Best high-yield savings accounts of May 2025 (Up to 4.40%)

Best high-yield savings accounts for May 2025

Note: APYs may have changed since they were last updated and may vary by region for some products. Bankrate includes only FDIC banks or NCUA credit unions in its editorial listings.

The Fed did decrease rates three times in 2024 — in September, November and December. Those decreases are why savers are seeing lower yields in 2025 than in 2024.

Even though rates are lower than they were last year, they're still high and outpacing inflation. As of April 2025, the rate of inflation, year-over-year, is 2.3 percent according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index (CPI). The accounts on this list are earning upwards of 4 percent APY.

All that is to say, now remains a good time to take advantage of high yields on savings. And it’s not hard to find a high-yielding savings account, especially at an online-only bank. These banks also typically don’t require a set minimum balance or charge monthly service fees.

Forecast: Where are savings rates heading?

Though no one can predict the future (as far as we know), experts are reading the economic tea leaves and can help us understand where rates might be heading in the near future. One tool, the CME FedWatch tool, tracks the opinions of interest rate traders on the likelihood of whether the Fed will change the federal funds rate at its upcoming meetings. Though these probabilities can change daily, as of May 30, the CME FedWatch tool shows that the overwhelming majority feel rates will stay steady at the next two Federal Reserve meetings.

"The Federal Reserve is not in a hurry to cut interest rates and this is good news for savers. Returns on high-yield savings accounts will remain near current levels, and above the rate of inflation, until the likelihood of a Fed rate cut increases," says Greg McBride, CFA, Bankrate chief financial analyst.

Below are a few important features to consider when searching for a high-yield savings account. When choosing, also take a look at Bankrate’s expert reviews of popular banks, many of which offer high-interest savings accounts.

The top three factors to look for when choosing a high-yield savings account are:

Who should get an online high-yield savings account?

Anyone can benefit from a high-yield savings account, regardless of their stage of life and their money-related goals. Here are a few examples of who might want to open one:

CDs

CDs generally earn a fixed APY for a certain period of time. In exchange for the guaranteed return, you agree to leave your money locked away for the chosen term. With high-yield savings accounts, you deal with variable APYs in exchange for being able to take your money out whenever you want. High-yield savings accounts are better for emergency savings. The best CD rates are currently outpacing both high-yield savings accounts and inflation.

Money market accounts

A money market account is a savings deposit account that typically offers check-writing privileges or debit card access. The best money market accounts currently pay rates on par with the best high-yield savings accounts, but may require higher opening minimums.

Checking accounts

Checking accounts are meant for your daily transactions — they're where you keep money that you're planning on spending. Savings accounts are meant to keep money that you're trying to separate from the money you're spending. The best checking accounts don't have monthly fees and may pay you some interest, too.

Investments

Investments may offer higher returns than high-yield savings accounts, but have risks associated with them. You could lose all the money you invest, for example. Whereas high-yield savings accounts are a safe place to keep emergency and other funds.

Meet our Bankrate experts 

Written by: Matthew Goldberg, Senior Consumer Banking Reporter

Matthew is a senior consumer banking reporter with more than two decades of journalism and financial services expertise, helping readers make informed decisions about their personal finance needs. His banking career includes being a banker in New York City and a bank officer at one of the nation's largest banks. Matthew is currently a member of the Board of Governors at the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing (SABEW), chairing its training member engagement committee and is co-chair of its Finance Committee.

Read more from Matthew Goldberg

Edited by: Marc Wojno, Senior Editor, Banking 

I’ve been a personal finance writer and editor for more than two decades specializing in money management, deposit accounts, investing, fintech and cryptocurrency. Throughout the years of crunching numbers and words, I’ve been passionate about helping readers make informed decisions on managing their money with uniquely helpful advice. I have an MBA from George Washington University, and am an active member of both the National Press Club and SABEW, where I’ve volunteered as a judge for their respective journalism awards programs. Recently, I was elected Treasurer of the Society of Professional Journalists’ SDX Foundation (Washington, DC chapter), raising scholarship money for aspiring young journalists.

Read more from Marc Wojno

Reviewed by: Greg McBride, CFA, Chief Financial Analyst, Bankrate

Greg McBride is a CFA charterholder with more than a quarter-century of experience analyzing banking trends and personal finance. As Bankrate's Chief Financial Analyst, he leads the team that researches and provides guidance on savings vehicles, from high-yield savings accounts to CDs. Through Bankrate.com's Money Makeover series, he has helped consumers develop their saving habits, maximize their returns on deposit accounts, and make smart decisions about where to keep their cash. He is frequently quoted by major media outlets on banking trends and Federal Reserve policy impacts on deposit rates. 

Read more from Greg McBride

Research methodology

Bankrate researches over 100 banks and credit unions, including some of the largest financial institutions, online-only banks, regional banks and credit unions with both open and restrictive membership policies.

To find the best high-yield savings accounts, we rated these institutions on their savings account’s APYs, monthly fees, minimum deposit requirements, access to funds and more.

The highest-rated savings accounts from broadly-available banks and credit unions, that also had the highest APYs, made our list. Learn more about how we choose the best banking products and our methodology for reviewing banks.