Popular Direct: Savings Account & Rates

By Aviel Fahl

|

Updated: 12/6/2025

Mission: Banksparency aims to make Popular Direct's savings accounts transparent and comparable to the market.

Interest rates reported as APY

Savings Overview

Popular Direct Select Savings

4.00% APY
Rate Adjusted
-0.10%
Since 90 days ago
Min: $100 Online Only
Min. Deposit$100
Min. Balance$0.01
Maintenance Fee$0
Rank #36 of 102 tracked.

Market Reality Check

This bank offers rates below the current top tier. The best rates we track are currently above 4.25% APY.

See Top Rates
National Avg: 0.40% (FDIC, 11/17/2025).
Banksparency tracks live rates daily.

Bank Overview

Our Take on Popular Direct

Highlights

  • High APY of 4.00% for savings
  • No maintenance fees for accounts
  • Low minimum deposit of $100
  • Online-only banking for convenience

Considerations

  • No branches available for in-person service
  • Low app ratings on both platforms
  • Direct deposit not available
  • Limited account options compared to competitors
Summary: Popular Direct offers an impressive savings account with a 4.00% APY and no maintenance fees. However, it lacks branch access and has low app ratings. The account requires a minimum deposit of $100 and is only available online. Direct deposit is not supported, which may limit some users. Overall, it's a solid choice for online savers looking for a high APY.

Savings Account: In-Depth View

Savings Account Offered by Popular Direct

Feature
Popular Direct Select Savings
APY
4.00%Verified: 12/6/2025
APY Trend
Rate Adjusted
-0.10%
Since 90 days ago
Min. Deposit
$100
Min. Balance
$0.01
Monthly Fee
$0
Direct Deposit
None
Checking Bundle
No
Branch Access
None
Compounding
Daily
FDIC Insured
Yes
Eligibility
United States
Next Steps-

Calculate Savings for Popular Direct

All calculations are based on APY.
Popular Direct Select Savings4.00% APY
$
$

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$1,568.10(10.1%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $1,000

Projected Balance

$15,568.10

Effective APY
4.00%

The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.

Popular Direct Savings Rates Over Time

Historical APY Insights

Last 12 Months
MetricPopular Direct Select Savings
Latest APY
4.00%
Trend
Sideways
Slope (bps/mo)
-3.5
Rate Changes / Mo
0.76
Days Since Last Change
33
High (-12m)
4.60%
Low (-12m)
4.00%
Draw-down
-13.0%
Volatility (CV)
0.040
How to read these metrics
Trends & Velocity
Trend
The general direction of the rate over the analyzed period. Useful for spotting if a bank is currently aggressive or pulling back.
Slope (bps/mo)
Speed of change. A high positive number means they raise rates quickly. 10 bps = 0.10%.
Rate Changes / Mo
"Twitchiness." High frequency means the rate changes constantly; low frequency means it's stable.
Risk & Range
High/Low
The absolute ceiling and floor of the rate during the 354-day window.
Volatility Score
Lower is better for predictability. It indicates how wildly the rate swings relative to its average.
Days Since Change
If this number is high (e.g., >90), the rate is very sticky. If low, it changed recently.

Why track this? Understanding volatility helps you avoid "bait-and-switch" rates. A steady, rising slope is ideal; high volatility often signals a temporary teaser rate.

Compare with Popular Direct

Feature
Current View
Popular Direct
Empty Slot
ProductPopular Direct Select Savings-
APY
4.00%Verified: 12/6/2025
-
APY Trend
Rate Adjusted
-0.10%
Since 90 days ago
-
Min. Deposit$100-
Monthly Fee$0-
Direct Deposit
No-
Checking Bundle
No-
Branch AccessNone-
Eligibility United States-
Compounding
Daily-
FDIC Insured
Yes-
Next Steps--

Alternatives to Popular Direct

Banks with Higher/Similar Savings APY

For a top list of the highest savings rates, see all HYSA top rates

Zynlo Bank

Tomorrow Savings Account: 4.05% APY

Minimum Deposit: $10

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SoFi Bank

SoFi Savings: 4.30% APY

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Minimum Deposit: $0

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Bask Bank

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Minimum Deposit: $0

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GO2bank

High Yield Savings: 4.50% APY

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Minimum Deposit: $0

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Peak Bank

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Minimum Deposit: $100

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MutualOne Bank

Mo Premium Savings: 4.07% APY

Minimum Deposit: $20,000

Online Savings: 0.40% APY

Minimum Deposit: $5,000

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Elevault

High Yield Savings Account: 4.08% APY

Minimum Deposit: $0

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First Foundation Bank

Online Savings: 4.00% APY

Minimum Deposit: $1,000

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Vio Bank

Online Savings Account: 4.16% APY

Minimum Deposit: $100

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Poppy Bank

Poppy Personal Savings: 0.10% APY

Minimum Deposit: $1,000

Poppy Premier Online Savings: 4.00% APY

Minimum Deposit: $1,000

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Poppy Premier Personal Savings: 0.50% APY

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My Banking Direct

High Yield Savings Account: 4.02% APY

Minimum Deposit: $500

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Sallie Mae Bank

High-Yield Savings Account: 3.90% APY

Minimum Deposit: $0

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