Sallie Mae Bank: Savings Account & Rates

By Aviel Fahl

|

Updated: 2/21/2026

Mission: Banksparency aims to make Sallie Mae Bank's savings account transparent and comparable to the market.

Interest rates reported as APY

Analysis of Sallie Mae Bank

Our verdict

Sallie Mae Bank offers a high-yield savings account paying 3.85% APY with no minimum deposit.

At 3.85% APY, Sallie Mae Bank pays 10x the national average (0.39%). Ranks in the top tier of 99+ accounts tracked.

Ideal User Profile

  • Best for: simple saving without extra requirements and banking without needing a branch.

Important Considerations

iOS app has a low rating (1.5).
Android app has a low rating (1.6).

Key Differentiators

  • Stands out with A+ BBB rating.

Savings Overview

High-Yield Savings Account

3.85% APY
Rate Adjusted
-0.05%
Since 30 days ago
No Minimums Online Only
Min. Deposit$0
Min. Balance$0
Maintenance Fee$0
Rank #34 of 99 tracked.

Market Reality Check

This bank offers rates below the current top tier. The best rates we track are currently above 4.15% APY.

See Top Rates

Also see affiliated bank: SmartyPig

View products
National Avg: 0.39% (FDIC, 1/1/2026).
Banksparency tracks live rates daily.

Bank Overview

  • HQ LocationNewark, Delaware
  • Founded2005
  • AffiliationSallie Mae Bank is a subsidiary of SLM Corporation
  • Zelle® SupportNo Support
    Standard ACH or Wire transfers only.
  • Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured(Cert: 58177)

Top Market Contenders

SoFi Bank
4.00% APY
Marcus by Goldman Sachs
3.65% APY
American Express
3.30% APY

Savings Account: In-Depth View

Savings Account Offered by Sallie Mae Bank

Feature
High-Yield Savings Account
APY
3.85%Verified: 2/21/2026
APY Trend
Rate Adjusted
-0.05%
Since 30 days ago
Min. Deposit
$0
Min. Balance
$0
Monthly Fee
$0
Direct Deposit
None
Checking Bundle
No
Branch Access
None
Compounding
Daily
FDIC Insured
Yes
Eligibility
United States
Next Steps-

Calculate Savings for Sallie Mae Bank

All calculations are based on APY.
High-Yield Savings Account3.85% APY
$
$

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$1,506.40(9.7%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $1,000

Projected Balance

$15,506.40

Effective APY
3.85%

The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.

Sallie Mae Bank Savings Rates Over Time

Historical APY Insights

Last 12 Months
MetricHigh-Yield Savings Account
Latest APY
3.85%
Trend
Sideways
Slope (bps/mo)
-0.1
Rate Changes / Mo
0.08
Days Since Last Change
9
High (-12m)
3.90%
Low (-12m)
3.85%
Draw-down
-1.3%
Volatility (CV)
0.002
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 Sallie Mae Bank

Feature
Current View
Sallie Mae Bank
Empty Slot
ProductHigh-Yield Savings Account-
APY
3.85%Verified: 2/21/2026
-
APY Trend
Rate Adjusted
-0.05%
Since 30 days ago
-
Min. Deposit$0-
Monthly Fee$0-
Direct Deposit
No-
Checking Bundle
No-
Branch AccessNone-
Eligibility United States-
Compounding
Daily-
FDIC Insured
Yes-
Next Steps--

Bank-to-Bank Comparisons

Compare Sallie Mae Bank's APY of 3.85% with other banks

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Banks with Higher/Similar Savings APY

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