What if your savings account paid you more for walking more? That is the whole idea behind the FitnessBank high yield savings account. Your interest rate goes up or down based on how many steps you average each day.
As of July 2026, the account can pay up to 4.00% APY, but only if you hit an average of 12,500 steps a day. Walk less, and your rate drops fast. Here is a plain look at the rates, the rules, and whether this account actually fits your life.
Key facts at a glance
| Feature | Detail (as of July 2026) |
|---|---|
| Bank | FitnessBank, a division of Affinity Bank |
| Insurance | FDIC-insured up to $250,000 |
| Top savings APY | 4.00% (savings only) at 12,500+ average daily steps |
| Minimum to open | $100 |
| Rate driver | Prior month's average daily steps, tracked in the app |
| Branches | None, online only |
| Monthly fee | None on the savings account with the minimum balance |
Terms and conditions apply, and rates can change daily without notice.
What is FitnessBank?
FitnessBank is an online-only division of Affinity Bank, an FDIC-insured national bank. Your deposits are insured up to the standard $250,000 limit per depositor, so the safety side works like any other insured bank.
It launched in 2019 and calls itself America's Active Lifestyle Bank. There are no physical FitnessBank branches. You open and manage the account through its website and the FitnessBank Step Tracker app.
How the step-based interest rate works
This is the part that makes FitnessBank different from a normal high-yield savings account. Your APY is tied to your average daily steps from the prior month, measured through the app.
You sync a fitness tracker or your phone, and the bank reviews your prior-month step average no later than the second week of the following month. When you first open, the account starts you at the top tier until that first rate adjustment. After that, your walking sets your rate.
Steps only count from walking, running, and cycling logged through the app. If you skip the tracking, the bank cannot credit your activity, and your rate falls to the lowest tier.
FitnessBank savings rates as of July 2026
Here are the published tiers. The middle column is the rate on a standalone Fitness Savings Account. The right column is the higher rate you can earn when you pair savings with a Fitness Checking account.
| Average daily steps | Savings only APY | Savings with Checking APY |
|---|---|---|
| 12,500+ | 4.00% | 4.25% |
| 10,000 to 12,499 | 2.75% | 3.00% |
| 7,500 to 9,999 | 1.00% | 1.00% |
| 5,000 to 7,499 | 0.75% | 0.75% |
| 0 to 4,999 | 0.50% | 0.50% |
The drop is steep. Missing the top tier by a few thousand steps a day can cut your rate by more than a full percentage point. If you are not consistently active, the effective rate you earn may be far below the headline 4.00%.
Fees and minimums
You need $100 to open the account, and the savings account carries no monthly maintenance fee when you keep the minimum balance. Standard bank charges can still apply for things like excess withdrawals or returned items, so read the fee schedule before you fund it.
Interest rates at FitnessBank may change as often as daily without prior notice. Fees can also reduce what you earn, so the amount that lands in your account depends on both your steps and the current rate.
Is FitnessBank still accepting new accounts?
This matters before you get attached to the idea. As of July 2026, the account-opening links on the FitnessBank website point to a page labeled for no new applications. That suggests FitnessBank may have paused new account openings.
Before you plan around this account, confirm directly with FitnessBank that it is open to new customers. If it is not, the alternatives below can cover the same goals of earning yield and building better money habits.
Alternatives worth comparing
If the step requirement feels like a lot of pressure, or new accounts are closed, a few partner options offer strong everyday value without asking you to hit a step goal.
Current Banking offers a mobile-first account with savings features and no monthly maintenance fee, so your rate does not swing based on your activity.
Current Banking
Current Banking
Current is a mobile-first banking app with no monthly fee and no minimum balance. Members can earn up to 4.00% APY with a qualifying direct deposit of $200, receive direct-deposit paychecks up to 2 days early, and overdraft up to $200 fee-free.
Standout feature
4.00% APY on Savings Pods (with a $200+ qualifying direct deposit) plus paycheck up to 2 days early — both included on the standard account for free
Fees
Free
Pros
$0 monthly fee; up to 4.00% APY on Savings Pods with qualifying direct deposit; paycheck up to 2 days early;
Cons
No physical branches
Chime is another app-based option many people use for fee-light checking and automatic savings round-ups, which can help you set money aside without thinking about it. Terms and conditions apply, and APYs and rates vary.
Chime
Chime
- Fee-free banking plus early pay access (up to 2 days early with direct deposit)¹ - Overdraft up to $200 without fees for eligible members¹ - 5% cash back on category of choice (with qualifying direct deposit)¹ - 3.75% APY on your savings¹
Standout feature
No credit check, no interest, no annual fee, and no minimum deposit required.
Fees
$0
Pros
Fee-Free Banking and Get paid up to 2 days early
Cons
App/online-only support, no branches
If part of your goal is building credit while you save, consider a credit-builder account that reports your on-time payments to the credit bureaus, which pairs a savings habit with credit history in one place.
Who FitnessBank is best for
FitnessBank fits an active person who already walks, runs, or cycles well past 12,500 steps most days and wants their savings to reward that. For that person, the top-tier rate is competitive and the fitness angle is a fun bonus.
It is a weaker fit if your daily steps swing a lot or if you would rather not tie your interest rate to a step count. In that case, a flat-rate high-yield account or a fee-light app account may earn you more overall.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many steps do I need for the highest FitnessBank rate?
You need to average at least 12,500 steps per day in the prior month to earn the top tier, which is 4.00% APY on a standalone savings account as of July 2026. Falling below that moves you to a lower tier the following month.
Is FitnessBank FDIC insured?
Yes. FitnessBank is a division of Affinity Bank, and deposits are FDIC-insured up to the standard $250,000 per depositor. FitnessBank and Affinity Bank count as the same entity for calculating your insurance limit.
What happens to my rate if I stop walking?
Your rate is based on your prior month's average daily steps, so a low-activity month moves you to a lower tier the next month. If you log few or no steps, your APY can drop to the lowest published tier, around 0.50%.
Does FitnessBank have physical branches?
No. FitnessBank is an online-only bank with no physical branches. You open and manage your account through its website and the FitnessBank Step Tracker app, and you fund it from a linked external bank account.
