Don’t expect the savings accounts at your brick-and-mortar bank to notice that the Federal Reserve raised interest rates. Rates have been at historic lows for years and will stay that way for awhile. There are still plenty of high-interest savings accounts available online and I’ll go through . While the interest earned from your savings account isn’t going to fund your retirement, it can still add up, particularly on higher balances.
The Simple Dollar’s Top Picks
Ally
Synchrony Bank
Discover Bank
Barclays
MySavingsDirect
Salem Five Direct
We examined several of the most popular online banks to find the best high-yield savings accounts in 2017. All of these FDIC-insured banks offer high interest rates, low or no minimum balances, and no account maintenance fees. We’ll also give you a primer on high-yield savings accounts, including what that interest rate really means and whether online banking is a smart choice for you.
Before we provide a summary of each top pick, check out this tool below that shows savings account rates. The list below is updated daily so you know you’re getting the best rate.
The Best High-Yield Savings Accounts
Ally
High-profile online bank Ally offers 1% APY on its Online Savings Account with no account minimum and no monthly maintenance fees. Ally also boasts some of the most transparent account disclosures in online banking as well as 24/7 customer service, a rarity.
Make deposits via electronic transfer, mobile check deposit, direct deposit, or mail. You can also link up to 20 external accounts to your savings account, should the need arise.
If you want to keep your funds more readily available, Ally’s Money Market Account earns 0.85% APY and allows unlimited no-fee ATM withdrawals.
Synchrony Bank
Synchrony Bank’s High Yield Savings Account offers an impressive 1.05% APY. There is no minimum balance required will have to keep at least a $30 balance to avoid a $5 monthly maintenance fee.
You can make deposits and withdrawals via electronic transfers, over the phone, or with an optional ATM card. There’s also a convenient mobile check deposit feature.
Depending on your balance and the length of time you’ve had your account, you may also qualify for Synchrony’s OptimizerPlus perks, which include travel discounts, ATM fee reimbursements, and free identity theft resolution services.
Discover Bank
There is no minimum to open an Online Savings Account with Discover Bank, but you’ll get a healthy 0.95% APY. There is no ongoing minimum balance or monthly maintenance fee.
Like Ally, Discover has 24/7 customer service and a convenient mobile-banking app that allows mobile check deposit. You can also make deposits via electronic transfer, direct deposit, and mail.
For easy ATM access, Discover’s Money Market Account features free withdrawals at 60,000 ATMs nationwide. That account earns 0.80% APY on balances under $100,000, or 0.85% over that amount.
Barclays
If you’re looking for an online bank that’s a little better-known, British megabank Barclays might fit the bill. Its U.S. division offers an Online Savings Account with 1.00% APY, no minimum balance, and no monthly maintenance fees. You can make deposits via mobile check deposit, direct deposit, electronic transfer, or mail.
If you’re willing to keep your hands off your money for awhile, Barclays also offers a Dream Account with 1.05% APY. Make deposits of up to $1,000 for six months, and earn a 2.5% bonus on your interest; make no withdrawals for six months and earn another 2.5% bonus.
MySavingsDirect
You won’t get a flashy website or lots of other banking options with MySavingsDirect, an online division of Emigrant Bank, a large bank based in New York City. But if you’re just looking for a basic savings account with a high interest rate, you'll get 1% APY on its High Interest Savings Account.
Even better? You won’t pay any monthly maintenance fees or any other hidden fees, and you don’t need a hefty balance to open the account. You’ll access your money by making electronic transfers from up to two linked external checking accounts.
Salem Five Direct
The online division of Massachusetts-based Salem Five Cents Savings Bank, Salem Five Direct is offering a juicy 1.10% APY on its eOne Savings Account. There are no account minimums or monthly maintenance fees
The bank offers free mobile banking and deposits though its app, and you can pair the savings account with a free, interest-earning (0.25% APY) eOne Checking Account, which offers no-fee ATM withdrawals and reimburses ATM fees charged by other banks up to $15 per month.
Your money will be safer than if you stuffed it under your mattress, and it will grow a bit, too.
However, regardless of where you open a savings account, federal regulations limit you to six withdrawals or outgoing transfers each month. Exceed that number and you could be charged a fee. One notable exception is ATM withdrawals, which are not restricted.
Remember, there are fewer ways to get your money from a savings account versus a checking account. You may not be able to write checks or get a debit card for your savings account -- both are perks typical of checking accounts. But if you opt for checking, you may get a very low interest rate, or none at all.
A money market account may be a happy medium between the two: You’ll still earn a decent interest rate, but you’ll often have check-writing and debit card privileges, too.
Another common savings option is a CD, or certificate of deposit. CDs may earn a higher interest rate than savings accounts, particularly at brick-and-mortar banks. This may not be the case online, however, where you can find a number of high-interest savings options. Note that you may need a bigger initial deposit to open a CD, and must agree not to touch your money for a specific term or you’ll have to pay an early-withdrawal fee.
What Does a ‘High Interest Rate’ Really Amount To?
Online, you can easily open a high-yield savings account with an interest rate around 1.0% APY. That's certainly much higher than the national average of .06% APY as of March 2016, but it’s still not going to make you rich.
Let’s crunch the numbers to see just how much you can grow your money in a savings account. We’ll assume you make an initial deposit of $5,000 and don’t touch it for five years. We’ll also assume that you don’t make any more deposits and interest is compounded (added to your balance) daily:
At 0.01% APY (a typical savings interest rate at very large brick-and-mortar banks), you’ll have $5,002.50 after five years.
At 0.09% APY (a hair above the national average), you’ll have $5,022.55 after five years.
At 1.00% APY (a competitive high-interest savings account rate from an online bank), you’ll have $5,256.35 after five years.
As you can see, the difference between a high-yield savings account and lower-yield options amounts to a couple hundred dollars in this example. Significant? Yes. But it also demonstrates how even a high-interest savings account won’t be making you rich -- the interest is merely a nice bonus.
If you truly want to grow your money over the long term, you’ll need to consider more sophisticated investments. If you’re interested in jumping into the stock market, a great place to get started is our article on the Best . If your focus is on building your retirement fund, check out our guide to the Best IRA Accounts.
Pros and Cons of Online Savings Accounts
If you’re wondering whether it’s worth moving your savings online to take advantage of a high-interest savings account, here are some of the benefits:
Interest rates: Online banks offer many times the national average on savings accounts, which was 0.11% APY as of January 2016, according to Bankrate. In fact, it’s not uncommon for some of the biggest banks to offer just 0.01% APY.
Low or no fees and minimums: Many online banks don’t charge the monthly account maintenance fees you find at brick-and-mortar institutions. Several, like most of the banks on our list, also don’t require a certain minimum balance to open or maintain the account.
24/7 account access: If you like to do your banking at unconventional hours, that’s not a problem online. You’ll probably be able to print statements for free whenever you need them, and may have access to conveniences like account alerts and online bill pay. These tools are often better at online banks, which have optimized their technology to keep customers happy.
Of course, there are also some drawbacks to banking online:
Harder to deposit and access your money: While direct transfers from external accounts are convenient, you could be looking at longer hold times before your money is available. Five days is typical. Even banks with mobile check deposit may not allow checks over a certain amount to be deposited that way, meaning you’ll have to mail larger checks. Also, your online bank may not allow cash deposits.
Lack of in-person service: Sometimes you just want to talk to a real person, and do it in person. While online banks offer varying degrees of customer service, you won’t be able to talk to a teller or a bank manager. A personal relationship with your bank can come in handy if you ever have problems or need a bit of extra assistance.
Lack of other products: If you only need a savings account, you might not care whether your bank offers . However, there's something to be said for the convenience of keeping your banking with just one or two institutions.
When a high-interest savings account is right for you:
You want access to your money fast Relatively speaking, high-interest savings accounts offer the ability to withdraw funds quickly. While CDs and and retirement accounts may yield higher returns in the long run, you aren’t allowed to touch your money for a specified period of time—sometimes upwards of 40 years! If you are young, it pays to put some money aside in retirement accounts such as IRAs and 401Ks (typically through your employer), because your interest will have that many more years to compound on itself.
That being said, it’s always smart to have an emergency fund—about three months worth of living expenses that you can access quickly if your financial situation takes a downward turn. High-interest savings accounts are great for emergency funds. While the returns may not be as great as some of your longer-term savings options, there’s far more ease of access.
You don’t want to pay brick-and-mortar fees So long as you’re okay with longer hold times on your money and interacting with customer service representatives online, you can’t beat the low (or no) fees of online high-interest savings accounts. Brick-and-mortar institutions will vary in their required fees, but many online banks (including most of those listed in this article) don’t charge monthly account maintenance fees at all.
An online high-interest savings account gives you the added benefit of 24/7 account access. Do your banking in your pajamas at 2AM–whatever works for you! These online institutions also offer the most up-to-date electronic tools, such as account alerts and online bill pay. Because these banks operate completely online, they understand the importance of these technologies for their customers.
You have another account linked to a debit card High-interest savings accounts aren’t linked to debit cards and typically don’t offer check writing abilities. Checking accounts will give you these capabilities. If you already have a checking account, consider opening an online high-interest savings account to store the money you won’t need immediate access to. The interest rates are typically much higher than those offered through brick-and-mortar institutions.
When a high-interest savings account is NOT right for you:
ou need more than six withdrawals a month High-interest savings accounts typically cap off withdrawals at six times per month. If that sounds like it could be an issue for you, a money market account may be a good alternative. While the interest rate is lower, you can access your money as often as you’d like.
You like having access to a physical bank branch The best online high-interest savings accounts, while accessible and convenient, won’t give you the personal interaction you might prefer when it comes to money matters. Alternately, physical bank branches often require
The trade-off may be worth it, however, if you have enough money to meet the minimum deposit requirement of brick-and-mortar institutions and you plan to diversify your savings with some higher interest, higher risk alternatives (like stocks). Feeling confident about your savings choices is just as important to your quality of life as interest rates and ease of access.
You need shorter hold times on your money Depositing into an external high-interest savings account typically involves a five day waiting period before your money is available. If that makes you uneasy, a physical branch may be a better alternative.
You need to deposit large checks or cash frequently Some online banks offer mobile check deposit, but you should be aware that most online institutions impose amount limits to money deposited electronically. In these situations you may have to mail in larger checks. Sometimes even cash deposits are prohibited altogether for a high-interest savings account. Consider the methods you plan on using to deposit money into your savings account—if you think you’ll be dealing in hard cash often, you should look into opening a checking or savings accounts at a physical branch.
You want one institution to handle all your money matters Stock options, 401Ks, Roth IRAs, and savings accounts—there are a lot of options when it comes to earning money on your money! While high-interest savings accounts are a great, low-risk way to store your money, it behooves you to diversify your savings plans (if you can afford it). There are a lot of high-quality online brokers
Additionally, most online high-interest savings account institutions do not offer loans or credit cards. If the convenience of keeping your banking exclusive to one institution is important to you, a high-interest savings account may not be for you.
Personal Savings Calculator
To help you determine what kind of account and what rates to generally look for considering your needs, we've created this personal savings calculator.
Remember, High-Interest Savings Accounts Aren’t Your Only Option
Savings accounts are popular because they’re easy to use, keep your money safe, and they’re everywhere, including the Internet.
However, you do have some other options. Money market accounts can give you a little bit more flexibility, though you may have to sacrifice a little bit of interest. CDs may give you more interest, particularly with higher deposits, but you won't be able to touch your money for a long time -- not ideal if you need a place to stash emergency savings. And of course, if you need the freedom to make a large number of deposits and withdrawals, you’ll need to look at checking accounts instead.
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