12 best money market accounts of February 2026: Earn up to 4.10% APY

Editor's Note: APYs listed in this article are up-to-date as of the time of publication. They may fluctuate (up or down) as the Fed rate changes. CNBC Select will update as changes are made public.

Money market accounts (MMAs) are a form of savings account that earn interest but have features of a checking account, including check-writing privileges, debit cards and ATM access.

CNBC Select compared dozens of money market accounts to find the best ones with above-average APYs, FDIC insurance, check-writing privileges and/or debit card/ATM access. For more on how we made our selections, read our methodology.

The Ally Bank Money Market Account is a straightforward, online option with no minimums or monthly fees. Savers get access to both checks and a debit/ATM card.

The CFG Bank High Yield Money Market Account is great for those chasing higher returns. It does require a $1,000 balance to earn an above-average APY and waive the $10 monthly fee. In addition, there are no check-writing or debit card privileges. To access funds, you must transfer money to an external bank with daily and monthly limits applying.

The above-average APY offered with the EverBank Performanceâ„  Money Market is available for the first year only and is capped at a balance of $250,000. There are no minimums or monthly fees, and savers get access to both checks and a debit/ATM card.

The online-only First Internet Bank of Indiana Money Market Savings has the highest APY we found, but it's only available on daily balances above $1 million. Savers have debit/ATM card access.

The Prime Alliance Bank Personal Money Market has no minimums or monthly fees, but it also doesn't offer any checking account features.

With the Quontic Bank Money Market Account, savers get access to checks and a debit/ATM card for no monthly fee. There is a small minimum deposit requirement of $100.

The Redneck Bank Mega Money Market® account has a good APY available on balances up to $100,000. There's a $500 minimum deposit to open an account, but savers have access to checks and a debit/ATM card.

Republic Bank of Chicago Digital Money Market account holders must deposit at least $2,500 to open an account and waive a $25 monthly fee. There is no debit/ATM card access, but you have check-writing privileges.

With the online-only Sallie Mae Money Market Account, you won't have to meet any minimums or pay monthly fees. There's no debit/ATM card access, however.

The UFB Portfolio Money Market offers one of the highest APYs we've seen, although there is a $5,000 minimum deposit to open the account and waive the $10 monthly fee. Savers get access to checks and a debit/ATM card.

The Vio Bank Cornerstone Money Market Savings Account has a great APY for just a $100 minimum deposit. The online-only bank doesn't offer checking account features, however.

Online-only ZYNLO Bank offers a decent APY on its MMA, capped at $250,000. There are no checking account features but there are also no monthly fees and a small minimum deposit of $10.

As of early 2026, the best money market accounts are offering rates in the low 3% to low 4% APY range, down modestly from early and mid-2025, when top rates were more consistently in the mid 4% range and even reached 5% APY or higher. By late 2025, yields had already begun to ease as expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts grew. In a rate-cutting environment, banks typically reduce the returns they pass on to savers.

If money market accounts aren't ideal, there are other places to park your cash:

• High-yield savings accounts: These accounts offer competitive savings rates, but no checking account features.
• CDs: CDs offer fixed interest rates for a fixed amount of time, so your money is guaranteed the return when you enroll and you keep your cash locked up until the term is over.
• Checking-savings combos: Some banks offer paired checking and savings accounts that come with solid yields, especially when certain requirements are met. These can be a convenient option if you want to earn interest while keeping your money integrated with everyday spending.

A money market account can be a good fit for people who want their savings to earn more interest while still keeping their money easily accessible. You might benefit from a money market account if you:

• Are building an emergency fund: You can earn interest while keeping funds available for unexpected expenses.
• Want higher interest than basic savings: Money market accounts pay more than traditional savings accounts.
• Need easy access to your cash: These accounts have checking account features like debit card access, making your money easier to reach.
• Keep a higher account balance: Many money market accounts have minimum balance requirements.
• Prefer low risk with some flexibility: Money market accounts are generally low-risk and offer easy access to your funds.

A money market account is a savings account that has some features of a checking account, such as check-writing privileges, debit cards and access to ATMs without paying out-of-network fees.

Despite easy access, money market accounts earn rates more in line with those of high-yield savings accounts. Interest is variable, so the rate you got when you opened the account is not guaranteed forever.

They may sound alike, but money market accounts are not the same as money market funds. Your cash isn't in the stock market and deposits are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per account.

Money market accounts vs. savings accounts

The main difference between money market and savings accounts is that money market accounts provide easier access to cash. You can use a debit card linked to your account, take out cash with an ATM card or write a check.

Money market accounts vs. high-yield savings accounts

High-yield savings accounts earn rates similar to those of money market accounts, but they are typically offered by online banks and come with more hurdles for cash withdrawals.

Returns on money market accounts averaged 0.60% in 2025, according to the FDIC, although some online banks offer rates as high as 3.30% to 4.10% APY. In a rate-cutting environment, though, rates on MMAs go down.

Money market accounts are generally considered low-risk since your cash is FDIC-insured up to $250,000. (Don't confuse money market accounts with money market funds, which are investment products and not insured.)

The biggest risk with MMA is that APYs are variable, so your return can decline quickly. In addition, easier access to funds may make it more tempting to take money out of the account.

When picking a money market account, a high APY is probably the biggest attraction. An APY of around 4% is considered competitive in today's market.

However, there are other features to consider, including check-writing privileges, a debit/ATM card, fees and any deposit or balance minimums.

You'll also want to see if there are any minimums or limitations to receiving the high interest rate. And you'll want to look for consistently high yields rather than short-term promotions

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed financial decisions. Every money market account list is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of savings and banking products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

To determine which money market accounts offer the best return, CNBC Select analyzed dozens of options offered by brick-and-mortar banks, credit unions and fintech companies.

We found that the APYs offered by online banks and credit unions far outpaced most branch banks. We did not include any credit unions, however, because of their limits on memberships.

We prioritized accounts that offer competitive APYs or above-average rates. We also compared each on a range of features, including check-writing privileges, debit card and ATM access, account minimums and customer reviews. We considered users' deposit options and the frequency with which interest compounds,

We also took into account CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.

All of the money market accounts included on this list are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per person. If you are opening a joint money market account, the insurance limit is doubled.

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