U.S. Bank savings account rates
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U.S. Bank recently released its Bank Smartly Savings account, which earns an annual percentage yield (APY) that increases for higher balances. Customers can also access higher rates by pairing the account with a qualifying checking account.
For those without a qualifying checking account, the Bank Smartly Savings account’s APY varies based on balance tier:
- Balances under $5,000 earn 0.02 percent APY.
- Balances between $5,000 and $24,999 earn 0.12 percent APY.
- Balances over $25,000 earn 0.26 percent APY.
While higher balances qualify you for a higher APY, the highest APY available is still below the national average savings account APY. It’s also significantly lower than APYs offered on high-yield savings accounts, which are earning around 5 percent APY.
Bank Smartly Savings account holders can get an interest rate bump by also having the Bank Smartly Checking or Safe Debit account. For this relationship rate, APYs increase based on the amount of your combined qualifying balances, ranging from 2.90 percent APY to 4.10 percent APY.
U.S. Bank earned 3.4 stars out of 5 in Bankrate’s overall rating. For savings accounts, it scored 3.0 out of 5 stars.
U.S. Bank savings account interest rates
U.S. Bank’s Bank Smartly Savings account has multiple APY tiers. For customers who don’t pair the savings account with a qualifying checking account, the APY ranges between 0.02 percent and 0.26 percent, based on the balance tier. For those who do pair it with a qualifying checking account, the APY ranges between 2.50 percent and 4.10 percent, based on the amount of combined qualifying balances.
The Bank Smartly Savings account charges a $5 monthly maintenance fee, which is waived for customers who also have a Bank Smartly Checking or Safe Debit account. It’s also waived for accounts with a minor under the age of 18.
Here’s a breakdown of U.S. Bank’s savings account APY ranges.
| Account Name | APY | Monthly maintenance fee |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Smartly Savings Account | 0.02%—0.26% | $5 |
| Bank Smartly Savings Account when paired with Bank Smartly Checking or Safe Debit account | 2.50%—4.10% | $0 |
Note: The monthly maintenance fee is also waived for accounts with a minor under the age of 18. The annual percentage yield (APY) shown is current as of Oct. 16 and may vary by region.
How U.S. Bank savings rates compare with top-yielding banks
The APY for U.S. Bank’s Bank Smartly Savings account is meager when it’s not paired with a qualifying checking account. Such low APYs are often the case for standard savings accounts at many other big brick-and-mortar banks. When it’s paired with a qualifying checking account, the Bank Smartly Savings account offers higher rates depending on the tier. Savers can get an even higher payout by opening an account with an online bank, such as LendingClub or UFB Direct.
Other savings options at U.S. Bank
The institution also offers certificates of deposit (CDs) if you want an alternative to a savings account but still want to bank with U.S. Bank. Its regular CD rates are also quite low, but its special CDs offer a competitive yield. There are still better options at the top FDIC-insured online banks.
In addition, U.S. Bank offers a money market account, but again, the standard yields are low. So, you can find better APYs elsewhere. One thing to note: U.S. Bank offers a higher APY for Elite Money Market account holders with balances of $25,000 and above (rates may also vary by location).
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