American Express vs. Barclays
High-Yield Savings Account Comparison
By Aviel Fahl|Last Updated: November 1, 2025
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Summary of American Express vs. Barclays
Key Metrics at a Glance
| Feature | American Express | Barclays |
|---|---|---|
| Top Savings APY | 3.50% High Yield Savings Account | 4.10% Tiered Savings |
| Minimum to Open | $0 | $0 |
| Minimum Balance for Top APY | $0 | $250,000 |
| Note | The 4.10% APY is only available for balances over $250,000. For lower balances, the APY is 3.90%. |
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 the High Yield Savings Account.
- No maintenance fees for the High Yield Savings Account.
Potential Drawbacks
- American Express has a BBB rating of F and is not BBB accredited.
- American Express has no branches for in-person service.
- The App Store rating is lower at 4.9 compared to Barclays.
Barclays
Strengths
- Barclays offers a higher APY of 4.10% for Tiered Savings with balances over $250,000.
- Barclays has a strong BBB rating of A+ and is BBB accredited.
- Barclays has a higher Google Play rating of 4.7.
Potential Drawbacks
- Barclays requires a minimum balance of $250,000 to achieve the highest APY.
- The Online Savings account has a lower APY of 3.70% compared to the Tiered Savings account.
- Barclays also has no branches for in-person service.
→ As of November 1, 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.
Calculate Savings Growth for American Express vs Barclays
American Express - High Yield Savings Account
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
Total balance: $20,114.1
Earnings: $2,114.1
Bank OverviewBarclays - Tiered Savings
⚠️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
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.
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 11/1/2025) | 3.90% - 4.10% (as of 11/1/2025) | 3.70% (as of 11/1/2025) | |
| 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 9 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 | Sideways | |
| Slope (bps/mo) | -3.5 | -2.9 | -4.9 | |
| Rate Changes / Mo | 0.32 | 0.53 | 0.64 | |
| Days Since Last Change | 101 | 144 | 136 | |
| High (-9 m) | 3.80 % | 4.00 % | 4.50 % | |
| Low (-9 m) | 3.50 % | 3.70 % | 4.10 % | |
| Draw-down from High | -7.9 % | -7.5 % | -8.9 % | |
| Volatility (CV) | 0.028 | 0.023 | 0.035 | |
APY Insights Glossary
- Latest APY
- Most recent advertised annual-percentage yield.
- Trend
- Direction over the last 9 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 (-9 m)
- Highest APY in the last 283 days.
- Low (-9 m)
- Lowest APY in the last 283 days.
- Draw-down from High
- How far today sits below the 9-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.