Bask Bank's Mileage Savings is a niche product that beats Marcus only if you reliably redeem AAdvantage miles at 1.5+ cents per mile after tax. For most savers, Marcus at 3.65% cash is the simpler and higher-yielding choice. For frequent international premium cabin travelers who specifically value AAdvantage miles, Bask can be the better option — but the constraint is that the "rate" is locked into one airline's currency that can be devalued at any time.
Today's top HYSA rate: —. See the live HYSA leaderboard.
- 1.Bask Bank is a division of Texas Capital Bank, FDIC-insured
- 2.Bask Mileage Savings: 2.5 AAdvantage miles per dollar per year, no balance minimum
- 3.Bask Interest Savings (separate product): 4.45% APY cash
- 4.Marcus by Goldman Sachs: 3.65% APY, FDIC-insured, no minimum
- 5.AAdvantage miles earned through Bask are taxable as income (1099-MISC)
- 6.Miles credit to AAdvantage account monthly based on average daily balance
- 7.No fees on either Bask account
How they actually compare
| Feature | Bask Mileage | Bask Interest | Marcus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings type | AAdvantage miles | Cash interest | Cash interest |
| Rate | 2.5 miles/$/year | 4.45% APY | 3.65% APY |
| FDIC | Yes (via Texas Capital) | Yes (via Texas Capital) | Yes (Goldman Sachs Bank USA) |
| Minimum | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| External transfers | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tax treatment | Taxable (1099-MISC) | Taxable (1099-INT) | Taxable (1099-INT) |
| Best for | AA frequent flyers | Cash-yield maximizers | Default HYSA seekers |
What Bask Mileage Savings actually is
Bask Mileage Savings is the only HYSA product in the U.S. that pays in airline miles instead of cash interest. The mechanic: deposit money, earn 2.5 AAdvantage miles per dollar per year based on average daily balance, see miles credit to your AAdvantage account monthly.
For someone with $20,000 in the account for a full year, that is 50,000 AAdvantage miles annually. The same $20,000 in Marcus at 3.65% earns $730 in cash interest annually.
The Bask miles bet hinges on what you do with 50,000 AAdvantage miles:
- Domestic economy round-trip: 12,500-25,000 miles. Cash value ~$200-400. Cents per mile: 1.0-1.6.
- Domestic business round-trip: 50,000-75,000 miles. Cash value ~$700-1,500. Cents per mile: 1.4-2.0.
- International economy (TATL/TPAC): 30,000-45,000 miles. Cash value ~$600-1,200. Cents per mile: 1.5-2.7.
- International business (TATL/TPAC): 57,500-100,000 miles. Cash value ~$3,000-7,000. Cents per mile: 3.0-7.0.
At 1.5 cents per mile, 50,000 miles is worth $750, slightly better than Marcus's $730 cash. Above that, Bask wins. Below 1.46 cents per mile (after tax), Marcus wins.
The tax wrinkle that matters
Miles earned via Bask are reported on a 1099-MISC. The IRS values them at roughly 1 cent per mile for tax purposes — so 50,000 miles is $500 of reportable income. At a 24% marginal federal rate plus state, that is ~$140-160 in taxes owed on the miles.
Marcus's $730 in interest is also taxable as ordinary income, so the comparison is roughly apples-to-apples on the tax side. But there is a subtle point: Bask's tax bill arrives even if you do not redeem the miles. You owe the tax in the year you earned them, regardless of when (or if) you use them. If your miles balance sits unused for years or gets devalued, you have prepaid taxes on a depreciating asset.
When Bask is the right answer
You are the right Bask customer if all of the following are true:
- You fly American Airlines or a oneworld partner regularly enough to use the miles
- You redeem AAdvantage miles primarily for premium cabin international awards
- You have at least $5,000-10,000 you can leave in savings for a full year
- You are comfortable with the airline-currency risk (AA can change the award chart)
Frequent flyers who already have a stash of AAdvantage miles and a planned international trip benefit most. The mileage savings effectively lets you "earn" award currency on cash that would otherwise sit in any HYSA, with the marginal cost being whatever yield Marcus would have paid.
When Marcus is the right answer
You are the right Marcus customer (versus Bask Mileage) if any of the following are true:
- You do not fly American or oneworld often
- You redeem miles for domestic economy travel (poor value per mile)
- You want optionality — cash interest can be used for anything
- You do not want to track award devaluation risk
For 95% of savers, Marcus is the right choice. The Bask Mileage product is a specialty tool, not a default.
Bask Interest Savings: the easier comparison
Bask Bank also offers a regular cash HYSA — Bask Interest Savings — currently at 4.45% APY, which is meaningfully above Marcus's 3.65%. Same FDIC coverage (via Texas Capital Bank), same $0 minimum, same general feature set.
If you are comparing apples to apples on cash interest, Bask Interest Savings beats Marcus by ~80 basis points. The only reasons to still pick Marcus:
- You already have a Marcus account and value the relationship for Apple Card integration (Goldman Sachs is the issuer)
- You prefer the larger institution (Goldman vs Texas Capital)
- You expect rates to converge and value the brand familiarity
For pure rate-chasing on cash, Bask Interest Savings is the move. For miles-chasing on cash, Bask Mileage Savings is the move (with caveats). For default-HYSA simplicity, Marcus is still fine.
Award chart devaluations are real and irreversible. Every major airline has devalued its award chart over the last 10 years — AAdvantage included. If you bank 50,000 miles at Bask expecting to redeem them at 2 cents per mile, and AA raises business class redemption costs by 25%, your effective yield drops correspondingly. Cash from Marcus does not have this risk. The "lock-in" to a single airline's currency is the single biggest reason most savers should not use Bask Mileage Savings as a long-term home for cash. If you use it, redeem the miles regularly — do not accumulate large balances.
Live HYSA rates
Who should pick which
Pick Bask Mileage Savings if:
- You fly AA / oneworld 4+ times per year
- You redeem miles for premium cabin international travel
- You have $10K+ in savings willing to commit for a year+
Pick Bask Interest Savings if:
- You want the highest pure cash APY among major HYSAs
- You are comfortable with a less-well-known bank brand
- You do not value the AAdvantage angle
Pick Marcus if:
- You want a default, brand-name HYSA without thinking about it
- You do not need to chase the highest rate
- You value the Goldman Sachs / Apple Card ecosystem
What to Do Now
- ✦Bask Mileage pays in AAdvantage miles, not cash — 2.5 miles per dollar per year
- ✦Bask Interest is a separate product paying 4.45% APY cash, beating Marcus's 3.65%
- ✦Miles from Bask are taxable as 1099-MISC income at ~1 cent per mile valuation
- ✦Bask Mileage wins only if you redeem AAdvantage miles above ~1.46 cents per mile post-tax
- ✦Award chart devaluation risk is the structural weakness of any miles-based savings product
Related guides
Rates verified May 13, 2026. Bask Mileage Savings earnings rate is 2.5 AAdvantage miles per dollar saved annually based on average daily balance. Bask Interest Savings APY of 4.45% is variable and may change. Marcus APY of 3.65% is variable. Miles earned via Bask are reported on IRS Form 1099-MISC and are taxable. American Airlines AAdvantage program terms, award charts, and partners are subject to change. SwitchWize is not affiliated with American Airlines.
Some links on SwitchWize may be affiliate links. We may earn a commission when you open an account through us. This does not affect our editorial coverage.
Frequently asked questions
How does Bask Bank's Mileage Savings actually work?+
Is Bask Bank an actual bank?+
Are the AAdvantage miles I earn through Bask taxable?+
What is the breakeven point between Bask miles and Marcus cash?+
Ranked by composite score: rate + trust + ease
Was this guide helpful?