Best Savings Accounts for July 2022

When it comes to savings accounts, where do you even begin?

Do a quick search, and you’ll find many savings accounts with different options with varying percentages, monthly fees and minimum requirements. Not to mention the many types of financial institutions themselves — online-only, banks and credit unions — and it can get overwhelming fast.

Keeping this in mind, we’ve rounded up the best savings accounts — including ones at online banks and traditional brick and mortar — of 2022. We’ve included top information you need to know before opening or switching an account.

And before we move on, yes, we recommend that Penny Hoarders have a savings account — keeping your cash in a box under your bed is not a solid, or safe, financial plan. We want you to feel empowered so you can get the best proverbial bang for your buck.

We’ve ranked the very best savings accounts available today to help get you started.

Best Savings Accounts of July 2022

So, what makes a savings account one of the *bests* of  July 2022? That depends on what you value most.

In determining our top 10, we reviewed more than 20 popular savings accounts and considered what elements seem to be most universally important:

• Best savings rates
• Stellar mobile app and/or web experience
• Convenience of transfers (easy access to funds)

We considered only savings accounts that were FDIC-insured or NCUA-insured and had no monthly fees. And we kept in mind its availability of products; for instance, high-yield savings accounts, small-business resources and money market accounts.

Because physical branch access is becoming increasingly less important, all accounts on our list are online or hybrid (online with some brick-and-mortar bank locations).

Savings-Account Criteria We Didn’t Weigh Heavily

So what didn’t we consider when making our list that you might also want to look for?

Bonuses: Because banks regularly add, remove or replace their bonuses, we did not include them in our criteria. If you’re stuck between two or three comparable savings accounts, see which one offers the best sign-on bonus. We highly recommend checking out our current bank promotions list to help earn bonus cash or incentives when signing up for a new savings account.

Customer service: Quality of customer service is subjective. Read reviews and ask friends and family about their experiences when considering banks.

To truly determine how you feel about the level and quality of customer service, give the bank a call and ask some questions about the account. From that interaction, you should be able to feel out how much each bank values customers and prospects.

Synchrony High-Yield Savings

Best for High-Yield Savings

Key Features

• 0.85% APY on all balances
• No monthly fees
• Highly rated mobile app

Synchrony is an FDIC-insured online bank. It offers a notch above a traditional savings product with its high-yield savings account. Users can take advantage of a high APY — with no minimum balance requirement — and no fees, aside from accessing out-of-network ATMs (though Synchrony offers a $5 monthly reimbursement).

Synchrony High-Yield Savings

APY

0.85%

Monthly fees

None

Minimum balance required

None

Additional fee for withdrawals

None

ATM fees

None for in-network

More Information About Synchrony High-Yield Savings

With Synchrony, you can access your money through an ATM, electronic transfer to an external account, wire transfer or a paper check in the mail (remember, it’s an online-only institution). And if you’re interested in similar accounts, check out our list of the overall best high yield savings accounts.

CIT Savings Builder Account

Best for Users Who Need an Incentive to Save

Key Features

• No monthly fees
• Earn up to 0.65% APY
• Low minimum required balance

CIT Bank (not to be confused with Citi) has a Savings Builder savings account to help users earn more on their money. To get up to 0.65% APY, your account either needs $25,000 in it or you must make a monthly minimum deposit of $100 to the account. Obviously, the latter option is more feasible for the average consumer — and a good incentive to save each month, to boot.

CIT Savings Builder

APY

Up to 0.65%

Monthly fees

None

Minimum balance requirement

$100

Additional fee for withdrawals

None

ATM fees

None for in-network

More Information About CIT Savings Builder

With CIT Bank, you can get your money via electronic transfer, wire transfer (free if you have $25,000 or more in the account) or paper check. Bonus: You can get reimbursed up to $30 a month for using other bank’s ATMs. CIT Bank’s mobile app also has a solid rating; at the time of writing, the app has a 4.6 rating on the App Store and 3.6 on Google Play.

Ally Online Savings

Best for Users Who Want to Save Smarter

Key Features

• Highly rated mobile app
• Up to 0.90% APY
• Free tools to help you save more money

Ally is a leading online bank that offers all kinds of banking products. Its savings account is a solid step-up from the competition: Ally offers a high APY, no monthly fees and savings tools such as “buckets” and boosters, which help accelerate your savings on autopilot.

Ally Online Savings

APY

Up to 0.90%

Monthly fees

None

Minimum balance requirement

None

Additional fee for withdrawals

None

ATM fees

None for in-network

More Information About Ally Online Savings

To earn up to 0.90% APY from Ally, here’s what you need to know: Ally’s three online savings account balance tiers are less than $5,000, between $5K and $24,999.99, and $25K or more. Ally will pay the particular APY based on the tier your end-of-day balance falls in. You can transfer money via direct deposit, electronic transfer, wire transfer or paper check.

Alliant High-Rate Savings

Best for Users Who Prefer to Bank at a Credit Union

Key Features

• 1.00% APY
• Low minimum balance required
• Free ATM card

The Alliant High-Rate Savings account is offered via the Alliant Credit Union. So, instead of FDIC insurance, it carries insurance through the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). (No concerns there: Like the FDIC, the NCUA federally insures your money.) You can open an account for as low as $5. In exchange for an average daily balance of $100, however, you’ll earn a 1.00% APY.

Alliant High-Rate Savings

APY

1.00%

Monthly fees

None

Minimum balance requirement

$5

Additional fee for withdrawals

None

ATM fees

None for in-network

More Information About Alliant High-Rate Savings

Joining Alliant requires some effort. You need to fulfill one of these five requirements:

• Be a current or retired employee of a business that is partnered with Alliant.
• Have an immediate family member or domestic partner who banks with Alliant.
• Be a member of an Alliant-related organization/association.
• Live or work in one of the following communities in Illinois.
• Become a member of Foster Care to Success, Alliant’s partner charity.

Once you join, you’re eligible to open a high-yield savings account for $5 (which Alliant will reimburse you for!).

Discover Savings

Best for Access to a Cash-Back Debit Card

Key Features

• Debit card offering cash back
• 0.90% APY
• Highly rated mobile app

The Discover (yes, the credit card brand) Savings Account offers a substantial APY and easy access to funds via a rewards checking account. Interest in the savings account is also compounded daily versus monthly, like with some accounts.

Discover Savings

APY

0.90%

Monthly feeds

None

Minimum balance requirement

None

Additional fee for withdrawals

None

ATM fees

None for in-network

More Information About Discover Savings

While Discover doesn’t offer an ATM card for its FDIC-insured savings account, you can sign up for Discover Cashback Debit (it’s free!), which earns up to 1% cash back on up to $3,000 a month. The linked debit account provides an easy way to transfer funds; otherwise, you can rely on electronic transfers, wire transfers and paper checks.

Capital One 360 Performance Savings

Best for Users Who Want to Connect Multiple Accounts

Key Features

• Highly rated mobile app
• 0.90% APY on all balances
• No monthly fees

This big-name savings account boasts no monthly fees, easy integration with other Capital One 360 accounts (including a checking account for easy funds transfer) and a killer app. Per the latter, in 2018, the Capital One 360 mobile app was ranked No. 1 in customer satisfaction in the banking category for the second year in a row in J.D. Power’s U.S. Banking App Satisfaction Study.

Capital One 360 Performance Savings

APY

0.90%

Monthly fees

None

Minimum balance requirement

None

Additional fee for withdrawals

None

ATM fees

None for in-network

More Information About Capital One Performance Savings

If you don’t open a linked checking account for easy ATM access with Capital One, you can still get your funds via the traditional (but slower) means.The Capital One Performance Savings Account is a good option for people who prefer to bank with a well-known entity.

Barclays Online Savings

Best for Consumers Saving Toward a Goal

Key Features

• 0.90% APY
• No minimum balance required
• Secure, 24/7 online access to funds

Barclays Online Savings Account offers a high APY and strong mobile app. The company also has a Savings Assistant tool, which can help users save toward a financial goal. Unlike others on the list, however, Barclays doesn’t have a checking account opton; so, you’ll have to transfer your money to an external account, which can take two to three days to post.

Barclays Online Savings

APY

0.90%

Monthly fees

None

Minimum balance requirement

None

Additional fee for withdrawals

None

ATM fees

n/1

More Information About Barclays Online Savings

With this Barclays savings account, users can deposit and withdraw funds in a number of ways, through direct deposit, an electronic transfer, paper check and more. If you’re looking for additional savings options, Barclays offers online CDs as well.

American Express High-Yield Savings

Best for Users Who Like to Make Multiple Withdrawals

Key Features

• No minimum balance requirements
• Up to nine withdrawals allowed
• 0.75% APY

American Express offers a high-yield, FDIC-insured savings account. It boasts 24/7 support and a highly rated mobile app for iPhone and Android users. While there’s no debit card option, users have round-the-clock access to their funds.

American Express High-Yield Savings

APY

0.75%

Monthly fees

None

Minimum balance requirement

None

Additional fee for withdrawals

None

ATM fees

n/a

More Information About American Express High-Yield Savings

With American Express high-yield savings, electronic transfer, wire transfer and paper check are the only ways to access your money. On the plus side, you can make up to nine withdrawals or transfers during a monthly statement cycle. This is higher than the six withdrawals or transfers that many high-yield accounts typically offer.

Marcus Online Savings

Best for Growing an Account You Don’t Need to Touch

Key Features

• 0.85% APY
• Popular app
• No minimum balance requirement

Marcus by Goldman Sachs is FDIC-insured, has no fees or minimum balance requirements, and offers seven-day customer support. If you’ve been dragging your feet to start an emergency fund, this might be a good place to start.

Marcus Online Savings

APY

0.85%

Monthly fees

None

Minimum balance requirement

None

Additional fee for withdrawals

None

ATM fees

n/a

More Information About Marcus Online Savings

Marcus by Goldman Sachs withdrawals are limited to electronic transfer and wire transfer. You also cannot deposit checks via the app. If you’re looking for an account you can set-and-forget while earning higher interest, this could be an attractive option for you with a well-known company.

Quontic High-Yield Savings

Best for Users Who Want a High APY Above All Else

Key Features

• 1.01% APY
• $100 to get started
• Mobile app

Quontic is an adaptive digital bank that offers more than your run-of-the-mill banking services, such as a wearable debit card ring and Bitcoin rewards checking. The company also strives to help those traditionally underbanked secure home loans. No hidden fees here: If there’s a cost involved, Quontic makes it known on its Schedule of Fees, listed on its website.

Quontic High-Yield Savings

APY

1.01%

Monthly fees

None

Minimum balance requirement

None

Additional fee for withdrawals

$10

ATM fees

n/a

More Information about Quontic High-Yield Savings

Interested Quontic customers can open this high-yield savings account with $100 and in as little as three minutes. Users can take advantage of up to six free withdrawals per statement cycle (and pay $10 after that). You won’t get a debit card with this account, but you’ll have access to services such as remote check deposit and bill pay.

What Is a Savings Account?

A savings account is a bank account where you store your money. Typically, you keep it here for long-term goals instead of using it for everyday expenses. To see a detailed explanation of how it differs from a traditional checking account, visit our checking vs. savings account comparison.

The best savings accounts are secured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for up to $250,000. That means if you store your money with a bank and it goes under, you won’t lose your money.

Savings accounts are perfect for achieving your savings goals — for a car, a house, a wedding, vacations, you name it. More importantly, they are the best tool to build your emergency fund.

Most experts agree your emergency savings should total six months’ worth of necessary expenses in the case of job loss or another unpredictable emergency. Necessary expenses might include rent/mortgage, car payments, insurance, medical bills, utilities and groceries.

However, don’t sweat it if you don’t have six months’ worth saved up. It takes time to build up your savings. Even if you can consistently deposit $50 a month, that’s a good start.

One thing a savings account is not is an investment account. Savings accounts have historically low interest rates — or annual percentage yield (APY) — but they are inherently low risk.

Common alternatives to savings accounts include certificates of deposit (CDs), where you store your money for a fixed term for a slightly higher interest rate, and money market accounts, which typically offer a higher APY but have significantly higher minimum balance requirements.

So just how much interest will you earn in a savings account? That depends on the amount you’ve saved and your APY.

Online Banks vs. Brick-and-Mortar Banks

Before the advent of the internet, brick-and-mortar banks (and credit unions) were the only place to store your money, if not in your duffel bag.

But over the last couple decades, online banks have transformed the way we think of safely storing our money, and because of their low overhead (fewer staff and few or no physical locations), they can offer much better interest rates on savings accounts.

Pros of Online Savings Accounts

When online savings accounts first surfaced, bank customers were hesitant to store their money with companies they had never heard of and were fearful of internet security issues.

Today, many of these same customers now see far more pros to online savings accounts than their traditional physical banks.

Higher Interest Rates

This is easily the most important distinction between brick-and-mortar banks and online banks. The national average APY for a savings account is 0.07%, according to the FDIC. But many brick-and-mortar banks offer less than that. Online banks, on the other hand, tend to offer savings rates that are better — sometimes a lot better

Availability

Online banks are always open. The most competitive online banks offer around-the-clock service over the phone or online, and typically have more user-friendly apps and websites.

Some national banks and credit unions may offer 24/7 service, but their physical locations are typically limited to the 9-to-5 business hours.

Pros of Brick-and-Mortar Savings Accounts

There are advantages to brick-and-mortar banks. However, if these benefits do not hold massive weight for you, we highly recommend an online savings account.

Easy Access to Account Funds

Emergencies wait for no one. If you have an unexpected need for $10,000, it would be nice to be able to immediately access that.

Many online savings accounts take several days to get you your funds via ACH deposit or a written check, though wait times for ACH deposits have dramatically decreased in recent years.

(You can also speed up the process by opening a checking account with your online bank or choosing an online savings account with ATM benefits. Prioritize online banks that offer free checking accounts or ATM convenience cards.)

Brick-and-mortar banks, however, can allow major withdrawals at any of their locations. No waiting necessary.

In-Person Support

Some people prefer to resolve their issues over the phone or online, but many others find comfort in face-to-face communication. By opening a savings account with a bank that offers physical locations, you’ll be able to get in-person help from financial experts during regular business hours.

… And a Toss-Up

When it comes to access to ATMs, there is no clear winner. Obviously, brick-and-mortar banks and credit unions offer ATMs at all their locations, where you can easily withdraw your money.

Many online banks, however, offer fee-free withdrawals at select ATMs, and the best online banks will reimburse you for fees incurred out of network.

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6 Tips for Choosing a Savings Account

You should be aware that banks can change interest rates, develop better apps and update their bonuses, so it is important to understand how to determine the best savings account for yourself.

Here are a few tips:

1. Consider Your Needs

We prioritized high savings rates, ease of funds transfer and mobile apps in our rankings, but maybe for you, two-factor authentication and customer service are top considerations.

Build your own ranking system based on your top two or three criteria. You won’t find a perfect bank that offers everything, but at the very least, you’ll find banks that can meet all of your top needs.

2. Stick With Online

Put your money in an online savings account, unless you have a good reason not to, such as a high interest savings account at a brick-and-mortar credit union or a regular need to get in-person help.

3. Save Only With Insured Banks

Do not put your money into any bank that is not insured by the FDIC. Or, if you go the credit union route, make sure it is insured by the NCUA. We did not include any banks on our list that were not insured.

4. Don’t Be Tempted by Sign-on Bonuses Alone

Earning cash for starting an account with a bank feels awesome, but don’t let the appeal of $100 now prevent you from putting your savings into an account that will earn you $500 over a couple years.

5. Find a No-fee Account

Be wary of accounts with monthly maintenance fees, statement fees or any other miscellaneous charges. You’re more likely to find these fees with a brick-and-mortar bank.

Ideally, find a bank that has an associated free checking account for easy and fast funds transfers.

6. Read the Fine Print

Know what you are signing before you sign it.

If an APY sounds too good to be true, it’s possible there are strings attached — or that the rate is only temporary.

Ask questions and do research when you are confused by any of the terms and conditions, and don’t deposit your savings until you are satisfied with the agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Savings Accounts

Here’s a round-up of common questions — and answers — when it comes to savings accounts.

Contributor Kathleen Garvin (@itskgarvin) is a personal finance writer based in St. Petersburg, Florida, and former editor and marketer at The Penny Hoarder. She owns a content-writing business and her work has appeared in U.S. News, Clark.com and Well Kept Wallet.