Discover® Bank review: The best high-yield savings and checking account offered by a big bank

Editor's Note: APYs listed in this article are up-to-date as of the time of publication. They may fluctuate (up or down) as the Fed rate changes. CNBC Select will update as changes are made public.

Brick-and-mortar banks may not be known for offering the highest returns, but many consumers find comfort in putting their money into an established institution versus a newer online-only bank.

Discover® is a popular option, as the big-name FDIC-insured financial institution still offers savers a competitive interest rate (unlike many brick-and-mortar banks), as well as easy access to other Discover accounts that help you manage your money in one place.

CNBC Select reviewed the high-yield savings accounts offered by the largest banks and/or credit unions, and we found that the Discover® Online Savings ranks as our best pick for a one-stop shop. This account offers users a strong interest rate through its high-yield savings and the option to add a checking account with ATM access and cash-back rewards. Users get the best of opening both a savings and checking account.

Below, we review the Discover® Online Savings Account and give you all the details of its features, including the annual percentage yield (APY), access to your cash, perks and fees so you can decide if this high-yield savings account is right for you.

• APY
• Access to your cash
• Perks
• Fees
• Bottom line

The Discover® Online Savings currently offers a 4.35% APY. Users can start earning interest right away, with no minimum balance required in their account. Discover also sometimes offers welcome bonuses for new customers that make a minimum deposit.

Interest on account holders' savings compounds daily and is paid out monthly. This means that savers accrue interest on interest every day and see these earnings credited to their accounts each month. Just remember that, as with any other high-yield savings account, the interest rate is variable and can fluctuate at any time.

The Discover® Online Savings offers customers easy on-the-go access to their money and accounts.

With mobile check deposits, savers can deposit a check into their savings account by snapping a photo of it with their smartphone or tablet. Using the app, they can also transfer money from one account to another and use Quick View to check their savings account balance without having to log into their account each time.

As required by law, Discover® savings account holders can make up to six free withdrawals or transfers per statement cycle. Account holders can make unlimited withdrawals in person, by messenger or by mailing a request or calling in to have an official bank check mailed to you.

Discover is an FDIC-insured bank so you can rest assured that your money is safe and protected the same way it is with most other banks.

In addition to having well-reviewed 24/7 customer service and extensive security features, Discover® stands out because it offers a checking account option that earns rewards — making it easier to do all your banking in one place.

The online Discover® Cashback Debit Checking comes with no monthly fees, cash back on your debit card purchases and access to over 60,000 ATMs nationwide. This account ranked "best for rewards" on CNBC Select's list of the top no-fee checking accounts.

Discover's website also makes it easy to compare its savings account to other big banks' accounts. On the website, users can add and remove certain banks to create their own comparison chart to see how the banks stack up to one another. Discover's website also offers helpful advice and "how to" articles through its "Modern Money" blog.

There are no monthly fees and no minimum deposit required to open a Discover® Cashback Debit Checking. There are also no fees for official bank checks, excessive withdrawals, returned deposited items, stop payment orders and insufficient funds.

The Discover Online Savings Account makes a good choice for consumers looking to do all their banking in one place — and who prefer the familiarity of banking with a big-name financial institution.

Users have mobile access to their savings and can earn cash back on their debit card purchases, along with ATM access.

If you are looking to open just a high-yield savings account at a big bank and don't need a checking account, consider the American Express® High Yield Savings Account*, the Sallie Mae High-Yield Savings Account or the Barclays Online Savings.

Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.

To determine which high-yield savings accounts offer the best return on your money, CNBC Select analyzed dozens of U.S. savings accounts offered by online and brick-and-mortar banks, including large credit unions. We narrowed down our ranking by only considering those savings accounts that offer an APY of around 1%, no monthly maintenance fees and low (or no) minimum balance requirements.

While the accounts we chose in this article consistently rank as having some of the highest APY rates, we also compared each saving account on a range of features, including ease of use and account accessibility, as well as factors such as insurance policies and customer reviews when available. We also considered users' deposit options and each account's compound frequency.

All of the accounts included on this list are FDIC-insured up to $250,000. Note that the rates and fee structures for high-yield savings accounts are not guaranteed forever; they are subject to change without notice and they often fluctuate in accordance with the Fed rate. Your earnings depend on any associated fees and the balance you have in your high-yield savings account. To open an account, most banks and institutions require a deposit of new money, meaning you can't transfer money you already had in an account at that bank.

*American Express National Bank is a Member FDIC.