Best Savings Rates Today – There’s Still Time to Grow Your Savings With APYs up to 5.35%, March 22, 2024 (2024)

The top savings rates haven’t budged much in the last few weeks. And after the Federal Reserve elected to hold rates steady again at this week’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting, savers should continue to see competitive annual percentage yields, or APYs, on the top savings accounts.

The best high-yield savings accounts earn APYs up to 5.35% -- more than 10 times the national average of 0.47%. Although the timing of the Fed’s first rate cut this year is questionable, it’s likely to take place in the second half of the year, according to Ken Tumin, a senior industry analyst at LendingTree. If you’re saving for a significant expense or building your emergency fund, now’s the time to open a high-yield savings account.

Read on to learn more about today’s top savings rates.

Experts recommend comparing rates before opening a savings account to get the best APY possible. You can enter your information below to see CNET’s partners’ rates in your area.

Today’s best savings rates

Here are some of the top savings account APYs available right now:

How another rate hike pause affect savings rates

High interest rates caught everyone’s attention for the better part of 2022 and 2023. As the Fed steadily raised the federal funds rate to fight record inflation, banks raised rates on consumer products like savings accounts and certificates of deposits.

But after 11 rate hikes since March 2022, the Fed has opted to leave the federal funds rate unchanged at its last five meetings, indicating to experts that savings rates are likely at their peak.

Here’s where rates stand compared to last week:

The Fed announced rates would once again remain unchanged at Wednesday’s FOMC meeting, maintaining its target range of 5.25% to 5.5%. Experts still expect rate cuts to begin later this year, but after the most recent Consumer Price Index report revealed an uptick in inflation, the timeline for future rate cuts is less clear.

“The first rate cut is unlikely to occur before the Fed’s June meeting, and if the current inflation trend continues into March and April, the Fed may decide to push out the first rate cut into the second half of 2024,” said Tumin.

Since savings rates are variable -- meaning they move in lockstep with the federal funds rate -- your APY is likely to go down once the Fed drops rates. But even after rates fall later this year, high-yield savings accounts will continue to offer significantly better APYs than traditional ones.

Still, experts believe that savings rates will remain elevated until the Fed begins dropping rates.

Benefits of opening a high-yield savings account

Savings rates are likely at their peak, so now’s the time to take advantage of high savings rates while they’re still around. However, a high APY isn’t the only reason you should open a high-yield savings account today.

Here’s what makes HYSAs stand out:

• High rates: HYSAs often have APYs 10 times higher (or more) than the national FDIC average.
• Low or no fees: Monthly maintenance fees can eat into your savings. Many online banks can charge low or no fees thanks to their lower operating costs.
• Liquidity: You can access money in your HYSA anytime without penalty (as long as you mind any withdrawal limits). CDs, another popular savings product, charge a penalty if you take out funds before the term is up.
• Accessibility: If you open an HYSA at an online bank, you’ll enjoy 24/7 account access through its mobile app. You may also have lots of customer service options, including by phone, online chat and secure messaging.
• Low risk: HYSAs are protected by federal deposit insurance if they’re held at an FDIC-insured bank or NCUA-insured credit union. That means your money is safe up to $250,000 per account holder, per account type.

If you’re earning less than 1% with your current savings account -- some big banks offer as little as 0.01% APY -- you don’t have to close your existing account to enjoy higher rates. You can open a new account from an online bank in minutes and set up recurring transfers or direct deposits to start funding it.

Factors to consider when choosing a high-yield savings account

A high APY is important, but don’t stop there. There are other important variables you should weigh to choose the best high-yield savings account for your financial goals.

“Some accounts have mandatory minimums, transaction fees or other charges you might not expect,” said McLaughlin. “These hidden fees can chip away at your savings, so be sure you are satisfied with the terms and conditions before opening an account.”

To find the best fit when comparing savings accounts, you should consider the following:

• Minimum deposit requirements: Some HYSAs require a minimum amount to open an account -- typically, from $25 to $100. Others don’t require anything. How much you have to deposit initially can help you narrow down your options.
• Fees: Monthly maintenance and other fees can eat into your balance. Avoid unnecessary charges by looking for a bank with low or no fees.
• Accessibility: If in-person banking is important to you, look for a bank with physical branches. If you’re comfortable managing your money digitally, look for an online bank with a user-friendly app with all the features you need.
• Withdrawal limits: Some banks charge an excess withdrawal fee if you make more than six monthly withdrawals. If you think you may need to make more, consider a bank without this limit.
• Federal deposit insurance: Look for a bank that belongs to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or a credit union that belongs to the National Credit Union Administration. Accounts at these institutions are protected up to $250,000 per account holder, per category in the event of bank failure
• Customer service: You want a bank that’s responsive and offers convenient support options if you ever need assistance with your account. Read online customer reviews to see what current customers say about their experiences. You can also contact customer service to get a feel for what it would be like to work with the bank.

Methodology

CNET reviewed savings accounts at more than 50 traditional and online banks, credit unions and financial institutions with nationwide services. Each account received a score between one (lowest) and five (highest). The savings accounts listed here are all insured up to $250,000 per person, per account category, per institution, by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or National Credit Union Administration.

CNET evaluates the best savings accounts with a set of established criteria that compares annual percentage yields, monthly fees, minimum deposits or balances and access to physical branches. None of the banks on our list charge monthly maintenance fees. An account will rank higher for offering any of the following perks:

• Account bonuses
• Automated savings features
• Wealth management consulting/coaching services
• Cash deposits
• Extensive ATM networks and/or ATM rebates for out-of-network ATM use

An account will rank lower if it doesn’t have a professional-looking website or doesn’t provide an ATM card, or if it imposes restrictive residency requirements or fees for exceeding monthly transaction limits.