Cash savers got a slightly less generous market in March 2026, according to a monthly rate survey checked as of March 8, 2026, with high-yield savings accounts easing on average, short-term Treasury bill yields holding near 3.6%, and top five-year CDs still hovering around 4% APY. The snapshot, which compares nationwide offers from banks, credit unions, brokerages and Treasury markets, shows where households can still earn a meaningful return on idle cash while keeping principal protected through FDIC, NCUA or U.S. government backing.
What changed in March
The biggest shift was in savings accounts. The survey found that average high-yield savings rates slipped slightly, though several institutions still offered rates above 4% for customers willing to meet certain conditions. At the top of the list, Pibank advertised 4.60% APY with no minimum balance, but with notable restrictions on how customers can move money in and out.
CineFi, a division of First Entertainment Credit Union, posted 4.25% APY with no minimum balance, while OnPath Federal Credit Union also offered 4.25% APY but required a $25,000 minimum balance. CIT Bank held its Platinum Savings account at 3.75% APY with a $5,000 minimum. SoFi Bank listed 3.30% APY for its standard savings product, while new customers could reach up to 4.00% APY for six months plus a $325 bonus with qualifying direct deposit.
The broader message for savers is straightforward: the easy money in savings is fading, but rate shopping still matters. The survey points out that megabanks continue to pay close to zero, making separate online savings accounts a practical default for emergency funds and short-term reserves.
Short-term safety still pays
For people holding cash for a near-term need, the survey favors simple, guaranteed products. No-penalty CDs let depositors lock in a fixed rate while preserving the option to withdraw funds once without fees. Marcus offered a 13-month no-penalty CD at 3.95% APY with a $500 minimum deposit. Farmer's Insurance Federal Credit Union listed a 9-month no-penalty CD at 4.00% APY with a $1,000 minimum.
Traditional short CDs also stayed competitive. USALLIANCE Financial Credit Union advertised a 12-month CD at 4.05% APY with a $500 minimum, while Farmer's Insurance FCU offered a 12-month CD at 4.00% APY, requiring new money and paying a 90-day interest penalty for early withdrawals. The survey says these products can work well for anyone waiting to buy a home, close a business sale, or receive funds from a settlement or inheritance.
Market-based cash options stayed close to Treasury bill yields. Vanguard's Federal Money Market Fund, VMFXX, showed a 7-day SEC yield of 3.59%, while Vanguard Treasury Money Market Fund, VUSXX, posted 3.62%. Because VUSXX holds mostly U.S. government obligations, its income was reported as 100% exempt from state and local income taxes for the 2025 tax year, a feature that can lift after-tax returns for investors in higher-tax states.
Treasuries, ETFs and tax advantages
Short-term Treasury bills were largely flat in March. As of March 6, 2026, a new 4-week T-bill yielded the equivalent of 3.70% annualized interest, while a 52-week T-bill yielded 3.54%, according to Treasury market data cited in the survey. Individual T-bills remain attractive because they are backed by the U.S. government and exempt from state and local taxes.
For investors who want convenience, the survey also tracked ultra-short Treasury ETFs. iShares' SGOV and Vanguard's VBIL both showed 3.54% 30-day SEC yields, with very short durations of 0.10 years. Their low expense ratios, 0.09% for SGOV and 0.06% for VBIL, make them low-friction cash alternatives for brokerage accounts, though they are not FDIC-insured.
Longer-duration fixed-income products still offered slightly higher yields, but with more rate risk. The survey listed a 5-year Treasury rate around 3.7%, while some 5-year CDs reached about 4% APY. United Fidelity Bank showed a 5-year certificate at 4.15% APY, and Mountain America Credit Union listed a 5-year certificate at 4.00% APY, with both requiring depositors to accept early withdrawal limits.
Rewards checking and I Bonds add another layer
Rewards checking accounts continued to stand out for customers willing to meet monthly activity requirements. Several credit unions and banks offered rates above 5% APY on balances capped between $7,500 and $25,000, but those yields came with rules such as 10 to 15 debit card transactions, direct deposits, bill payments or online logins each cycle. Genisys Credit Union led the list at 6.75% APY on up to $7,500, while La Capitol Federal Credit Union and several others offered 6.00% to 6.50% APY.
These accounts can outpay savings products, but the survey notes they can also cut interest to zero in months when customers miss the hoops. That makes them useful for highly organized savers, but less appealing for people who want a hands-off place to park emergency cash.
Series I Savings Bonds remained another option for conservative investors. Bonds bought between November 2025 and April 2026 earn a 4.03% rate for the first six months, according to the Treasury schedule cited in the survey. Purchases are capped at $10,000 per Social Security number each year, and buyers must hold the bonds for at least one year.
What the data means for savers
The survey suggests cash yields are still attractive compared with the near-zero rates offered by many large banks, but the market is no longer as forgiving as it was when rates were climbing. The best returns now often require tradeoffs, whether that means direct deposit requirements, minimum balances, tax paperwork or limits on how money can be moved.
Deposit accounts remain the safest option for money that needs to stay liquid, while Treasury bills and Treasury funds may appeal to savers who want slightly better after-tax returns. CDs can still fit households willing to give up some flexibility in exchange for a locked-in rate.
What to watch next is the mid-April 2026 Consumer Price Index report, which will help determine the next I Bond rate. Savers should also monitor whether banks continue trimming deposit yields or keep competing for cash, because even small rate changes can make a meaningful difference on larger balances over the next several months.
