American Express High Yield Savings Account (HYSA) basics
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| Annual percentage yield (APY) | 3.20%1 <p>The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) as advertised is accurate as of March 18, 2026. Interest rate and APY are subject to change at any time without notice before and after a High Yield Savings Account is opened. Interest Rate and APY of a Certificate of Deposit account is fixed once the account is funded.</p> |
| Minimum balance to earn APY | $02 <p class="">There is no minimum balance required to open your Account, to avoid being charged a fee, or to obtain the Annual Percentage Yield (APY) disclosed to you.</p> |
| Minimum deposit to open | $0 |
| Monthly maintenance fees | $0 |
| ATM access | None |
| Cash deposits | Not permitted |
| Customer support | American Express offers 24/7 customer service when you call 1-800-446-6307 |
| Amex mobile app ratings3 <p>iOS and Android only. See app store listings for operating system info.</p> |
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| FDIC insured | Yes, American Express National Bank is a Member FDIC (Cert. #27471) |
American Express, founded in 1850, has long been a trusted name in financial services. While it's well known for its credit cards, it's expanded into online banking with products like the High Yield Savings Account.
Is the Amex high-yield savings account good for you?
I'd recommend the American Express High Yield Savings account as a good option if:
- You're a current American Express cardholder who wants to keep your accounts under one roof.
- You want 24/7 phone access to customer service.
- You're a saver who wants to earn high interest rates and avoid monthly fees.
- You're comfortable with online-only banking.
The American Express savings account is a solid option for current Amex customers who want to simplify their banking. You can manage all your Amex accounts from one app, access a high APY and 24/7 human customer service, and there are no strings to maximize your interest earnings.
When you should consider another savings account
The American Express HYSA might not be the best option for you if:
- You want the highest APY available.
- You currently bank with a different financial institution with a similar APY on savings.
- You need to deposit cash.
While the American Express High Yield Savings account offers an impressive 3.2% APY, it's not the highest out there. If you want to earn the highest yield possible on your savings, I'd suggest looking elsewhere.
For example, Openbank by Santander offers a savings account that earns up to 4.20% (as of 1/08/26) APY, EverBank Performance Savings earns up to 3.90% (as of 02/20/26) APY, and CIT Bank Platinum Savings4 <p class="">For complete list of account details and fees, see our <a href="https://www.cit.com/cit-bank/resources/forms">Personal Account disclosures</a>.</p> earns up to up to 4.10% APY.5 <p>Platinum Savings is a tiered interest rate account. Interest is paid on the entire account balance based on the interest rate and APY in effect that day for the balance tier associated with the end-of-day account balance. APYs — Annual Percentage Yields are accurate as of Jan. 09 2026: 0.25% APY on balances of $0.01 to $4,999.99; 3.75% APY on balances of $5,000.00 or more. Interest Rates for the Platinum Savings account are variable and may change at any time without notice. The minimum to open a Platinum Savings account is $100.</p> But all of these accounts and companies come with caveats, like deposit requirements or mixed customer reviews.
American Express HYSA features and benefits
Simplicity for existing Amex customers
The American Express High Yield Savings account is a great choice if you're already part of the American Express ecosystem as a cardholder. As someone who appreciates simplicity, I like that you can access both your bank account info and your credit card info in the Amex mobile app.6 <p>For purposes of transferring funds to or from an external bank, business days are Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. Transfers can be initiated 24/7 via the website or phone, but any transfers initiated after 7:00 PM Eastern Time or on non-business days will begin processing on the next business day. Funds deposited into your account may be subject to holds. See the Funds Availability section of your Consumer Deposit Account Agreement and Savings Schedules for more information.</p> This means you don't have to keep track of multiple logins for all your accounts.
24/7 customer service
I also like that American Express offers 24/7 phone customer support, which is unusual for an online HYSA. But that's one of the advantages of banking with a large institution like American Express. If you've ever been frustrated by AI chatbots or automated responses, this will be a huge plus for you.
You can earn a competitive APY
Another of my favorite features of this account is undoubtedly its high APY. At 3.20%, it's significantly higher than what you'd find at most traditional banks and the national average of 0.38% (as of 4/20/26), according to the FDIC.7 <p>The national rate referenced is from the FDIC's published Monthly Rate Cap Information for Savings deposit products. Visit the <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/resources/bankers/national-rates/">FDIC website </a>for details.</p> Even better? This rate applies to all balance tiers, so you don't need a large deposit to start earning, as you do with some savings accounts. You do need to be comfortable with online-only banking, but since many of the best savings accounts are digital-only, this isn't a deal-breaker.
There are no strings to earn the top APY
Finally, I appreciate that Amex keeps things simple with a $0 minimum balance to earn APY and no monthly fees. This makes it accessible to savers at all levels, whether you're just starting out or have a substantial nest egg.
American Express HYSA disadvantages
You can't make cash deposits
If you frequently deal with physical cash, I'd recommend looking for another savings account. You can't deposit cash directly into the American Express High Yield Savings account — you'll need to find a workaround, like depositing cash into another account and transferring it to your Amex account, or sending a paper check by mail.
If you're looking for online banks that accept cash deposits, check with institutions like Capital One. You can also find many savings accounts with debit or ATM cards, if you need easy access to cash.
You can often find a higher APY elsewhere
I don't recommend choosing a savings account solely for its high rate, because that's not the only important feature, and savings rates are variable anyway (meaning they can change without warning). But if you're determined to let this be your north star, then you'll have to go with another HYSA, not from American Express. Some of the best savings accounts offer an APY of 4% or higher.
American Express HYSA alternatives
SoFi Checking and Savings vs. Amex High Yield Savings
SoFi® provides both a checking and savings account in one package, making it ideal if you need both. You can earn up to 3.30% APY on savings balances with qualifying direct deposits.15 <p>Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet">https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a></p>
I like that there's no minimum balance requirement, and you don't have to worry about monthly maintenance or overdraft fees.16 <p>We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Bank Fee Sheet for details at <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a>.</p> While it's another online-only option, it comes with features Amex lacks, like early paycheck access with direct deposit.17 <p>Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.</p> Member FDIC.11 <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>
Visit SoFi or read our full SoFi Checking and Savings review.
Capital One 360 Performance Savings vs. Amex High Yield Savings
Another bank known for its credit cards, Capital One offers a high-yield savings account similar to American Express's. The rate for the Capital One 360 Performance Savings account is typically on par with Amex's high-yield savings option, and it's also pretty basic. It doesn't offer ATM access or cash deposit capabilities, but it earns a respectable APY of 3.10% (as of 05/04/2026).18 <span>A rate of 3.10% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) applies to all account balances. Advertised rates are variable and effective as of 05/04/2026. Rates are subject to change at any time before or after account opening. The 360 Performance Savings account has no monthly cycle service charge and no minimum balance required to open or maintain the account.</span>
If you already have Capital One credit cards, you might find it more convenient to open a savings account with Capital One 360 than with American Express. But if you already have Amex cards, I'd recommend sticking with Amex.
Read our full Capital One 360 review.
Customer experience and user sentiment
Reviews and complaints
American Express earned the top spot in J.D. Power's 2025 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Survey for the sixth consecutive year, showing the company's commitment to top-notch customer service. But the full story is more complex.
For example, American Express has a "bad" rating on Trustpilot, with a score of 1.3 out of 5. Reviewers mention long wait times for customer service and language barriers with reps.
Amex also has a poor 1.1 out of 5 rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Reviewers note the lack of fee flexibility, even for long-term customers.
It's important to note that most reviews and complaints are specifically about Amex's credit card products, so I'd advise taking them with a grain of salt when considering a savings account.
Customer support
American Express customer service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can call them at 1-800-446-6307.
You can also send them mail at:
American Express National Bank
P.O. Box 30384
Salt Lake City, Utah 84130
Mobile banking app
Amex's highly rated mobile banking app lets you manage your checking, savings, and credit card accounts from one place — no need to switch between apps. The app has a 4.9 out of 5 rating on both Google Play and the Apple App Store.
Grow your savings with less effort
An interest-earning account allows your money to build over time by adding returns on top of your contributions. Use our savings calculator below to plug in your own starting balance, interest rate, and timeline to see how different account types could impact your earnings.
Rather than sitting unused, your savings can gain momentum and help you reach your financial goals more efficiently.
FAQs
Is an American Express High Yield Savings Account worth it?
An American Express High Yield Savings Account is worth it if you're already an Amex customer and like the available APY. This account offers unique perks, including 24/7 customer service and no minimum deposit or balance requirements. But it doesn't allow cash deposits or come with an ATM card, and it is possible to find both of these features, and/or higher interest rates, elsewhere.
Is the American Express High Yield Savings Account safe?
Yes, every American Express High Yield Savings Account is FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per depositor, and you can increase your coverage amount by adding beneficiaries to your account. The FDIC certificate number for American Express National Bank, Member FDIC, is 27471.
Should I get an American Express savings account or a CD?
If you need to access your money, the American Express HYSA is the better option. CDs, or certificates of deposit, can often earn you a better rate than a high-yield savings account. However, the money in a CD is inaccessible for the agreement term, like 12 months, so only open a CD if you don't need the money in the short term.
Bottom line
I recommend the American Express High Yield Savings Account for anyone looking for a combination of high interest rates, 24/7 phone support, and the backing of a trusted financial brand. Its 3.20% APY is significantly higher than that of most traditional banks, making it an excellent option for growing your savings.