Last updated: May 29th, 2026

Maximum possible score: 110 points (up to 10 extra credit points available).

APY: Up to 25 points.

The Top Rate benchmark is set as the 'up to' rate shown in the <h1> tag of bankrate.com's webpage about the best High Yield Savings Accounts.

  • 25 pts: Within 10bps of top HYSA rate
  • 20 pts: 11–50bps below top rate
  • 15 pts: 51–100bps below
  • 10 pts: 101–200bps below
  • 5 pts: More than 200bps below, but still positive
  • 0 pts: 0% APY

Minimum Balance Requirements: Up to 10 points.

The balance required to maintain the account and earn the best yield advertised.

  • 10 pts: $0-$50
  • 7 pts: $51-$1000
  • 5 pts: $1,001-$2,500
  • 3 pts: $2,501–$5,000
  • 1 pt: $5,001-$10,000

Maximum balance restrictions: Up to 15 points.

The max balance that can earn the best yield advertised.

  • 15pts: No maximum - $250,000
  • 10pts: $249,999 - 100,000
  • 5pts: $99,999 - $50,000
  • 2pts: $49,999 - $5,000
  • 1pt: $4,999 - $1,000

Withdrawal restrictions: Up to 10 points.

  • 10pts: No restrictions
  • 5pts: At least 5 free withdrawals per month
  • 2pts: At least 3 free withdrawals per month
  • 1pt: At least 1 free withdrawal per month

New Money / adding funds restrictions: Up to 10 points.

Start at 10.

  • Lose 5 points for "New Money Only".
  • Lose 5 points for not being able to add new funds at any time.

Relationship/loyalty/other accounts required: Up to 10 points.

Start at 10

  • Lose 5 points for deposit account requirements.
  • Lose 5 points for credit card requirements.
  • Lose 10 points for any other loan requirement.

(can't go negative).

Institution eligibility: Up to 10 points.

  • 10pts: No restrictions to open an account.
  • 5pts: Membership or other restrictions required but easily achieved by most.
  • 2pts: Membership or other restrictions required and not easily met by most.
  • 0pts: I'll know it when I see it.

Novelty / Special Somethingness: Up to 10 points.

Points awarded at editor's discretion but reasoning must be provided in the review.

Extra credit (up to +10):

    • +1 pt: Any physical branch location
    • or
    • +2 pts: Regional branch footprint (multiple states)
    • or
    • +3 pts: National branch footprint (locations in 10+ states)
  • +1 pts: Online chat support
  • +2 pts: Phone support outside 9–5 M–F
  • +2 pts: Instant money in/out via Zelle or comparable.
  • +2 pts: Account Ownership perks (fee waivers, loan rate reductions, etc.)

Demerits (up to –40):

  • –10: No online banking
  • –10: Monthly service fees (other than paper statement fee with free e-statements available)
  • –20: Not FDIC or NCUA insured