Marcus Alternatives (2026): 6 Savings Accounts Compared
Marcus Online Savings pays 3.50% APY as of October 14, 2026. Six FDIC-insured alternatives checked on each bank's own page the same day, from Pibank at 4.25% to Capital One 360 at 3.10%, with minimums and trade-offs.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs listed 3.50% APY on its Online Savings Account as of October 14, 2026, with no fees and no minimum deposit. That is about nine times the FDIC national average savings rate of 0.37%. But it is not the top of the market. Of six FDIC-insured alternatives we checked the same day, four listed a higher APY and two listed a lower one with other perks.
Rates as of October 14, 2026. Every APY, minimum and fee on this page was checked on the bank’s own page on October 14, 2026. Where the bank’s page shows its own accuracy date (for example “offer valid as of 09/29/2026”), we show that date too. Every bank’s FDIC certificate was confirmed active in FDIC BankFind the same day. Rates are variable and can change without notice. 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: the best Marcus alternatives
- Highest APY: Pibank Savings, 4.25% APY, no minimum, no fees (offer valid as of 09/29/2026).
- Higher rate with a $100 minimum: Popular Direct Exclusive Savings, 3.90% APY (effective October 5, 2026).
- Best for $5,000+ balances: CIT Bank Platinum Savings, 3.75% APY on $5,000 or more, 0.25% below (accurate as of July 1, 2026).
- Best no-minimum step up: Synchrony High Yield Savings, 3.55% APY, no minimum deposit or balance.
- Best if you already use Amex: American Express High Yield Savings, 3.10% APY, no minimum, no monthly fee.
- Best with branch access: Capital One 360 Performance Savings, 3.10% APY, no fees or minimums.
Marcus vs the alternatives: side-by-side
| Account | APY | Minimum to open | Monthly fee | Rate date shown by bank | FDIC cert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pibank Savings | 4.25% | $0 | $0 | Offer valid as of 09/29/2026 | #25258 |
| Popular Direct Exclusive Savings | 3.90% | $100 | Not stated* | Effective 10/05/2026 | #34967 |
| CIT Bank Platinum Savings | 3.75% ($5,000+); 0.25% below | $100 | $0 | Accurate as of 07/01/2026 | #11063 |
| Synchrony High Yield Savings | 3.55% | $0 | $0 | Accurate as of 10/14/2026 | #27314 |
| Marcus Online Savings | 3.50% | $0 | $0 | As of 10/14/2026 | #33124 |
| American Express High Yield Savings | 3.10% | $0 | $0 | Accurate as of 10/14/2026 | #27471 |
| Capital One 360 Performance Savings | 3.10% | $0 | $0 | Effective 10/14/2026 | #4297 |
Sources: each bank’s own savings page, checked October 14, 2026; FDIC BankFind, checked October 14, 2026. *Popular Direct’s page did not state a monthly fee and notes that fees may reduce earnings; check its fee schedule. National average for comparison: 0.37% for savings in the FDIC’s September 2026 national rates.
Why people look for Marcus alternatives
- A higher rate. On October 14, 2026, Pibank, Popular Direct, CIT (on $5,000+) and Synchrony all listed more than Marcus’s 3.50%.
- Branch access. Marcus is an online bank. Capital One lists branches and Cafés for in-person help.
- Keeping banking in one place. Amex and Capital One customers may prefer savings next to their cards or checking.
What Marcus does well: a flat rate with no tiers, no fees, no minimum deposit, and same-day transfers of $100,000 or less to and from other banks, per its page. Deposits are held at Goldman Sachs Bank USA.
1. Pibank Savings: highest APY we found
Pibank listed 4.25% APY on its savings account, with no minimum balance to open or keep the rate and no account fees (“offer valid as of 09/29/2026,” still shown October 14, 2026). Pibank is a digital bank; FDIC BankFind lists Pibank, National Association (Miami, Florida, cert #25258) as active.
Pibank fits savers who want the highest flat rate with no minimum. For a head-to-head, see Pibank vs Marcus.
2. Popular Direct Exclusive Savings: 3.90% with a $100 minimum
Popular Direct listed 3.90% APY on Exclusive Savings, effective as of Monday, October 5, 2026, with a $100 minimum deposit to open. Deposits are held at Popular Bank (New York, cert #34967).
Popular Direct fits savers who can open with $100 and want 0.40 points more than Marcus. See the Popular Direct review.
3. CIT Bank Platinum Savings: best for balances of $5,000 or more
CIT lists a tiered rate: 3.75% APY on balances of $5,000 or more and 0.25% APY on balances below $5,000, accurate as of July 1, 2026 (still shown October 14, 2026). The minimum to open is $100. CIT is a division of First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company (Raleigh, North Carolina, cert #11063).
CIT fits savers who will keep at least $5,000 in the account. Below that, the 0.25% tier is far worse than Marcus. See the CIT Platinum Savings review.
4. Synchrony High Yield Savings: best no-minimum step up
Synchrony listed 3.55% APY with no minimum deposit, no minimum balance and no monthly fees (APYs accurate as of 10/14/2026). Deposits are held at Synchrony Bank (Draper, Utah, cert #27314).
Synchrony fits savers who want a rate slightly above Marcus with no minimum. See the Synchrony review and our Synchrony CD and savings rates guide.
5. American Express High Yield Savings: best if you already use Amex
American Express listed 3.10% APY (accurate as of 10/14/2026), with no minimum balance and no monthly fees. Deposits are held at American Express National Bank (Sandy, Utah, cert #27471).
Amex pays less than Marcus today, so it fits mainly existing Amex customers who value one login. See the Amex High Yield Savings review.
6. Capital One 360 Performance Savings: best with branch access
Capital One listed 3.10% APY on all balances, effective as of 10/14/2026, with no monthly service charge and no minimum to open or maintain. Deposits are held at Capital One, N.A. (McLean, Virginia, cert #4297).
Capital One pays less than Marcus but adds branches and Cafés (Capital One notes Cafés do not offer all branch services). See the Capital One 360 Performance Savings review.
How much does the rate difference matter?
On a $10,000 balance held for a year at a constant rate, simple APY math gives:
| APY | Interest on $10,000 over 1 year | Difference vs Marcus (3.50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 4.25% (Pibank) | about $425 | +$75 |
| 3.90% (Popular Direct) | about $390 | +$40 |
| 3.75% (CIT, $5,000+) | about $375 | +$25 |
| 3.55% (Synchrony) | about $355 | +$5 |
| 3.50% (Marcus) | about $350 | baseline |
| 3.10% (Amex, Capital One) | about $310 | -$40 |
Illustration only, not a quote. APYs are variable and will change. If the gain is small, convenience may matter more. See how APY works.
Accounts we checked but did not include
- Barclays Tiered Savings: the page we loaded October 14, 2026 did not show the tier APYs (its “up to 4.75%” figure refers to CDs), so we did not include it.
- Bread Savings: the high-yield savings page did not load (404) when we checked, so we could not verify a rate today.
Methodology and sources
- Bank pages, loaded October 14, 2026: Marcus Online Savings; Pibank Savings; Popular Direct Exclusive Savings; CIT Bank Platinum Savings; Synchrony High Yield Savings; American Express High Yield Savings; Capital One 360 Performance Savings.
- Regulators: FDIC BankFind institution records (checked October 14, 2026); FDIC National Rates and Rate Caps, September 2026.
- Related Money 8020 pages for navigation only: best high-yield savings accounts, Pibank vs Marcus, HYSA vs money market account, how APY works. We do not cite our own pages as sources of facts.
For a ranked list, see best high-yield savings accounts. Comparing account types? Read HYSA vs money market account.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Marcus high-yield savings rate today?
Marcus by Goldman Sachs listed 3.50% APY on its Online Savings Account as of October 14, 2026, with no fees and no minimum deposit. The rate is variable and can change at any time. Deposits are held at Goldman Sachs Bank USA, FDIC certificate #33124.
Which savings accounts pay more than Marcus?
Of the accounts we checked on October 14, 2026, Pibank Savings listed 4.25% APY (offer valid as of 09/29/2026), Popular Direct Exclusive Savings listed 3.90% (effective October 5, 2026, $100 minimum), CIT Bank Platinum Savings listed 3.75% on balances of $5,000 or more (accurate as of July 1, 2026), and Synchrony High Yield Savings listed 3.55% (accurate as of 10/14/2026). Rates change often; confirm on each bank's page.
Is Marcus or Pibank better?
Pibank listed a higher APY on October 14, 2026 (4.25% vs 3.50%), and both list no minimum and no monthly fee. Marcus comes from Goldman Sachs Bank USA and advertises same-day transfers of $100,000 or less to and from other banks. Both are FDIC-insured. See our Pibank vs Marcus comparison. This is not financial advice.
Are these Marcus alternatives FDIC insured?
Yes. We confirmed each bank's FDIC certificate as active in FDIC BankFind on October 14, 2026: Pibank (#25258), Popular Bank (#34967), First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company for CIT (#11063), Synchrony Bank (#27314), American Express National Bank (#27471) and Capital One, N.A. (#4297). Coverage is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category.
Why would someone switch from Marcus?
The most common reason is rate: on October 14, 2026, four of the six accounts we checked listed a higher APY than Marcus's 3.50%. Another reason is wanting branch access, which Capital One offers through branches and Cafés. If you value a flat, no-minimum rate from a large bank, Marcus may still fit.
How much more would I earn by switching?
On a $10,000 balance held for a year at a constant rate, 3.50% APY earns about $350 and 4.25% APY earns about $425, a difference of about $75. Rates are variable, so actual earnings will differ. This is a simple illustration, not a quote.