1. Highest Rate: CIT Bank – 1.75% APY, $100 minimum balance amount

CIT Bank recently launched a money market account with a 1.75% APY. You only need $100 to open the account and start earning the APY, and they don’t charge any monthly maintenance fees. If you appreciate the option to write checks with your money market account, or use a debit or ATM card to withdraw funds, this account may not be for you. You can fund the account with ACH, mobile check deposit, or by mailing a check directly to the bank. Accessing funds can be easily done through their online banking platform or mobile banking app. Just keep in mind that due to federal regulations, you’re not able to conduct more than six transactions in a statement cycle. CIT Bank will charge a $10 fee for each additional transaction. While CIT is a thriving bank, you can be assured that your funds are protected by the FDIC up to the legal limit.

2. Top Rate: UFB Direct – 1.60% APY, $5,000 minimum balance to avoid a monthly fee

UFB Direct is a division of BofI Federal Bank, a federally chartered, publicly traded and FDIC-insured bank based in San Diego. In recent months, UFB Direct has become increasingly aggressive with high rates targeting big balances. The APY of 1.60% is an outstanding rate. However, there is one catch. You need to keep at least $5,000 in the account in order to avoid a monthly maintenance fee of $10.00. You will get a Visa debit card and have access to limited check writing. We think this is the best option for people with big balances that they want to keep in a money market account.

3. Top Rate: Capital One – 1.60% APY, $10,000 minimum balance to earn APY

You may think of credit cards when you think of Capital One, but don’t overlook their deposit accounts. While they don’t require a minimum deposit amount to open the account, you will have to maintain a balance of $10,000 or more to earn their 1.50% APY. If your balance is less than that, you’ll earn an APY of 0.85%. They don’t impose any monthly fees, and while they don’t offer checks, they do provide you with an ATM card that you can use to withdraw up to $1,000 per day. You can make an unlimited amount of withdrawals from an ATM per month, but remember that you’re limited to making only six transfers per cycle due to Federal Law. However, Capital One will close the account if you go over six transfers three times within a 12-month period. This is an online-only account, so you can’t go to a branch to open or maintain the account. Fortunately, they make banking-on-the-go easy with their Mobile Banking app.

4. High Rate: Nationwide Bank – 1.55% APY, $10,000 minimum balance

When you think of Nationwide, you probably think about insurance. However, they offer more than just auto and home insurance. With $1,000 to open their money market account, you can automatically earn an APY (Annual Percentage Yield) of 1.15%. However, in order to earn their 1.55% APY, you’ll have to have a balance of $10,000 or more. They do charge a monthly maintenance fee of $8, but will waive the fee if you maintain a minimum of $1,000 daily. They do have check-writing capabilities as well as an ATM card. The first two ATM transaction made from a non-Nationwide Bank ATM is free per statement cycle, but they’ll charge $1.50 per additional ATM transaction made at a non-Nationwide Bank ATM. Transactions are limited to six per statement cycle and a $5 fee is charged per each additional transaction. They offer online banking and a mobile app that has a remote deposit feature to make your digital banking experience easier.

5. Favorite Online Package: Ally – 0.90% APY, no minimum deposit, and link to free checking

Ally Bank is a very popular internet-only bank. If you keep a daily balance of $5,000 or less, you will earn the 0.90% APY. If you’re able to keep a minimum daily balance of $25,000 the APY increases to 1.00%. Although the interest rate on the money market account is not the highest, Ally does offer a very competitive overall package – particularly if you link the account to an Ally checking account. The checking account has no minimum balance and no monthly fee. You can link your money market account to your checking account to provide overdraft protection. Money would be transferred to your checking account with no transaction fee if you ever made a mistake. You would be able to access your money market account with your Ally ATM card, which has free AllPoint access and up to $10 of non-Ally ATM fees reimbursed every month. This money market account is a nice way to provide yourself with overdraft protection while earning interest. If you don’t need check-writing capabilities on your savings, you would still be better off with Ally’s savings account.

6. Highest Overall Rate: ableBanking – 1.70% APY, $250 minimum balance, but no check-writing

ableBanking is a division of Northeast Bancorp, a community bank headquartered in Maine since 1872. The bank has over $1 billion in assets, and your deposit would be FDIC insured up to the legal limit. At 1.70% APY, this is the highest money market rate that we have been able to find (from a bank) in the country. There is a minimum deposit of $250, no monthly fee and you do not need to be a resident of Maine (any US resident can open an account). Unfortunately, the account does not come with check-writing privileges and there is no ATM access. You can deposit and access your funds via ACH (electronic transfer), which can take a couple of days. Just remember: there is a limit of 6 withdrawals per calendar month. When we called to ask questions about the account, we could reach a customer service representative very quickly. This is a good option from a small bank with a great high rate.

7. Highest Overall Rate: BankPurely – 1.70% APY, $25,000 minimum balance, ATM access

8. Top Choice: Sallie Mae – 1.65% APY, no minimum balance and checks available

If you have student loan debt, you probably are not very excited to see Sallie Mae at the top of this list. However, many people are unaware that Sallie Mae also operates an internet-only FDIC-insured bank with some of the best interest rates in the country. You can earn 1.65% APY, compounded daily and paid monthly. There is no minimum balance and no monthly maintenance fees. You will have check-writing capabilities (although the standard money market limit of six per month applies to this account). The easiest (and best) way to fund and access your funds is via electronic transfer from your existing checking account. If you want a simple account with no fees and check access – this is a good bet. Sallie Mae has just recently increased the APY (it was previously 1.55%), making this one the best rates in the country.

9. High Rate: EBSB Direct – 1.57% APY, $10,000 minimum balance, checks and ATM access available

10. High Rate: Northern Bank Direct – 1.51% APY, $5,000 minimum to open, checks available

11. High Rate: Self-Help Credit Union – up to 1.42% APY, $500 minimum deposit and minimum balance

Self-Help is a credit union that anyone can join. If you don’t live, work or worship in one of their eligible counties, you can join by donating $5 to the Center for Community Self-Help. The contribution is tax deductible and will make you eligible for credit union membership. (You can learn more about how to join the credit union here.) At a credit union, your funds are insured up to $250,000 – but it is by the NCUA instead of the FDIC. The money market offers an APY of 1.42% on balances from $500 to $500,000. Even better – you can earn 1.42% APY on balances above $500,000. However, you need to deposit at least $500 and the balance during the month cannot go below $500 – otherwise you will be charged a monthly maintenance fee. You are allowed 6 free withdrawals or transfers from the account each month (including checks).

Special Mention: Great Rate for Small Deposits: Premier Members Credit Union – 3.00% APY up to $2k

Premier Members Credit Union is open to anyone willing to make a $5 donation Impact on Education, a charity for the Boulder Valley School District. This credit union is currently offering an incredible rate of 3.00% with only $5 to open the account. You can earn this APY on balances up to $2,000. Amazingly, even if you grow the balance up to $5,000, you’ll earn a minimum of 2.10% APY. As the balance increases, the APY decreases to the following:

• $5,000.01-$10,000: 2.10%-1.42%
• $10,000.01-$50,000: 1.42%-0.69%
• $50,000.01-$100,000: 0.69%-0.54%
• $100,000.01-$250,000: 0.54%-0.43%
• $250,000.01+: 0.43%-0.30%

Premier Members Credit Union rewards low balance savers by placing the highest rate with the lowest deposit, but if the balance grows they start using a reverse tier system where they blend the APY as the balance grows. Checks are available with this account, but you can only make six withdrawals per month. Each additional withdrawal will be assessed a $10 fee.