Home / Guides / 16 Best High-Yield Savings Accounts (September 2026)
Financialist may earn a commission when you click partner links. That never changes our rankings or what we recommend. How we make money.
The Fed's September 2026 rate hike is pushing savings rates up - banks typically move within days, and online banks now pay 10x the national average. As of September 28, 2026, the best high-yield savings accounts pay 3.40% to 4.50% APY - versus roughly 0.4% at the big branch banks.
Every account below is FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per depositor (confirm the bank's FDIC membership on its own site before depositing). Rates are variable and change with the Fed - we date-stamp ours.
Last updated: September 28, 2026. APYs verified against current rate roundups from NerdWallet, Forbes Advisor and Motley Fool Money (September 2026). Rates are variable.
| Bank | APY | Min. to earn | Best for | Open account |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Go2bank | up to 4.50% | $0 | Highest headline rate | Check rates with Go2bank |
| Pibank | 4.40% | $0 | Highest raw rate | Check rates with Pibank |
| Elevault | 4.34% | $0 | Best high rate with no conditions | Check rates with Elevault |
| E*TRADE Premium Savings | 4.25% | $0 | Best rate with a guarantee | Check rates with E*TRADE Premium Savings |
| Axos Bank | up to 4.21% | $0 | Best for direct-deposit households | Check rates with Axos Bank |
| SoFi | up to 4.20% | $0 | Best banking bundle | Check rates with SoFi |
| Happen Bank | 4.20% | $0 | Best with monthly deposits | Check rates with Happen Bank |
| Newtek Bank | 4.20% | $0 | Best no-conditions rate over 4% | Check rates with Newtek Bank |
| CIT Bank | up to 4.10% | $5,000 | Best promo rate from an established bank | Check rates with CIT Bank |
| Peak Bank | 4.01% | $0 | Best quiet rate | Check rates with Peak Bank |
| LendingClub | 4.00% | $0 | Best from a household name | Check rates with LendingClub |
| Western Alliance Bank | 3.80% | $0 | Best via Raisin | Check rates with Western Alliance Bank |
| Bask Bank | 3.75% | $0 | Best for simple savers | Check rates with Bask Bank |
| Barclays | 3.65% | $0 | Best from a global bank | Check rates with Barclays |
| Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.40% | $0 | Best big-brand online bank | Check rates with Marcus by Goldman Sachs |
| Synchrony Bank | 3.40% | $0 | Best with ATM access | Check rates with Synchrony Bank |
up to 4.50% APY as of September 28, 2026 · minimum to earn: $0.
Go2bank pays up to 4.50% APY - the top rate in our September 25 check - but only on savings vault balances up to $5,000, and only while your Go2bank checking stays active and in good standing. Great for a starter emergency fund, capped by design.
4.40% APY as of September 28, 2026 · minimum to earn: $0.
Pibank posts 4.40% APY with no minimum and no monthly fee - the top no-strings rate in our September 28 check. It is an online-only bank (the U.S. arm of Banco Pichincha), so there are no branches and no checking account attached.
4.34% APY as of September 28, 2026 · minimum to earn: $0.
Elevault pays 4.34% APY with no minimum balance and no deposit requirements - the strongest no-strings rate after Pibank in our September 25 check. Digital-only (a division of Southern Bancorp Bank).
4.25% APY as of September 28, 2026 · minimum to earn: $0.
E*TRADE's Premium Savings pays 4.25% APY, and the rate is guaranteed for six months - rare in a variable-rate world. New customers can also earn up to $800 with promo code SAVE800 (deposit tiers apply, per Motley Fool's September 25 roundup).
Check rates with E*TRADE Premium Savings
up to 4.21% APY as of September 28, 2026 · minimum to earn: $0.
Axos ONE pays up to 4.21% APY when the account receives at least $1,500 in qualifying monthly direct deposits. Miss the deposit bar and the rate drops - automate your paycheck and forget it.
up to 4.20% APY as of September 28, 2026 · minimum to earn: $0.
SoFi pays up to 4.20% APY: a 3.30% base rate plus a 0.90% boost for up to six months when you set up direct deposit (rate as of 9/23/26). You get checking, savings and investing in one app - the catch is the boost expires and the base rate settles lower.
4.20% APY as of September 28, 2026 · minimum to earn: $0.
Happen Bank's LevelUp Savings pays 4.20% APY when you deposit at least $250 a month; below that the standard rate is 3.00%. Simple rule, strong rate - just automate the deposit.
4.20% APY as of September 28, 2026 · minimum to earn: $0.
Newtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings pays 4.20% APY with no deposit requirements to unlock it. Online-only, backed by NewtekOne, a small-business lender.
up to 4.10% APY as of September 28, 2026 · minimum to earn: $5,000.
CIT Bank's Platinum Savings pays up to 4.10% APY - a six-month promotional rate on balances of $5,000 or more (the ongoing standard rate is 3.75%, per NerdWallet). CIT is First Citizens' online arm, over 100 years old.
4.01% APY as of September 28, 2026 · minimum to earn: $0.
Peak Bank's high-yield online savings pays 4.01% APY with no monthly fees. A small online bank (a division of Idaho First Bank) that keeps showing up near the top of rate tables.
4.00% APY as of September 28, 2026 · minimum to earn: $0.
LendingClub's high-yield savings pays 4.00% APY. Better known for personal loans, its bank arm (it bought Radius Bank) offers a full online banking stack.
3.80% APY as of September 28, 2026 · minimum to earn: $0.
Western Alliance's high-yield savings - most often opened through the Raisin marketplace - pays 3.80% APY. Raisin lets you hold several banks' accounts under one login, handy for rate chasers.
Check rates with Western Alliance Bank
3.75% APY as of September 28, 2026 · minimum to earn: $0.
Bask Bank (a division of Texas Capital Bank) pays 3.75% APY with no minimums. It also runs the well-known mileage savings account if you would rather earn American Airlines miles than interest.
3.65% APY as of September 28, 2026 · minimum to earn: $0.
Barclays' U.S. online savings pays 3.65% APY with no minimum balance. No checking account or branches in the U.S. - just a plain, well-run savings product from a bank that has done this for over a decade.
3.40% APY as of September 28, 2026 · minimum to earn: $0.
Marcus pays 3.40% APY, no fees, no minimums. Rarely the top rate, but Goldman Sachs' consumer arm has a decade-long record of staying near the top of the pack and a polished app.
Check rates with Marcus by Goldman Sachs
3.40% APY as of September 28, 2026 · minimum to earn: $0.
Synchrony pays 3.40% APY and, unusually for an online savings account, offers an optional ATM card. A longtime online bank with a full deposit lineup.
Check rates with Synchrony Bank
We rank on the APY you can actually get - not teaser rates - plus minimums, fees, and the bank's track record of staying competitive after it wins your deposit. APYs above come from September 2026 roundups by NerdWallet, Forbes Advisor and Motley Fool Money, cross-checked where banks publish rates. Financialist may earn a referral fee when you open an account through partner links; that does not change the order above.