Public High-Yield Cash Account review

Public High-Yield Cash Account suits investors who already trade on Public and want idle cash to earn interest without leaving the app. The Core tier pays 3.30% APY with no fees and no minimums, and funds are deposited with partner banks for up to $5M of FDIC insurance. Public also sells a Reserve subscription at $20 a month that raises the cash rate to 3.75% APY and adds a 4% IRA match and other deposit matches. For cash alone, the subscription math is tight: at 0.45 points of extra yield, the $240 a year fee only pays for itself on balances above roughly $53,000. The account is built for parking and moving money toward investments, with recurring deposits and access to Public's Treasuries and Bond Account. It is not a spending account. Public's page lists no debit card or checkwriting for it, and the Core rate trails Wealthfront, Betterment and Vanguard.

Who it is for

self-directed investors who trade stocks and Treasuries on Public

Price

Core: 3.30% APY with no fees; Reserve: 3.75% APY for $20 a month.

Or earn 3.30% APY with no fees.
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 13, 2026.

Key features

• 3.30% APY on the Core tier with no fees or minimums
• 3.75% APY with the $20 a month Public Reserve subscription
• Up to $5M FDIC insurance through partner banks
• Recurring deposits
• Sits beside Public's stocks, bonds and Treasury accounts

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: No fees and no minimums on the Core tier
• Strength: Same app as Public's Treasuries and Bond Account
• Strength: Reserve adds a 4% IRA match for subscribers
• Weakness: The 3.30% Core rate is below Wealthfront's 3.55% base APY
• Weakness: Reserve costs $20 a month for 0.45 points more
• Weakness: Public lists no debit card or checks for this account

Key facts

• Core APY: 3.30%, no fees
• Reserve APY: 3.75% at $20 a month
• FDIC coverage: Up to $5M
• Minimums: None

Where it ranks

Public High-Yield Cash Account is No. 5 in our Best Cash Management Accounts verdict.