High-yield savings accounts yield up to 5.00% APY (annual percentage yield) as of May 18, 2026. That’s a far superior return for savers looking to earn interest than the national average savings rate of 0.38%, per numbers from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
Whether you’re building an emergency fund, saving for a big expenditure like a dream vacation, preparing to make a sizable investment in precious metals like gold and silver or saving for retirement, making sure your funds are in one of the top high-yield savings accounts is a smart money move.
The three accounts we’ve identified with the highest annual percentage yields are as follows:
- Earn up to 5.00% with Varo Money.
- Earn up to 4.50% with SoFi.
- Earn up to 4.21% with Axos Bank.
Best savings account rates today
Fortune has partnered with the financial industry consultants at Curinos to give you an accurate look at the highest savings account rates on the market. Top earning accounts at the moment are available at Varo Money, SoFi, and Axos Bank. Read on to see our full list of HYSAs and find the one that’s right for your needs.
What the Fortune/Curinos partnership means for your savings
Curinos brings more than three decades in the financial services data space to the table. The Fortune team receives and analyzes daily Curinos reports showcasing savings account and certificate of deposit (CD) rates at a wide swath of financial institutions. The end result is a data-driven list empowering savers to select accounts that they will find the most rewarding.
Check Out Our Daily Rates Reports
- Discover the highest high-yield savings rates, up to 5% for May 15, 2026.
- Discover the highest CD rates, up to 4.20% for May 15, 2026.
- Discover the top CD rates from major banks on May 15, 2026.
- Discover the current mortgage rates for May 15, 2026.
- Discover current refi mortgage rates report for May 15, 2026.
- Discover current ARM mortgage rates report for May 15, 2026.
- Discover the current price of gold for May 15, 2026.
- Discover the current price of silver for May 15, 2026.
Historical national average savings rates
While the average savings account rate has increased from the lows seen from 2020 to 2022, it’s still far below the APYs available on the most generous high-yield savings accounts on our list.
Reasons to choose a high-yield savings account
To be clear, there’s no such thing as a special class of bank accounts called “high-yield savings accounts.” There’s simply a group of U.S. financial institutions that tend to offer savings account rates that are much higher than the industry average. Financial experts call them high-yield savings accounts.
Banks that offer conventional savings accounts with lower interest rates tend to have bricks-and-mortar branch networks and offer a full suite of deposit and lending products. Meanwhile, institutions that offer high-yield savings accounts are oftentimes online banks with a very limited menu of other banking products and no access to physical branches.
So, if you’re looking to maximize the interest you earn on your savings and you’re comfortable managing this part of your banking online rather than in-branch, choosing a high-yield savings account might take you from earning what seems like pennies in interest to potentially hundreds of dollars per year (depending of course on how much you deposit and your specific APY).
How much interest you might earn with a higher APY
Let’s consider a hypothetical where a saver leaves $5,000 in an account untouched for a year, and the savings account’s APY remains stable for that time. Here are estimates for the interest you might earn in an account with a 5.00% APY compared to one with a 0.40% APY:
As you can see, keeping your money in a high-yield savings account rather than a traditional savings account is a relatively low effort change that can make a huge difference in what you earn.
Criteria when choosing a high-yield savings account
Some key factors savers will typically wish to prioritize include:
- Interest rates. Look for competitive APYs to maximize your earnings.
- Low or no minimums. Many high-yield accounts have no minimum balance requirements, which is great for savers who are just starting out and don’t have a huge chunk of cash on hand to deposit upfront.
- No monthly fees. Avoid accounts with monthly maintenance fees that can eat into your savings.
- Accessibility of funds. Ensure you can easily withdraw or transfer money when needed—some banks have withdrawal limits and charge fees for foreign ATMs.
- Security and insurance. Verify that the account is FDIC-insured if it’s a bank or NCUA-insured if it’s a credit union.
No matter what type of savings account you hold, you can expect to pay taxes on any interest you earn.
Frequently asked questions
Are savings account rates going to fall?
This is possible but not certain. Financial institutions often adjust the rates they offer as the Federal Reserve raises or cuts its benchmark federal funds rate. The Fed made several cuts to the federal funds rate in late 2025—good news for folks hoping to borrow with financial products like mortgages, but not such great news for savers worried about the APYs on their accounts decreasing.
Can I lose money in a high-yield savings account?
Before you open an account, make sure your savings will be insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). That should protect you against losing money. It’s also worth noting that money in a savings account is not at risk of a loss in the same way as money invested in the stock market. However, your money could still lose purchasing power if inflation outpaces your account’s APY.
Is a high-yield savings account still worth it?
In short, yes. Even as the Fed has cut the federal funds rate, many high-yield savings accounts still offer APYs above 4.00%. And, high-yield savings accounts remain one of the best vehicles for earning interest on your money while keeping it readily accessible. However, if you’re willing to sacrifice liquidity in exchange for a locked-in rate, consider opening a certificate of deposit instead.
SoFi Disclaimers
INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE
1.
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.
2.
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/.
3.
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-ratesheet. 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.
4.
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
5.
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 within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount 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.
6: 0.70% Savings APY Boost
Earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on one SoFi Savings account with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 3/31/26) for up to 6 months. Open your first SoFi Checking and Savings account and receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 12/31/26. Rates are variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
7:
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.
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SoFi Plus is a premium membership that gives members access to our best rewards, benefits, and more when they pay the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee. Between 12/9/25–3/30/26, members with Eligible Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits will receive complimentary access to SoFi Plus. Benefits are subject to change and may not be available to everyone. All terms and conditions applicable to the use of SoFi Plus apply. To learn more about SoFi Plus and available benefits and terms, please see the SoFi Plus page.
SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC, Loans originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891, (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). Advisory services are offered through SoFi Wealth, LLC an SEC-registered investment adviser. Brokerage products are offered through SoFi Securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. ©2026 SoFi Technologies, Inc.
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Other fees, such as exchange fees, may apply. Please view our fee disclosure to view a full listing of fees.
10:
Probability of Member receiving $1,000 is a probability of 0.026%; If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Customer must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify. Probability percentage is subject to decrease.
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SoFi Plus members can schedule an unlimited number of appointments with a financial planner during periods in which the SoFi Plus member meets the eligibility criteria set forth in section 10(a) of the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions. SoFi members who are not members of SoFi Plus can schedule one (1) appointment with a financial planner. The ability to schedule appointments is subject to financial planner availability. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this benefit at any time with or without notice. Advisory services are offered by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Information about SoFi Wealth’s advisory operations, services, and fees is set forth in SoFi Wealth’s current Form ADV Part 2 (Brochure), a copy of which is available upon request and at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov
