Betterment: Savings Account & Rates
Mission: Banksparency aims to make Betterment's savings account transparent and comparable to the market.
Analysis of Betterment
Our verdict
Betterment offers Cash Reserve, a high-yield savings account paying 3.25% APY with a $10 minimum deposit.
At 3.25% APY, Betterment pays 8x the national average (0.39%). Ranks in the top tier of 99+ accounts tracked.
Ideal User Profile
- Best for: simple saving without extra requirements, banking without needing a branch, and managing money from your phone.
Key Differentiators
- Stands out with top-rated iOS app (4.8), highly-rated Android app (4.7).
Savings Overview
Cash Reserve
| Min. Deposit | $10 |
| Min. Balance | $0 |
| Maintenance Fee | $0 |
Market Reality Check
This bank offers rates below the current top tier. The best rates we track are currently above 4.15% APY.
Bank Overview
- HQ LocationNew York, New York
- Founded2008
- AffiliationBetterment Holdings, Inc.
- Ratings & Trust
- Zelle® SupportNo SupportStandard ACH or Wire transfers only.
- Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured
Top Market Contenders
Savings Account: In-Depth View
Savings Account Offered by Betterment
| Feature | Cash Reserve |
|---|---|
APY | 3.25%Verified: 2/19/2026 |
APY Trend | Rate Adjusted -0.25% Since 90 days ago |
Min. Deposit | $10 |
Min. Balance | $0 |
Monthly Fee | $0 |
Direct Deposit | None |
Checking Bundle | No |
Branch Access | None |
Compounding | N/A |
FDIC Insured | Yes |
Eligibility | United States |
| Next Steps | - |
Calculate Savings for Betterment
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$1,261.90(8.3%)
- Total Contributions$13,000
- Initial Deposit$1,000
Projected Balance
$15,261.90
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Betterment Savings Rates Over Time
Historical APY Insights
Last 12 Months| Metric | Cash Reserve |
|---|---|
Latest APY | 3.25% |
Trend | Falling |
Slope (bps/mo) | -7.8 |
Rate Changes / Mo | 0.25 |
Days Since Last Change | 68 |
High (-12m) | 4.00% |
Low (-12m) | 3.25% |
Draw-down | -18.8% |
Volatility (CV) | 0.085 |
How to read these metrics▼
Trends & Velocity
- Trend
- The general direction of the rate over the analyzed period. Useful for spotting if a bank is currently aggressive or pulling back.
- Slope (bps/mo)
- Speed of change. A high positive number means they raise rates quickly. 10 bps = 0.10%.
- Rate Changes / Mo
- "Twitchiness." High frequency means the rate changes constantly; low frequency means it's stable.
Risk & Range
- High/Low
- The absolute ceiling and floor of the rate during the 365-day window.
- Volatility Score
- Lower is better for predictability. It indicates how wildly the rate swings relative to its average.
- Days Since Change
- If this number is high (e.g., >90), the rate is very sticky. If low, it changed recently.
Why track this? Understanding volatility helps you avoid "bait-and-switch" rates. A steady, rising slope is ideal; high volatility often signals a temporary teaser rate.
Compare with Betterment
| Feature | Current View Betterment | Empty Slot |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Cash Reserve | - |
APY | 3.25%Verified: 2/19/2026 | - |
APY Trend | Rate Adjusted -0.25% Since 90 days ago | - |
| Min. Deposit | $10 | - |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | - |
Direct Deposit | No | - |
Checking Bundle | No | - |
| Branch Access | None | - |
| Eligibility | United States | - |
Compounding | N/A | - |
FDIC Insured | Yes | - |
| Next Steps | - | - |
Bank-to-Bank Comparisons
Compare Betterment's APY of 3.25% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Betterment vs Ally Bank | 3.20% | $0 |
| Betterment vs American Express | 3.30% | $0 |
| Betterment vs Axos Bank | 4.21% | $0 |
| Betterment vs Bank of America | 0.01% | $100 |
| Betterment vs Barclays | 3.85% | $0 |
| Betterment vs Capital One | 3.30% | $0 |
| Betterment vs Chase Bank | 0.01% | $0 |
| Betterment vs Chime | 3.00% | $0 |
| Betterment vs CIT Bank | 3.75% | $100 |
| Betterment vs Citibank | 3.20% | $0 |
| Betterment vs Discover Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| Betterment vs EverBank | 3.90% | $0 |
| Betterment vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.65% | $0 |
| Betterment vs Newtek Bank | 4.20% | $0.01 |
| Betterment vs Openbank | 4.09% | $500 |
| Betterment vs Pibank | 4.60% | $0 |
| Betterment vs SoFi Bank | 4.00% | $0 |
| Betterment vs Synchrony Bank | 3.50% | $0 |
| Betterment vs Varo Bank | 5.00% | $0 |
| Betterment vs Wealthfront | 3.95% | $0 |
| Betterment vs Wells Fargo | 0.05% | $25 |
Alternatives to Betterment
Banks with Higher/Similar Savings APY
For a top list of the highest savings rates, see all HYSA top rates
Jenius Bank
Jenius Savings: 4.05% APY (Inactive)
Minimum Deposit: $0
Online Only
Forbright Bank
Growth Savings: 3.85% APY
Minimum Deposit: $0
Online Only
Bright Savings: 3.45% APY
Minimum Deposit: $250
Eligible States: Limited (see details)
Sprout Savings: 3.45% APY
Minimum Deposit: $1
Eligible States: Limited (see details)
Barclays
Online Savings: 3.50% APY
Minimum Deposit: $0
Online Only
Tiered Savings: 3.85% APY
Minimum Deposit: $0
Online Only
SoFi Bank
SoFi Savings: 4.00% APY
Bundled Savings & Checking Account
Minimum Deposit: $0
Online Only
BrioDirect
High-Yield Savings Account: 3.75% APY
Minimum Deposit: $5,000
Online Only
U.S. Bank
Smartly Savings: 3.50% APY
Bundled Savings & Checking Account
Minimum Deposit: $25
Neighbors Bank
Neighbors Savings Account: 4.20% APY
Minimum Deposit: $0
Eligible States: Limited (see details)
SmartyPig
SmartyPig Account: 3.60% APY
Minimum Deposit: $0
Online Only
MySavingsDirect
MySavings Account: 3.35% APY
Minimum Deposit: $0
Online Only
My Banking Direct
High Yield Savings Account: 4.02% APY
Minimum Deposit: $500
Online Only
Salem Five Direct
eOne Savings: 3.61% APY
Minimum Deposit: $10
Online Only
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley
Premium Savings Account: 3.35% APY
Minimum Deposit: $0
Online Only