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Can I get a 5% interest savings account in 2021?

Find out how much interest you could earn with a 5% APY, plus explore your options.

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Cassidy Horton
Updated
Fact checked

Believe it or not, you can get a 5% interest savings account in 2021. They rope you in with a sensational APY, but it usually only applies to the first $500 or $1,000 in your account. After that, your APY drops significantly. Here are six 5% interest savings accounts:

Service Credit Union Primary Savings

Service Credit Union Primary Savings logo
Up to 5%
APY
None
Fees
$5
Min. opening deposit
This Primary Savings account from Service Credit Union has a low $5 opening deposit and no monthly fees. But you only earn 5% APY on the first $500 in your account. After that, it drops to 0.25%.
  • No monthly fees. Open this account and enjoy no maintenance fees and a low $5 opening deposit.
  • Lenient membership requirements. If you fall outside of Service CU's regular field of membership, you can still join when you become a member of the American Consumer Council (ACC). This organization is free to join.
  • Low cap on interest. You only earn 5% APY on the first $500 in your account, which is a lower cap than others on our list.
Interest compounding Daily
Minimum to earn interest $0
Monthly transaction limit
Fee per transaction over limit

Blue Federal Credit Union Accelerated Savings

Blue Federal Credit Union Accelerated Savings logo
Up to 5%
APY
None
Fees
$25
Min. opening deposit
The Accelerated Savings account from Blue Federal Credit Union earns 5% APY on balances up to $1,000, then 0.1% on your remaining balance. As a member, you get access to Blue FCU rewards and other perks.
  • No monthly fees. This account doesn't have any monthly fees, plus you only need a $25 deposit to open an account.
  • Rewards program. As your balance grows, you earn points toward Rewards for Life, a program that gives you access to loan discounts, higher APYs on checking accounts, waived fees and more.
  • No joint accounts. Blue Federal Credit Union's website says this account is limited to one Social Security number, which means you can't add anyone else to your account.
  • APY requirements. To earn interest, you must keep a minimum $25 balance and transfer at least $5 a month into your Accelerated Savings account. Plus, your APY drops to 0.1% on balances over $1,000.
  • Members only. If you don't qualify for membership through family, military affiliation or your employer, you can join by making a $10 donation to the Blue Foundation.
Interest compounding Daily
Minimum to earn interest $0
Monthly transaction limit
Fee per transaction over limit

Netspend Savings

Netspend Savings logo
Up to 5%
APY
None
Fees
None
Min. opening deposit
Available to those with a NetSpend Prepaid Debit Card, this optional savings account earns 5% on the first $1,000 in your account and 0.5% on the remaining balance.
  • AutoSave feature. Set up autosave so that your money is sent from your NetSpend Card account to your savings account each time you reload funds.
  • No fees. This savings account is free to open and maintain, but there may be fees associated with your NetSpend Prepaid Card account.
  • Prepaid card required. The NetSpend Savings Account is only available to those with a NetSpend Prepaid Card account.
Interest compounding Daily
Minimum to earn interest $0
Monthly transaction limit 6
Fee per transaction over limit
Disclaimer
Not available to Vermont residents. If you live in Vermont, you don’t qualify for the Netspend Card account and therefore can’t open the optional savings account.
NetSpend® Visa® Prepaid Card

Brinks Money Savings

Brinks Money Savings logo
Up to 5%
APY
None
Fees
None
Min. opening deposit
This optional high-yield savings account is open to anyone with a Brink's Money Prepaid Mastercard. It earns 5% on the first $1,000 in your account and 0.5% on money over this limit.
  • No minimum deposit. Deposit as much or as little money as you'd like into this optional savings account.
  • Solid APYs. Once you reach your $1,000 limit, you still earn 0.5% on your balance — a rate higher than most traditional savings accounts.
  • Prepaid card required. You need a Brink's Money Prepaid Mastercard to access this savings account.
  • Not completely free. Although this savings account doesn't have any fees, you'll pay $5 to $9.95 a month for the Brink's Prepaid Mastercard. Unfortunately, you can't waive this fee.
Interest compounding Daily
Minimum to earn interest $0
Monthly transaction limit
Fee per transaction over limit
Brinks Prepaid Mastercard review

ACE Elite Optional Savings

ACE Elite Optional Savings logo
Up to 5%
APY

Fees
None
Min. opening deposit
Ace Elite Prepaid Card users can open an optional savings account and enjoy 5% APY on balances up to $1,000. Then, 0.5% on balances after that.
  • No minimum deposit. Once you set up your ACE Elite savings account, you can deposit as much money as you'd like.
  • Competitive APYs. You earn 0.5% interest on balances over $1,000, which is still higher than the national average and most traditional savings accounts.
  • Prepaid card required. The only way to access this account is if you have an ACE Elite Prepaid Card.
  • Not completely free. The savings account is free to use, but you'll pay at least $5 a month for your ACE Elite Prepaid Card.
Interest compounding Daily
Minimum to earn interest $0
Monthly transaction limit
Fee per transaction over limit
ACE Flare Account review

Western Union Optional Savings

Western Union Optional Savings logo
Up to 5%
APY
None
Fees
None
Min. opening deposit
The Western Union Optional Savings Account is available to those with a Western Union NetSpend Prepaid Mastercard. It rewards you with 5% interest on balances up to $1,000, plus 0.5% on anything over this limit.
  • No fees. Deposit as much or as little money as you'd like into this optional savings account.
  • Decent interest rates. You earn 0.5% APY on balances over $1,000, which is higher than most traditional savings accounts, which typically earn around 0.1% APY.
  • Prepaid card required. You must have a Western Union NetSpend Prepaid Mastercard to open this savings account.
  • Not completely free. Similar to other options on our list, you'll pay at least $5 a month for your Western Union Prepaid Card, which means the savings account isn't entirely free.
Interest compounding Daily
Minimum to earn interest $0
Monthly transaction limit
Fee per transaction over limit
Western Union NetSpend Prepaid Mastercard Review

Pros and cons of a 5% interest savings account

Opening a 5% interest savings account comes with these benefits and drawbacks:

Pros

  • Good savings boost. The 5% interest rate is high enough to give your savings a noticeable boost, which can help you reach your goals faster.
  • Low deposits. Most 5% savings accounts have opening deposits of $0 to $25, making them a good choice for those who are just getting started on their savings journey.

Cons

  • There’s always a catch. We’ve yet to find a 5% savings account that doesn’t cap your earnings at $500 or $1,000. Plus, you may have to watch out for minimum balance requirements and monthly activity minimums to earn interest.
  • Most are tied to prepaid cards. Most prepaid cards cost at least $60 a year ($5 a month). If you keep a $1,000 savings balance, you’d earn $50 in interest, which is not even enough to cover the fees.

How much money can I make on a 5% savings account?

This table highlights how much interest you’d earn in a year if you put $1,500 into each savings account in this list.
AccountAPYInterest compoundedTotal annual interest earned
Service Credit Union Primary Savings5% on the first $5000.25% after thatDaily$27.50
Blue Federal Credit Union5% on the first $1,0000.1% after thatDaily$50.50
NetSpend Optional Savings Account5% on the first $1,0000.5% on balances after thatDaily$52.50
Brinks Money Optional Savings Account5% on the first $1,0000.5% on balances after thatDaily$52.50
ACE Elite Optional Savings Account5% on the first $1,0000.5% on balances after thatDaily$52.50
Western Union Optional Savings Account5% on the first $1,0000.5% on balances after thatDaily$52.50

Is a 5% interest savings account worth it?

Whether a 5% interest savings account is worth it depends on several factors, such as the APY restrictions and how much money you keep in the account. Eventually, you’ll reach a tipping point where you’ll earn more interest with a regular high-yield savings account.

Case study: 5% APY vs. 1% APY annual savings

This table shows how much interest you’d earn in a year in an account that earns 5% interest on your first $1,000 vs. an account that earns 1% on your total balance.

APYInterest earned on $1,000 balanceInterest earned on $5,000 balanceInterest earned on $10,000 balanceInterest earned on $15,000 balance
5% on first $1,0000.25% after that$50$60$72.50$85
1% on all balances$10$50$100$150

Compare savings accounts

Use this table to calculate interest rates and compare accounts by APY, monthly fee and minimum deposit requirements.

Name Product Annual percentage yield (APY) Fee Minimum deposit to open
Aspiration Spend & Save Account
Finder Rating: 3.8 / 5: ★★★★★
Aspiration Spend & Save Account

1.00% on $0 to $10,000 but you’ll need to be enrolled in Aspiration Plus and make at least $1,000 in debit card purchases a month
$0 per month or $15 per month for Aspiration Plus ($12.50 per month if you pay annually)
$10
Deposits are fossil fuel-free and insured by the FDIC. Enjoy a spend and save combo account with unlimited cash back rewards and a $100 bonus when you spend $1,000 in your first 60 days.
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View details
Axos Bank High Yield Savings
Finder Rating: 4 / 5: ★★★★★
Axos Bank High Yield Savings

0.61% on $0 to $24,999
0.25% on $25,000 to $99,999
0.15% on $100,000+
$0
$250
No monthly maintenance fees. No minimum balance requirements. Interest compounded daily.
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View details
Chime Savings
Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5: ★★★★★
Chime Savings
0.50%
$0
$0
Grow your savings automatically with recurring transfers, round-ups on debit card purchases and 0.5% APY.
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View details
Discover Online Savings Account
Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5: ★★★★★
Discover Online Savings Account
0.40%
$0
$0
Take advantage of a high-interest online savings account with no fees, no minimums and more.
Go to site
View details
UFB Direct High Yield Savings
Finder Rating: 3.6 / 5: ★★★★★
UFB Direct High Yield Savings
0.20%
$0
$100
Earn an APY when your balance is higher than $10,000 with this no-monthly-fee savings account.
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View details
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Compare up to 4 providers

Are there 6% or 7% APY savings accounts?

Yes. There are a few savings accounts in the US that earn at least 6% APY:

Mango high-yield savings

Mango high-yield savings logo
Read review
Up to 6%
APY
None
Fees
$25
Min. opening deposit
Mango Savings earns 6% APY on the first $2,500 in your account when you maintain a minimum $25 balance and make at least $1,500 a month in signature-based purchases with your Mango Prepaid card. You earn 0.1% on balances over $2,500.
  • Fallback APY. If you can't meet the steep $1,500 spending requirement, you still earn 2% APY when you make between $750 and $1,499.99 in signature-based purchases.
  • High APY cap. Most savings accounts with rates of 5% or more cap your earnings at the first $1,000, but Mango lets you earn 6% on up to $2,500.
  • Prepaid card required. As with other accounts on our list, you must have a Mango Prepaid Card to open this savings account.
  • Not completely free. Although the Mango Savings account is free, the Mango card has a $5 monthly fee that's waived when you make at least $800 in monthly direct deposits.
Interest compounding Daily

Mango Prepaid Mastercard review

DCU Primary Savings Account

DCU Primary Savings Account logo
Finder Rating: 4.9 / 5

★★★★★

Read review
Up to 6.17%
APY
None
Fees
$5
Min. opening deposit
Get a jump start on your savings with the Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) Primary Savings account. You earn 6.17% on the first $1,000 in your account — the highest rate we've seen yet. Plus, 0.25% on anything over this limit.
  • No monthly fee. This account has no monthly fees, no minimum to earn interest and a low $5 opening deposit.
  • ATM card. Unlike other savings accounts, this one comes with an ATM card so you can withdraw cash whenever you need it.
  • Easy membership requirements. Anyone can join when they make a $10 donation to DCU's partner charity, Reach Out For Schools.
  • Limited branches. DCU only has branch locations in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. If you live outside of this area, you are limited to phone support.
Interest compounding Daily
Minimum to earn interest $0
Monthly transaction limit
Fee per transaction over limit

Bottom line

A 5% interest savings account sounds enticing, but you’ll want to read the fine print before you open an account. There’s a good chance the APY maxes out at $500 or $1,000. If you don’t want to deal with strict APY requirements, consider these high yield alternatives. Depending on your balance, you may earn more interest with one of these accounts anyway.

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