High-yield savings, ranked by APY
As of November 9, 2026, the top high-yield savings accounts pay at least 80 times U.S. Bank's 0.05% APY. Leader Bank and Axos Bank pay the most, 5.00%, but both have requirements. EverBank pays 4.20% with no requirements (for new accounts only).
† Requirements
- Leader Bank: $1,000 a month in direct deposits and a Leader Bank checking account. 5.00% guaranteed through Dec 31, 2026.
- Axos ONE Savings: $1,500 a month in direct deposits and an Axos ONE Checking account. 5.00% is a promotional rate.
- SoFi: Direct deposit (or $5,000 in deposits a month) and a SoFi checking account. 4.40% through Dec 31, 2027, then 3.30%.
- Axos Summit Savings: Requirements are listed on Arca's rates page. 4.01% is a promotional rate.
National average · FDIC, published monthly. FDIC, as of September 2026
| Rank | Bank | APY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leader Bank (requirements below) | 5.00% |
| 2 | Axos ONE Savings (requirements below) | 5.00% |
| 3 | SoFi (requirements below) | 4.40% |
| 4 | EverBank (no requirements) | 4.20% |
| 5 | Axos Summit Savings (requirements below) | 4.01% |
| — | U.S. Bank (your current bank) | 0.05% |
What you'd earn at each, by balance.
As of Nov 9, 2026, $10,000 in savings earns $5 a year in U.S. Bank Smartly Savings without linked checking (0.05% APY) and $420 in a top HYSA such as EverBank Performance Savings (4.20% APY).
| Balance | U.S. Bank0.05% | Leader Bank5.00%* | EverBank4.20% |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $3 | $250 | $210 |
| $10,000 | $5 | $500 | $420 |
| $25,000 | $13 | $1,250 | $1,050 |
| $50,000 | $25 | $2,500 | $2,100 |
| $100,000 | $50 | $5,000 | $4,200 |
*Leader Bank Zeugma Plus High Yield Savings pays 5.00% APY only with a linked checking account, direct deposit of $1,000+/mo, and a minimum opening deposit, plus other qualifying requirements. Leader Bank Zeugma Plus High Yield Savings's 5.00% APY is a promotional rate through December 31, 2026; after that the rate may change. EverBank Performance Savings pays this rate to new accounts only. One year of interest at today’s APY (balance × APY), rounded to whole dollars. All accounts are FDIC insured up to $250,000. | |||
Personalize the gap.
Compared at U.S. Bank's 0.05% standard APY vs. Leader Bank's 5.00% APY. Simple interest.
That's $2,475 over five years, just by switching where the dollars sit.
Why does U.S. Bank pay so little on savings?
U.S. Bank Smartly® Savings pays 2.00% APY on a $10,000 balance as of November 9, 2026 — on balances of $5,000–$24,999.99 only, and only when paired with a linked U.S. Bank Smartly Checking account (or another qualifying U.S. Bank product). Without that linked product, the same savings account drops to 0.05% APY. The two-tier structure is designed to keep customers' primary banking relationship at U.S. Bank: the headline rate looks competitive in advertising, but it only materializes for customers who also keep a U.S. Bank checking account and meet the qualifying activity. With a regional Midwest-and-West footprint, U.S. Bank competes mainly on relationship retention inside its core markets rather than by bidding for deposits on a standalone yield basis.
What about U.S. Bank's higher-tier savings accounts?
U.S. Bank's headline-tier product is the Smartly® Savings account paired with a Bank Smartly Checking relationship — 2.00% APY on a $10,000 balance as of November 9, 2026, a rate that applies only to balances of $5,000–$24,999.99. Without the linked checking account, the same Smartly Savings drops to 0.05% APY. The account also carries a $5 monthly service fee. U.S. Bank's strongest branch presence is in Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and the broader Midwest; customers outside those markets often find branches limited or absent altogether. For comparison, Leader Bank pays 5.00% APY, a promotional rate, and requires a linked checking account, direct deposit of $1,000+/mo, a minimum opening deposit, and other conditions.
Top high-yield savings rates vs. U.S. Bank
On a $10,000 balance, Zeugma Plus High Yield Savings at Leader Bank (5.00% APY) earns about $500 a year. It is a promotional rate that requires a linked checking account, direct deposit of $1,000+/mo, a minimum opening deposit, and other conditions. U.S. Bank Smartly Savings without linked checking (0.05% APY) earns about $5.
| Account | Max APY ↓ | Yearly interest on $10,000 | Bank site |
|---|---|---|---|
Zeugma Plus High Yield Savings Leader Bank · Member FDIC Requirements: Linked checking · Direct deposit · +4 more | 5.00% APY 2.50% without requirements | $500 a year on a $10,000 balance | Visit site |
See details for Zeugma Plus High Yield SavingsZeugma Plus High Yield Savings pays up to 5.00% APY as of November 9, 2026, and requires a linked checking account, direct deposit of $1,000+/mo, and a minimum opening deposit. Earn 5.00% APY as a promotional rate through December 31, 2026; after that the rate may change.
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Axos ONE® Savings Axos Bank · Member FDIC Requirements: Linked checking · Direct deposit · +2 more | 5.00% APY 1.00% after the intro period | $500 a year on a $10,000 balance | Visit site |
See details for Axos ONE® SavingsAxos ONE® Savings pays up to 5.00% APY as of November 9, 2026, and requires a linked checking account and direct deposit or qualifying deposits. Earn 5.00% APY now, dropping to 1.00% APY once the intro period ends.
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SoFi High-Yield Savings Account SoFi · Member FDIC Requirements: Linked checking · Direct deposit New accounts only | 4.40% APY 3.30% after Dec 31, 2027 | $440 a year on a $10,000 balance | Visit site |
See details for SoFi High-Yield Savings AccountSoFi High-Yield Savings Account pays up to 4.40% APY as of November 9, 2026, for new accounts, and requires a linked checking account and direct deposit or qualifying deposits. Earn 4.40% APY now, dropping to 3.30% APY when the intro period ends on December 31, 2027.
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EverBank Performance Savings EverBank · Member FDIC Full rate, no requirements New accounts only | 4.20% APY | $420 a year on a $10,000 balance | Visit site |
See details for EverBank Performance SavingsEverBank Performance Savings pays 4.20% APY as of November 9, 2026, for new accounts, with no minimum balance, no direct deposit required, and no linked checking account required.
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Axos Summit Savings Axos Bank · Member FDIC Requirements apply — see details New accounts only | 4.01% APY 3.75% after the intro period | $401 a year on a $10,000 balance | Visit site |
See details for Axos Summit SavingsAxos Summit Savings pays up to 4.01% APY as of November 9, 2026, for new accounts. The qualifying conditions are listed below. Earn 4.01% APY now, dropping to 3.75% APY once the intro period ends.
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For reference U.S. Bank Smartly Savings without linked checking Verified by Arca on . U.S. Bank's rate page (opens in a new tab) | 0.05% APY | $5 a year on a $10,000 balance | |
One year of interest on $10,000 at today's APY, rounded to the dollar. Each bank provides its own FDIC insurance; Arca is not a bank and does not hold deposits.
See all current rates →Questions, answered.
What is U.S. Bank's current savings account APY?
U.S. Bank Smartly® Savings pays 2.00% APY on balances of $5,000–$24,999.99 as of November 9, 2026, with Bank Smartly Checking required. Without it, it pays 0.05% APY. On a $10,000 balance that earns $200 per year, versus $500 at Leader Bank, which pays 5.00% APY, a promotional rate, and requires a linked checking account, direct deposit of $1,000+/mo, a minimum opening deposit, and other conditions. Source: Arca Savings, updated November 9, 2026.
Do I have to open a U.S. Bank checking account to earn the 2.00% APY?
Not strictly a checking account — the 2.00% APY requires a linked U.S. Bank Smartly Checking account or another qualifying U.S. Bank product, and a balance of $5,000–$24,999.99, as of November 9, 2026. Without one, the same Smartly® Savings drops to 0.05% APY — comparable to the 0.01% to 0.04% floor at Chase and Bank of America. Source: Arca Savings, updated November 9, 2026.
Does U.S. Bank Elite Money Market pay more?
U.S. Bank Elite Money Market pays under 1.50% APY at retail balances as of November 9, 2026 and requires a linked U.S. Bank checking account to waive its monthly fee. Leader Bank pays 5.00% APY, a promotional rate, and requires a linked checking account, direct deposit of $1,000+/mo, a minimum opening deposit, and other conditions. Source: Arca Savings, updated November 9, 2026.
Will switching affect my U.S. Bank checking account or loan?
No. Opening a high-yield savings account at Axos Bank, SoFi, or Marcus by Goldman Sachs has no impact on your U.S. Bank checking account, loans, credit cards, or any other U.S. Bank products. Source: Arca Savings, updated November 9, 2026.
Is it safe to move savings away from U.S. Bank?
Yes — Axos Bank, SoFi, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, and American Express High Yield Savings are all FDIC insured up to $250,000 per depositor per institution as of November 9, 2026, the same protection you have at U.S. Bank. Source: Arca Savings, updated November 9, 2026.
How much interest does U.S. Bank pay per month on $10,000?
U.S. Bank pays about $0.42 per month on a $10,000 savings balance — $5 a year at 0.05% APY as of November 9, 2026. EverBank Performance Savings (for new accounts only) pays about $35 a month, or $420 a year, on the same balance. The monthly difference is roughly $34.58. Source: Arca Savings, updated November 9, 2026.
Is U.S. Bank's savings account good for an emergency fund?
No — U.S. Bank Smartly Savings without linked checking is safe but costly for an emergency fund. It pays 0.05% APY as of November 9, 2026, so a $10,000 emergency fund earns $5 a year, against $420 at EverBank Performance Savings (for new accounts only). U.S. Bank Smartly Savings without linked checking also charges $5 a month unless you link a qualifying U.S. Bank account. Both are FDIC insured to $250,000. Source: Arca Savings, updated November 9, 2026.
How do I calculate interest on a U.S. Bank savings account?
Multiply your balance by the APY, then divide by 100. U.S. Bank Smartly Savings without linked checking pays 0.05% APY as of November 9, 2026, so a $10,000 balance earns $5 a year and a $100,000 balance earns $50. APY already includes compounding, so no separate compounding step is needed. Arca's free calculator does this for any balance and compares it against current high-yield rates. Source: Arca Savings, updated November 9, 2026.