Synchrony and Capital One 360 are both competitive no-fee, no-minimum online savings accounts, but they sit at opposite ends of the digital-vs-hybrid spectrum. Synchrony is online-only and uniquely offers an optional ATM card for direct cash withdrawals — unusual for a pure online savings account. Capital One 360 pairs its savings account with roughly 300 branch and café locations plus a full checking account, giving it a physical footprint none of the pure online banks in this cluster can match. Pick Synchrony if ATM-card cash access matters most; pick Capital One 360 if you want branch access or an all-in-one checking-plus-savings relationship.
Synchrony Bank
Strong APY with ATM card access — uncommon for online savings.
Pros
Capital One Bank, N.A.
Big-bank backing with online-bank APY — branch access included.
Pros
| Spec | Synchrony Bank High Yield Savings | Capital One 360 Performance Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Online savings users who want ATM-card access for cash withdrawals when needed. | People who want online-savings APY plus the option of in-person branch service for complex situations. |
◈ marks the stronger option for that row.
Pick Synchrony Bank High Yield Savings if: Online savings users who want ATM-card access for cash withdrawals when needed.
Pick Capital One 360 Performance Savings if: People who want online-savings APY plus the option of in-person branch service for complex situations.
See all picks, methodology, and side-by-side comparison in Best High-Yield Savings Accounts 2026.
Both are variable and move with the Federal Reserve's benchmark rate. At most times the two have been very close — within about 0.05–0.15% of each other — and either may lead at a given moment. Neither imposes direct-deposit or balance conditions to earn its published rate. The Federal Reserve publishes national average deposit rates at federalreserve.gov as a reference point. Verify current rates at synchronybank.com and capitalone.com before opening, since rates change without notice.
Capital One operates approximately 300 branches and Capital One Café locations across the US, making it one of the few competitive HYSA providers with a physical footprint. Synchrony is online-only with no branch locations. For customers who occasionally want in-person help, Capital One 360's hybrid model is a meaningful advantage; Synchrony savers rely entirely on phone, chat, and its optional ATM card for account servicing and cash access.
Yes. Synchrony High Yield Savings includes an optional ATM card that lets you withdraw cash directly from ATMs, plus a limited ATM-fee reimbursement per statement cycle — unusual for a pure online savings account (verify current terms at synchronybank.com). Capital One 360 Performance Savings does not include its own debit or ATM card; cash access runs through a linked Capital One 360 Checking account or an ACH transfer to an external bank.
Yes. Synchrony Bank and Capital One, N.A. are both FDIC-member institutions. Deposits are insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category, per institution. Holding accounts at both banks gives up to $500,000 in combined coverage for individually-owned funds, since FDIC insurance applies separately per bank. Verify FDIC membership for either at fdic.gov/bank/individual.
No. Neither Synchrony High Yield Savings nor Capital One 360 Performance Savings charges a monthly maintenance fee or requires a minimum opening deposit or ongoing balance. Both earn the published APY on any balance starting at $0.01. This matches CFPB guidance on choosing a savings account (consumerfinance.gov) — no-fee, no-minimum accounts are the standard for competitive online HYSAs in 2026.
Yes. Capital One 360 pairs its savings account with a no-fee checking account, credit cards, auto loans, and physical branches/cafés, making it a natural fit for savers who want one issuer across checking and savings. Synchrony's consumer offerings are narrower: high-yield savings, a money market account with check-writing, and CDs, but no checking account as of mid-2026. If you want a single bank for checking and savings, Capital One 360 is the stronger fit; verify current product lineups at capitalone.com and synchronybank.com.
Both rely primarily on ACH transfers to a linked external bank account, typically taking 1–3 business days. Capital One 360 supports instant transfers between Capital One accounts (e.g., 360 Savings to 360 Checking) if you also hold Capital One 360 Checking. Synchrony's optional ATM card gives same-day cash access at an ATM without waiting for an ACH transfer to settle — a meaningful edge for savers who occasionally need physical cash and don't hold a Capital One checking account.
Yes. Both Synchrony High Yield Savings and Capital One 360 Performance Savings compound interest daily and credit it to the account monthly — the industry-standard approach for competitive online savings accounts. The advertised APY already reflects the effect of daily compounding, so both accounts produce the same effective annual yield stated. Verify current compounding terms at synchronybank.com and capitalone.com.
Capital One 360 lets you open multiple savings accounts under one login — each named and tracked separately for different goals (emergency fund, vacation, down payment). Synchrony does not offer named sub-accounts or virtual savings buckets for goal-tracking within its High Yield Savings account. If organizing savings by purpose matters, Capital One 360's multi-account structure is a clear advantage. Source: capitalone.com.
Yes to both. Synchrony offers CDs across multiple terms with competitive fixed rates. Capital One 360 CDs are available in terms from 6 months to 5 years with no minimum deposit. Both charge an early withdrawal penalty if funds are pulled before maturity, with the penalty amount scaling with the CD's term length. Source: synchronybank.com and capitalone.com product disclosures.
Independent editorial comparison. ClearValue Lending is not the issuer of any product compared here; affiliate links may pay a referral commission at no cost to you — selection is independent of compensation.