3 Savings Accounts That Will Earn You More Than a Wells Fargo Account
KEY POINTS
- The Western Alliance Bank High-Yield Savings Premier account has one of the highest APYs I've seen.
- If you need ATM access to your money, you can get that and a high APY with the UFB Portfolio Savings Account.
- The Discover® Online Savings account is a high-yield account with a limited-time bonus for new customers.
Wells Fargo is one of the largest banks in the country. Because of that, it can get away with paying some absolutely awful interest rates. Its savings accounts pay as little as 0.01% -- and Wells Fargo still charges a service fee for them.
If your savings is with Wells Fargo, you're leaving a lot of money on the table. That's not to shame anyone. When I was younger, I used Wells Fargo because it had a branch nearby. But if you shop around for high-yield savings accounts, you can find plenty paying 4% or more. Here are three of the best options.
1. Western Alliance Bank High-Yield Savings Premier
Want to earn as much interest as possible? There aren't many accounts that can match the Western Alliance Bank High-Yield Savings Premier account. It has an incredible 4.25% APY, one of the highest rates I've seen.
Unlike Wells Fargo, Western Alliance Bank doesn't tack on service fees. It has no monthly account fee or minimum balance requirement. You just need to deposit at least $500 to open this account, but your balance can be under $500 after that.
Our Picks for the Best High-Yield Savings Accounts of 2025
Product | APY | Min. to Earn | |
![]() American Express® High Yield Savings Account
Member FDIC.
APY
3.70%
Rate info
3.70% annual percentage yield as of April 22, 2025. Terms apply.
Min. to earn
$0
Open Account for American Express® High Yield Savings Account
On American Express's Secure Website. |
3.70%
Rate info
3.70% annual percentage yield as of April 22, 2025. Terms apply.
|
$0
|
Open Account for American Express® High Yield Savings Account
On American Express's Secure Website. |
![]() CIT Platinum Savings
Member FDIC.
APY
4.10% APY for balances of $5,000 or more
Rate info
4.10% APY for balances of $5,000 or more; otherwise, 0.25% APY
Min. to earn
$100 to open account, $5,000+ for max APY
Open Account for CIT Platinum Savings
On CIT's Secure Website. |
4.10% APY for balances of $5,000 or more
Rate info
4.10% APY for balances of $5,000 or more; otherwise, 0.25% APY
|
$100 to open account, $5,000+ for max APY
|
Open Account for CIT Platinum Savings
On CIT's Secure Website. |
![]() Barclays Tiered Savings
Member FDIC.
APY
4.10%
Rate info
Balances less than $250,000 earn 4.10%, and balances greater than $250,000 earn 4.30%.
Min. to earn
$0
Open Account for Barclays Tiered Savings
On Barclays' Secure Website. |
4.10%
Rate info
Balances less than $250,000 earn 4.10%, and balances greater than $250,000 earn 4.30%.
|
$0
|
Open Account for Barclays Tiered Savings
On Barclays' Secure Website. |
This account is ideal if you just want to deposit your savings and start earning passive income from the interest payments. Click here to learn more and open an account today.
2. UFB Portfolio Savings Account
One of the reasons big banks like Wells Fargo are popular is because it's easy to get your money from them. They have branches all over and massive ATM networks, which is convenient when you want to withdraw cash.
You don't need to settle for a Wells Fargo account for easy access to your money. The UFB Portfolio Savings Account comes with an ATM card. You can use it for fee-free withdrawals at about 91,000 ATMs nationwide. This account also has a 4.01% APY.
Many high-yield savings accounts don't include ATM access. The fact that this one does, while also offering a top-tier interest rate, is a big advantage. It also has no monthly fees. If you're interested, click here for more information and to open this account.
3. Discover® Online Savings
Banks are always looking for new customers. Some will even pay you a bonus if you open an account with them and meet certain requirements, such as bringing over a minimum amount of money.
The Discover® Online Savings account is one example. It has a 3.60% APY -- not the highest on this list, but still a competitive rate. What sets it apart is a limited-time bonus for new customers. And like the first two accounts, this one has no monthly fees.
Want to find out more about the Discover® Online Savings account and its limited-time bonus? Click here to get all the details and open an account.
Make the most of your savings
All three of those accounts are safe places to put your money. They have the same FDIC insurance as Wells Fargo, covering up to $250,000 per eligible account in the event of a bank failure.
The difference is that they don't charge service fees, and they pay significantly higher rates. You'll be earning much more on your savings, without losing any of your hard-earned cash to costly fees.
Our Research Expert
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page. APYs are subject to change at any time without notice.