Banking Savings & Money Market Accounts

$1 vs $4,000: Here's How Much More a High-Yield Savings Account Earns

Unlock the power of compounding with staggering returns on your savings.

A financial advisor is offering advice to a couple
Updated July 2, 2025
Fact checked

Banks do far more than serve as a repository for your hard-earned cash. Depending on the bank, they can do quite a bit more — starting with helping you grow your wealth.

Whether you're searching for a new bank with better benefits or curious to know how much you could make by leaving your cash untouched in a high-yield savings account, keep reading. 

We'll show you exactly how much your savings can earn at the right bank with the right interest rate.

Get instant access to hundreds of discounts

Over 50? Join AARP today— because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks like discounts on travel, dining, and even prescriptions.

Get 25% off membership — just $15 for your first year with auto-renewal — and a free gift if you join today.

Become an AARP member now

$10,000 in a big bank earning almost nothing

Rido/Adobe mature couple meeting financial advisor for investment

Interest earned in one year at a rate of 0.01%: $1

For better or worse, big banks typically don't have to jockey for new customers. The name recognition alone of a national bank is enough of a draw that big banks don't have much incentive to offer competitive perks like high-yield savings accounts.

As a result, many big banks offer interest rates as low as 0.01%. If you have $10,000 in savings, you'll earn $1 a year (based on a simple interest calculation, not compounding interest). 

Worse, many big banks charge a monthly or yearly savings account maintenance fee — so storing your savings in a low-interest savings account with a big bank could lose you money.

$10,000 in a bank earning the national average rate

Dragana Gordic/Adobe A financial advisor

Interest earned in one year at the current national average rate of 0.46%: $46

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is the independent federal agency that backs bank account deposits and oversees banks and credit unions. 

The FDIC also calculates monthly interest rate caps for banking products, which include savings accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), and interest checking accounts.

For November 2023, the FDIC monthly rate cap for savings accounts is 0.46%. If you deposit $10,000 in an account with that interest rate, you'll earn $46 by the end of the year.

Again, this is a simple interest calculation. If your savings account earns compound interest (and most do), your interest also earns interest. Whether your interest compounds monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually impacts the amount of interest you'll earn.

$10,000 in a competitive high-yield savings account

A. Frank/peopleimages.com/Adobe Couple with a financial advisor

Interest earned in one year at the competitive rate of 4.00%: $400

Many non-traditional, new, or online banks use high-yield savings (and even checking) accounts to get new customers interested in their banking services.

While 4.00% is considered a competitive rate — especially compared to almost comically low big-bank rates — it's entirely possible to find high-yield savings accounts with even higher rates.

Of course, you should carefully vet banking options to ensure you choose the best bank for you, not just the bank with the highest interest rate.

If you open a high-interest savings account with a rate of 4.00%, deposit $10,000, and don't touch that money for an entire year, you'll earn $400 worth of simple interest on your principal deposit (about $408 if compounded daily).

Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt

National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.1

Sign up for a free debt assessment here

$50,000 in a big bank earning almost nothing

fizkes/Adobe Financial advisor consulting

Interest earned in one year at a rate of 0.01%: $5

Earning $5 on a deposit of $50,000 is better than earning either nothing or $1 … but not by much, especially if you're paying a monthly service fee just to keep the account.

$50,000 in a bank earning the national average rate

Drazen/Adobe People with a financial advisor

Interest earned in one year at the current national average rate of 0.46%: $230

There's more than one reason to leave your savings untouched for as long as possible, but one is definitely that the more money you're able to deposit, the higher your return will be. 

At a fixed rate of 0.46%, you could earn $230 in one year or over $1,000 in five years with practically no effort required.

$50,000 in a competitive high-yield savings account

Drazen/Adobe Financial advisor having consultations

Interest earned in one year at the competitive rate of 4.00%: $2,000

Yes, you read that right. Depositing $50,000 into a low-interest savings account earns you around $5 — but depositing that same amount into a high-yield account with a different bank nets you $2,000 in simple interest alone (about $2,040 if compounded daily).

$100,000 in a big bank earning almost nothing

N Lawrenson/peopleimages.com/Adobe Person talking to financial advisor

Interest earned in one year at a rate of 0.01%: $10

The $10 of interest you earn by depositing $100,000 with a big bank demonstrates that it isn't necessarily the amount of money you save that counts — it's where and how you store that money. 

And if increasing your saving ability is one of the main things you look for in a bank, just know that you'll rarely find it with a big bank's savings account.

$100,000 in a bank earning the national average rate

Studio Romantic/Adobe Couple meeting with financial advisor

Interest earned in one year at the current national average rate of 0.46%: $460

$460 isn't the highest amount you could earn on a $100,000 savings deposit, but it's a respectable amount to earn over a year (especially compared to $10). 

If your current bank or credit union offers interest rates around the national average and has a series of other perks for long-term customers, sticking with that bank might be a wise choice for your financial future.

$100,000 in a competitive high-yield savings account

InputUX/Adobe Couple meeting with financial advisor

Interest earned in one year at the competitive rate of 4.00%: $4,000

$4,000 (about $4,080 if compounded daily) is an incredible amount to gain by doing nothing more than depositing cash into an account.

That's precisely why looking into a high-yield savings account with a non-traditional bank could be the smartest move you make to boost your retirement savings.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with a debit card

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover® Cashback Debit account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!2

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Learn more about the Discover Cashback Checking account

Bottom line

yj/Adobe Confident financial advisor

There are benefits of banking with a big bank — but a high interest rate on your savings account isn't one of them.

No matter how much money you have in savings, it's worth looking at different high-yield savings account options to see if you can earn a little extra cash. 

With the right interest rate, you can boost your bank account without spending a cent.

Up To 5% Cash Back

4.7
info

Discover it® Cash Back

Current Offer

Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details


Must-Read Buzz

Financebuzz logo

Thanks for subscribing!

Please check your email to confirm your subscription.