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Bottom line: SoFi® is better for people who want all-in-one banking and financial services in one app, and Marcus by Goldman Sachs is better for people who want high-yield CDs.
SoFi® is a full-service financial platform that was founded in 2011 and now has 9.4 million members. Along with its bank accounts, SoFi® offers a wide range of financial products, including investment accounts, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, and insurance. SoFi® is known for its high-yield SoFi Checking and Savings, which combines checking account capabilities with a competitive APY.
Marcus was founded in 2016 and is named after the founder of its parent company, Goldman Sachs. An online bank from one of the biggest investment banks on Wall Street, Marcus by Goldman Sachs is known for offering customer-friendly APYs on high-yield savings accounts and CDs.
One bank to rule them all: SoFi® is much more of an all-in-one financial institution than Marcus by Goldman Sachs. SoFi® offers investment accounts, retirement accounts, personal loans, mortgages, credit cards, and more, on top of your standard deposit accounts.
But when it comes to deposit accounts, both SoFi® and Marcus by Goldman Sachs have some excellent products. Here's a rundown of what these two banks offer.
Offer |
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Account |
SoFi Checking and Savings
On SoFi's Secure Website. |
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Rating |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Rating image, 4.75 out of 5 stars.
4.75/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
APY | up to 3.80%² Rate info You can earn the maximum APY by having Direct Deposit (no minimum amount required) or by making $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits every 30 days. See SoFi Checking and Savings rate sheet at: https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. | 3.90% |
Min. to earn APY | $0 | $0 |
Next Steps |
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SoFi disclosure:
¹ New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at sofi.com/banking#1.
² SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Only SoFi Plus members are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. See the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.
³ We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
⁴ SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations.
Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks.
⁵ We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.
⁶ Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.
⁷ Overdraft Coverage is limited to $50 on debit card purchases only and is an account benefit available to customers with direct deposits of $1,000 or more during the current 30-day Evaluation Period as determined by SoFi Bank, N.A. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the“30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Members with a prior history of non-repayment of negative balances are ineligible for Overdraft Coverage.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs and SoFi® offer high-yield savings accounts. You can't go wrong with either, but they offer different features.
SoFi®'s savings account, the SoFi Checking and Savings (member FDIC), which you must open as a combination product with its checking account, rewards you for setting up direct deposits. One unique feature is the ability to create savings "Vaults," which lets you split your savings into groups to help you save for specific goals.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs offers an online savings account that's similar to SoFi®'s, but there are a couple of key differences. First, the Marcus by Goldman Sachs Online Savings Account is a standalone account. Second, it pays the same APY to everyone, regardless of participation in direct deposit.
SoFi Checking and Savings
On SoFi's Secure Website.
On SoFi's Secure Website.
With no fees or minimums and tools designed to maximize your savings, the combo account is a good fit for individuals who want to do most of their banking in one place online. The account offers flexibility to access or move funds, especially if your employer's payroll system allows you to access the bank's early direct deposit benefit.
SoFi disclosure:
¹ New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at sofi.com/banking#1.
² SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Only SoFi Plus members are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. See the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.
³ We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
⁴ SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations.
Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks.
⁵ We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.
⁶ Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.
⁷ Overdraft Coverage is limited to $50 on debit card purchases only and is an account benefit available to customers with direct deposits of $1,000 or more during the current 30-day Evaluation Period as determined by SoFi Bank, N.A. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the“30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Members with a prior history of non-repayment of negative balances are ineligible for Overdraft Coverage.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs doesn't offer checking accounts. On the other hand, SoFi® offers an excellent online checking account, one of the best on our radar. It pays a competitive interest rate (for a checking account), and it lets you withdraw from ATMs at tens of thousands of locations nationwide⁵. Other features include excellent overdraft protection⁷ and access to direct deposits up to two days early.⁶
SoFi®'s checking account is only offered as a combination product with its savings account. You can't open one without the other -- but if all you want is a checking account, you could simply leave a small amount of money in the savings account. SoFi® doesn't charge you for hardly using it.
APY = Annual Percentage Yield
Savers have the potential to create effective CD ladders through Marcus, as it provides competitive rates through the most common CD terms. The minimum deposit is $500 and withdrawal penalties are moderate compared with competitive banks.
6 Mo. APY | 9 Mo. APY | 1 Yr. APY | 1.5 Yr. APY | 2 Yr. APY | 3 Yr. APY | 4 Yr. APY | 5 Yr. APY | 6 Yr. APY |
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4.20% | 4.30% | 4.25% | 4.10% | 4.10% | 4.00% | 3.75% | 3.75% | 3.75% |
Looking to open a certificate of deposit? Marcus by Goldman Sachs High Yield CDs are the clear winners. Marcus by Goldman Sachs has a variety of CD terms with APYs that are among the best CDs on our radar.
Plus, Marcus by Goldman Sachs has unique CD products. Its No-Penalty CDs that come in 7-, 11-, and 13-month terms have competitive APYs and don't charge penalties for early withdrawals -- a rare feature.
SoFi® doesn't offer CDs.
Both banks offer highly competitive APYs.
Savings: SoFi® offers a slightly higher savings account APY. However, you must set up direct deposit to get the top rate. The Marcus by Goldman Sachs online savings account offers the same APY to all savings account holders.
Checking: Unlike Marcus by Goldman Sachs, SoFi® offers an interest-bearing checking account. Its APY isn't competitive with high-yield savings accounts, but it stacks up well relative to checking accounts.
CDs: Marcus by Goldman Sachs is the only bank of the two that offers CDs. Though you need a $500 minimum deposit, your rates are competitive with the best CDs out there.
Make sure you're getting the best account for you by comparing savings rates and promotions. Here are some of our favorite high-yield savings accounts to consider.
Account | APY | Promotion | Next Steps |
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Open Account for American Express® High Yield Savings
On American Express's Secure Website.
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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3.70%
Rate info
3.70% annual percentage yield as of April 4, 2025. Terms apply.
Min. to earn: $0
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N/A
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Open Account for American Express® High Yield Savings
On American Express's Secure Website. |
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Open Account for CIT Platinum Savings
On CIT's Secure Website.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
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
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Earn a bonus of at least $225 after a one-time deposit of $25,000+.
Transfer a one-time deposit of $25,000-$49,999.99 for a bonus of $225. Transfer a one-time deposit of $50,000+ for a bonus of $300. Account must be opened with code PS2025 while this promotion lasts, and funded within 30 days. Bonus will be fulfilled within 60 days from the funding date. There is no period of time where the customer will be required to maintain the funds. Account must be open when bonus is credited. One bonus per account and primary customer. Bonus will be credited into the Platinum Savings Account that fulfills the funding requirement. Funding can be deposited all at once or incrementally.
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Open Account for CIT Platinum Savings
On CIT's Secure Website. |
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Open Account for Capital One 360 Performance Savings
On Capital One's Secure Website.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
3.70%
Rate info
See Capital One website for most up-to-date rates. Advertised Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is variable and accurate as of Feb. 6, 2025. Rates are subject to change at any time before or after account opening.
Min. to earn: $0
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N/A
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Open Account for Capital One 360 Performance Savings
On Capital One's Secure Website. |
Marcus by Goldman Sachs offers live, U.S.-based customer support available 24 hours a day, seven days per week. It ranked first among savings providers in overall customer satisfaction in the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Direct Banking Satisfaction Study. Marcus by Goldman Sachs also has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and unlike many banks, is BBB accredited.
SoFi® also offers strong customer service, with live support available by phone seven days a week, although its hours are shorter than Marcus by Goldman Sachs. SoFi® rated slightly below average in the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Direct Banking Satisfaction Study, for both checking and savings providers. SoFi® also gets an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, although it is not BBB accredited.
SoFi® | Marcus by Goldman Sachs | |
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Customer service availability |
Contact SoFi customer service for your Checking and Savings account by calling 855-456-SOFI (7634). This customer service line is available Monday to Thursday from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT, and Friday to Sunday from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT. You can also use SoFi's intelligent virtual assistant 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer questions. |
Customer service for online savings accounts and CDs is available by phone, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1-855-730-7283. Customer service is also available via chat within the web platform 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. |
Physical branch locations | No branches; 55,000 no-fee ATMs. | No branch locations or ATMs. You can make free transfers to external bank accounts. |
SoFi® has one of the most comprehensive banking apps, letting you manage all your money in one place. Deposit accounts, loans, investments, and more are seamlessly integrated. Whether you want to pay bills online from your SoFi Checking and Savings account, or buy stocks in your brokerage account, you can do it all within the SoFi® app. Like many banks, SoFi® gets slightly lower ratings for its mobile app from Android users.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs offers fewer products and services than SoFi®, but it still has a highly-rated mobile app. You can use the Marcus by Goldman Sachs app to easily manage your savings and CD accounts, as well as credit cards issued by Goldman Sachs.
SoFi® | Marcus by Goldman Sachs | |
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App Store rating | 4.8 out of 5 | 4.9 out of 5 |
Google Play rating | 3.8 out of 5 | 4.2 out of 5 |
These are two highly competitive online banks.
If you're looking for an all-in-one banking solution to replace your branch-based bank, SoFi® could be exactly what you need.
On the other hand, Marcus by Goldman Sachs could be the better fit if you'd rather open a simple account with few strings and great APYs.
SoFi Checking and Savings
On SoFi's Secure Website.
On SoFi's Secure Website.
For those who plan to set up direct deposit with their new account, we think SoFi Checking and Savings (Member FDIC) is hard to beat. Not only does this savings account offer a strong APY, but the linked checking account earns an above-average rate, too -- which is a rare perk. Plus, there's the opportunity for a bonus of up to $300¹ and a long list of extra account features. Frankly, it's the kind of combo that could make it worthwhile to switch banking relationships.
You can earn the maximum APY either by making direct deposits into checking or savings, or by depositing $5,000 or more every 30 days. Learn more.
SoFi disclosure:
¹ New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at sofi.com/banking#1.
² SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Only SoFi Plus members are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. See the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.
³ We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
⁴ SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations.
Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks.
⁵ We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.
⁶ Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.
⁷ Overdraft Coverage is limited to $50 on debit card purchases only and is an account benefit available to customers with direct deposits of $1,000 or more during the current 30-day Evaluation Period as determined by SoFi Bank, N.A. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the“30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Members with a prior history of non-repayment of negative balances are ineligible for Overdraft Coverage.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs Online Savings Account
Marcus by Goldman Sachs Online Savings Account has a laundry list of features like a top-tier APY, no minimum balance hassle, FDIC insurance, and unlimited withdrawals. All the benefits of this premier account make it one of our favorites. Keep in mind Marcus is online-only with no ATMs or branches. If direct deposit is your game plan, then Marcus may be a great way to kickstart your savings.
Our methodology for scoring banks and credit unions revolves around evaluating key aspects such as annual percentage yield (APY), brand reputation, fees and minimum requirements, and additional perks.
These criteria are weighted differently across various account types, ensuring a comprehensive assessment that reflects the competitive landscape and economic conditions.
We strictly feature products that offer federal insurance and high customer satisfaction, keeping our recommendations unbiased by advertiser influence. This robust evaluation process helps us generate balanced, reliable best-of lists that guide consumers to top financial products.
Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates bank accounts.
SoFi® is a great choice if you want a high-yield savings account that also lets you pay bills and do other activities of a typical checking account. If you want access to personal loans, credit cards, mortgages, and investment accounts, SoFi® can help you manage more of your financial life in one place, with one mobile app.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs is a great choice if you are not looking for a new checking account, and just want to earn a high yield from your online savings or CDs. As of this writing, SoFi® was offering a higher APY on savings accounts than Marcus by Goldman Sachs, but Marcus is still competitive.
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.