Top high-yield savings accounts were offering up to 5.00% APY as of Aug. 20, 2026, compared with the FDIC’s 0.38% national average. A high-yield savings account is a savings product whose rate significantly exceeds the industry average, often offered by online banks that can pass lower branch and operating costs to customers. Fortune partnered with Curinos, which has operated in financial services for more than three decades, to track daily rates across savings accounts and CDs from a broad range of institutions. The article says rates have recovered from their 2020-to-2022 lows but remain well below the best high-yield offers. In a hypothetical example, $5,000 held for one year would generate an estimated $22 at 0.40% APY versus $256 at 5.00%, assuming rates remain unchanged. Savers are advised to compare rates, minimums, fees, access to funds, and FDIC or NCUA insurance, while remembering that interest is taxable. Rates could decline if the Federal Reserve cuts its benchmark federal funds rate after several cuts in late 2025. Insured deposits are protected up to $250,000 per institution, although inflation can reduce purchasing power. High-yield accounts can provide substantial interest while preserving access to funds, while certificates of deposit may suit savers willing to lock money away for a fixed period.