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In the U.S., the Apple Card offers a high-yield savings account option, allowing you to earn far more interest on your money compared to the average bank's basic savings account. Apple's account offers an APY of 4.1% as of writing, and while that is a competitive rate, it is not the absolute best offer available at this time.

apple-card-savings-account-feature.jpg

The chart below compares the Apple Card saving account's rate to some other popular high-yield savings accounts in the U.S., as of writing.

ProviderAPY*
Ally3.85%
Discover3.9%
American Express3.9%
Capital One3.9%
Citizens Bank3.9%
Apple Card Savings4.1%
Marcus by Goldman Sachs4.1%
Barclays4.1%
Synchrony4.1%
PNC Bank4.15%
SoFi4.2%
Betterment4.25%
Wealthfront4.25%
UFB Direct4.31%
Fierce4.5%
CIT Bank4.55% (on $5,000+)
Openbank by Santander5%
Pibank5.5% (dropping to 5% starting December 2)

* Advertised APYs as of November 27, 2024, excluding promotional rates and affiliate bonuses. Minimum balance requirements and other conditions vary per account. APYs can change at any time, so we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the rates listed above.

Apple launched its savings account in April 2023, in partnership with Goldman Sachs. The account can be opened and managed in the Wallet app on the iPhone, and it has no fees, no minimum deposits, and no minimum balance requirements. You must have an Apple Card, be a U.S. resident, and be at least 18 years old to open an account.

The account allows Apple Card holders to earn interest on their Daily Cash cashback balance, and on funds deposited via a linked bank account or an Apple Cash balance. The maximum balance allowed is now $1 million, up from $250,000.

When the account first became available, Apple and Goldman Sachs offered an APY of 4.15%, but the rate has fluctuated in line with U.S. Federal Reserve benchmark rate changes. The rate increased three times, reaching a peak of 4.5% in early 2024, but it has since been cut three times and has stood at 4.1% since early October. Apple has yet to change the rate after the Federal Reserve's latest rate cut in early November.

To open a savings account in the Wallet app, tap on your Apple Card, tap on the circle with three dots at the top of the screen, tap Daily Cash, and select Set Up Savings.

Goldman Sachs reportedly plans to end its consumer lending partnership with Apple, but it is unclear if this will have any impact on Apple Card holders. JPMorgan, owner of Chase Bank, reportedly could take over as Apple's financial partner.

Article Link: Here's How the Apple Card Savings Account's Interest Rate Compares to Major Competitors
 
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And here’s how it compares to Bitcoin: -152% 🥳
Bitcoin is an unrelated financial instrument. They have nothing to do with each other. Comparing bitcoin to a savings account makes no sense. I have to ask you what makes you think there is a valid comparison? It’s like comparing garlic to peaches. They are both food, but that’s as far as it goes.
 
Openbank, Santander Bank's online, high-yield savings, is currently at 5.0%, having dropped from 5.25% a couple of weeks ago. Pibank, a new-to-the U.S. online venture of Intercredit Bank, is at 5.5%, although I can't imagine them holding at that level for too much longer.
 
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Barclay's is 4.75% for their tiered savings, that's where I just moved some of my money.
 
Openbank, Santander Bank's online, high-yield savings, is currently at 5.0%, having dropped from 5.25% a couple of weeks ago. Pibank, a new-to-the U.S. online venture of Intercredit Bank, is at 5.5%, although I can't imagine them holding at that level for too much longer.
Pibank is apparently dropping to 5% effective December 2.

I'm going to add Openbank and Pibank to my chart, thanks!
 
I wonder if Steve Jobs would have predicted that Cook would be so hungry for constant growth that instead of innovating with iPhones, he would start selling savings accounts.
 
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Bitcoin is an unrelated financial instrument. They have nothing to do with each other. Comparing bitcoin to a savings account makes no sense. I have to ask you what makes you think there is a valid comparison? It’s like comparing garlic to peaches. They are both food, but that’s as far as it goes.
Amen. Some people just love that Bitcoin.
 
When the Apple Card was released, at first I thought they were really going to change the market with it.

It's never been released in Canada, and time went on, if it was to be released here, I wouldn't get one anymore. Other cards have improved and I'm extremely satisfied with mine.
 
a Fund requires a brokerage account, are not FDIC-insured, and may be subject to transaction fees.

A savings account is lower friction for people, and hence lower rates; theyre not competing products.

SPAXX with fidelity is at 4.25% 7-day and doesn't have any brokerage or transaction fees.

You're right that it's not an FDIC-insured account, but it's ridiculously stable and safe. I use it as median between my regular savings and my investments. Well, I was, but a 0.1% delta translates to ~$15/10,000 in annual gains, so I don't concern myself with it too much.
 
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Apple savings is very un-Apple in its clunky implementation. To be able to use the money, it first needs to be transferred manually into Apple Cash. People have been conditioned to the checking/savings distinction, but there is no reason it needs to be like that anymore. The result is very inconvenient to use.

This also leads to the big problem that ultimately led me to closing the account with prejudice. GS, in its ultimate wisdom, decided that I wasn’t authenticated enough on my phone to withdraw funds from the savings account to Apple Cash. All transfers would fail with no explanation. I had to call the middling customer service so that they could verify my info and send a verification code via text message to my… phone!

The first time this happened, I assumed it was a glitch. The second time, exactly one year later, I figured it was policy. I have better things to do than to spend time with GS customer support once a year, and there is no efficiency advantage to the savings account (see first point) so I closed the account.

Apple Savings is terrible.
 
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