Banking Savings & Money Market Accounts

American Express® High Yield Savings Review [2025]: Above-Average APY + Service

The American Express High Yield Savings Account offers a competitive annual percentage yield (APY) and the backing of a trusted financial brand. But is it the right fit for your savings goals?

Updated Nov. 12, 2025
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American Express® High Yield Savings
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American Express® High Yield Savings

OUR VIEW

Like many savers, I'm always on the lookout for accounts that can make my money work harder. The American Express® High Yield Savings account is intriguing. Amex, known for its cards, offers similar quality in its sole high-yield savings product. The American Express savings account earns a strong annual percentage yield (APY), especially for a big bank, and it has the unique benefit of 24/7 customer support over the phone. This is an unusual perk, as many banks only offer live chat or AI chatbot support around the clock, if they offer it at all. 

This savings account lacks some flexibility offered by online savings accounts, like cash access, but it could be a great option for existing Amex customers. I'll break down my experience with the account, including its impressive APY and user-friendly online platform. 

Pros

High 3.50% annual percentage yield (APY)1
No minimum balance or monthly fees2
24/7 customer support
FDIC insured

Cons

No ATM access or debit card
Limited mobile app functionality3
No physical branches
How we rate products

American Express High Yield Savings Account (HYSA) basics

American Express® High Yield Savings
Annual percentage yield (APY) 3.50%1
Minimum balance to earn APY $02
Minimum deposit to open $0
Monthly maintenance fees $0
ATM access None
Cash deposits Not permitted
Customer support American Express offers 24/7 customer service when you call 1-800-446-6307
Amex mobile app ratings3
  • 4.9/5 stars on the App Store (iOS)
  • 3.6/5 stars on Google Play (Android)3
FDIC insured Yes, American Express National Bank is a Member FDIC (Cert. #27471)
Visit American Express

American Express, founded in 1850, has long been a trusted name in financial services. While it's best known for its credit cards, it's expanded into online banking with products like the High Yield Savings Account. 

Who is the Amex high-yield savings account good for?

The American Express High Yield Savings account could be good for you if: 

  • You're a saver focused on earning high interest rates and avoiding monthly fees.
  • You're comfortable with online-only banking.
  • You're an American Express cardholder who wants to keep your accounts under one roof.
  • You place a lot of value on customer service.

The standout feature of this account is undoubtedly its high APY. At 3.50%, it's significantly higher than what you'd find at most traditional banks and the national average of 0.40% (as of 9/15/25), according to the FDIC.4 This rate applies to all balance tiers, so you don't need a large deposit to start earning. You do need to be comfortable with online-only banking, but many of the best savings accounts are digital.

It's also a good choice if you're already part of the American Express ecosystem as a cardholder. You can access both your bank account info and your credit card info in the Amex mobile app.5

I appreciate that Amex keeps things simple with a $0 minimum balance to earn APY and no monthly fees. This makes it accessible to savers at all levels, whether you're just starting out or have a substantial nest egg.

And it has 24/7 customer support by phone, which is unusual for an online HYSA. But that's one of the advantages of banking with a large institution like American Express.

American Express HYSA disadvantages

No cash deposits or access

You cannot deposit cash directly into this account, which could be a pain if you frequently deal with physical money. The best workaround is to deposit funds into an external bank account and transfer the funds from there to Amex.

You can also deposit funds by sending a paper check to Amex. 

If you're looking for online banks that accept cash deposits, check with institutions like Capital One. You can also find many savings accounts with debit or ATM cards, if you need easy access to cash.

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2025 award winner Best Checking and Savings Combo
SoFi Checking & Savings - Earn Up to $300 When You Set Up Direct Deposit
Limited-Time Offer: Earn up to a $300 bonus and up to 4.30% APY on Savings (3.60% APY6with +0.70% APY Boost) for 6 Months on new accounts with eligible direct deposit. Terms Apply.7 FDIC Insured.8
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Use Cash App As Your All-in-One Financial Services Platform
Bank9 without all the fees—save, send, and spend your money the way you want.10 Get paid up to 2 days early – up to 2 days earlier than most banks11
Download Cash App

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Openbank High Yield Savings - 4.20% APY12
Earn 10x the national savings average for Savings deposit products as published on FDIC.gov.
Learn More

American Express HYSA alternatives

SoFi Checking and Savings vs. Amex High Yield Savings

SoFi® provides both a checking and savings account in one package, making it ideal if you need both. You can earn up to 3.60% APY on savings balances with qualifying direct deposits.13

There's no minimum balance requirement, and you don't have to worry about monthly maintenance or overdraft fees.14 While it's another online-only option, it comes with features Amex lacks, like early paycheck access with direct deposit.15 Member FDIC.8

Visit SoFi or read our full SoFi Checking and Savings review.

Capital One 360 Performance Savings vs. Amex High Yield Savings

Another bank known for its credit cards, Capital One offers a high-yield savings account similar to American Express. The rate for the Capital One 360 Performance Savings account is typically on par with Amex's high-yield savings option, and it's also pretty basic. It doesn't provide ATM access or the option to make cash deposits, but it earns a respectable APY of 3.40% (as of 10/01/25).

If you already have Capital One credit cards, you might find it more convenient to open a savings account with Capital One 360 than with American Express. But if you already have Amex cards, stick with Amex.

Read our full Capital One 360 review.

American Express customer service

American Express customer service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can call them at 1-800-446-6307.

You can also send them mail at:

American Express National Bank
P.O. Box 30384
Salt Lake City, Utah 84130

Amex savings bonus offers

Like many banks, American Express offers incentives from time to time to entice you to open a new account. Sometimes it's cash, and other times it's a higher APY. In fact, based on my research, it looks like the most recent offer was for a higher APY for those who had the American Express Platinum Card®.

At the time, the rate for the Platinum Card® cardholders was 0.25% higher than the regular APY. But the terms noted that the APY could change at any time, and it wasn't guaranteed to stay that much higher than the standard APY.

FAQs

Is the American Express High Yield Savings Account safe?

Account holders can rest easy with Amex. Your American Express High Yield Savings Account is FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per depositor, and you can increase your coverage amount by adding beneficiaries to your account. The FDIC certificate number for American Express National Bank, Member FDIC, is 27471.

It's a good idea when choosing to open an account with a new financial institution to see if their website or documentation says "member FDIC." In the case of a credit union, you want to look for NCUA insurance, which is similar.

Should I get an American Express savings account or a CD?

CDs, or certificates of deposit, can earn you a good interest rate, as can a high-yield savings account. However, CD rates are higher because you are giving up access to that money for a predetermined amount of time. For example, you might get a 12-month or 60-month CD.

A savings account is best for someone who wants the option of moving that money around or adding more money to the account. A CD is best for someone who knows they won't need that money or who wants to keep themselves from raiding their savings.

Can you transfer money to a bank account from a credit card?

You may be wondering if you have an American Express credit card, if that means you will be able to transfer money from that card's credit line to your American Express High Yield Savings Account.

While many credit card issuers do allow for you to do this, you will likely be charged either a cash advance or balance transfer fee and will probably pay a higher interest rate on that charge to your card as well. It is generally not considered the best way to create cash flow for yourself.

Bottom line

The American Express High Yield Savings Account offers an attractive combination of high interest rates, no fees, and the backing of a trusted financial brand. Its 3.50% APY is significantly higher than what you'll find at most traditional banks, making it an excellent option for growing your savings.

If you're comfortable with online banking and want to maximize your interest earnings without worrying about fees or minimum balances, the American Express High Yield Savings Account is worth considering. It's a solid choice for building an emergency fund or saving for long-term goals, as long as you don't need frequent access to your money.

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Financebuzz awards badge
2025 award winner Best Checking and Savings Combo
High APY of up to 4.30% on Savings (3.60% APY6 with +0.70% APY Boost) for 6 Months on new accounts with eligible direct deposit. Terms Apply.7
Paycheck access up to 2 days early with direct deposit15
No monthly maintenance or overdraft fees14
Streamlined savings and savings goals with Vaults
Access to a large ATM network16

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