Top High-Yield Savings Accounts (May 2026): Earn Up to 5.00% APY

Cinco de Mayo is all about celebration. Your savings account balance should give you something to celebrate too.

If opening your banking app feels more like a disappointment than a fiesta, it's time for a change.

The difference between a weak rate and a strong one adds up faster than you think.

High-yield savings accounts (HYSAs) are still offering up to 5.00% APY. Give your money something to party about.

Our Picks for the Best High-Yield Savings Accounts of 2026

Disclaimers

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.

Based on comparison to the national average Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on savings accounts as published in the FDIC National Rates and Rate Caps, accurate as of February 17, 2026.

* Platinum Savings APY Boost Promotion Terms and Conditions

This is a limited time offer available to New and Existing customers who meet the Platinum Savings APY Boost promotion criteria.

Accounts enrolled in the Platinum Savings Annual Percentage Yield (APY) Boost promotion will receive a 0.35% APY boost on the Platinum Savings current standard APY tiers for 6 months following the opening of a new account or when an existing Platinum Savings account is enrolled in the promotion. The Platinum Savings APY boost will be applied on account balances up to $9,999,999.00. Account balances above $9,999,999.00 will earn the standard APY. If the standard-published APY should change during the promotion period, the APY boost will move with it, offering an account APY above the standard rate.

The Promotion begins on February 13, 2026, and ends May 31, 2026. Customers enrolled in the promotion prior to the end date will receive the APY boost for the 6-month period outlined in the terms and conditions.

The promotion can end at any time without notice.

For complete list of account details and fees, see our Personal Account disclosures.

CIT General Disclosure

For complete list of account details and fees, see our Personal Account disclosures. https://www.cit.com/cit-bank/resources/forms

The annual percentage yield (APY) is accurate as of January 8, 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.

Accurate as of the time of publication. The national average rate referenced is from the FDIC’s published National Rates and Rate Caps for Savings deposit products, accurate as of March 16, 2026. See the FDIC website for more information.

Best HYSA rates today, May 5, 2026

Bank Account APY Requirements Varo Savings up to 5.00% Qualify to earn 5.00% APY on up to $5,000, and 2.50% APY on any amount above that. Go2bank up to 4.50% On savings vault balances up to $5,000 when your checking account is active and in good standing. Pibank Savings 4.40% No min. balance Axos ONE® up to 4.21% Receive at least $1,500 in total monthly qualifying direct deposits and maintain an average daily balance of at least $1,500 Newtek Bank Personal High Yield Savings 4.20% No min. balance to open, min. $0.01 required to earn interest

Data source: Issuing banks. Rates are accurate as of May 4, 2026.

Featured HYSA:

Right now, with the CIT Platinum Savings account, earn up to 4.10%* APY for a limited time with a savings balance of $5,000 or greater. Just use code CITBOOST at sign-up. Growing your savings balance has never been easier. Check out our full review to learn more, or click below to open an account now.

Member FDIC.

Limited-time Offer:

Earn up to 4.10% APY with promo code CITBoost Circle with letter I in it.

With the 6 month Boost limited-time offer, you earn 4.10%* APY on balances over $5,000 (balances less than $5,000 earn 0.60%* APY). After the boost is complete you will continue to earn standard rates-- 3.75% APY for balances over $5,000 (balances less than $5,000 earn 0.25% APY). The minimum to open a Platinum Savings account is $100. Member FDIC. No monthly service fees.

APY

up to 4.10%* Rate info Circle with letter I in it. 4.10%* APY for balances of $5,000 or more; otherwise, 0.60%* APY

• Competitive APY
• No account opening or maintenance fees
• Unlimited number of external transfers (up to daily transaction limits)
• FDIC insured
• Interest compounds daily so your money can grow a bit faster

• Balance requirement for maximum APY
• No branch access; online only

CIT Platinum Savings is a no-frills high-interest savings account that offers one of the highest APYs we've found available today -- as long as you can maintain a $5,000 minimum balance. Plus, customers can make an unlimited number of transfers and withdrawals each month (many savings accounts have monthly limits).

Open a CIT Platinum Savings Account

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.

Based on comparison to the national average Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on savings accounts as published in the FDIC National Rates and Rate Caps, accurate as of February 17, 2026.

* Platinum Savings APY Boost Promotion Terms and Conditions

This is a limited time offer available to New and Existing customers who meet the Platinum Savings APY Boost promotion criteria.

Accounts enrolled in the Platinum Savings Annual Percentage Yield (APY) Boost promotion will receive a 0.35% APY boost on the Platinum Savings current standard APY tiers for 6 months following the opening of a new account or when an existing Platinum Savings account is enrolled in the promotion. The Platinum Savings APY boost will be applied on account balances up to $9,999,999.00. Account balances above $9,999,999.00 will earn the standard APY. If the standard-published APY should change during the promotion period, the APY boost will move with it, offering an account APY above the standard rate.

The Promotion begins on February 13, 2026, and ends May 31, 2026. Customers enrolled in the promotion prior to the end date will receive the APY boost for the 6-month period outlined in the terms and conditions.

The promotion can end at any time without notice.

For complete list of account details and fees, see our Personal Account disclosures.

CIT General Disclosure

For complete list of account details and fees, see our Personal Account disclosures. https://www.cit.com/cit-bank/resources/forms

At Motley Fool Money, we rate savings accounts on a five-star scale, shown in tenths of a point to highlight even small differences between products. Accounts are evaluated across four main criteria:

• APY
• Brand and reputation
• Fees and minimum requirements
• Accessibility and features

Scores may be adjusted to reward limited-time high rates or penalize accounts with excessive fees. Our goal is to highlight accounts that are competitive, easy to use, and backed by trusted institutions. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates bank accounts.

At Motley Fool Money, we rate savings accounts on a five-star scale, shown in tenths of a point to highlight even small differences between products. Accounts are evaluated across four main criteria:

• APY
• Brand and reputation
• Fees and minimum requirements
• Accessibility and features

Scores may be adjusted to reward limited-time high rates or penalize accounts with excessive fees. Our goal is to highlight accounts that are competitive, easy to use, and backed by trusted institutions. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates bank accounts.

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Why opening an HYSA now still makes sense

There were a total of three Fed rate cuts in 2025, but the best high-yield savings accounts still pay rates several times higher than what most big banks are paying.

What makes an HYSA appealing isn't just the rate. Your money stays safe with FDIC protection (up to $250,000 per depositor), and you can transfer it in or out whenever you need. That flexibility makes it an easy choice for both short-term goals and rainy-day savings.

One thing to keep in mind: rates can shift quickly. When the Fed cuts rates, APYs trend lower. Luckily for savers, the Fed has decided to hold rates steady so far this year. Acting now could help you take advantage of a stronger return while competitive APYs are still on the table.

Open a high-yield savings account in 3 simple steps

It only takes a few minutes to get started. Here's how:

1. Compare your options. Look for an account with a high APY, no monthly fees, and easy access to your cash. If the bank also offers checking, it can make transfers between accounts faster and simpler.
2. Apply online. Most banks let you open an account directly through their website. You'll just need to share basic details like your name, address, and Social Security number.
3. Transfer your funds. Once approved, move money from your checking or another savings account. Most transfers process within a few business days.

That's all it takes to start earning more on your money. Just remember to update any automatic transfers or deposits so they connect to your new account.

What does a higher APY really do for your money?

The right savings account doesn't just keep your money safe -- it helps it grow faster than you might think. At around 4.00% APY, your balance compounds quietly in the background, earning interest on top of interest every single month.

Here's what that kind of steady growth looks like over time -- even if you never add another dollar:

Starting Balance After 1 Year After 5 Years After 10 Years After 20 Years $1,000 $1,040 $1,217 $1,480 $2,191 $5,000 $5,204 $6,105 $7,454 $11,113 $10,000 $10,407 $12,210 $14,908 $22,226 $20,000 $20,815 $24,420 $29,817 $44,452

Data source: Author's calculations.

That's the power of compounding -- your savings balance growing on its own, little by little, without any extra work from you.

The gap between the national average rate (0.38%) and today's top HYSAs is huge. Over time, that difference can mean thousands of extra dollars in your pocket. Opening one of the best high-yield savings accounts today can help your money do more -- while these higher APYs are still around.

• Sources

FAQs

• Mostly the rate. HYSAs -- typically offered by online banks -- pay significantly more interest than the national average for traditional savings accounts. The tradeoff: you usually won't have a local branch to walk into.

• The best HYSAs charge nothing. Still, some accounts carry monthly maintenance fees or require a minimum balance to waive them. Always scan the fee schedule before opening -- a high APY means little if fees are quietly eating into your earnings.

• Absolutely. Many savers keep multiple HYSAs to separate funds by goal -- one for emergencies, one for a vacation, one for a down payment. There's no rule against it, and it can make budgeting a lot more intuitive.