Best-of · 4 picks

Best Money Market Accounts

The best money market account pairs a competitive APY with the access you actually need, from a bank whose FDIC insurance we confirmed. We checked every rate, fee and minimum on the issuer's own page.

4
Picks
89
Avg score
2026
Updated
#1
Best overall
The highest verified APY on our list at 4.05% (as of 10/6/2026, per CFG), if you can keep $1,000 in the account to earn the rate and waive the $10 fee.
#2
Best with debit and checks
A 3.90% APY on Quontic's October 5, 2026 rate sheet, plus a debit card and check writing, with a $100 minimum and no monthly fee.
#3
Best no-minimum
A 3.60% APY with $0 to open, $0 to earn the rate, no monthly fee and check writing, per Sallie Mae's rate table loaded October 11, 2026.
#4
Best flat-rate runner-up
A 3.40% APY on all balances, effective October 9, 2026, with a $100 minimum and no monthly fee (paper statements cost $5), through MidFirst Bank.

A money market account sits between savings and checking: a savings-style APY plus, on many products, check writing or a debit card. As of October 11, 2026, the four bank money market accounts we could verify paid between 3.40% and 4.05% APY. On $25,000, the gap between the top and bottom of that range is about $162 a year at today’s rates (our arithmetic), before any rate change or fee.

Rates as of October 11, 2026. Every APY, minimum and fee on this page comes from the bank’s own rate or product page, loaded October 11, 2026, with the bank’s stated as-of date. We confirmed each bank’s FDIC status in FDIC BankFind. National averages come from the FDIC’s national rates for September 2026. Rates are variable and not guaranteed. This page is general information, not financial advice. Some links on Money 8020 are affiliate or partner links; see our advertiser and affiliate disclosure.

Quick answer: which money market account is best?

How we ranked these accounts

We ranked on five things, in this order:

  1. APY with a current issuer as-of date inside our 30-day freshness window.
  2. Fees, especially monthly maintenance fees and paper-statement fees.
  3. Minimums to open and to earn the posted APY.
  4. Access (check writing, debit card), which is the main reason to pick a money market over plain savings.
  5. FDIC status, confirmed with the regulator for every pick.

We do not use aggregator roundups for any figure on this page. EverBank and Zynlo were in our starting set but dropped today because we could not verify a current issuer-dated APY.

Comparison table: money market accounts (October 11, 2026)

AccountAPYAs-ofMinimumMonthly feeAccess
CFG High-Yield MMA4.05%10/6/2026$1,000$0 with $1,000 ($10 else)Online: no checks
Quontic Money Market3.90%10/5/2026$100$0Debit + checks
Sallie Mae Money Market3.60%10/13/2026*$0$0Checks
Vio Cornerstone MMA3.40%10/9/2026$100$0 ($5 paper)Online transfers

*Sallie Mae’s rate table, loaded October 11, 2026, states its Money Market APY is accurate as of October 13, 2026.

Sources: each bank’s rate or product page linked above; FDIC BankFind for insurance status. APYs are variable.

For context, the FDIC national money market rate was 0.63% in September 2026, and the national savings rate was 0.37%.

1. CFG Bank High-Yield Money Market - best overall

CFG leads on rate. Its personal deposit rates page, accurate as of October 6, 2026, lists 4.05% APY on the High-Yield Money Market with a $1,000 minimum to open and to obtain the APY. Keep $1,000 daily or pay a $10 monthly fee. The online version has no check writing.

We confirmed CFG Bank is active in FDIC BankFind (certificate #34294, Lutherville, Maryland). See the full CFG Bank money market review.

2. Quontic Money Market - best with debit and checks

Quontic’s rate sheet states rates accurate as of October 5, 2026, and lists 3.90% APY on every Money Market balance tier. You need $100 to open. There is no monthly fee. Quontic’s product page advertises a debit card and check writing, which is the clearest access edge on this list.

We confirmed Quontic Bank is active (certificate #57807, Astoria, New York). See the Quontic Money Market review.

3. Sallie Mae Money Market - best no-minimum

Sallie Mae’s rate table lists 3.60% APY with $0 to open and $0 required to obtain the APY. We loaded the table on October 11, 2026; Sallie Mae states the figures are accurate as of October 13, 2026. No monthly fee. Check writing is available. There is no debit or ATM card on the product page we checked.

We confirmed Sallie Mae Bank is active (certificate #58177, Salt Lake City, Utah). See the Sallie Mae Money Market review.

4. Vio Bank Cornerstone Money Market - best flat-rate runner-up

Vio’s Cornerstone Money Market page lists 3.40% APY on all balances, effective as of October 9, 2026. Minimum to open is $100. No monthly fee unless you take paper statements ($5). Vio is a division of MidFirst Bank.

We confirmed MidFirst Bank is active (certificate #4063, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma). See the Vio Cornerstone Money Market review.

Money market vs high-yield savings vs money market funds

Product typeTypical protectionAccessRate basis
Money market accountFDIC (bank deposit)Often checks / debitBank APY
High-yield savingsFDIC (bank deposit)Transfers; rarely checksBank APY
Money market fundNot FDIC; SIPC at brokerSell shares7-day yield

If you want FDIC insurance and occasional spending access, start with the accounts above or our best high-yield savings accounts. For a direct product-type comparison, see HYSA vs money market account. If your cash sits inside a brokerage, compare best money market funds instead. For locking a rate, see best CDs for 2026.

How to choose

  1. Confirm today’s APY on the bank’s own page. Every rate here is variable.
  2. Check the minimum and fee waiver. CFG’s 4.05% needs $1,000 working for you.
  3. Decide how you will spend. Debit and checks favor Quontic; no-minimum flexibility favors Sallie Mae.
  4. Stay inside FDIC limits. $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category.
  5. Join a rate alert if you want a heads-up when we publish new rate guides.

Methodology and sources

  • Issuer pages loaded October 11, 2026: CFG personal deposit rates; Quontic rate sheet; Sallie Mae rate table; Vio Cornerstone Money Market page.
  • Regulator: FDIC BankFind certificates #34294, #57807, #58177, #4063 (active as of the October 9, 2026 index refresh).
  • Benchmarks: FDIC National Rates and Rate Caps, September 2026.
  • Dropped today: EverBank Performance Money Market (no current personal APY shown on the rates page for our session); Zynlo Money Market (empty issuer page).
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How did you verify these money market accounts?

We loaded each bank's own rate or product page on October 11, 2026, and recorded the APY, minimums and fees with the bank's as-of date. We confirmed each bank's active FDIC certificate with FDIC BankFind the same day. National averages come from the FDIC's national rates for September 2026. Rates are variable, so confirm the current figure before you open.

Which money market account pays the most right now?

Of the four accounts we could verify on October 11, 2026, CFG Bank's High-Yield Money Market listed the highest APY at 4.05% as of October 6, 2026. Quontic was next at 3.90%, then Sallie Mae at 3.60% and Vio at 3.40%. EverBank and Zynlo were dropped because we could not confirm a current issuer-dated APY today.

Are money market accounts FDIC insured?

Yes, when the account is a bank deposit at an FDIC-insured institution. We confirmed CFG Bank (cert

What is the difference between a money market account and a high-yield savings account?

Rates are often similar. Money market accounts more often add check writing or a debit card. Some require a higher minimum to earn the top rate. Compare the verified APY, fees and access against our best high-yield savings list, not only against other money markets. This is not financial advice.

Why did you drop EverBank and Zynlo?

EverBank's rates page on October 11, 2026 did not show a current personal Performance Money Market APY for our location and said the product opens only in financial centers. Zynlo's money market URL returned no usable rate content. We do not publish unverifiable rates.

How do these rates compare with the national average?

The FDIC's national money market rate for September 2026 was 0.63%. Every account on this list pays several points above that average. The average includes many large banks that pay little, so also compare against other online banks before you decide.

Rate alerts

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