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Earn 5% APY or More With These High-Yield Savings Accounts

Accelerate your interest growth with a savings account that earns up to 10 times the national average.

A high-yield savings account is a federally insured account to store your cash that will earn an annual percentage yield several times higher than the average savings account. Oftentimes, high-yield savings accounts are available at online-only banks or credit unions such as Ally, Alliant Credit Union or Panacea Financial that don’t maintain physical branches. 

As with traditional savings accounts, high-yield savings accounts earn a variable interest rate that can change at any time, and you can deposit or withdraw money as needed. It’s always a good idea to choose a high-yield savings account that doesn’t charge a monthly service fee or require a minimum balance.

Savings accounts with 5% APY or higher
  • Digital Federal Credit Union 6.17% (on balances up to $1,000) APY , $5 Min. deposit to open
  • LendingClub 4.00% to 5.00% APY, $0 Min. deposit to open
  • Newtek Bank 5.25% APY, $0 Min. deposit to open
  • BrioDirect Bank 5.00% APY, $5,000 Min. deposit to open
  • Varo Bank 5.00% on first $5,000 (3.00% on the rest) APY, $0 Min. deposit to open
Helpful Definitions
Savings account

A deposit account issued by banks, credit unions and neobanks used to store money and earn a small amount of interest. Typically, these accounts are insured for up to $250,000 per account owner, per institution.

High-yield savings account

An interest-bearing account similar to a traditional savings account that pays a much higher annual percentage yield, or APY, than the average savings account. They are also typically insured for up to $250,000 per account owner, per institution.

Certificate of deposit (CD)

A type of savings account in which a lump-sum deposit accrues interest at a fixed rate for a fixed term, usually with an early withdrawal penalty.

Money Market Account (MMA)

Similar to a savings account but with the added feature of check-writing privileges and a debit card to access cash, often with limitations on the number of monthly withdrawals.

Annual percentage yield (APY)

An interest rate that represents the return from the compounded interest you’ll earn in 12 months on your deposit. The higher the APY, the faster your money grows.

Toni Husbands is a staff writer with CNET Money who enjoys exploring topics that promote financial wellness. She began writing about personal finance to document her experience paying off $107,000 of debt, which is detailed in her book, The Great Debt Dump. Previously, she contributed as a freelance writer for websites, including CreditCards.com, Centsai and Wisebread. She was also a regular contributor to Business AM TV, and her work has been featured on Yahoo News. Being a part-time real estate investor and amateur gardener also brings her joy.
David McMillin writes about credit cards, mortgages, banking, taxes and travel. Based in Chicago, he writes with one objective in mind: Help readers figure out how to save more and stress less. He is also a musician, which means he has spent a lot of time worrying about money. He applies the lessons he's learned from that financial balancing act to offer practical advice for personal spending decisions.
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