Compare high-yield savings accounts — 2026
Cash sitting in a branch checking account earns close to nothing. These four online banks pay near the short-term Treasury benchmark on the same FDIC-insured dollar.
6-month Treasury benchmark
4.17%
U.S. Treasury via FRED • 2026-09-15
Short-term Treasury yields are the reference point online savings rates track. Advertised APYs are variable and each bank sets its own; always confirm on the bank's site.
What the gap is worth
The gap is worth arithmetic rather than a headline: on a $20,000 emergency fund, every extra percentage point of yield is $200 a year, so the difference between a branch account near the FDIC national average and an online account near the short-term Treasury benchmark above is usually several hundred dollars a year for about fifteen minutes of paperwork.
Keep the account at a separate institution from your checking. The extra day of transfer time is a feature: it stops the emergency fund becoming the everyday fund.
What to check before opening
Confirm there is no minimum balance to earn the advertised APY, no monthly maintenance fee and no cap above which the rate drops. All three are common ways a headline number shrinks.
Check the transfer limits and how quickly external transfers settle. In a genuine emergency, a three-day ACH hold matters more than ten basis points.
Where to check your own rate
Editorial disclosure — Some companies listed here are commercial brands. We select them editorially from public regulatory data and are never paid for placement or ranking. Read our full disclosure.
Ranked on published product terms only: yield observed on the company's own rate page inside the past seven days, monthly fee, minimum opening deposit, deposit insurance and CFPB complaints per $1bn of deposits. Partner status and any payment we receive are held in a separate system and cannot enter this calculation.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs
Best for: high-yield savings with no fees
3.40% APY
Read from Marcus by Goldman Sachs's own rate page on 17 Sept 2026
National average: 4.17% (FRED)
Editorial score 79/100 on published terms
Ally Bank
Best for: high-yield savings, no fees
3.00% APY
Read from Ally Bank's own rate page on 16 Sept 2026
National average: 4.17% (FRED)
Editorial score 75/100 on published terms
LendingClub Bank
4.00% APY
Read from LendingClub Bank's own rate page on 16 Sept 2026
National average: 4.17% (FRED)
Editorial score 69/100 on published terms
Live Oak Bank
4.00% APY
Read from Live Oak Bank's own rate page on 17 Sept 2026
National average: 4.17% (FRED)
Editorial score 69/100 on published terms
EverBank
3.90% APY
Read from EverBank's own rate page on 17 Sept 2026
National average: 4.17% (FRED)
Editorial score 68/100 on published terms
Popular Direct
3.90% APY
Read from Popular Direct's own rate page on 17 Sept 2026
National average: 4.17% (FRED)
Editorial score 68/100 on published terms
CIT Bank
3.75% APY
Read from CIT Bank's own rate page on 17 Sept 2026
National average: 4.17% (FRED)
Editorial score 66.5/100 on published terms
Barclays
3.65% APY
Read from Barclays's own rate page on 17 Sept 2026
National average: 4.17% (FRED)
Editorial score 65.5/100 on published terms
Rates shown are indicative or national averages. Your actual rate will depend on your credit score, income, loan amount and the provider’s current pricing. Think Bigger Today is not a lender, bank or insurer. The buttons above open each company’s official website in a new tab, or a partner link where one exists and is labelled as such. Whether a company pays us has no bearing on its data, its score or its position in the ranking above.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a good savings APY right now?
Compare any offer to the 6-month Treasury benchmark above. Leading online banks usually sit close to it, while the national average across all banks — dominated by big branch networks — sits far below.
Is my money safe in an online savings account?
Every bank listed here is FDIC insured to $250,000 per depositor, per institution, per ownership category. The insurance is identical to that of a branch bank.
Can the APY change after I open the account?
Yes. Savings APYs are variable and move with the Federal Reserve's policy rate. If you want a locked rate for a set term, use a CD instead.
How much should I keep in savings?
Three to six months of essential expenses is the standard emergency-fund target. Money you need within five years belongs in savings or CDs rather than the market.
Source: U.S. Treasury via FRED • 2026-09-15.
Other comparisons
Think Bigger Today keeps its editorial standards independent of commercial relationships. This review was written by our team using publicly available information, including regulatory filings and published rate sheets. the named company did not review, approve or endorse it, and is not responsible for its accuracy. Companies that work with us commercially get no preferential coverage, scoring or placement. This page may link to our free matching service, for which we can be paid a referral fee — that fee never decides what we publish, and you may or may not be matched with the named company. Figures can change without notice; always confirm the current terms with the provider. Nothing here is financial, legal or tax advice.