Top high-yield savings accounts offered annual percentage yields (APYs) of up to 4.50% as of Aug. 27, 2026, compared with the FDIC national average savings rate of 0.38%. A high-yield savings account, or HYSA, is not an official product category but a general term for an account that pays substantially more than the industry average. Online banks and some credit unions can offer higher rates because they operate with less branch infrastructure and fewer overhead costs. HYSAs generally provide easier access to funds than certificates of deposit (CDs), but their rates are variable and can fall when the Federal Reserve lowers interest rates. Deposits are generally protected up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution and ownership category, when held at an FDIC-insured bank or NCUA-insured credit union. Savers should compare APY, minimum balances, fees, withdrawal access, insurance coverage and the tax treatment of interest. Fortune partnered with Curinos to track daily savings-account and CD rates across a broad range of institutions. CDs remain an alternative for customers willing to lock up funds for a fixed term in exchange for a generally guaranteed rate.