American Express vs Barclays
High-Yield Savings Accounts Comparison
Last Updated: September 16, 2025
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Summary of American Express vs. Barclays
As of September 16, 2025 American Express offers an APY of 3.50% for its High Yield Savings Account, with a minimum balance of $0, compared to Barclays's 4.10% APY for its Tiered Savings account, with a minimum balance of $250,000.
Barclays yields $40 more than American Express on a $10,000 balance after one year. American Express pays $350, while Barclays pays $390 (with an effective APY of 3.9%) - an APY advantage for Barclays.
In addition, Barclays also offers 3.70% APY for the Online Savings account.
American Express
Strengths
- American Express offers a High Yield Savings Account with a competitive APY of 3.50%.
- No minimum deposit or balance requirements for American Express's account.
- American Express has a high App Store rating of 4.9.
Potential Drawbacks
- American Express has an F BBB rating and is not BBB Accredited.
- American Express does not offer branch locations for in-person banking.
- American Express's Google Play rating is lower at 3.7.
Barclays
Strengths
- Barclays provides a higher APY of 4.10% for balances over $250,000.
- Barclays has a strong A+ BBB rating and is BBB Accredited.
- Barclays's Google Play rating is significantly higher at 4.7.
Potential Drawbacks
- Barclays requires a minimum balance of $250,000 to earn the highest APY.
- Barclays's Online Savings account offers a lower APY of 3.70% for smaller balances.
- Barclays has a slightly lower App Store rating of 4.8.
Summary: American Express offers a competitive APY of 3.50% with no minimum balance, but has an F BBB rating. In contrast, Barclays provides a higher APY of 4.10% for large balances and has an A+ BBB rating, though it requires a $250,000 minimum for that rate. Both banks are online-only, but Barclays has a better Google Play rating, while American Express excels in the App Store.
Compare American Express' vs Barclays' Savings Accounts
| American Express | Barclays | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | High Yield Savings Account | vs | Tiered Savings | Online Savings |
| APY | 3.50% (as of 9/16/2025) | 3.90% - 4.10% (as of 9/16/2025) | 3.70% (as of 9/16/2025) | |
| Bundled Account | No | No | No | |
| FDIC-insured | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Online Only | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily | Daily | |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Minimum Balance for APY | $0 | $250,000 | Enough to earn $0.01 in interest | |
| Maintenance Fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Direct Deposit Required | No | No | No | |
| Note | The 4.10% APY is only available for balances over $250,000. For lower balances, the APY is 3.90%. | |||
| App Store Rating | 4.9/5 | 4.8/5 | ||
| Google Play Rating | 3.7/5 | 4.7/5 | ||
| BBB Rating | F | A+ | ||
Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 8 Months)
| American Express | Barclays | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | High Yield Savings Account | vs | Online Savings | Tiered Savings |
| Latest APY | 3.50 % | 3.70 % | 4.10 % | |
| Trend | Sideways | Sideways | Falling | |
| Slope (bps/mo) | -4.1 | -3.7 | -6.2 | |
| Rate Changes / Mo | 0.38 | 0.63 | 0.76 | |
| Days Since Last Change | 56 | 99 | 91 | |
| High (-8 m) | 3.80 % | 4.00 % | 4.50 % | |
| Low (-8 m) | 3.50 % | 3.70 % | 4.10 % | |
| Draw-down from High | -7.9 % | -7.5 % | -8.9 % | |
| Volatility (CV) | 0.027 | 0.024 | 0.035 | |
APY Insights Glossary
- Latest APY
- Most recent advertised annual-percentage yield.
- Trend
- Direction over the last 8 months (regression slope).
- Slope (bps/mo)
- Average monthly change; 10 bps = 0.10 pp.
- Rate Changes / Mo
- Typical number of APY moves per month.
- Days Since Last Change
- Recency of the latest APY adjustment.
- High (-8 m)
- Highest APY in the last 238 days.
- Low (-8 m)
- Lowest APY in the last 238 days.
- Draw-down from High
- How far today sits below the 8-month peak.
- Volatility (CV)
- Coefficient of variation = stdev ÷ mean.
Why Track Savings-Account APYs?
- See how quickly a bank reacts to Fed moves or competition.
- Gauge “twitchiness” - frequent moves can annoy savers.
- Spot if you're buying near a peak (draw-down) or riding a rise.
- Slope (bps/mo) shows speed of change.
- Volatility (CV) scales jumps by average level.
Calculate Savings Growth for American Express vs Barclays
All calculations are based on APY.
American Express
APY: 3.50%
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $2,114.1 (10.51%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (64.63%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.86%)
Your total balance
$20,114.10
Effective APY: 3.50% (based on your deposit and contributions)
Total balance: $20,114.1
Earnings: $2,114.1
Bank OverviewBarclays
APY: 4.10%
⚠️The higher APY only applies once your balance reaches $250,000.
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $2,370.2 (11.64%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (63.82%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.55%)
Your total balance
$20,370.20
Effective APY: 3.90% (based on your deposit and contributions)
Total balance: $20,370.2
Earnings: $2,370.2
Bank OverviewWith a $5,000 initial deposit and $13,000 in total contributions over 5 years, American Express's total earnings would be $256.1 lower than Barclays's total earnings.
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
More Comparisons
Compare American Express' APY of 3.50% with other banks
Compare Barclays' APY of 4.10% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Barclays vs Ally Bank | 3.50% | $0 |
| Barclays vs Axos Bank | 4.46% | $0 |
| Barclays vs Bank of America | 0.01% | $100 |
| Barclays vs BrioDirect | 4.30% | $5,000 |
| Barclays vs Capital One | 3.50% | $0 |
| Barclays vs Chase Bank | 0.01% | $0 |
| Barclays vs Chime | 3.75% | $0 |
| Barclays vs CIT Bank | 4.00% | $100 |
| Barclays vs Discover Bank | 3.50% | $0 |
| Barclays vs Elevault | 4.60% | $0 |
| Barclays vs EverBank | 4.30% | $0 |
| Barclays vs Fitness Bank | 4.75% | $100 |
| Barclays vs FVCbank | 4.35% | $500 |
| Barclays vs GO2bank | 4.50% | $0 |
| Barclays vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.65% | $0 |
| Barclays vs Neighbors Bank | 4.60% | $0 |
| Barclays vs Newtek Bank | 4.35% | $0 |
| Barclays vs Peak Bank | 4.35% | $100 |
| Barclays vs Pibank | 4.60% | $0 |
| Barclays vs Presidential Bank | 4.50% | $5,000 |
| Barclays vs Santander Bank | 0.03% | $25 |
| Barclays vs SoFi Bank | 4.50% | $0 |
| Barclays vs Synchrony Bank | 3.80% | $0 |
| Barclays vs TIMBR | 4.40% | $1,000 |
| Barclays vs UFB Direct | 4.21% | $5000 |
| Barclays vs Varo Bank | 5.00% | $0 |
| Barclays vs Wells Fargo | 2.51% | $25 |
| Barclays vs Zynlo Bank | 4.35% | $10 |