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High-yield savings accounts (HYSAs) offer returns 10 to 15 times those of traditional savings accounts. The best HYSAs are often offered by digital-first institutions, but you can also find competitive offerings from brick-and-mortar banks.
CNBC Select has chosen the best HYSAs by major financial institutions, based on APY, fees, ease of use, customer service and other criteria. See our methodology for information on how we compiled this list.
Best big bank high-yield savings accounts of 2026
Compare the best high-yield savings accounts by big banks
| Savings Account | Minimum Deposit | Monthly Fee | Withdrawal/Transfer Limit | ATM Card with Savings Account? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express® High Yield Savings Account | $0 | $0 | Unlimited | No |
| Barclays Tiered Savings | $0.01 | $0 | Up to 6/month | No |
| Capital One 360 Performance Savings | $0 | $0 | Up to 6/month | No |
| Discover® Online Savings | $0 | $0 | Up to 6/month | No |
| Sallie Mae High-Yield Savings Account | $0 | $0 | Up to 6/month | No |
Best for high APYs: Sallie Mae
Who's this for? Sallie Mae High-Yield Savings Accounts offer competitive rates that are often 20 times the national average, with interest compounding daily.
Standout benefits: You can transfer funds via text message, deposit checks by phone and set up mobile alerts to keep on top of your balance. There is a limit of six withdrawals a month but no cap on the number of transfers to pay down Sallie Mae loans.
Sallie Mae High-Yield Savings Account
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
3.90% APY
Minimum balance
None
Monthly fee
None
Maximum transactions
Up to 6 free withdrawals or transfers per statement cycle
Excessive transactions fee
None
Overdraft fee
None
Offer checking account?
No
Offer ATM card?
No
Terms apply.
Pros
- Strong APY
- No minimum balance or deposit
- No monthly fees
- Offers e-deposit for depositing checks on the go
- Offers mobile text banking and mobile text alerts
Cons
- Higher APYs offered elsewhere
- No option to add a checking account
- No ATM access
Best for branch access: Capital One
Who's this for? If you enjoy in-person banking, Capital One 360 Performance Savings is a winner. Capital One has more than 300 branches nationwide, plus over 55 Capital One Cafés, where you can open an account, make withdrawals and enjoy coffee and snacks.
Capital One 360 Performance Savings™
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
3.50% APY
Minimum balance
None
Monthly fee
None
Maximum transactions
Up to 6 free withdrawals or transfers per statement cycle
Excessive transactions fee
None
Overdraft fee
None
Offer checking account?
Yes
Offer ATM card?
Yes, if have a Capital One checking account
Terms apply.
Pros
- Strong APY
- No minimum balance or deposit
- No monthly fees
- Option to add a checking account with ATM access
- Has physical branch locations, plus Capital One® Cafés
- Has a top-rated mobile app
- Offers mobile check deposit
- Users can take advantage of free credit monitoring service
Cons
- Higher APYs offered elsewhere
Standout benefits: 360 Performance Savings offers a solid APY with no minimum balance requirements and zero monthly fees.
Best for customer service: American Express
Who's this for? American Express is best known for its cards, but it offers a variety of financial services, including the American Express High Yield Savings Account. It's easy to manage, earns positive reviews and comes with 24/7 customer service.
Standout benefits: Account holders can make unlimited withdrawals and transfers per monthly statement cycle up to the daily transaction limit.
American Express® High Yield Savings Account
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
3.10% APY as of 5/19/2026
Minimum balance
Min balance to open = $0
Monthly fee
$0
Maximum transactions
No limits
Excessive transactions fee
$0
Overdraft fee
$0
Offer checking account?
No
Offer ATM card?
No
Terms apply.
American Express National Bank is a Member FDIC.
Pros
- Strong APY
- Min deposit / Min balance = $0
- $0 monthly fees
- 24/7 customer support
- Helpful "Tips & Tools" section on website
Cons
- Higher APYs offered elsewhere
- No option to add a checking account
- No ATM access
- You can't deposit a check via the mobile app
The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) as advertised is accurate as of 5/19/2026. Interest rate and APY are subject to change at any time without notice before and after a High Yield Savings Account is opened. Interest Rate and APY of a Certificate of Deposit account is fixed once the account is funded
There is no minimum balance required to open your Account, to avoid being charged a fee, or to obtain the Annual Percentage Yield (APY) disclosed to you
For purposes of transferring funds to or from an external bank, business days are Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. Transfers can be initiated 24/7 via the website or phone, but any transfers initiated after 7:00 PM Eastern Time or on non-business days will begin processing on the next business day. Funds deposited into your account may be subject to holds. See the Funds Availability section of your Consumer Deposit Account Agreement and Savings Schedules for more information.
Best to help you save: Barclays
Who's this for? Barclays Tiered Savings includes access to the Barclays Savings Assistant. Input how much the goal costs, how much you already have saved and how much you can contribute monthly. Barclays Savings Assistant will then calculate how many months it will take to reach it.
Standout benefits: Big savers get a higher APY on balances of $250,000 or more. You also get unlimited withdrawals or transfers per monthly statement cycle.
Barclays Tiered Savings
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
3.65% APY (3.75% APY on balances of $250,000 or greater)
Minimum balance
No minimum balance to open, but for interest to post to your account you must maintain a minimum balance that would earn you at least $0.01.
Monthly fee
$0
Maximum transactions
Up to 6 free withdrawals or transfers per statement cycle *The 6/statement cycle withdrawal limit is waived during the coronavirus outbreak under Regulation D
Excessive transactions fee
You may incur a fee and your account may close if you violate the limit more than three times in a year
Overdraft fees
N/A
Offer checking account?
No
Offer ATM card?
No
Terms apply.
Pros
- Strong APY
- No minimum balance required
- No monthly fees
- Barclays savings assistant tool
- Offers Deposit Checks feature for depositing checks via mobile
- Up to 6 free withdrawals or transfers per statement cycle*
Cons
- Excessive transactions may incur a fee or your account may close
- No option to add a checking account
- No ATM access
Best checking/savings combo: Discover
Who's this for? If you're looking to do all your banking in one place, Discover offers a stellar savings and checking account that earns a solid return on savings and gives cash back on debit card purchases.
Standout benefits: The Discover® Cashback Debit Card can be used at over 60,000 ATMs nationwide.
How to choose a high-yield savings account
When choosing a high-yield savings account, there are a variety of factors to consider:
- APY: What rate is the bank offering and how often does interest compound?.
- Fees: Is there a monthly maintenance charge or other fees that can reduce your earnings?.
- Deposit and balance requirements: Check if there's a minimum to open the account or to earn the highest rate.
- Access and convenience: Consider how easy it is to manage your account online, on your phone or in person.
- Customer experience: Choose banks with good reputations for customer service and user-friendly digital platforms.
- Additional features: Some accounts offer tiered interest rates or other perks that might fit your saving habits.
Pros and cons of big bank HYSAs
- Physical branches for personal attention
- Large ATM networks for convenience
- Access to a variety of banking products, including CDs, loans and mortgages
- More robust online tools and services
- Often lower rates on savings accounts than online banks
- Minimum deposit requirements
- May require monthly maintenance fee
FAQs
Why should I get a high-yield savings account from a big bank?
While people associate HYSAs with online banks, larger institutions with physical locations can provide more robust and in-person customer service. They're also more likely to have a variety of other financial products, enabling you to keep all your accounts in one place and receive additional perks.
Are high-yield savings accounts safe?
Like traditional deposit accounts, HYSAs are insured by the FDIC up to $250,000 per depositor. That makes them one of the safest vehicles for saving.
Is a high-yield savings account worth it?
In most cases, an HYSA is a good option because it combines a higher APY with relative liquidity. If you have a longer-term financial goal, you'll probably get a better return by investing.
What is the downside of a high-yield savings account?
The biggest downside of an HYSA is that its interest rate fluctuates frequently and usually declines when the Federal Reserve lowers rates. You may also have to meet a minimum deposit or balance requirement or have a cap on the higher APY.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed financial decisions. Every savings account list is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of banking products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best savings accounts by big banks.
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Our methodology
To determine which large financial institutions offer the best high-yield savings accounts, CNBC Select compared HYSAs from more than 20 of the largest banks and credit unions, based on asset size. Only accounts with no monthly maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements were considered.
We judged each across a range of features, including APY, compound frequency, account accessibility, customer reviews and limits on withdrawals and transfers.
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
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