Best high-yield savings accounts from big-name financial institutions in 2026

High-yield savings accounts (HYSAs) offer returns 10 to 15 times those of traditional savings accounts. Some of the best rates come from big, well-known banks, but "big" doesn't always mean brick-and-mortar. Institutions like American Express and SoFi are widely recognized names without a single physical branch, which lets them skip the overhead of running locations and pass those savings on to you in the form of a higher APY. Traditional brick-and-mortar banks, meanwhile, maintain physical locations, which usually means a lower rate in exchange for in-person service.

CNBC Select has chosen the best HYSAs by major financial institutions, based on APYs, fees, ease of use, customer service and other criteria. See our methodology for more information on how we compiled this list.

Who's this for? American Express is best known for its cards, but it offers a variety of financial services, including the American Express High Yield Savings Account. It's easy to manage, earns positive reviews and comes with 24/7 customer service.

Standout benefits: Account holders can make unlimited withdrawals and transfers per monthly statement cycle, up to the daily transaction limit.

Who's this for? Barclays Tiered Savings includes access to the Barclays Savings Assistant: input how much your goal costs, how much you already have saved and how much you can contribute monthly; Barclays Savings Assistant will then calculate how many months it will take to reach it.

Standout benefits: Big savers get a higher APY on balances of $250,000 or more. You also get unlimited withdrawals or transfers per monthly statement cycle.

Who's this for? If you're looking to do all your banking in one place, SoFi offers a checking and savings account combo that earns a competitive return on savings and rewards direct deposit users with a cash bonus of up to $400.

Standout benefits: SoFi Checking and Savings members can access up to $2 million in additional FDIC insurance, get paid up to two days early and don't pay account or overdraft fees.

Who's this for? Sallie Mae High-Yield Savings Accounts offer competitive rates with interest compounding daily.

Standout benefits: You can transfer funds via text message, deposit checks by phone and set up mobile alerts to keep on top of your balance. There is a limit of six withdrawals a month but no cap on the number of transfers to pay down Sallie Mae loans.

Who's this for? If you enjoy in-person banking, Capital One 360 Performance Savings is a winner. Capital One has more than 300 branches nationwide, plus over 55 Capital One Cafés, where you can open an account, make withdrawals and enjoy coffee and snacks.

Standout benefits: 360 Performance Savings offers a solid APY with no minimum balance requirements and zero monthly fees.

When choosing a high-yield savings account, there are a variety of factors to consider:

• APY: What rate is the bank offering and how often does interest compound?
• Fees: Is there a monthly maintenance charge or other fees that can reduce your earnings?
• Deposit and balance requirements: Check if there's a minimum to open the account or to earn the highest rate.
• Access and convenience: Consider how easy it is to manage your account online, on your phone or in person.
• Customer experience: Choose banks with a strong reputation for customer service and user-friendly digital platforms.
• Additional features: Some accounts offer tiered interest rates or other perks that might fit your saving habits.

The main tradeoff comes down to overhead. Online banks don't have physical branches, so they can pass those savings onto customers as higher APYs. Brick-and-mortar banks have branches and have to pay for that network, which is part of why their savings rates typically run lower, even on accounts marketed as "high yield." In return, you get in-person help and the ability to manage all your banking, checking, savings, cards, etc. in one place.

Neither is objectively better. If maximizing your APY is the priority, an online bank usually gets you there. If you value face-to-face service or want to consolidate your finances at one institution, a brick-and-mortar bank's HYSA can still be a solid, if slightly lower-yielding, choice.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed financial decisions. Every savings account list is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of banking products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

To determine which big-name financial institutions offer the best high-yield savings accounts, CNBC Select compared HYSAs from more than 20 big-name physical and online banks. Only accounts with no monthly maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements were considered.

We judged each across a range of features, including APY, compound frequency, account accessibility, customer reviews and limits on withdrawals and transfers. Our rankings included best for customer service, best to help you save, best for checking/savings combo, best for high APY and best for branch access.

We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.

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* New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 5/15/2026 and will be available through 12/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.30% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 0.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 9/23/26. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. *SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC's regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks. Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 9/23/26. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet Earn up to 4.20% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on one SoFi Savings account with a 0.90% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 9/23/26) for up to 6 months. Open your first SoFi Checking and Savings account and receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 12/31/26. Rates are variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#4. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.