12 Bank Accounts That Will Pay You 5.00% APY or More Right Now

Right now, there are plenty of bank accounts offering 5.00% APY (as of January 2, 2024), with some offering even higher.

You can find these returns in high-yield savings accounts, CDs, and money market accounts, with FDIC insurance and no risk to your principal. It’s one of the easiest ways to boost your bank account.

But there are some requirements for earning this rate, depending on the account you choose. We’ve found the top 13 bank accounts that are paying 5% (or close to it).

Newtek is an online bank that is offering 5.25% APY (as of January 2, 2024) on its high-yield savings account. 

There is no minimum balance required to open the account, and no caps on earnings, so all deposits qualify. And there are no maintenance, service, or transaction fees on the account either.

Newtek also offers CDs that are paying out up to 5.67% APY (as of January 2, 2024), though only for very short terms. And while Newtek offers business banking solutions, there is no personal checking account available.

UFB is a division of Axos Bank that is now offering up to 4.01%¹ <p> The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of 12/9/2024. The interest rate and corresponding APY for savings is variable and is set at our discretion. This is a tiered variable rate account. Interest rates may change as often as daily without prior notice. Fees may reduce earnings.</p> APY on its Portfolio Savings account. UFB used to require a minimum balance to earn the highest APY but has opened the top interest rates to any depositor with no minimum balance required.

UFB is an online-only bank, though you can still access your funds with a complimentary ATM card. There are no maintenance fees on the account, and it offers free transfers between direct deposit accounts.

Laurel Road is a student loan company that now offers banking services and is paying out 5.00% APY (as of January 2, 2024) on its high-yield savings account. 

Laurel Road is another online-only bank that offers high rates due to its low overhead of not having any physical locations, and there are no account minimums or maintenance fees.

Bask Bank is offering a high 5.10% APY (as of January 2, 2024) on its savings account. 

Customers can expect quality service, too, with Bask Bank being named one of the top banks by U.S. News & World Report in their first-ever Banking, Investing Platforms and Lender Awards.

Primis is an online bank that offers 5.07% APY (as of January 2, 2024) on its high-yield savings account. There is a $1 minimum to open the account, but no caps on earnings. There are no account or service fees for using the account and no transaction limits either.

CIT Bank is part of First Citizens Bank, and offers online banking solutions, including 4.35% APY (as of Dec 20, 2024) on deposits over $5,000. ³ <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 December 20, 2024: 0.25% APY on balances of $0.01 to $4,999.99; 4.35% 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>

There is a $100 minimum to open the high-yield savings account, and the first $5,000 in your account online earns 0.25% (as of 12/20/24). But balances over $5,000 earn the full 4.35% with no cap.

Varo Bank is an online-only bank that offers no fees on most accounts, access to fee-free ATMs via the Allpoint network, and a savings account that is currently paying up to 5.00% APY (as of January 2, 2024).

To earn the highest rate, you are required to set up a monthly direct deposit into the Varo savings account of at least $1,000 per month. 

You must also have a regular Varo bank account open, and a positive balance in both the standard account and savings account at the end of the month to qualify for the 5.00% rate.

Varo offers 5.00% APY on balances up to $5,000, and then the rate drops down to 3.00% APY (as of January 2, 2024), which is still pretty decent.

Forbright is an online bank that is offering an eye-popping 5.25% (as of January 2, 2024) on its 1-year CD account. There is a $1,000 minimum deposit to open the account, but there are no maintenance fees charged. 

If you decide to withdraw the funds before the 1-year mark, there is a penalty of three-months’ interest charged. This bank has several fees for its other services, so consider just sticking to the CD account for minimal charges.

BMO Alto consistently offers high rates on its accounts, and its 12-month CD is now offering a 5.55% APY (as of January 2, 2024). There is a $1,000 minimum deposit required to open the CD, but there are no fees on the account. 

There is a steep penalty if you withdraw funds before the 1-year mark, as you’ll lose 180 days of interest collected, which is half the earnings for the year. 

Marcus is an online bank and part of global bank Goldman Sachs. While its high-yield savings account isn’t quite near 5.00% APY (yet), its 12-month CD is paying a 5.50% APY (as of January 2, 2024). 

There is a $500 minimum deposit to open this CD account, and you can expect a penalty for early withdrawal from the account.

CFG Bank is one of the only banks offering over 5.25% APY (as of January 2, 2024) on its money market account. You can earn 5.25% if you open an account and deposit at least $1,000. 

You must maintain the $1,000 to continue earning the highest rate and avoid a $10 service fee. There are no fees for the account, but you are limited to six transactions per month.

Money market accounts aren’t paying as much as high-yield savings and CDs right now, but Bank Purely is offering 5.05% (as of January 2, 2024) on its money market account. This account requires a hefty $25,000 minimum deposit to earn the highest rate. 

The account comes with an ATM card, so you can access cash if needed too.

You can easily earn 5.00% APY these days, as many high-yield savings accounts and CDs are offering great rates with no additional fees. 

But before you sign up to boost your bank account, make sure to read through the minimum deposit requirements and any other qualifications required to earn the highest rate, or you might miss out. 

And remember, rates on these accounts are variable, so if the Federal Reserve lowers rates, expect the APYs on these accounts to drop as well.