14 high-yield savings accounts with no minimum deposits up to 5.30% APY

Online banks typically offer higher interest rates and lower fees than traditional banks, but depositing cash can be tricky without physical branches. These days, even “traditional” banks make it easy to open free checking accounts online. We do prefer comprehensive options, though — institutions that make it easy to spend, save, invest, and plan from the same app. But the best accounts go the extra mile and make it easy — even preferable — to bank on the go. Each relates in some way to the overall cost of crusado the account — lower is better — or to its features or overall usability.
Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. Current may suit customers who also want credit-building tools, while Chime and Varo provide simple mobile banking without monthly maintenance fees. SoFi offers the strongest mix of checking, savings, interest, and bonus features. We reviewed accounts based on the costs and features that matter most to checking account customers. A bank may require a deposit later, close an inactive account, or limit certain features until money enters the account.
Indeed, many online banks and a few choice brick-and-mortar stores still offer legitimately free, FDIC-insured accounts with few restrictions and plenty of sweeteners. New users get a 30-day free trial before the first monthly fee applies. Plans range from $5.99/month for the core banking and budgeting features up to $19.98/month for the plan with investing tools and additional protections. The account does come with a $1 monthly fee, but considering the ease of earning the bonus, it can still be worthwhile. That means you’ll pay three months of Stash’s $3 subscription fee — a total of $9.

• Rates are variable, subject to change.
• Download it and explore the demo features.
• But the best accounts go the extra mile and make it easy — even preferable — to bank on the go.
• The account charges no monthly fees and even waives fees for out-of-network ATM withdrawals.
• FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.

We’ve researched and rounded up several of the best no-minimum savings accounts without monthly fees, with our picks offering varied but competitive annual percentage yields (APYs), features, other fees, and more. The Ally Spending Account is an FDIC-insured checking account with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. To choose the best high-yield savings accounts with no minimum balance requirements, we analyzed dozens of accounts that offer competitive APYs without requiring a minimum opening deposit or ongoing balance. Many of the high-yield savings accounts with no monthly fees don’t require direct deposit to earn the best APY, though a few accounts do (but are still well worth it).

• Online banks are crushing traditional banks with their no-fee game.
• We narrowed our selections to checking accounts with no monthly fee.
• The Ally Spending Account is an FDIC-insured checking account with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements.
• It even offers an APY boost of 0.65%, on top of the base rate of 3.30% APY, for the first three months after successfully referring a friend.
• Fortunately, there are many high-yield savings accounts (HYSAs) with no minimum deposit or balance requirements that pay high interest rates without monthly service fees.
• While massive traditional banks (like Chase or Bank of America) usually charge monthly fees, they do offer strict fee waivers if you set up direct deposit.

The Ally Bank Spending Account has no minimum opening deposit, monthly maintenance fee, overdraft fee, or minimum balance requirement. The Varo Bank Account has no minimum opening deposit, monthly maintenance fee, overdraft fee, or minimum balance requirement. The Schwab Bank Investor Checking account has no minimum opening deposit, monthly service fee, or minimum balance requirement. The Capital One 360 Checking account has no minimum opening deposit, monthly maintenance fee, or minimum balance requirement. The Chime Checking Account boasts no monthly fees, no overdraft fees, and no foreign transaction fees.

Best for a trusted name with zero strings: American Express® High Yield Savings Account

That makes it easy to get off the ground and start earning right away. Quontic High Interest Checking makes earning category-leading interest on eligible checking account balances easy. Chime is a mobile-first financial app that merges the low cost of online checking and savings accounts with the convenience of truly on-the-go money management. Unlike traditional banks that treat checking as a non-earning transaction account, Axos ONE pays competitive rates on both your spending and saving money – all from one integrated platform. Axos ONE transforms free checking by bundling high-yield checking and savings into a single, zero-fee package.

Best for all-in-one banking: SoFi Checking and Savings (Member FDIC)

Life happens, and minimum balance requirements can be a problem when you need to use your savings. The chart below compares the annual interest earned on a $5,000 balance at several high-yield savings account rates versus the national average, highlighting how higher APYs can help your money grow faster. It even offers an APY boost of 0.65%, on top of the base rate of 3.30% APY, for the first three months after successfully referring a friend.

How to choose a high-yield savings account

The content was clear and easy to understand I found exactly what I was looking for The page layout and design worked well SoFi is a personal finance company and online bank with products that include checking and savings accounts. Many online banks have partnerships that let you deposit cash at ATMs or retail stores nationwide.

After that, you can avoid the $10 monthly fee with a $500 minimum daily balance or $500 in qualifying direct deposits. Online banks are crushing traditional banks with their no-fee game. They can afford to waive charges that traditional banks love collecting.

You get up to $50 in overdraft coverage on debit purchases (with eligible direct deposit), plus access to 55,000+ fee-free ATMs nationwide. SoFi requires no minimum deposit to open your account and charges zero monthly maintenance fees, making it completely free to maintain. The account can be opened entirely online from either desktop or mobile app, making it a convenient and easy way to start banking at low cost. So, if you’re looking to make use of its premium features, it might be worth weighing other options. This is why online US banks allow you to open a bank account online with no money and charge no hidden fees, while many traditional banks require a minimum deposit.