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Best Money Market & High Yield Savings Accounts

Conor Keenan By: | Last updated: March 15, 2026
Conor Keenan, AWMA®, is the Co-Founder of CompareAccounts. An Accredited Wealth Management Advisor with over a decade of experience covering consumer banking and investing trends, his work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and Yahoo Finance.

Editorial Independence: Our opinions, reviews, and recommendations are our own. Partner commissions keep our site free, but our content remains independent.

You’re in the right place. Every day, we help thousands earn 10x the sad 0.39% national average APY through vetted, FDIC-insured accounts we trust for our own families & friends. Find yours below to start earning more today.

Up to $300 Bonus

SoFi-Logo

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

4.00%​ APY
with qualifying activities

5.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

On SoFi®'s Secure Site,
Member FDIC

Best For: Bonus Seekers + Large Deposits

SoFi redefines banking with a commitment to no fees—no monthly fees, no overdraft fees, and no account minimums.

Bonus: up to $300 with direct deposit.

In addition to the bonus, you'll enjoy up to 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances with qualifying activities and 0.50% APY on checking balances, fee-free overdraft coverage up to $50 and access your direct deposit funds up to two days early, giving you greater financial flexibility. Terms apply.

The current savings APY without direct deposit or $5,000+ in qualifying deposits during the 31-day evaluation period is 1.00%. Although this is still higher than the national average, if you don't plan on setting up direct deposit or depositing $5,000+, you should look at the other offers on this list unless you want more FDIC insurance.

Your deposits are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per depositor and you can also access up to $3,000,000 of additional FDIC insurance through a network of participating banks. Ensuring your money stays safe and secure. Earn a $50 or $300 bonus with direct deposit, terms apply.

Limited Time Offer: New account holders earn +0.70% boost to 4.00% on their Savings APY for up to 6 months with eligible direct deposit. Terms apply.

See SoFi's Secure Site For More Details.

Q

1. Up to $300 Bonus Tiered Disclosure
New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 12/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.30% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

2. APY disclosures
Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet

3. Fee Policy
We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Bank Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.

4. Additional FDIC Insurance
SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $2M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/terms See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/receivingbanks


5. ATM Access
We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees
may be incurred when using out-of-network ATMs. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.

6. Early Access to Direct Deposit Funds
Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.

7. Overdraft Coverage
Overdraft Coverage is a feature automatically offered to SoFi Checking and Savings account holders who receive at least $1,000 or more in Eligible Direct Deposits within a rolling 31 calendar day period on a recurring basis. Eligible Direct Deposit is defined on the SoFi Bank Rate Sheet, available at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. Members enrolled in Overdraft Coverage may be covered for up to $50 in negative balances on SoFi Bank debit card purchases only. Overdraft Coverage does not apply to P2P transfers, bill payments, checks, or other non-debit card transactions. Members with a prior history of unpaid negative balances are not eligible for Overdraft Coverage. Eligibility for Overdraft Coverage is determined by SoFi Bank in its sole discretion. Members can check their enrollment status, if eligible, at any time by logging into their account through the SoFi app or on the SoFi website.

8. 0.70% Savings APY Boost
Earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 12/23/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 3/30/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.

American First Credit Union Logo Powered By Raisin

3.90% APY

5.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

On Raisin's Secure Site
for American First,
NCUA Insured

Best For: High APY Money Market Account

Exclusively through the Raisin platform, American First Credit Union currently offers 3.90% APY on their high-yield money market account with no monthly fees and a minimum initial deposit of $1.00.

Deposits are federally insured through the NCUA for up to $250,000 per depositor and interest compounds daily.

The Raisin platform also offers you the opportunity to access up to $10 million in federal deposit insurance through its network, all from a single secure login.

Interest compounds daily and is posted to your account monthly.

As a not-for-profit financial institution, American First, at its founding, was dedicated to supporting grocery store workers and has continue to grow and serve its members for over 70 years.

Now savers across America have access to American First Credit Union saving products through Raisin.

See Raisin's Secure Site For American First Credit Union to Get More Details.

 Compare With

Chase Bank Logo

 Not Recommended 

0.01% APY

Not Recommended. Shown For Comparison Purposes Only.

Chase Bank is one of the largest and most well known banks in the United States. Unfortunately, they offer a measley 0.01% APY on their savings account.

In fact, if you're not careful and perform enough qualifying activies, having a savings account with them can actually cost you money.

The average minimum balance to avoid a monthly service fee is $300. Monthly service fees can be up to $5 per month. They limit withdrawals to 6 per monthly statement period. If you go over this number, you'll be hit with an overage fee up to $15 per month.

Other miscellaneous fees may apply as well. Because of the bottom barrel APY and various fees, we don't recommend you opening a savings account with Chase Bank.

Western Alliance Bank Savings Account Logo

3.80% APY

4.5

CompareAccounts™ Score

On Western Alliance Bank's
Secure Site, Member FDIC

Best For: High APY Interest Rates

Western Alliance Bank offers 3.80% APY on their High-Yield Savings Premier account.

In addition to this high APY, Western Alliance offers $0 account activity or maintenance fees and is insured by the FDIC for up to $250,000 per depositor.

The minimum deposit required to open an individual or joint account is $500 & a minimum balance of $0.01 is required to earn the advertised APY.

U.S.-based customer service support is available from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PDT Monday - Friday.

Western Alliance Bank was founded in 1994, has over $80 billion in assets and is consistently ranked among the top banks.

They were ranked #1 Top-Performing Large Bank with Assets $50 billion and Above in 2021, 2022, & 2023 by American Banker. They were ranked again by American Banker and Bank Director as a top U.S. bank in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

See Western Alliance Bank's Secure Site For More Details.

Q

Western Alliance Bank APY Disclosure

ⓘ The annual percentage yield (APY) is accurate as of January 20, 2026 and subject to change at the Bank’s discretion. Refer to product’s website for latest APY rate. Minimum deposit required to open an account is $500 and a minimum balance of $0.01 is required to earn the advertised APY.

Western Alliance Bank Savings Account Logo

3.80% APY

4.5

CompareAccounts™ Score

On Western Alliance Bank's
Secure Site, Member FDIC

Best For: High APY Interest Rates

Western Alliance Bank offers 3.80% APY on their High-Yield Savings Premier account.

In addition to this high APY, Western Alliance offers $0 account activity or maintenance fees and is insured by the FDIC for up to $250,000 per depositor.

The minimum deposit required to open an individual or joint account is $500 & a minimum balance of $0.01 is required to earn the advertised APY.

U.S.-based customer service support is available from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PDT Monday - Friday.

Western Alliance Bank was founded in 1994, has over $80 billion in assets and is consistently ranked among the top banks.

They were ranked #1 Top-Performing Large Bank with Assets $50 billion and Above in 2021, 2022, & 2023 by American Banker. They were ranked again by American Banker and Bank Director as a top U.S. bank in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

See Western Alliance Bank's Secure Site For More Details.

 

Q

Western Alliance Bank APY Disclosure

ⓘ The annual percentage yield (APY) is accurate as of January 20, 2026 and subject to change at the Bank’s discretion. Refer to product’s website for latest APY rate. Minimum deposit required to open an account is $500 and a minimum balance of $0.01 is required to earn the advertised APY.
CIT Bank Logo, Member FDIC

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

3.75% APY

4.5

CompareAccounts™ Score

On CIT Bank®'s Secure Site,
Member FDIC

Best For: $5,000+ Balances

CIT Bank ranked #1 in the nation for humanizing the customer experience in a recent survey conducted by American Banker of more than 5,000 consumers covering 50 financial institutions.

CIT Bank has been helping customers for over 100 years. Founded in 1908, CIT Bank is now part of First Citizens BancShares, Inc.

CIT Bank offers 3.75% APY1 on their Platinum Savings account with no monthly fees. Minimum Balance for this APY is $5,000.

You can open a CIT Bank platinum savings account in as little as 5 minutes to complete the sign-up process.

Deposits are insured through the FDIC for up to $250,000 per depositor and interest compounds daily. Terms Apply

See CIT Bank's Secure Site For More Details.

Q

Platinum Savings Account Disclosure

1 Platinum Savings is a tiered interest rate account. Interest is paid on the entire account balance based on the interest rate and APY in effect that day for the balance tier associated with the end-of-day account balance. *APYs — Annual Percentage Yields are accurate as of January 9, 2026: 0.25% APY on balances of $0.01 to $4,999.99; 3.75% APY on balances of $5,000.00 or more. Interest Rates for the Platinum Savings account are variable and may change at any time without notice. The minimum to open a Platinum Savings account is $100.

For complete list of account details and fees, see our Personal Account disclosures.” (link:https://cit-fcb-t.cit.com/cit-bank/resources/forms)

Synchrony Bank Logo

3.50% APY

4.5

CompareAccounts™ Score

On Synchrony Bank's
Secure Site, Member FDIC

Best For: High APY From a Fortune 500 Bank

Synchrony Bank is offering a 3.50% APY (annual percentage yield) on its High Yield Savings Account, that’s many times the national average. With no minimum balance to open and no monthly service fees, you can start earning more on your savings today.

Interest compounds daily and posts monthly, so your money is always working harder for you. Unlike CDs, you’ll still have full access to your cash whenever you need it. Perfect for an emergency fund or short-term goals.

Synchrony also makes managing your account easy: their mobile app gives you 24/7 access to your balance and transactions. And with FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, you’ll have peace of mind while your savings grow.

Founded in 2003, Synchrony is a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest consumer banks in the U.S., serving millions of customers nationwide. Terms Apply

See Synchrony Bank's Secure Site For More Details.

Q

Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is subject to change at any time without notice. Offer applies to personal accounts only. Fees may reduce earnings. For High Yield Savings accounts, the rate may change after the account is opened. Visit synchrony.com/banking for current rates, terms and account requirements. Member FDIC.

state exchange bank logo

2.51% APY

3.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

On Raisin's Secure Site for
State Exchange Bank, Member FDIC

Best For: High-Yield Savings + Community Bank

The State Exchange Bank is a locally owned, independent community bank with deep roots in Oklahoma.

It originally opened in Salt Fork on October 1, 1901 and relocated to Lamont in 1935, where it has continued operating as a community-focused institution.

Today, The State Exchange Bank offers its high-yield savings account nationwide through Raisin platform. Savers can earn 2.51% APY, open with just $1, and manage the account online with 24/7 access with no monthly fees.

Deposits are FDIC insured up to $250,000 per depositor.

See Raisin's Secure Site for The State Exchange Bank For More Details.

 Compare With

Bank of America Logo

 Not Recommended 

0.01%

Not Recommended. Shown For Comparison Purposes Only.

Bank of America, another large bank that offers nearly nothing on their savings accounts.

They currently offer a regretful 0.01% APY on their Advantage Savings Account.

Bank of America will charge you a $8 monthly maintence fee unless one of the following conditions is met.

Minumum daily balance of $500, if you are a Bank of America Preferred Rewards client, if you link your Savings account to your Bank of America Advantage Relationship Banking® account, are under the age of 18 or if you're under the age of 25 and can qualify as a student.

Other miscellanerous fees may apply as well, such as $5 for statement copies. Because of the bottom barrel APY and various fees, we don't recommend you opening a savings account with Bank of America.

To recap our recommendations.

Best Savings Accounts According To CompareAccounts™

SoFi® Checking and Savings: 4.00%​ APY & Earn up to $300 with qualifying activities

Customers Also Viewed: Bonus Checking Accounts

Q

Top choice for bonus + APY

5.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

Bonus: up to $300 with Direct Deposit
Limited Time Offer: +0.70% Boost to 4.00%​ APY for up to 6 Months on New Accounts with Eligible Direct Deposit.

On SoFi's Secure Site,
Member FDIC

Up to $300 Bonus

SoFi-Logo

5.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

  • Checking & Savings Account
  • No Monthly Fees
  • No Overdraft Fees
  • Fee-Free Overdraft Coverage Available
  • Bonus: up to $300 with Direct Deposit
  • Set Up Direct Deposit & Access Funds up to 2 Days Sooner with Early Pay
  • Access 55,000+ Fee-Free ATMs within the Allpoint® Network
  • Send Money with SoFi's Peer-to-Peer Payment System
  • Earn 0.50% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on Checking Balances
  • Earn $50 or $300 with direct deposit, terms apply.
  • Limited Time Offer: New account holders earn +0.70% boost to 4.00% on their Savings APY for up to 6 months with eligible direct deposit. Terms apply
  • See Site for Details
Q

1. Up to $300 Bonus Tiered Disclosure
New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 12/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.30% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

2. APY disclosures
Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet

3. Fee Policy
We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Bank Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.

4. Additional FDIC Insurance
SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $2M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/terms See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/receivingbanks


5. ATM Access
We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees
may be incurred when using out-of-network ATMs. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.

6. Early Access to Direct Deposit Funds
Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.

7. Overdraft Coverage
Overdraft Coverage is a feature automatically offered to SoFi Checking and Savings account holders who receive at least $1,000 or more in Eligible Direct Deposits within a rolling 31 calendar day period on a recurring basis. Eligible Direct Deposit is defined on the SoFi Bank Rate Sheet, available at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. Members enrolled in Overdraft Coverage may be covered for up to $50 in negative balances on SoFi Bank debit card purchases only. Overdraft Coverage does not apply to P2P transfers, bill payments, checks, or other non-debit card transactions. Members with a prior history of unpaid negative balances are not eligible for Overdraft Coverage. Eligibility for Overdraft Coverage is determined by SoFi Bank in its sole discretion. Members can check their enrollment status, if eligible, at any time by logging into their account through the SoFi app or on the SoFi website.

8. 0.70% Savings APY Boost
Earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 12/23/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 3/30/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.

On SoFi's Secure Site,
Member FDIC

 

 $400 Bonus 

Truist Bank & Online Banking Logo

5.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

  • Checking Account
  • Visa® Debit Card
  • Minimum Deposit: $50
  • Overdraft Fees: $0
  • Mobile Check Deposit
  • No ATM Fees at Truist ATMs
  • Earn $400 with qualifying activities. For new checking clients only.
  • Use Promo Code: AFL400TR1Q425
  • Offer valid through 3/25/2026.
  • Terms & Conditions Apply
  • See Site for Details

Q

Terms and Conditions for Truist One Checking $400 Affiliate Online Offer Q4 2025 and Q1 2026: AFL400TR1Q425

Offer Information: Open a new Truist One Checking account online from 10/30/25 through 3/25/26, complete the following activities within 120 days of the account opening and earn $400. You must open the account online and enter the promo code to be eligible to participate in the promotion.

Receive at least two qualifying direct deposits* totaling $2,000 or more AND

Complete at least 20 qualifying debit card purchases** within 120 days of account opening. All debit purchases must be posted to your account to qualify.

Account must be opened online. Enrollment in the promotion is required at the time of account opening using promo code AFL400TR1Q425. Please refer to the Account Opening and Enrollment section below for full instructions.

*A qualifying direct deposit is an electronic credit (greater than $5.00) deposited into your new checking account via ACH. Person to person payments (such as Zelle®), Real Time Payments (RTP), pre-authorized transfers made from one account to another, or deposits made via a branch, ATM, online transfer, mobile device, debit/prepaid card number or the mail are not eligible direct deposits.

**Qualifying debit card purchases include any purchase made with a Truist debit card and posted to the new checking account within 120 days of account opening. ATM withdrawals using your debit card are not qualifying transactions. Zelle® transactions are not qualifying transactions. Bank fees are not included.

Offer Eligibility: Clients that are the primary account holder on an existing personal checking account with Truist or who have closed a personal checking account with Truist on or after 10/30/24 are not eligible to participate. Offer valid for Truist One Checking accounts only. Primary account holder must be 18 or older at the time of account opening. Truist employees, Directors, Officers, and Local Boards/Advisors are not eligible. Offer available only to US residents with a valid US taxpayer identification number. The qualifying checking account must be opened online and have a physical address in: AL, AR, FL, GA, IN, KY, MD, MS, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV or DC.

Reward Processing: The reward will be deposited to the new checking account within 4 weeks after the qualification requirements have been met and verified. Promotion is only applicable once per checking account and per client. Truist may report the value of any offer reward received to the IRS as required by law. Any applicable taxes are the responsibility of the recipient.

Reward Forfeiture: Reward forfeiture will occur if: (1) the new checking account is changed to an account type not included in this client offer (2) the new checking account has a $0.00 or negative available balance or is restricted at the time Truist verifies the qualification requirements have been met or (3) the new checking account is closed at the time of payout. An account is considered restricted if it has a temporary or permanent block that prevents credits from posting to the account. Truist verification will occur one time after the qualification requirements are initially met.

Other Terms: Minimum opening deposit is $50. The offer is non-transferable, may not be combined with any other checking offers, is subject to change, and may be discontinued at any time. Truist reserves the right, in its sole discretion: 1) to prohibit a reward payout for any offers claimed through third-party websites with no affiliation or prior authorization from Truist; and 2) to disqualify any account if Truist suspects accounts are being opened for the purpose of exploiting this promotional offer. All promotional payouts will be processed no later than 3/31/27 at which point this promotion (and any related disbursements) will be considered final, and no further disbursements will be made. All standard account terms and conditions apply.

Account Opening & Enrollment Instructions: To open and enroll your new account in the promotion, visit the offer website and click on “Open an account online.” Enter AFL400TR1Q425 into the promo code field provided, review the offer Terms and Conditions, and then select “Accept Offer”. Accounts opened without the promo code applied will not be eligible to participate in the offer. Once enrolled in the promotion, clients may receive promotional updates via the email address provided or by calling 800.709.8700.

Version 3 09162025 AFL400TR1Q425

©2025 Truist Financial Corporation. TRUIST, the Truist logo and Truist Purple are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation. All rights reserved. Truist Bank, 214 N Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202.

On Truist's Secure Site,
Member FDIC

What to Look for in a High-Yield Savings Account

It’s always wise to compare your options when opening a new savings account. Small differences in interest rates and fees can quickly add up over time, especially if you’re keeping a large balance in savings.

Here are the top features to look for and compare:

1. Interest Rate

The interest rate of a savings account is one of its most important features. However, a very high interest rate can get completely wiped out by monthly fees.

Although your main goal may be a higher interest rate, be sure to focus on low and better yet, no monthly fee accounts. Other important features of your savings account include the required initial deposit, minimum balance required, and how you access your money.

2. Monthly Fees

Monthly fees can destroy your return. You should avoid them like the plague. That’s why we recommend you focus on no monthly fee savings accounts to maximize your return.

3. Required Initial Deposit

Does the bank require a large initial deposit? Are you comfortable depositing that much right away? These days, most banks will allow you to open an account with as little as $1 or even $0 dollars.

Some banks may offer a higher yield with a higher initial deposit. You’ll just need to decide whether that higher initial deposit will be worth any increase in yield.

4. Minimum Balance Required

Minimum balance required to maintain your account is another feature to keep a close eye on.

Most of the banks we recommend do not have large minimum balance requirements, if any minimum balance requirement at all.

The accounts we do recommend that have a higher minimum required balance are usually CD accounts, which you don’t want to open unless you want to lock up your money for 6 months, 12 months or longer.

5. Accessing Your Money

Accessing your money is important with any account. Some high yield savings accounts allow you to transfer funds out of the account as often as you’d like, while others place limits on the number of outgoing transfers you can perform per month.

Additionally, some banks will issue a debit card for your high yield savings account, although that is more common for checking accounts.

We recommend to not focus on the debit card aspect too much and instead ask yourself “how often will I need to pull money from my savings?” We believe that savings should be left alone, until really needed, in order take advantage of compound interest.

Although a limit of 6 out going transfers sounds low, if you need to pull money out more often than that, we’d recommend putting those funds into a checking account instead.

*National Savings Rate Average as published by FDIC