savings savings

Member FDICBankrate score: 4.7 out of 5
Read review, opens in a new tab
APY as of 9/29/2026
4.00%
Minimum balance for APY
$1
Minimum opening balance
$100
Estimated earnings
$2,000

Why Bread Savings:

Bread Savings offers a high-yield savings account that’s true to its name. The account can be opened with just $100. Though there are no monthly maintenance fees, customers should note the miscellaneous fees associated with the account like a $5 fee for paper statements.

EverBank savings

Member FDICBankrate score: 4.9 out of 5
Read review, opens in a new tab
APY as of 9/25/2026
3.90%
Minimum balance for APY
$0
Minimum opening balance
$0
Estimated earnings
$1,950

Why EverBank:

The EverBank Performance® Savings account earns a competitive yield on all balances. The account comes without monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. There is also no minimum opening requirement, making the account highly accessible to everyone.

Popular Direct savings

Member FDICBankrate score: 4.4 out of 5
Read review, opens in a new tab
APY as of 9/29/2026
3.90%
Minimum balance for APY
$0
Minimum opening balance
$100
Estimated earnings
$1,950

Why Popular Direct:

Popular Direct’s high-yield savings account earns a competitive rate, and the $100 minimum required opening deposit is manageable. The account allows for mobile check deposit, although an ATM card is not included.

Live Oak savings

Member FDICBankrate score: 4.8 out of 5
Read review, opens in a new tab
APY as of 9/29/2026
4.00%
Minimum balance for APY
$0
Minimum opening balance
$0
Estimated earnings
$2,000

Why Live Oak:

Live Oak Bank’s online savings account consistently offers a competitive annual percentage yield (APY). The account doesn't require a minimum opening deposit, nor does it charge a monthly account fee.

Zynlo Bank savings

Member FDICBankrate score: 5.0 out of 5
Read review, opens in a new tab
APY as of 9/29/2026
3.85%
Minimum balance for APY
$0
Minimum opening balance
$0
Estimated earnings
$1,925

Why Zynlo Bank:

There are no monthly fees or minimum balances with a ZYNLO savings account. You'll also get access to a round-up program that puts the change from debit card purchases into it when you link a ZYNLO checking account. On top of having the feature, ZYNLO will match up to 100% of the rounded up amount, depending on your average checking account balance.

Colorado Federal Savings Bank savings

Member FDICBankrate score: 4.5 out of 5
Read review, opens in a new tab
APY as of 9/29/2026
3.85%
Minimum balance for APY
$1
Minimum opening balance
$1
Estimated earnings
$1,925

Why Colorado Federal Savings Bank:

The High Yield Savings account offers a highly competitive yield with no fees and no frills. However, depositing and withdrawing your money can only be done via transfer. You're limited to six withdrawals per month, with a $25 fine for each subsequent withdrawal.

Forbright Bank savings

Member FDICBankrate score: 4.9 out of 5
Read review, opens in a new tab
APY as of 9/29/2026
3.85%
Minimum balance for APY
$0
Minimum opening balance
$0
Estimated earnings
$1,925

Why Forbright Bank:

Forbright Bank’s Growth Savings account earns a highly competitive yield, without requiring a minimum opening deposit or charging monthly service fees.

How Bankrate works

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Check the rate, terms and requirements, then pick the account that helps your savings grow faster.

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Learn more: How we chose these banks

Table of contents

Rate trends for savings accounts

Savings account rates have been declining in recent years — in response to six Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2024 and 2025. The Fed has kept rates steady so far in 2026 and competitive savings rates have also continued to stay about the same.

But even some competitive rates may not be beating inflation anymore. The Consumer Price Index (CPI; a common and closely followed gauge of inflation) was reported as 3.4% on an annual basis for July — up significantly from 2.4% for February. That means if your savings APY is earning less than that, you are technically losing some purchasing power.

It's not just inflation working against savers — it's where they keep their money. Many of the nation's largest brick-and-mortar banks pay just 0.01% APY on their standard savings accounts. That translates to only $1 in interest per year on a $10,000 balance. Meanwhile, online-only banks — with far lower overhead than big banks with branches — sometimes offer APYs up to 400 times greater.

Whether or not your APY is outpacing inflation, keeping your money in a bank that’s paying a competitive rate helps you grow your savings more quickly.

Learn more: Savings account rate forecast for 2026
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It's especially a good time to open a high-yield savings account if:

  • You’re not earning any interest — or you’re earning a low APY — in your current bank account.
  • You don’t have an emergency fund, or you have your emergency fund commingled with your checking account.
  • You're saving for a major medium- or short-term goal, such as a vacation, wedding or home down payment.

The competition: Other high-yield savings accounts you can consider

It’s worth noting that typically, the country’s largest brick-and-mortar banks don’t make Bankrate’s top list — their savings account APYs sit at 0.01%, which is a fraction of what’s available elsewhere. That said, various high-earning accounts didn’t land on our list, yet they might work for you. Here are some strong options to consider:
Axos Bank
Axos Bank offers 4.21% APY for its ONE Savings account with no initial deposit minimums, fees or balance requirements. It’s not on our list because you have to bundle this account with Axos’ checking account. Axos also has an account that pays 3.75% with no bundling requirement.
Credit One Bank
Credit One Bank's Jumbo High Yield Savings Account earns 4.00% APY — but you'll have to deposit a whopping $100,000 to open the account and earn that APY.
SoFi Bank
By meeting some requirements, you can earn a 3.10% APY here — or up to 3.80% if you earn the bonus boost. Plus, you’ll automatically get a connected checking account that also earns interest, and you can organize your savings into “vaults.”
Varo Bank
You can earn 3.75% APY on up to $5,000 in your Varo savings account (but you have to meet requirements to get that rate).

How to choose a high-yield savings account

When shopping around for the right account, take a look at Bankrate’s expert reviews of popular banks, many of which offer competitive rates. Also consider these important features when choosing the best high-yield savings account:

  1. A competitive yield

    Your savings will grow more quickly when you're earning higher interest. It's easy to assume your money is earning something reasonable if it's parked at a big, familiar bank — but these often pay just 0.01% APY on standard savings, well below the national average of 0.65%. Meanwhile, competitive accounts are earning up to around 400 times what the biggest banks pay. The difference between a high APY and a near-zero one could add up to hundreds, if not thousands, in interest over time.

  2. No monthly service fee

    Rather than letting a monthly service fee eat into your savings, find an account that won’t charge this pesky fee. The options on Bankrate’s list typically don’t charge such a fee.

  3. Access to your money when you need it

    Being able to withdraw your money easily is important, especially in an emergency. You may be able to take money out of your savings account at an ATM, using a peer-to-peer money transfer app or through an ACH transfer. You may also want to seek banks that allow unlimited withdrawals each month, rather than restricting you to six.

Learn more: How small savings can add up to big money

Ways to use a high-yield savings account

A high-yield savings account provides easy access to your cash, making it a good place to earn some interest while you build up an emergency fund or save for goals such as a wedding or down payment on a house. While you’re adding to your savings, consider using the interest you earn to pay for discretionary expenses such as a streaming service or a gym membership.

If you’re saving for multiple goals in a single account, it can pay to choose an account that allows you to separate the funds into categories. This way, it’s easy to track how much you have saved for each goal. For instance, Ally Bank lets you create up to 30 savings "buckets."

One way to grow your nest egg is by setting up recurring automatic transfers. Moving a set amount from your checking to your savings every payday helps ensure you’ll save consistently and reach your goals.

Frequently asked questions about savings accounts

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Average savings account rates

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Meet our Bankrate experts

Karen Bennett
Written by
Karen Bennett Karen Bennett Arrow Right Icon
Consumer Banking Reporter
Read more from Karen
Karen Bennett is a senior consumer banking reporter at Bankrate where she uses her years of banking and personal finance experience to help inform readers about money-related decisions. She’s been a reporter at Bankrate since 2021.
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Expertise
  • Consumer banking
  • Savings accounts
Rhys Subitch
Edited by
Rhys Subitch
Editor, Deposits
Ted Rossman
Reviewed by
Ted Rossman
Former Bankrate Principal Analyst

Research methodology

Bankrate researches over 100 banks and credit unions, including some of the largest financial institutions, online-only banks, regional banks and credit unions with both open and restrictive membership policies.

To find the best high-yield savings accounts, we rated these institutions on their savings account’s APYs, monthly fees, minimum deposit requirements, access to funds and more. Banks and credit unions receive penalties against their overall scores for each consent decree, penalty in a case brought by a federal regulator or in a certified, federal class-action lawsuit, or adverse federal judgment for harming deposits customers.

The highest-rated savings accounts from broadly-available banks and credit unions, that also had the highest APYs, made our list. Learn more about how we choose the best banking products and our methodology for reviewing banks.