What is the average interest rate for savings accounts?

What is the average interest rate for savings accounts?

Fri, July 31, 2026 at 4:57 PM GMT+3 2 min read

The average savings account rate can give you a read on the overall interest-rate environment, but it's not a rate you should settle for.

Aim for an annual percentage yield (APY) many times the national average, such as those offered by high-yield savings accounts. It's easy to find a top high-yield savings account that offers a competitive return with a low minimum balance requirement.

National average savings account interest rates

Many of the best online banks have savings interest rates multiple times higher than the national average savings account interest rates. The higher the rate, the more interest you'll earn on your savings.

The national average savings account yield is 0.62% APY, according to Bankrate's survey of institutions as of July 31, 2026. And the best high-yield savings accounts are paying around 4% APY.

Online banks have less overhead than big banks with physical locations, and can offer higher APYs. They are also competing for your business — it's easier to keep your money in one spot, and if you already have an account with a big bank, you may be less inclined to open up an additional account.

How Bankrate calculates the national average

Bankrate surveys more than 500 banks and credit unions weekly to generate the national averages. Included in the survey are institutions that are broadly available and offer high yields, as well as some of the nation's largest banks.

Interest rates for linked checking and savings

You can sometimes earn a higher yield, called a relationship rate, if you connect your savings account with a checking account at the same bank.

For instance, at U.S. Bank, the standard APY you can earn on the Bank Smartly savings account is 0.05% APY. But if you have another qualifying U.S. Bank account and $5,000 or less across accounts, you'll earn 1.00% APY. With at least $25,000 in combined balances across accounts, you'll earn 3.50% APY.

Or you can earn around 4.00% with an account at an online bank.

*Annual percentage yields (APYs) shown are as of July 30, 2026. Bankrate's editorial team updates this information monthly. APYs may have changed since they were last updated and may vary by region for some products.

Bottom line

You should be able to easily find a bank that's offering an APY multiple times higher than the national average, especially at an online bank. Calculate the difference between what you can earn with the APY at an online bank versus the national average to help you make a decision.