Betterment: Savings Account & Rates
Mission: Banksparency aims to make Betterment's savings account transparent and comparable to the market.
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 4.21% 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
Our Take on Betterment
The Good
- Decent APY of 3.25%
- Low opening deposit ($10)
- No monthly maintenance fees
- Top-tier mobile apps (iOS: 4.8, Android: 4.7)
Considerations
- No physical branch access (online only)
- Yield is below current market leaders
Betterment offers a Cash Reserve account with an attractive APY of 3.25%. There are no fine print restrictions, and no direct deposit requirements, making it accessible for all users. The account has a low opening deposit of just $10 and incurs no monthly maintenance fees. However, it is important to note that Betterment operates online only, with no physical branch access, and while the yield is decent, it falls below that of current market leaders.
Top Market Contenders
Savings Account: In-Depth View
Savings Account Offered by Betterment
| Feature | Cash Reserve |
|---|---|
APY | 3.25%Verified: 1/6/2026 |
APY Trend | 30 days ↘︎ 0.25% 90 days ↘︎ 0.50% |
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) | -5.7 |
Rate Changes / Mo | 0.25 |
Days Since Last Change | 24 |
High (-12m) | 4.00% |
Low (-12m) | 3.25% |
Draw-down | -18.8% |
Volatility (CV) | 0.068 |
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: 1/6/2026 | - |
APY Trend | 30 days ↘︎ 0.25% 90 days ↘︎ 0.50% | - |
| 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
Alternatives to Betterment
Banks with Higher/Similar Savings APY
For a top list of the highest savings rates, see all HYSA top rates
Prime Alliance Bank
Personal Savings: 3.75% APY
Minimum Deposit: $0
Wealthfront
Cash Account: 3.90% APY
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Barclays
Online Savings: 3.60% APY
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BrioDirect
High-Yield Savings Account: 3.75% APY
Minimum Deposit: $5,000
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Sallie Mae Bank
High-Yield Savings Account: 3.90% APY
Minimum Deposit: $0
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Neighbors Bank
Neighbors Savings Account: 4.30% APY
Minimum Deposit: $0
Eligible States: Limited (see details)
TIMBR
Premium Savings Account: 4.40% APY
Minimum Deposit: $1,000
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ConnectOne Bank
Connection Plus Savings: 3.05% APY
Minimum Deposit: $2,500
Flagstar Bank
Flagstar Performance Savings: 3.40% APY
Minimum Deposit: $1
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SmartyPig
SmartyPig Account: 3.90% APY
Minimum Deposit: $0
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Valley Direct
High-Yield Savings Account: 4.00% APY
Minimum Deposit: $1,000
Eligible States: Limited (see details)
Elevault
High Yield Savings Account: 3.82% APY
Minimum Deposit: $0
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