Marcus vs American Express Savings (2026)
Marcus and American Express Savings are close: no minimum, no monthly fee, no card and no cap on the number of transfers. Marcus paid more on October 19, 2026 (3.50% APY against 3.20%). Amex takes mobile check deposits and larger balances. Pick Marcus for the rate, Amex if you already bank with American Express.
By Wealthy Pot Editorial · Facts checked October 19, 2026
| Feature | Marcus | American Express Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Online bank | Online bank |
| APY | 3.50% APY (Oct 2026) | 3.20% APY (Oct 19, 2026) |
| Interest on $10,000 for a year | About $350 | About $320 |
| Minimum to open | $0 | $0 |
| Min balance for top APY | $0 | $0 |
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 |
| FDIC | FDIC-insured (Goldman Sachs Bank USA) | FDIC-insured (American Express National Bank) |
| Deposits held by | Goldman Sachs Bank USA | American Express National Bank |
| CFPB checking and savings complaints | About 1.5 per $1 billion of deposits | About 3.4 per $1 billion of deposits |
| Best for | Savers who want a simple, no-fee HYSA from a big-name bank | Existing Amex customers who want a trusted, no-frills HYSA |
Interest is our arithmetic on the APY shown, before tax, assuming the rate holds for a year (savings rates are variable). Complaint figures are CFPB checking and savings complaints from October 2025 to September 2026 for the whole company, per $1 billion of the bank's deposits in FDIC data.
Key differences
On $10,000 for a year, the rates work out to about $350 at Marcus and $320 at Amex, if they held. Both are variable, pay one rate on every balance and compound daily.
Moving money differs in the details. Marcus allows up to $125,000 per outgoing ACH transfer started online and wires of up to $50,000 per statement period to your own linked account, all free. Amex sets an incoming ACH limit of $250,000 per rolling 30 days per owner and has no current limit on the number of ACH transactions. Amex takes mobile check deposits; Marcus takes checks by mail. Marcus caps an account at $1,000,000 and $3,000,000 per owner across Marcus deposits; Amex caps savings at $5,000,000.
Both are deposits at large banks, Goldman Sachs Bank USA and American Express National Bank, insured by the FDIC up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership category. In CFPB data for October 2025 to September 2026, checking and savings complaints ran about 1.5 per $1 billion of deposits for Goldman Sachs Bank USA and 3.4 for American Express. If you are eligible, Amex also offers Rewards Checking with transfers from savings of up to $100,000 a day.
Where Marcus wins
- No limit on the number of withdrawals or transfers
- No fees for ACH or wire transfers
- No minimum to open or to earn the APY
- Phone support 24/7
Where American Express Savings wins
- No minimum, no monthly fee, one rate on all balances
- No current limit on the number of ACH transfers
- High balance cap of $5,000,000
- Rewards Checking available at the same bank for eligible customers
Which should you choose?
Pick Marcus if
- You want a no-fee, no-minimum savings account from one of the largest U.S. banks.
- You move money in and out often and do not want a monthly transaction cap.
- You keep large balances: transfers have no fee and accounts take up to $1,000,000 each.
Pick American Express Savings if
- You already use American Express and want savings from the same company.
- You move larger sums and want high stated transfer limits with no cap on the number of transfers.
- You want no minimum, no monthly fee and one rate on every balance.
Marcus vs American Express Savings: FAQ
Is Marcus or American Express Savings better?
For the rate, Marcus: 3.50% APY against 3.20% on October 19, 2026. Amex adds mobile check deposit, a $5,000,000 balance cap and checking for eligible customers.
Do Marcus or Amex give you an ATM card?
No. Neither savings account comes with an ATM card, debit card or checks; you transfer money to a checking account to spend it.
Compare these against every option in our high-yield savings comparison.
We summarize each bank's published terms, not user reviews. Facts come from our full reviews of both accounts, each checked against the provider's own pages on October 19, 2026 with every source listed; FDIC and CFPB figures come from the agencies' public data. We re-check about once a month. Some accounts are brokerage cash insured through partner banks. Some outbound links may be affiliate links. That never affects our comparisons. Nothing here is financial advice.