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Best 5% Interest Savings Accounts Of 2025

Audited & Verified: Apr 28, 2025, 7:52am
Written By
Staff Writer
Reviewed
Deputy Editor
& 1 other
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.

Opening a savings account with a high interest rate can be an easy way to maximize your savings and get you closer to your financial goals. Though savings accounts offering 5.00% interest rates are rare these days, many savings accounts do offer rates well above 4.00% APY. We compared 73 online accounts offered by 53 nationally available banks and credit unions to find the best ones.

Hereโ€™s what you need to know about the best savings accounts paying close to 5.00% APY, including why we picked each account, its pros and cons and any important details.

Why you can trust Forbes Advisor

Our editors are committed to bringing you independent ratings and information. Advertisers do not and cannot influence our ratings. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and companies, so all are measured equally. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and the banking methodology for the ratings below.

  • 73 high-yield savings accounts examined
  • 53 banks and credit unions analyzed
  • Unbiased editorial team
  • No AI writing

Read More

Best Savings Accounts Offering Close to 5.00% APY

5.0
On Laurel Road's Website Member FDIC
Annual Percentage Yield
3.80% APY
Minimum Deposit Requirement
$0
Monthly Maintenance Fee
$0
Annual Percentage Yield
4.30%
Minimum Deposit Requirement
$0
Monthly Maintenance Fee
$0
Annual Percentage Yield
4.25%
Minimum Deposit Requirement
$2,500
Monthly Maintenance Fee
$0
Annual Percentage Yield
Up to 5.25%
Minimum Deposit Requirement
$0
Monthly Maintenance Fee
$0
2.9
On Varo Bank's Website Member FDIC
Annual Percentage Yield
5.00% on the first $5,000 with qualifying direct deposits; 2.50% on remaining balance
Minimum Deposit Requirement
$0
Monthly Maintenance Fee
$0

Laurel Road High Yield Savingsยฎ

5.0
Our ratings take into account a product's APYs, fees, minimums and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Annual Percentage Yield

ยนThe variable Annual Percentage Yield (APY) indicated is accurate as of February 20, 2025, and is subject to change at any time. No minimum balance is required to earn the APY. Fees may reduce earnings on the account. For current rates visit https://www.laurelroad.com/high-yield-savings-account/#rates-fees-jump/

3.80%

Rates and details as of 4/16/25.

Minimum Deposit Requirement

$0

Monthly Maintenance Fee

$0

Learn More Arrow
On Laurel Road's Website
Member FDIC

ยนThe variable Annual Percentage Yield (APY) indicated is accurate as of February 20, 2025, and is subject to change at any time. No minimum balance is required to earn the APY. Fees may reduce earnings on the account. For current rates visit https://www.laurelroad.com/high-yield-savings-account/#rates-fees-jump/

3.80%

Rates and details as of 4/16/25.

$0

$0

Editor's Take

The Laurel Road High-Yield Savings account offers a competitive APY with no monthly fee or minimum balance requirement.

Why We Like It
The account earns a solid 3.80% APY on all balance amounts and has no monthly fees to offset any interest earned.

Why We Donโ€™t Like It
Laurel Road has limited customer service hours compared to other banks on our list that offer 24/7 customer service.

Who Itโ€™s Best For
This account is best for savers who donโ€™t want to worry about meeting specific requirements or maintaining certain balances to earn APY.

Pros & Cons
  • High yields
  • No monthly maintenance fee
  • Low minimum balance to earn interest
  • Interest compounds daily
  • Live chat support
  • No in-person branches
  • No cash deposits
Details
  • Youโ€™ll earn 3.80% on all balances. Interest compounds daily and is credited monthly.
  • Thereโ€™s no monthly maintenance fee or minimum required balances.
  • Thereโ€™s a $20 fee per item if you overdraft your account by more than $20. (The most you can owe in a given day is $60.) Youโ€™ll owe an additional $20 if your account has been overdraft by more than $20 for five consecutive days.
  • Thereโ€™s a $10 fee if your bank statement is returned to the bank because you have the wrong address on file and a $34 charge to stop payments.
  • Youโ€™ll owe $20 for incoming wire transfers, $30 for outgoing domestic wires and $45 for each outgoing international wire transfer.
  • Thereโ€™s no debit card or checks available.
  • You can reach customer service by phone Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time.
  • Live chat is available, and itโ€™s relatively easy to connect with a human representative.
ยน Disclosure
  1. The variable Annual Percentage Yield (APY) indicated is accurate as of February 20, 2025, and is subject to change at any time. No minimum balance is required to earn the APY. Fees may reduce earnings on the account. For current rates visit https://www.laurelroad.com/high-yield-savings-account/#rates-fees-jump/

Laurel Road is a brand of KeyBank National Association. All products offered by KeyBank N.A Member FDIC.

EverBank Performance Savings

4.8
Our ratings take into account a product's APYs, fees, minimums and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Annual Percentage Yield

4.30%

Minimum Deposit Requirement

$0

Monthly Maintenance Fee

$0

Learn More Arrow
Read Our Full Review

4.30%

$0

$0

Editor's Take

The EverBank Performance Savings account is a suitable option for individuals looking to grow their savings thanks to its high APY and lack of fees.

Why We Like It
The EverBank Performance Savings account earns 4.30% APY on all balances, and there is no minimum deposit requirement or monthly fees.

Why We Donโ€™t Like It
EverBank has poor reviews on the App Store (2.4 stars) and Google Store (2.6 stars).

Who Itโ€™s Best For
The EverBank Performance Savings is best for individuals who want to earn a high APY while avoiding feesโ€”and donโ€™t mind a subpar app experience.

Pros & Cons
  • High yields
  • No monthly maintenance fee
  • No minimum balance or deposit requirements
  • Interest compounds daily
  • No live chat support
  • Bank branches limited to Florida
Details
  • Youโ€™ll earn 4.30% on all balances, and interest compounds daily.
  • Thereโ€™s no minimum balance requirement or monthly maintenance fee. Youโ€™ll have access to more than 100,000 fee-free ATMs, and receive up to $15 per month in reimbursements when youโ€™re charged a fee by an out-of-network ATM. Thereโ€™s no fee for non-sufficient funds, returned deposit items, account closures or incoming wire transfers.
  • Online bill pay is likewise fee-free, but you will owe $4.95 for expedited electronic bill payments and $14.95 for an expedited overnight bill payment.
  • You will owe $25 for outgoing domestic wire transfers, and $35 for international wire transfers. Thereโ€™s also a $25 charge to stop payments.

Ivy Bank High-Yield Savings Account

4.6
Our ratings take into account a product's APYs, fees, minimums and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Annual Percentage Yield

4.25%

Minimum Deposit Requirement

$2,500

Monthly Maintenance Fee

$0

Learn More Arrow
Read Our Full Review

4.25%

$2,500

$0

Editor's Take

If you have at least $2,500 in savings, you could earn a competitive APY with the Ivy Bank High-Yield Savings account.

Why We Like It
Balances over $2,500 (and below $1 million) earn 4.25% APY. Plus, there are no monthly maintenance fees.

Why We Donโ€™t Like It
We donโ€™t like that this account has a high minimum deposit requirement and that balances under $2,500 only earn practically no APY.

Who Itโ€™s Best For
This account is best for individuals who feel comfortable maintaining a balance of at least $2,500 in their account.

Pros & Cons
  • Competitive yield on balances over $2,500
  • No monthly maintenance fee
  • Transfers and withdrawals may be limited to a total of six per calendar month
  • Only 0.05% APY on balances under $2,500
  • High minimum deposit requirement
  • No physical locations
Details

Interest is compounded daily and paid monthly. There is a limit of $250,000 per domestic wire transfer and a $25 fee for each transfer.

MSU Federal Credit Union Savings Builder

MSU Federal Credit Union Savings Builder
3.5
Our ratings take into account a product's APYs, fees, minimums and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Annual Percentage Yield

up to 5.25%

Minimum Deposit Requirement

$0

Monthly Maintenance Fee

$0

MSU Federal Credit Union Savings Builder

up to 5.25%

$0

$0

Editor's Take

The MSU Savings Builder account earns a blended APY based on the funds in each balance tier. The portion of the account balance within each balance tier will earn that tierโ€™s APY. APYs range from 1.10% to 5.25%.

Why We Like It
The MSU Savings Builder account has no monthly maintenance fee or minimum deposit requirement. The account pays a different dividend rate based on the amount of funds in each balance tier.

  • Tier 1 ($0.00 to $999.99): 5.25% APY
  • Tier 2 ($1,000.00 to $1,999.99): 3.74% to 5.25% APY
  • Tier 3 ($2,000.00 and above): 1.10% to 3.74% APY

Why We Donโ€™t Like It
We donโ€™t like that balances of $2,000 and above only earn the Tier 3 rate of 1.10%.

Who Itโ€™s Best For
This account is best for individuals who want to earn one of the highest APYs currently available (5.25%) on balances up to $1,000 and donโ€™t mind dealing with a complicated rewards structure.

Pros & Cons
  • Competitive yield
  • No minimum balance or deposit requirements
  • No monthly maintenance fee
  • Only balances up to $1,000 earn the highest yield
  • Must have an MSU checking account to open a Savings Builder account
Details

Interest is compounded daily and paid monthly. Since this is a blended-rate account, APYs donโ€™t apply to the entire account balance but to the portion within each balance tier. The first $999.99 earns the Tier 1 rate, $1,000.00 to $1,999.99 earns the Tier 2 rate and $2,000.00 and above and above earns the Tier 3 rate.

The following accounts didnโ€™t make our list of the top savings accounts offering APYs close to 5%, but they still offer solid APYs with minimal fees.

Varo Savings Account

2.9
Our ratings take into account a product's APYs, fees, minimums and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Annual Percentage Yield

5.00% on the first $5,000 with qualifying direct deposits; 2.50% on remaining balance

Rates and details as of 4/16/25.

Minimum Deposit Requirement

$0

Monthly Maintenance Fee

$0

Learn More Arrow
On Varo Bank's Website
Member FDIC

5.00% on the first $5,000 with qualifying direct deposits; 2.50% on remaining balance

Rates and details as of 4/16/25.

$0

$0

Editor's Take

Thanks to its unconventional rewards structure, the Varo High-Yield Savings account is an excellent option for those who are new to saving and want to earn an impressive APY.

Why We Like It
With the Varo Savings account, balances under $5,000 earn an APY of up to 5.00%. Balances above this earn an APY of 2.50%. The account has no monthly fees and no minimum balance requirement.

Why We Donโ€™t Like It
To earn the 5.00% APY, you must receive direct deposits of at least $1,000 by the end of the month (otherwise, youโ€™ll earn the standard 2.50% APY).

Who Itโ€™s Best For
This account is best for young workers who are new to saving, want to earn a high rate of return and avoid monthly fees.

Pros & Cons
  • High yield on balances below $5,000 and below
  • No minimum balance or deposit requirements
  • No monthly maintenance fee
  • Balances greater than $5,000 earn average yield
  • No physical locations
  • Must meet requirements to earn the highest yield
Details

Varoโ€™s high-yield savings account also offers automatic savings and savings roundups. To open a Varo high-yield account, youโ€™ll first need to open a Varo checking account. Interest is compounded daily and paid monthly.


Alternatives to 5% Savings Accounts

While savings accounts with a near-5% interest rate are excellent options for saving money and earning extra cash, other savings vehicles may better suit your financial goals.

Here are a few alternatives to consider.

High-Yield CDs

High-yield certificates of deposit (CDs) sometimes offer even higher rates than savings accounts. This is because when you open a CD account, you agree to lock your cash away for a fixed period of time. If youโ€™re confident you wonโ€™t need to access your cash before the accountโ€™s maturity date, you could earn an impressive APY by opening a CD. Some of the best CD rates on the market are nearly 5%.

Money Market Accounts

Another alternative to a high-yield savings account is a money market account. These accounts typically carry high APYs, and many come with an ATM card to make accessing your money easier. Some of the best money market accounts currently offer APYs well over 4%.

Index Funds

Index funds have the potential to earn significantly higher returns than high-yield savings accounts and can keep pace with inflation over the long term. However, returns are not guaranteed, and there is a risk of loss.

401(k)

Contributing to a 401(k) is a good retirement savings strategy for those focused on long-term savings. Plus, many employers offer a 401(k) match to help you grow your savings even more.

High-interest savings accounts can be a great tool for earning more money and keeping your funds liquid. Theyโ€™re ideal for an emergency fund or a large expense youโ€™re saving for and plan to make in the near future, such as a house. I donโ€™t recommend using these accounts to save for expenses that are well off in the future, such as retirement or a childโ€™s education. In these cases, you may be better served by investment accounts, such as an IRA or 529 plan

โ€“ Lawrence Sprung, CFP and wealth advisor at Mitlin Financial


Methodology

To create our list of the best 5% interest savings accounts, Forbes Advisor analyzed 73 high-yield savings accounts from 53 financial institutions, including traditional brick-and-mortar banks, online banks and credit unions. We ranked each institution on 12 data points, including APY, restrictions and limitations, fees, access, customer experience and account minimums.

Below are the weights we assigned to each category:

  • APY: 20%
  • APY restrictions and limitations: 20%
  • Fees: 20%
  • Account minimums: 15%
  • Customer experience: 15%
  • Access: 10%

To learn more about our rating and review methodology and editorial process, check out our guide on how Forbes Advisor reviews banks.

Find The Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2025


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I apply for a 5% interest savings account?

Though most savings accounts these days arenโ€™t offering a 5% interest rate, you can find many accounts with rates above 4%. You can easily open one of these accounts online or in person.

Hereโ€™s the information youโ€™ll likely need when applying:

  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • U.S. residential address
  • Date of birth
  • Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
  • Routing and account number to fund the account

Is my money safe in a high-yield savings account?

Yes, all the banks on this list are FDIC-insured for up to $250,000 per depositor per ownership category.

Do online banks have higher interest rates than traditional banks?

Yes. Online banks offer higher rates than traditional banks because they lack the overhead costs associated with maintaining physical branches. Offering high rates is also an effective way for banks to compete for customers and deposits.

How do I choose a savings account?

There are several factors to consider when choosing a savings account. Consider the account APYโ€”and if youโ€™ll need to meet any specific requirements to earn itโ€”as well as any monthly fees, minimum deposit requirements and overall customer experience.


Next Up In Savings


Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Forbes Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the authorโ€™s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners.
Erin Bendig
Staff Writer

Erin Bendig has extensive experience in various areas of personal finance. She previously worked as a staff writer for Kiplinger.com, focusing primarily on savings accounts and banking. In addition, she has freelanced for Bankrate, covering topics related to credit cards. Erin combines her personal experiences with thorough research and is committed to sharing valuable personal finance advice with others.

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