Public review
Updated September 28, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Public suits US savers who want easy access to cash, a monthly fee of $0 and a minimum deposit of $0. The headline rate of 3.3% is variable and mid-table across savings accounts, so the case rests on fee-free holding and deposit cover rather than the highest yield in the group.
Key facts
- Best for
- US savers who want a fee-free, easy-access cash account with deposit cover.
- Headline rate
- 3.3%↗
- Rate type
- Variable↗
- Minimum deposit
- $0↗
- Deposit protection
- FDIC up to USD 250,000↗
- Access terms
- Unlimited transfers and withdrawals; access your cash. Whenever.↗
- Monthly fee
- $0↗
- Account kind
- Easy access↗
- Legal entity
- Open to the Public Investing, Inc.↗
- Headquarters
- United States↗
- Founded
- 2019↗
- Support channels
- Email, Help-centre↗
- Pricing model
- No monthly fee
- Official website
- public.com
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 4 sources
Pros and cons
Pros
- A monthly fee of $0 and a no monthly fee model, so the balance costs nothing to hold.
- A minimum deposit of $0, ranking 1 of 370 on the savings list.
- Unlimited transfers and withdrawals on an easy access account, so cash is never tied up.
- Deposit protection of FDIC up to USD 250,000 at a firm listed under FINRA, SEC and SIPC.
Cons
- A headline rate of 3.3% that ranks 214 of 473, so the yield is not the selling point.
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no phone or chat route.
- A variable rate, so the return can drop if the provider cuts it.
Who it suits
- US savers who want an easy access account with a $0 minimum deposit and no monthly charge.
- Anyone who needs to move money in and out without limits or notice.
- Savers who put deposit cover ahead of topping the rate table.
Who should look elsewhere
- Savers chasing the highest quoted rate, since XTB lists 4% and Plazo ES lists 24.19% against Public's 3.3%.
- Anyone who wants a rate fixed for a term, because the Public rate type is variable and can move down.
- Savers who want phone support, since Public runs on email and help centre only.
Rates and terms
Public pays a headline rate of 3.3% on its cash account, and the rate type is variable. A variable rate is set by the provider and can rise or fall, so the figure available today is not the figure guaranteed for the whole time money sits there. Nothing is locked in for a set term.
How Public compares
8.7 vs 8.6
8.7 vs 9.5
8.7 vs 8.0
8.7 vs 8.9
8.7 vs 8.9
8.7 vs 9.1
8.7 vs 9.1
8.7 vs 8.9
8.7 vs 8.7- 8.7 vs 8.0
8.7 vs 9.0
8.7 vs 8.1
8.7 vs 8.7
8.7 vs 8.0
8.7 vs 9.5
8.7 vs 9.4
8.7 vs 9.3
8.7 vs 9.2
8.7 vs 9.0
8.7 vs 8.7
8.7 vs 8.5
8.7 vs 8.5
8.7 vs 8.5
8.7 vs 8.4
8.7 vs 8.3
8.7 vs 9.0
Where Public is available
- Available
- United States
- Licence in United States
- FINRA (127818), checked September 26, 2026
- Licence in United States
- SIPC, checked September 26, 2026
- Licence in United States
- SEC, checked September 26, 2026
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What rate does Public pay on cash?+
The cash account pays a headline rate of 3.3% and the rate type is variable, so the provider can raise or lower it. On the savings comparison it places 214 of 473.
Are there any fees on the account?+
There is no monthly charge: the monthly fee is $0 and the model is no monthly fee. The site median for this fee is €0, so a fee-free balance is normal across these accounts rather than a stand-out.
How much do I need to open the account?+
The minimum deposit is $0, so the account can start small and be topped up later. On the savings ranking that requirement places 1 of 370, among the lowest of the accounts compared.
Is my money protected?+
Public lists deposit protection of FDIC up to USD 250,000 for the cash account. The account sits with Open to the Public Investing, Inc., a provider based in the US, so that stated ceiling is the figure to weigh when deciding how much to hold there.
Who regulates the provider?+
The firm is Open to the Public Investing, Inc.. It appears under FINRA, SEC and SIPC registrations in the US, with FINRA record 127818. Those registrations sit alongside the FDIC up to USD 250,000 protection stated for the cash account.
Can I withdraw my money whenever I want?+
Access is the point here. Transfers and withdrawals are unlimited, so cash can leave as soon as it arrives, and the account kind is easy access. The rate stays variable, which keeps the balance reachable while leaving the return open to movement.
How do I get help if something goes wrong?+
Support runs on email and help centre only, and both listed channels carry the load. There is no phone line or chat in that list, which is the practical gap for a saver who wants a spoken answer quickly. Everything else about the account is straightforward to run.
Who runs Public and how old is it?+
The provider behind the cash account is Open to the Public Investing, Inc., founded in 2019 and based in the US. The account is built for US savers with a $0 minimum balance and FDIC cover.
Sources
- files.brokercheck.finra.org/crs_127818.pdf checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Deposit protection, Licences
- public.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Legal entity, Support channels
“Headquartered in New York. Public is based in New York, with a customer support team here in the US.”
- public.com/about-us checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“In 2019, we launched Public, an investing platform with a mission to give people every opportunity to grow their wealth.”
- public.com/high-yield-cash-account checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Access terms, Account kind, Headline rate, Minimum deposit, Pricing model, Monthly fee, Rate type
“Withdrawing from your high-yield cash account is as easy as making a deposit. There are no fees or limits to how often you can access your cash.”
Compiled from 6 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Term.
Related by the facts
Public
US savers who want a fee-free, easy-access cash account with deposit cover.