Right here’s my month-to-month survey of the very best rates of interest on money as of February 2026, roughly sorted from shortest to longest maturities. Banks and brokerages love benefiting from idle money, and you may usually earn extra curiosity whereas preserving the identical degree of security by shifting to a different FDIC-insured financial institution or NCUA-insured credit score union. Try my Final Charge-Chaser Calculator to see how a lot further curiosity you would earn from switching. Charges listed can be found to everybody nationwide. Charges checked as of two/11/26.
TL;DR: Financial savings account rates of interest are largely unchanged from final month. You’ll be able to nonetheless get 4.6% for those who settle for sure hoops/restrictions, however most are underneath 4% now. Brief-term T-Invoice charges have fallen, now ~3.6%. Prime 5-year CD charges are ~4% APY, whereas 5-year Treasury charge is ~3.7%.
Excessive-yield financial savings accounts*
For the reason that big megabanks nonetheless pay basically zero curiosity, everybody ought to no less than have a separate, no-fee on-line financial savings account to piggy-back onto your present checking account. The rates of interest on financial savings accounts can drop at any time, so I listing the highest charges in addition to aggressive charges from banks with a historical past of aggressive charges and stable person expertise. Some banks will bait you with a short lived prime charge after which decrease the charges within the hopes that you’re too lazy to go away.
- The highest saving charge for the time being: Pibank at 4.60% APY (no min), however they’ve some bizarre restrictions; like you possibly can solely use wire/Plaid to deposit and wire transfers to withdraw funds?! CineFi (no min) is new at 4.50% APY, a division of First Leisure Credit score Union. OnPath FCU is at 4.40% APY with $25,000 minimal steadiness. CIT Platinum Financial savings is now at 3.75% APY with $5,000+ steadiness. There are lots of banks in between.
- SoFi Financial institution is at 3.30% APY (new clients can rise up to 4.00% APY for six months + $325 bonus with qualifying direct deposit. You need to keep a direct deposit of any quantity (even $1) every month for the upper ongoing APY. SoFi has traditionally aggressive charges and full banking options.
- Here’s a restricted survey of high-yield financial savings accounts. They aren’t the highest charges, however a bunch which have traditionally stored it comparatively aggressive such that I like to trace their historical past. This month they begin at 3.30% APY on up.
Brief-term assured charges (1 12 months and underneath)
A standard query is what to do with an enormous pile of money that you just’re ready to deploy shortly (plan to purchase a home quickly, simply bought your own home, simply bought what you are promoting, authorized settlement, inheritance). My typical recommendation is to maintain issues easy and take your time. If not a financial savings account, then put it in a versatile short-term CD underneath the FDIC limits till you will have a plan.
- No Penalty CDs provide a hard and fast rate of interest that may by no means go down, however you possibly can nonetheless take out your cash (as soon as) with none charges if you wish to use it elsewhere. Marcus has a 13-month No Penalty CD at 3.95% APY ($500 minimal deposit). Farmer’s Insurance coverage FCU has a 9-month No Penalty CD at 4.00% APY ($1,000 minimal deposit). USALLIANCE Monetary CU has a 11-month No Penalty CD at 3.90% APY ($500 minimal deposit). CIT Financial institution has a 11-month No Penalty CD at 3.75% APY ($1,000 minimal deposit).
- Genisys CU has a 13-month certificates at 4.16% APY ($500 min). Early withdrawal penalty is a clearly-disclosed 90 days of curiosity (many locations conceal this data now). Anybody can be part of this credit score union by way of accomplice group Arthritis Basis or Paint Creek Middle for the Arts (one-time $5 charge).
- Farmer’s Insurance coverage FCU has a 12-month CD at 4.25% APY with new cash required. $1,000 minimal to open. Early withdrawal penalty is 90 days of curiosity.
Cash market mutual funds
Many brokerage corporations that pay out little or no curiosity on their default money sweep funds (and maintain the distinction for themselves). Word: Cash market mutual funds are highly-regulated, however finally not FDIC-insured, so I might nonetheless stick to extremely respected corporations.
- Vanguard Federal Cash Market Fund (VMFXX) is the default sweep possibility for Vanguard brokerage accounts, which has a 7-day SEC yield of 3.59% (modifications every day, but in addition works out to a compound yield of three.65%, which is best for evaluating in opposition to APY). Odds are that is a lot increased than your personal dealer’s default money sweep rate of interest.
- Vanguard Treasury Cash Market Fund (VUSXX) is another cash market fund which you will need to manually buy, however the curiosity will likely be largely (100% for 2025 tax 12 months) exempt from state and native revenue taxes as a result of it comes from qualifying US authorities obligations. Present 7-day SEC yield of 3.64% (compound yield of three.70%).
Treasury Payments and Extremely-short Treasury ETFs
An alternative choice is to purchase particular person Treasury payments which are available in a wide range of maturities from 4-weeks to 52-weeks and are absolutely backed by the US authorities. You can too put money into ETFs that maintain a rotating basket of short-term Treasury Payments for you, whereas charging a small administration charge for doing so. T-bill curiosity is exempt from state and native revenue taxes, which might make a big distinction in your efficient yield.
- You’ll be able to construct your personal T-Invoice ladder at TreasuryDirect.gov or by way of a brokerage account with a bond desk like Vanguard and Constancy. Listed here are the present Treasury Invoice charges. As of two/11/26, a brand new 4-week T-Invoice had the equal of 3.69% annualized curiosity and a 52-week T-Invoice had the equal of 3.47% annualized curiosity.
- The iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) has a 3.55% 30-day SEC yield (0.09% expense ratio) and efficient period of 0.10 years. The Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Invoice ETF (VBIL) has a 3.55% 30-day SEC yield (0.06% expense ratio) and efficient period of 0.10 years.
US Financial savings Bonds
Sequence I Financial savings Bonds provide charges which can be linked to inflation and backed by the US authorities. You need to maintain them for no less than a 12 months. When you redeem them inside 5 years there’s a penalty of the final 3 months of curiosity. The annual buy restrict for digital I bonds is $10,000 per Social Safety Quantity, obtainable on-line at TreasuryDirect.gov.
- “I Bonds” purchased between November 2025 and April 2026 will earn a 4.03% charge for the primary six months. The speed of the next 6-month interval will likely be based mostly on inflation once more. Extra on Financial savings Bonds right here.
- In mid-April 2026, the CPI will likely be introduced and you should have a brief interval the place you should have a really shut estimate of the speed for the following 12 months. I’ll submit one other replace at the moment.
Rewards checking accounts
These distinctive checking accounts pay above-average rates of interest, however with distinctive dangers. You must bounce via sure hoops which often contain 10+ debit card purchases every cycle, a sure variety of ACH/direct deposits, and/or a sure variety of logins per 30 days. When you make a mistake (or they choose that you just did) you threat incomes zero curiosity for that month. Some of us don’t thoughts the additional work and a spotlight required, whereas others would slightly not hassle. Charges can even drop all of a sudden, leaving a “bait-and-switch” feeling.
- La Capitol Federal Credit score Union pays 6.50% APY on as much as $10,000 for those who make 15 debit card purchases of no less than $5 every per assertion cycle. Anybody can be part of this credit score union by way of accomplice group, Louisiana Affiliation for Private Monetary Achievement ($20).
- OnPath Federal Credit score Union (my overview) pays 6.00% APY on as much as $10,000 for those who make 15 debit card purchases, choose into on-line statements, and login to on-line or cell banking as soon as per assertion cycle. Anybody can be part of this credit score union by way of $5 membership charge to affix accomplice group. You can too get a $150 Visa Reward card while you open a brand new account and make qualifying transactions.
- Genisys Credit score Union pays 6.75% APY on as much as $7,500 for those who make 10 debit card purchases of $5+ every per assertion cycle, and choose into on-line statements. Anybody can be part of this credit score union by way of $5 membership charge to affix accomplice group.
- Oklahoma Central Credit score Union pays 6.00% APY on as much as $10,000 for those who make 15 debit card purchases (non-ATM) per assertion cycle. Anybody can be part of this credit score union if they’re “affiliated with one other credit score union”.
- First Southern Financial institution pays 5.50% APY on as much as $25,000 for those who make no less than 15 debit card purchases, 1 ACH credit score or fee transaction, and enroll in on-line statements.
- Credit score Union of New Jersey pays 6.00% APY on as much as $25,000 for those who make 12 debit card purchases, choose into on-line statements, and make no less than 1 direct deposit, on-line invoice fee, or computerized fee (ACH) per assertion cycle. Anybody can be part of this credit score union by way of $5 membership charge to affix accomplice group.
- Andrews Federal Credit score Union pays 5.25% APY (decreased) on as much as $25,000 for those who make 15 debit card purchases, choose into on-line statements, and make no less than 1 direct deposit or ACH transaction per assertion cycle. Anybody can be part of this credit score union by way of accomplice group.
- Capitol Credit score Union pays 6.00% APY on as much as $15,000 for those who make 12 debit card purchases, choose into on-line statements, and make no less than 1 direct deposit or ACH transaction per assertion cycle. Anybody can be part of this credit score union by way of accomplice group ($5 to Wild Basin Wilderness).
- Discover a locally-restricted rewards checking account at DepositAccounts.
Certificates of deposit (larger than 1 12 months)
CDs provide increased charges, however include an early withdrawal penalty. By discovering a financial institution CD with an affordable early withdrawal penalty, you possibly can get pleasure from increased charges however keep entry in a real emergency. Alternatively, contemplate constructing a CD ladder of various maturity lengths (ex. 1/2/3/4/5-years) such that you’ve got entry to a part of the ladder every year, however your blended rate of interest is increased than a financial savings account. When one CD matures, use that cash to purchase one other 5-year CD to maintain the ladder going. Some CDs additionally provide “add-ons” the place you possibly can deposit extra funds if charges drop.
- United Constancy Financial institution has a 5-year certificates at 4.15% APY ($1,000 minimal), 4-year at 4.10% APY, 3-year at 4.10% APY, 2-year at 4.15% APY, and 1.5-year at 4.05% APY. Early withdrawal penalties usually are not disclosed clearly on-line.
- Mountain America Credit score Union (MACU) has a 5-year certificates at 4.00% APY ($500 minimal), 4-year at 4.00% APY, 3-year at 4.05% APY, 2-year at 4.20% APY, and 1-year at 3.80% APY. Early withdrawal penalty for the 4-year and 5-year is twelve months of curiosity. Anybody can be part of this credit score union by way of accomplice group American Client Council (use promo code “client” when becoming a member of).
- You should buy certificates of deposit by way of the bond desks of Vanguard and Constancy. It’s possible you’ll want an account to see the charges. These “brokered CDs” provide FDIC insurance coverage and straightforward laddering, however they don’t include predictable early withdrawal penalties. Proper now, I see a 5-year non-callable brokered CD at 3.95% APY (callable: no, name safety: sure). Be warned that each Vanguard and Constancy will listing increased charges from callable CDs, which importantly means they’ll (and can!) name again your CD if charges drop considerably later.
Longer-term Devices
I’d use these with warning resulting from elevated rate of interest threat (tbh, I don’t use them in any respect), however I nonetheless monitor them to see the remainder of the present yield curve.
- Prepared to lock up your cash for 10 years? You should buy long-term certificates of deposit by way of the bond desks of Vanguard and Constancy. These “brokered CDs” provide FDIC insurance coverage, however they don’t include predictable early withdrawal penalties. You may discover one thing that pays greater than your different brokerage money and Treasury choices. Proper now, I see a 10-year CDs at [none available] (non-callable) vs. 4.16% for a 10-year Treasury. Be careful for increased charges from callable CDs the place they’ll name your CD again if rates of interest drop.
All charges have been checked as of two/11/26.
* I not advocate fintech corporations resulting from the potential for important loss resulting from poor recordkeeping and the dearth of presidency safety in such eventualities. The purpose of money is absolute security of principal.
Photograph by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash