About & Disclosure
Plain English on who runs this site, how we make money, where the rates come from, and how we rank them. No bank pays to appear or to rank higher.
Who operates this site
BestHYSARates.com is operated by the team behind YourBestSavings.com, part of the ByTheMath (BTM) network of independent personal-finance data sites. We build tools and rankings that help people earn more on their savings.
How we make money
BestHYSARates.com earns referral (affiliate) commissions. When you click an “Open account →” button and open an account with that institution, we may receive a commission from the bank, credit union, or their affiliate network. Typical programs include FlexOffers, CJ Affiliate, and direct bank referral programs.
This is how we keep the site free. It does not affect which products appear or how they are ranked. An institution that pays us a commission gets exactly the same treatment in our rankings as one that pays us nothing.
Where our rate data comes from
All rate data is sourced from YourBestSavings.com, an independent savings-rate tracker operated by the ByTheMath network. Critically, YourBestSavings.com earns $0 from financial institutions — it exists purely to track rates accurately.
Rates are refreshed daily. Each product shows the date its rate was last verified (apy_as_of), and we flag any rate older than seven days so you can re-confirm before opening an account. Always verify the current rate with the institution directly — rates change frequently and without notice.
The ByTheMath methodology
Every deposit product gets a composite score from 0 to 100, weighted across three dimensions:
APY — 70%
The single biggest factor. We score on effective APY, not the headline rate, so balance caps and tiered rates are reflected honestly.
Access — 20%
Minimum deposit, minimum balance, monthly fees, and how easily you can reach your money. Lower barriers score higher.
Flexibility — 10%
Whether the top rate carries conditions — direct-deposit rules, intro periods, new-money requirements, or membership gates.
What “effective APY” means
The headline APY is the marketing number. The effective APY is what you actually earn after accounting for balance caps and rate tiers. If an account advertises 5% but only on your first $5,000, a saver with $25,000 earns far less than 5% overall — and our effective APY reflects that. We rank by the number that matters to your wallet, not the one on the billboard.
The condition decoder
When a rate has strings attached, we translate the fine print into a plain-English pill on every table and card — for example “Rate capped at $10,000,” “Requires direct deposit or monthly transactions,” or “Intro rate — resets after promotional period.” Accounts with no conditions get a green checkmark.
What we don’t do
- No paid rankings. No institution can pay to rank higher. Ever.
- No pay-to-appear. Banks don’t pay to be listed. We list the best products we can find.
- No sponsored placements disguised as recommendations.
- No hidden rate inflation. We show effective APY, not just the marketing rate.
- No selling your data. Rate-alert emails are used only to send the alerts you request.
Advertiser disclosure (FTC)
Advertiser disclosure: BestHYSARates.com earns referral commissions when you open accounts through our links. This does not affect which products appear or how they are ranked — rankings use the ByTheMath composite score based on APY, access, and flexibility. Rate data is sourced from YourBestSavings.com, an independent tracker operated by the ByTheMath network that earns $0 from financial institutions.
Not financial advice
The information on this site is for general educational purposes and is not personalized financial, tax, or investment advice. Always confirm current rates and terms directly with the institution, and consider your own situation before opening any account.