Sallie Mae Bank Review 2024
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At a glance
CDs
Savings
MMA
About Bankrate Score
Overview
Sallie Mae Bank is a good option for consumers looking for an online savings account, money market account or CDs that earn competitive yields.
Highlights
- High APY
Offers featured here have been sponsored which impacts how, where, and in what order the products appear. Not all offers are displayed on this page.
These are sponsored offers rated highly by us for competitive rates, fees, and minimums.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate Savings rating = 4.9/5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate Savings rating = 4.4/5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate Savings rating = 4.5/5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
Offers featured here have been sponsored which impacts how, where, and in what order the products appear. Not all offers are displayed on this page.
Overall
Sallie Mae Bank offers competitive APYs on its savings accounts, but it doesn’t offer a checking account.
Pros
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Sallie Mae offers competitive yields on its savings accounts.
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The SmartyPig account allows customers to stash away money for specific goals.
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Sallie Mae offers a variety of CD terms.
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Sallie Mae Bank’s liquid deposit products (both of its savings accounts and its money market account) don’t require a minimum opening deposit.
Cons
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Sallie Mae doesn’t offer checking accounts.
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The bank’s mobile app has received very low ratings.
Sallie Mae Bank banking products
APY last updated between 11/11 and 11/17.
Sallie Mae Bank savings overview
The SmartyPig account similarly earns a high yield on all balances, with the opportunity to set and track specific savings goals.
You can receive a $10 referral for every friend that you refer to open a SmartyPig account. Those friends will need to contribute to the account and establish a goal.
Pros
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The High-Yield Savings Account offers a competitive APY.
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There are no maintenance fees.
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The SmartyPig account comes with a savings goal tracker.
Cons
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Other savings accounts offer a more competitive APY.
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Sallie Mae Bank doesn’t offer an ATM card for its savings accounts.
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See how rates for this account have changed over time. Interact with the trend lines to view APY by date.
Sallie Mae BankAPYAPY last updated between 11/11 and 11/17.APYAPY last updated between 11/11 and 11/17.National average APYHow do we get this data?Bankrate independently tracks hundreds of APYs and product details for banking institutions nationwide. We retain the historical data of every rate we track in our database. If there are any gaps where we weren’t actively tracking a rate at the time, the graph will reflect the missing data.
Bank fees
Fee | Charged? |
---|---|
Overdraft fee | N/A |
Non-sufficient funds fee | N/A |
Monthly maintenance fee | None |
Out-of-network ATM fee | N/A |
Excessive transaction fee | None |
About Sallie Mae Bank
Sallie Mae Bank is an FDIC-insured bank headquartered in Salt Lake City. It offers savings and money market accounts as well as certificates of deposits, which are all online accounts.
It is a subsidiary of SLM Corp., the Newark, Delaware, provider and servicer of government-backed and private student loans, better known as Sallie Mae.
Bank experience
Sallie Mae Bank is an FDIC-insured bank that stands out for its goal-setting functionality, allowing customers with SmartyPig accounts to stash away money in different buckets for specific goals. It also offers competitive yields on its savings products.
But it does fall short on some features. The bank’s app receives very low ratings from both iOS users and Android users. It offers no checking account and customer service hours are limited to weekdays — 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time.
How Sallie Mae Bank compares to other banks
Compare different account types offered by Sallie Mae Bank. Annual percentage yields (APYs) shown were updated between Nov. 11, 2024 and Nov. 17, 2024.
Selected bank
Sallie Mae Bank savings account
Bankrate score
4.9
Bankrate Savings rating = 4.9/5 Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Annual percentage yields (APYs), minimum opening deposit requirements and minimum balances to avoid monthly service fees are some of the things that make up Bankrate’s score. |
Most comparable
Salem Five Direct savings account
Bankrate score
4.9
Bankrate Savings rating = 4.9/5 Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Annual percentage yields (APYs), minimum opening deposit requirements and minimum balances to avoid monthly service fees are some of the things that make up Bankrate’s score. |
Search for or select a bank:
Bankrate score
Bankrate Savings rating Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Annual percentage yields (APYs), minimum opening deposit requirements and minimum balances to avoid monthly service fees are some of the things that make up Bankrate’s score. |
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APY
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest. APYs last updated between Nov. 11, 2024 and Nov. 17, 2024.
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4.20% | 4.25% | |
Minimum balance for APY
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$0.00 | $0.00 | |
Estimated earnings
Interest earned calculation based on a $50,000 deposit amount for a period of 1 year and is rounded to the nearest dollar. Exact earnings are dependent on calendar year, balance, and compounding frequency. Minimum deposit rules may apply.
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$2,100 | $2,125 | |
Sallie Mae Bank offers a competitive yield on its High-Yield Savings Account. You don’t need a minimum opening deposit to open this account and the bank doesn’t charge a monthly service fee. | The eOne Savings account offers savers a competitive yield and requires just $10 to open. There are no monthly fees either. The account isn’t available to everyone. You can’t open an eOne Savings account if you have a Salem Five Bank checking or savings account. (You can apply if you have an eOne Checking account.) You also need to apply online for the eOne Savings account. | |
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N/A
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N/A
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APY offering:
4.20%
5/5
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest.
Minimum balance for APY:
$0.00
5/5
The lowest deposit amount an account must have before it can earn interest.
Monthly service fee:
$0.00
5/5
A monthly charge a financial institution deducts from an account if certain requirements are not met.
Minimum balance to avoid fee:
$0.00
5/5
The lowest balance an account must maintain in order to avoid a fee.
Access to funds:
Good
4/5
A procedure that allows an individual or organization to access and manage the funds of another account holder.
|
APY offering:
4.25%
5/5
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest.
Minimum balance for APY:
$0.00
5/5
The lowest deposit amount an account must have before it can earn interest.
Monthly service fee:
$0.00
5/5
A monthly charge a financial institution deducts from an account if certain requirements are not met.
Minimum balance to avoid fee:
$0.00
5/5
The lowest balance an account must maintain in order to avoid a fee.
Access to funds:
Good
4/5
A procedure that allows an individual or organization to access and manage the funds of another account holder.
|
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY includes the effects of compounding interest.
The lowest deposit amount an account must have before it can earn interest.
A monthly charge a financial institution deducts from an account if certain requirements are not met.
The lowest balance an account must maintain in order to avoid a fee.
A procedure that allows an individual or organization to access and manage the funds of another account holder.
Bankrate does not currently track additional product details for this bank.
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Sallie Mae Bank vs. Citizens Bank
While Citizens Bank offers a wider range of financial products, Sallie Mae offers higher yields on its deposit products, including its CDs, money market and savings accounts. Thus, consumers just looking to grow their savings will find Sallie Mae a better choice over Citizens Bank.
Citizens Bank is generally the better choice if you’re just looking for a checking account (since Sallie Mae doesn’t offer one), but if you’re looking to consolidate your finances or open a high-yield savings account, it's best to look elsewhere. Moreover, Citizens Bank is limited in its geographic footprint. Thus, if you’re outside the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions, Citizens Bank may not be the right choice for you.
That noted, Citizens Bank’s online-only division, called Citizens Access, offers top APYs on its CDs and its high-yield online savings account.
Sallie Mae Bank FAQs
Review methodology
We assign a score to each type of account and its features, weigh them carefully based on importance to account holders and determine an overall score. Read our full review methodology.
Sallie Mae Bank customer reviews
Sallie Mae Bank has 23 reviews
Dive into community reviews below and see what others think about Sallie Mae Bank.
In July 2024, Bankrate collaborated with a third-party vendor to survey 1,200 bank account holders nationwide. Bankrate and our vendor collected and summarized account holder responses to five rating questions on a 5-point scale as well as open-ended reviews of the banking experience. Responses are based on individual account holder product details, and therefore cannot be verified for accuracy. Reviewers received an incentive for their feedback. Their ratings are unedited and have not been reviewed or approved by the associated bank or credit union, nor do these responses reflect Bankrate's own expert review of these banking products.
Community Reviews
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