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3 Best High-Yield Savings Accounts of 2023
We adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. Please be aware that some (or all) products and services linked in this article are from our sponsors.
Fact Checked by: Jenny Potter
Last Updated: March 13, 2023
We adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. Please be aware that some (or all) products and services linked in this article are from our sponsors.
It can be hard to see right now, but there is an upside to rising interest rates: high savings rates. While high rates can make it harder to pay down debt, they can also help you grow your nest egg — if you know where to put it.
With the stock market seeing ups and downs in 2023, high-yield savings accounts are becoming a popular option for those looking for security, with some modest earnings.
But which one should you choose? We have done the research for you and found some of the top savings accounts available, including those with interest rates above 4%. That's a pretty healthy return on your savings. This guide provides a comprehensive list of some of the best high-yield savings accounts and helps you pick the right one for you.
4.5
Best overall: Varo Bank
Quick Facts
Annual percentage yield: 3% to 5%
Minimum deposit: $0
Monthly maintenance fee: $0
Why we like Varo Bank:
If you’ve never heard of Varo you might just be sleeping on this digital bank. While they offer many financial services from checking accounts, to cash advances and secured credit cards, their savings account really stands out.
The Varo Savings Account offers several perks, including one of the highest APYs we've seen, no fees or balance requirements, and automated savings tools. The savings rates are particularly attractive, starting at 3% APY. That’s pretty good but you can also earn 5% APY on up to $5,000 by meeting a couple of simple requirements.
1. You’ll need to set up direct deposits totalling $1,000 or more.
2. Make sure you have a positive balance in your accounts at the end of the month.
Sure there’s a couple extra steps to get that higher savings rate, but Varo could be a great place to stash your emergency savings or even a home down payment. It’ll be safe, sound and growing in no time.
One potential downside is that you’ll need to open a Varo Bank account first before you can get access to their savings account.
Depositing and withdrawing funds can be done through the Varo Bank app, from another bank’s site, with their mobile check deposit feature or digital wallets like PayPal and Venmo. This digital bank has no physical locations, but if you need to deposit cash, you can do so at Green Dot locations like Walmart, Dollar General and Kroger. If you want to take money out, you’ll need to transfer money to your checking account or another institution first before you can withdraw it from an ATM or bank branch.
Like a traditional bank, Varo provides FDIC insurance to protect your funds, up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution.
4.5
Best interest rate: Capital One 360
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Quick Facts
Annual percentage yield: 3.4%
Minimum deposit: $0
Monthly maintenance fee: $0
Why we like Capital One 360:
The Capital One 360 Performance Savings Account is a great choice for those who want a free savings account with strong rates. Who isn’t looking for that?
With a competitive interest rate of 3.40% APY, there’s no minimum amount required to open this account, and you’ll pay no fees, which means you’ll keep all the money you earn.
You can also set up multiple savings accounts with different financial goals in mind. The same high savings rate applies to all of them, no matter how big or small.
Users really love Capital One’s app, which boasts high ratings from millions of iOS and Android users. It offers a simple process to transfer money between accounts and banks, set up automatic transfers and deposit checks.
It takes about five minutes to set up an account online, but you can also do it in person at a bank branch or Capital One Cafe. In fact, Capital One has hundreds of branches, which is rare for online institutions, many of which don't offer any branches at all.
4
Best for no fees: Vio Bank
Quick Facts
Annual percentage yield: 4.3%
Minimum deposit: $100
Monthly maintenance fee: $0
Why we like Vio Bank:
Vio Bank is a great option for those who want a high interest rate, with no frills or fees. The digital bank’s Cornerstone Money Market Account offers a highly competitive interest rate of 4.3% APY.
This money market account is more like your traditional savings account, in that it doesn’t offer checks or debit cards. You do, however, have a pretty solid interest rate, with no monthly fees eating away at your earnings.
One downside is that you’re limited to six withdrawals per month. After that, you’re looking at $10 for each withdrawal. The fee is steep, but if you’ve been struggling to save, this just might be the incentive you need.
Plus, you can deposit up to $25,000 per day via online transfer and $100,000 per day in checks using the app. They are FDIC insured, so your deposits are protected up to $250,000.
Vio Bank doesn't have an ATM or branch network, but internal transfers between your Vio accounts are instant. Yet, you may wait up to five business days for external transfers to be deposited.
While there are no live chat options, customer service is available via phone, seven days a week.
How does a savings account work?
A savings account is a type of bank account that allows you to hold and earn interest on your deposits. When you open a savings account, you deposit money into the account and the bank pays you interest on the balance. The interest rate varies depending on the bank and the account, but is typically higher than a checking account.
Savings accounts are a safe place to store your money, because they are typically FDIC-insured, which means that deposits are protected up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution. Money deposited into savings accounts typically isn’t invested, and you can withdraw money any time. Some banks may have limits on the number of transactions you can make per month, or charge fees for transactions. It's important to be aware of any fees associated with the account, as well as any minimum balance requirements.
What is a high-yield savings account?
A high-yield savings account typically offers a higher interest rate, often between 0.5% and 2% APY, which is a lot higher than the average savings account interest rate of 0.35%. In addition to the higher interest rate, high-yield savings accounts usually have fewer fees and lower minimum balance requirements than traditional savings accounts.
Along with the Fed rate, interest rates on high-yield savings accounts have been on rise, hitting between 3% and 5% APY. This is some of the highest rates we’ve seen since the 1980’s when they climbed to 8%.
Savings account terms you need to know
- Annual Percentage Yield (APY): The APY is the interest rate you earn on the money in your account over the course of a year. It takes into account compound interest. Look at APY’s when you are comparing savings accounts to get a sense of how much you’ll earn.
- Minimum Balance Requirement: To avoid fees or to earn interest, some savings accounts need you to maintain a minimum balance. Keep this mind when you are comparing savings accounts.
- FDIC Insurance: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insures deposits made in banks and savings institutions up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution. That means that your savings will be protected if something happens to the bank or institution. It's important to ensure that your savings account is FDIC-insured to protect your deposits.
- Monthly Maintenance Fees: While many savings accounts offer $0 fees to remain competitive, others do charge a monthly fee for holding on to your money. It's important to be aware of any fees before opening an account, because the amount can eat into your savings.
- Limitations on Transactions: Some savings accounts have a cap on the number of transactions you can make each month. These limits can include restrictions on withdrawals, transfers, or deposits. It's important to understand these limitations, as there may be fees or penalties associated with exceeding them.
Benefits of high-yield savings accounts
- High interest rates
- Low fees
- No or low minimum balance requirements
- FDIC-insured
- Additional benefits such as automated savings tools, mobile check deposit, and strong mobile app experiences
Are there monthly fees with high-yield savings accounts?
Here are some of the most common fees associated with savings accounts:
- Monthly maintenance fees
- Overdraft fees
- ATM fees for out-of-network withdrawals
- Excessive withdrawal fees
- Minimum balance fees
- Account closure fees
- Paper statement fees
- Foreign transaction fees
High-yield savings account FAQs
Methodology
Product rankings are determined by the Moneywise editorial team and are based on factors and features that everyday users care about most. We adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. The products featured in this article were independently selected, but please be aware that some products and services linked in this article are from our sponsors.
Moneywise rates products and services on a sale of 1 to 5 stars, where 5 stars is the best rating possible. Ratings are rounded up to the nearest 0.5 of a star.
Our rating system is based on the factors that mean the most to the everyday user.
These factors include:
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