High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

Affirm vs. Sallie Mae Bank

Compare rates, requirements, and features side-by-side to find the best option for you.

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated December 10, 2025

Affirm

Affirm Money Account

3.60%
APY
Dec 10, 2025
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$0
Min. Balance$0
Maintenance Fee$0
Compound FreqDaily
Direct DepositNot required
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured(Cert: 58410)
EligibilityUnited States
Mobile Ratings
iOS:4.9Android:4.8
BBB Rating
A+(BBB Accredited)

Important Note

While Affirm is not a bank, it is FDIC-insured through partner Cross River Bank.

Rate Stability

Rate Adjusted
-0.25%
Since 90 days ago
Read Bank Overview

Sallie Mae Bank

High-Yield Savings Account

3.90%
APY
Dec 10, 2025
FDIC InsuredNo Minimums
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$0
Min. Balance$0
Maintenance Fee$0
Compound FreqDaily
Direct DepositNot required
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured(Cert: 58177)
EligibilityUnited States
Mobile Ratings
iOS:1.5Android:1.6
BBB Rating
A+(BBB Accredited)

Rate Stability

Very StableNo rate changes in last 90 days
Read Bank Overview

Market Reality Check

Both of these banks offer rates below the current top tier. The best rates we track are currently above 4.25% APY.

See Top Rates

Affirm vs. Sallie Mae Bank Savings Calculator

Calculations based on current APY for Affirm Money Account and High-Yield Savings Account
$
$

Sallie Mae Bank earns $192.4 more than Affirm.

Affirm

Affirm Money Account

3.60% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$2,177.80(10.8%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $5,000

Projected Balance

$20,177.80

Effective APY
3.60%
View Details

Sallie Mae Bank

High-Yield Savings Account

3.90% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$2,370.20(11.6%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $5,000

Projected Balance

$20,370.20

Effective APY
3.90%
View Details

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

Comparison Analysis

Comparing Affirm vs. Sallie Mae Bank

Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Why Affirm?

  • ✓Higher rated iOS app (4.9 vs 1.5)
  • ✓Higher rated Android app (4.8 vs 1.6)

Why Sallie Mae Bank?

  • ✓Higher potential APY (3.90% vs 3.60%) on all balances

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
Sallie Mae Bank

Sallie Mae Bank's High-Yield Savings Account earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $390 vs $360/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
Sallie Mae Bank

Sallie Mae Bank's High-Yield Savings Account pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $975 vs $900/yr).

Best for Simplicity
Sallie Mae Bank

Sallie Mae Bank's High-Yield Savings Account offers 3.90% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

Best Mobile App Experience
Affirm

Affirm offers an iOS app rated 4.9 (vs. 1.5) and Android app rated 4.8 (vs. 1.6)

Shared Benefits

Both offer monthly maintenance-free account options Both banks have options with $0 opening deposit Available Nationwide Available to New & Existing Customers
The Bottom Line on APY (Interest Only)

Over a 1-year period, Sallie Mae Bank's High-Yield Savings Account pays $30 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Affirm's Affirm Money Account.

*This calculation assumes current rates remain consistent for 1 year and does not include temporary bonuses.

AffirmSallie Mae Bank
Automated Data Audit

Executive Summary

Sallie Mae Bank offers a High-Yield Savings Account with a competitive APY of 3.90%, making it the top choice between the two banks. This account provides attractive returns without any minimum deposit or balance requirements, and it is online-only. In comparison, Affirm's Money Account yields a lower APY of 3.60%, though it also has no minimum deposit or balance requirements and is FDIC-insured through a partner bank. Both accounts do not require direct deposit. Overall, Sallie Mae Bank stands out for its higher APY and simplicity.

Analysis generated based on current Banksparency database records

* AI-generated content provided for informational purposes only. Accuracy is not guaranteed; always verify details with the provider.

ExploreAffirmExploreSallie Mae Bank

Top Market Contenders

See who beats both Affirm and Sallie Mae Bank.

Compare All High-Yield Savings Accounts
Pibank
Pibank Savings
FDIC InsuredNo Minimums
4.60% APY
+0.70% vs Sallie Mae Bank
Better Rate
Pibank vs AffirmPibank vs Sallie Mae Bank
Axos Bank
Axos ONE
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
4.31% APY
+0.41% vs Sallie Mae Bank
Better Rate
Axos Bank vs AffirmAxos Bank vs Sallie Mae Bank
TIMBR
Premium Savings Account
FDIC InsuredLow Minimums
4.40% APY
+0.50% vs Sallie Mae Bank
Better Rate
TIMBR vs AffirmTIMBR vs Sallie Mae Bank
FeatureAffirmSallie Mae Bank
APY
3.60%
Verified: 12/10/2025
↘︎ 0.25%90d Change
3.90%
Verified: 12/10/2025
Stable (90d)
Product NameAffirm Money AccountHigh-Yield Savings Account
Minimum Deposit$0$0
Min. Balance for APY$0$0
Monthly Fee$0$0
Branch AccessNoneNone
Account Type
Online Only
Online Only
Direct Deposit Req.NoneNone
Checking BundleNoNo
Mobile Apps
iOS4.9
Android4.8
iOS1.5
Android1.6
BBB RatingA+A+
Important NotesWhile Affirm is not a bank, it is FDIC-insured through partner Cross River Bank.-
Next Steps
- View Details
- View Details

📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 11 Months Analysis
MetricAffirmSallie Mae Bank
Affirm Money AccountHigh-Yield Savings Account
Current APY
3.60%3.90%
Trend
 Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-2.7-0.1
Days Since Change
75313
11-Month High
3.85%4.00%
11-Month Low
3.60%3.90%
Adjustments / Mo
0.090.09
Volatility Score
0.0300.004
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)

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.
  • Velocity (bps/mo): Speed of change. A high positive number means they raise rates quickly. 10 bps = 0.10%.
  • Adjustments/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 322-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.

Compare Similar High-Yield Accounts

Compare Affirm vs...

Comparing against Standard Savings

vs Affirm
PibankNo Bundle Req
4.60%
APY
vs Affirm
TIMBRNo Bundle Req
4.40%
APY
vs Affirm
Newtek BankNo Bundle Req
4.35%
APY

Compare Sallie Mae Bank vs...

Comparing against Standard Savings

vs Sallie Mae Bank
PibankNo Bundle Req
4.60%
APY
vs Sallie Mae Bank
TIMBRNo Bundle Req
4.40%
APY
vs Sallie Mae Bank
Newtek BankNo Bundle Req
4.35%
APY

Higher Rates (With Checking)

Looking for something different? Check out these top-rated alternatives.

Checking Bundle
Axos Bank View Details
4.31%
APY
Checking Bundle
SoFi Bank View Details
4.30%
APY
Checking Bundle
Presidential Bank View Details
4.00%
APY

More Comparisons

Compare Affirm's APY of 3.60% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Affirm vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Affirm vs American Express3.40%$0
Affirm vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Affirm vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Affirm vs Barclays4.00%$0
Affirm vs Bask Bank3.90%$0
Affirm vs Betterment3.50%$10
Affirm vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Affirm vs Bread Savings4.10%$100
Affirm vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
Affirm vs Capital One3.40%$0
Affirm vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Affirm vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Affirm vs Chime3.50%$0
Affirm vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Affirm vs Citibank3.30%$0
Affirm vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Affirm vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Affirm vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Affirm vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.75%$0
Affirm vs Elevault4.08%$0
Affirm vs EverBank4.05%$0
Affirm vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Affirm vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Affirm vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Affirm vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Affirm vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Affirm vs Ivy Bank4.25%$2,500
Affirm vs LendingClub4.20%$0
Affirm vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Affirm vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Affirm vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Affirm vs Openbank4.20%$500
Affirm vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
Affirm vs Pibank4.60%$0
Affirm vs PNC3.53%$0
Affirm vs Presidential Bank4.00%$5,000
Affirm vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
Affirm vs Salem Five Direct3.71%$10
Affirm vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Affirm vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
Affirm vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Affirm vs TD Bank2.75%$0
Affirm vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Affirm vs UFB Direct3.71%$5000
Affirm vs Upgrade3.05%$0
Affirm vs Valley Direct4.10%$1,000
Affirm vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Affirm vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
Affirm vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
Affirm vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Affirm vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10
Compare Sallie Mae Bank's APY of 3.90% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Sallie Mae Bank vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs American Express3.40%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs Barclays4.00%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Bask Bank3.90%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Betterment3.50%$10
Sallie Mae Bank vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Bread Savings4.10%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
Sallie Mae Bank vs Capital One3.40%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Chime3.50%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs Citibank3.30%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Sallie Mae Bank vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Sallie Mae Bank vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.75%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Elevault4.08%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs EverBank4.05%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Sallie Mae Bank vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Sallie Mae Bank vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Ivy Bank4.25%$2,500
Sallie Mae Bank vs LendingClub4.20%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Sallie Mae Bank vs Openbank4.20%$500
Sallie Mae Bank vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs Pibank4.60%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs PNC3.53%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Presidential Bank4.00%$5,000
Sallie Mae Bank vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs Salem Five Direct3.71%$10
Sallie Mae Bank vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Sallie Mae Bank vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs TD Bank2.75%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Sallie Mae Bank vs UFB Direct3.71%$5000
Sallie Mae Bank vs Upgrade3.05%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Valley Direct4.10%$1,000
Sallie Mae Bank vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Sallie Mae Bank vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10