Synchrony is the one to know: an ATM card on the savings account itself, at 3.30% APY (September 24, 2026). Otherwise, pair savings with checking at the same bank: Ally (75,000+ no-fee ATMs), Capital One 360 (70,000+) or SoFi (55,000+ Allpoint).
Savings account vs MYGA, after tax
Rates used: Savings account 4.00%, the top online savings rate we tracked (bank sites, September 24, 2026); savings rates can change any day; change it to the rate you are offered. MYGA 5.95%, the best A-rated rate we track as of October 13, 2026: Delaware Life Pinnacle Plus 5-year (AM Best A-, negative outlook, 7/31/2026), $100,000 and up, effective October 6, 2026 (Delaware Life rate sheet).
| Savings account, interest taxed every year | $116,604 |
|---|---|
| MYGA, tax-deferred, before tax | $133,507 |
| MYGA after paying tax on all the interest at withdrawal | $126,136 |
| Tax deferral alone adds about | $674 |
| MYGA ahead of the savings account, after tax | $9,531 |
Assumes 22% federal and 0% state income tax, no withdrawals, rates held for the whole term. MYGA interest is taxed as ordinary income when you withdraw it, not as capital gains. Gains taken before age 59 1/2 can owe a 10% IRS penalty, and cashing out early can cost a surrender charge. In an IRA both grow tax-deferred, so the edge there is the rate alone. Bank and credit union deposits are FDIC or NCUA insured up to the limits; a MYGA is backed by the issuing insurer's claims-paying ability and your state's guaranty association up to its limits, not the FDIC. General education, not tax, legal or financial advice.
| Bank | Savings APY | How you reach an ATM | Network (bank's figure) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synchrony Bank | 3.30% | ATM card on the savings account | See Synchrony for fees and network |
| SoFi | 3.30% with eligible direct deposit (0.80% without) | SoFi Checking debit card (opens with savings) | 55,000+ fee-free Allpoint ATMs |
| Capital One 360 | 3.10% | 360 Checking debit card | 70,000+ fee-free Capital One, MoneyPass and Allpoint ATMs |
| Ally Bank | 3.00% | Ally Interest Checking debit card | 75,000+ no-fee ATMs; up to $10 per statement cycle reimbursed |
Savings is the right home for emergency money. For money you will not touch for three to five years, a multi-year guaranteed annuity fixes a higher rate and defers the tax.
| $250,000 for 5 years | Synchrony savings (if 3.30% held) | 5-yr MYGA at 5.50% |
|---|---|---|
| Rate | 3.30% APY, variable | 5.50%, fixed for the term |
| Tax on interest | Every year (1099-INT) | Deferred until withdrawn |
| Value after 5 years, after 24% federal tax | ~$283,000 | ~$308,300 (tax paid at the end) |
| Protection | FDIC, $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category | Insurer claims-paying ability + state guaranty association (limits vary by state) |
| Getting money out | Any time | Surrender charge above the free-withdrawal amount; IRS 10% penalty before 59½ |
About $25,300 more after tax on the MYGA if the savings rate held all five years (24% federal bracket, state tax ignored). Savings rates are not fixed, so the real gap depends on where they go. Fixed annuity benchmark: carriers rated A or better topped out around 5.50% to 6.05% on 5-year compound-interest MYGAs, per public carrier rate sheets, October 14, 2026. Rates vary by state, premium and carrier.
Annuity vs CD · Current MYGA rates · HYSA or MYGA for 3-year money
Related: Synchrony savings review · Best HYSA with a mobile app
The best MYGA, CD and savings rates change every few weeks. Get a short email when a rate on this page changes.
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Synchrony Bank: its High Yield Savings (3.30% APY, September 24, 2026) lets you access funds with an ATM card. Most online savings accounts do not; you get ATM access through a linked checking account at the same bank.
Per the banks' own pages on September 24, 2026: Ally checking 75,000+ no-fee ATMs plus up to $10 per statement cycle in other-ATM fee reimbursements; Capital One 360 Checking 70,000+ fee-free Capital One, MoneyPass and Allpoint ATMs; SoFi's debit card 55,000+ Allpoint ATMs.
Synchrony 3.30% APY, SoFi 3.30% with eligible direct deposit (as of September 23), Capital One 360 Performance Savings 3.10%, Ally 3.00%, as of September 24, 2026.
No. Deposits are insured to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership category either way.
Synchrony if you want the card on the savings account; otherwise pick the savings rate you like and use that bank's checking for ATM access.
Hans Goldstein is an independent licensed insurance producer (CA license 4273294, NPN 20602398) and is not affiliated with any bank named here. Rates are copied from the sources named, as of the date shown; savings rates are variable and can change the day after you read this. MYGA figures are illustrations, not quotes.
Talk to Hans Goldstein, a licensed independent insurance producer.
Savings rates float. A-rated 5-year MYGAs were paying about 5.50%-6.05% on October 14, 2026, fixed for the term and tax-deferred.
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HYSA rates change daily and vary by bank, account tier, and promotional period. The rates shown reflect publicly posted APYs as of the date stated above and may be different by the time you open an account. Always confirm the current APY on the bank's own site before transferring funds. FDIC coverage is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category; NCUA coverage at federally insured credit unions is the same limit. This article is general information for educational purposes; it is not a personalized recommendation, solicitation, or offer of any specific bank account, brokerage product, annuity, or other financial product. Hans Goldstein is an independent licensed insurance producer (NPN 20602398) appointed with multiple A-rated annuity carriers; he is not a bank employee, broker-dealer registered representative, or fiduciary investment advisor. No compensation has been received from any bank or credit union in connection with this review. Multi-year guaranteed annuities (MYGAs) referenced here are long-term insurance contracts with surrender charges and are not suitable for funds you may need before the end of the surrender period; they are not FDIC insured and are backed instead by the issuing carrier and the state guaranty association of the owner's state of residence (typically $250,000-$300,000 of present value). Always read the actual account disclosure or contract and consult a licensed advisor before committing funds.
Hans Goldstein is an Enrolled Agent, admitted to practice before the Internal Revenue Service. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the IRS. General education, not tax or legal advice for your situation.