April’s Best High-Yield Savings Accounts

April showers bring…a great excuse to open a high-yield savings account (HYSA). If you haven’t jumped on the HYSA bandwagon yet, here’s your sign: On top of paying standout APYs, the best HYSAs are sweetening the deal with generous sign-up bonuses – for example, one on our list is currently offering $400 to new customers.

This month, the best HYSAs are paying 4.00% APY or more – a massive leap from the near-zero rates you’ll find with traditional savings accounts.To put it in perspective, say you deposited $10,000 into an account with a 4.00% APY. At the end of a year, you’d have earned $400 in interest. Meanwhile, the national average savings rate for traditional banks sits at around 0.60% APY, meaning that same $10,000 earns just $60. That’s a $340 difference you’re leaving on the table.

Spring is the perfect time to make your money grow. Why wait? Here are April’s best HYSAs:

SoFi

SoFi has been on our list the past several months, but in April, they’re upping the ante with a $400 bonus for new customers.

Full disclosure, I’ve used SoFi for both checking and savings for over two years and it’s one of the cleanest, easiest banking platforms out there. 

As a new customer, here’s what you’ll get:

• Up to 4.00% APY
• No account fees and no-fee overdraft coverage
• Up to two-day early paycheck access
• Up to $400 cash bonus when you complete qualifying activities

If ease of use is important, and you want to take advantage of a really, really attractive new customer offer, this is a great pick.

Barclays

A household name – and a solid option if you want a straightforward, no frills high-yield savings account. 

Here are the highlights:

• Up to 3.75% APY with the Tiered Savings Account
• No monthly maintenance fees
• Easy online transfers and direct deposits 

Reliable, reputable and refreshingly straightforward.

U.S. Bank

Another name you’re probably familiar with. U.S. Bank is new to our roundup this month, and here’s what it’s offering:

• Up to 3.50% APY
• Quick account opening online
• The ability to set account alerts for email or text message reminders
• No ATM transaction fees at U.S. Bank ATMs

Another solid pick if you’re looking for a well-known institution that offers top-tier ease of use.

CIT Bank

This one gets a lot of love inside the private HerMoney Facebook group – and for good reason. Here’s what CIT Bank is offering in April:

• 3.75% APY when you maintain a $5,000 balance
• No account opening or monthly service fees

It’s a great option if you tend to keep a higher balance and want a strong rate without a lot of bells and whistles. 

Valley Direct 

New customer? Valley Direct loves to see it. Here’s what it’s offering for April:

• 4.00% APY for new customers
• 24/7 online and mobile access
• No maintenance fees

Note, to open an account, you’ll need to deposit $1,000 right out of the gate. 

The Bottom Line

The interest you earn from a high-yield savings account is essentially free money – no risk (these banks are all FDIC insured), no complicated strategies, just smarter cash management. As always, though, before you open any new account, you will want to compare rates, fees, perks and customer reviews to find the best fit for you. 

Want a quick refresher on how the best high-yield savings accounts stack up against traditional ones? This handy guide will get you up to speed.

MORE ON HERMONEY:

• What Is A High-Yield Checking Account?
• 13 Women On Where They Keep Their Emergency Fund (And Why They Love HYSAs)
• How To Hit Retirement Savings Benchmarks If You Can’t Start Early

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