High interest savings accounts: compare where your cash earns interest
A high interest savings account, often called a high yield savings account or HYSA, is a bank savings account with a variable rate and access to your money. Compare it with Treasury bills, fixed-term CDs and money market accounts, keeping bank deposits separate from money market funds. Check the date on each yield: Treasury bill coupon equivalent yields ranged from 3.95% to 4.32% on 6 Nov 2026, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Top picks
Acorns Early
Children's investing option for families in the United States.
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links. It does not change the price you pay. Affiliate disclosure.
Treasury bill yields today
4-week
3.96%
13-week (3 month)
4.16%
26-week (6 month)
4.30%
52-week (1 year)
4.37%
Coupon equivalent yields for Nov 9, 2026. Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Four places cash can earn interest
Treasury bills
Treasury bills mature in 4 to 52 weeks. At maturity, you receive face value. Interest is the difference between what you paid and face value. Federal income tax is due on the interest, but no state or local income tax applies. Bills are not bank deposits and are not FDIC insured.
High yield savings accounts
A HYSA pays a variable rate and lets you withdraw your money. Compare the dated rate with how you plan to use your savings. Bank deposits at FDIC insured institutions have coverage up to applicable limits.
Certificates of deposit
A CD pays a fixed rate for a fixed term. Early withdrawal usually has a penalty. Some products are marketed as no-penalty CDs. Match the term to when you expect to need the money.
Money market accounts and funds
A money market account is a bank deposit. A money market fund is an investment. Funds do not have FDIC insurance. Check which one you are considering before comparing yields.
How we keep the numbers honest
- Compare yields with their sources and dates in view.
- Keep bank deposits separate from money market funds when comparing options.
- Leave a rate out of your comparison if there is no reliable number.
- Treat the national savings rate as background, not a product offer.
- Check deposit insurance and coverage limits before choosing an account.
Read the full methodology and our advertiser disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a high interest savings account?
- It is a savings account with a variable rate, often called a HYSA. You can withdraw your money. Compare dated rates rather than relying on the account's name.
- How does a HYSA differ from a Treasury bill?
- A HYSA is a bank deposit with a variable rate. A Treasury bill matures in 4 to 52 weeks. Its interest is subject to federal income tax, but exempt from state and local income tax. T-bills do not have FDIC insurance.
- Do Treasury bills pay more than high yield savings accounts?
- Compare the specific account's dated rate with the T-bill term you are considering. Treasury bill coupon equivalent yields ranged from 3.95% to 4.32% on 6 Nov 2026. That range alone does not establish which option pays more for you.
- Is the national savings rate a HYSA offer?
- No. The FDIC national savings rate was 0.38% as of 19 Oct 2026. It is an industry average backdrop, not a product offer or a named bank's HYSA rate.
- Which cash options have FDIC insurance?
- Bank deposits at FDIC insured institutions have coverage up to applicable limits. This general rule applies to deposit accounts, including savings accounts and money market accounts. Treasury bills and money market funds do not have FDIC insurance.