American Express vs. Citizens Access
High-Yield Savings Account Comparison
By Aviel Fahl|Last Updated: November 15, 2025
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Summary of American Express vs. Citizens Access™
Key Metrics at a Glance
| Feature | American Express | Citizens Access™ |
|---|---|---|
| Top Savings APY | 3.50% High Yield Savings Account | 3.35% Citizens Access® Savings |
| Minimum to Open | $0 | $0.01 |
| Minimum Balance for Top APY | $0 | $0.01 |
American Express
Strengths
- American Express offers a higher APY of 3.50% compared to Citizens Access's 3.35%.
- No maintenance fees for the High Yield Savings Account at American Express.
- American Express has a higher App Store rating of 4.9.
Potential Drawbacks
- American Express has an F BBB rating and is not accredited.
- Only online access is available; no branches for American Express.
- American Express's Google Play rating is lower at 3.6.
Citizens Access™
Strengths
- Citizens Access has an A+ BBB rating and is accredited.
- Citizens Access offers a higher Google Play rating of 4.8.
- No maintenance fees for the Citizens Access® Savings account.
Potential Drawbacks
- Citizens Access has a lower APY of 3.35% compared to American Express's 3.50%.
- Only online access is available; no branches for Citizens Access.
- Citizens Access's App Store rating is slightly lower at 4.8.
→ As of November 15, 2025 American Express offers an APY of 3.50% for its High Yield Savings Account, with a minimum balance of $0, compared to Citizens Access™'s 3.35% APY for its Citizens Access® Savings account, with a minimum balance of $0.01.
→ American Express yields $15 more than Citizens Access™ on a $10,000 balance after one year. American Express pays $350, while Citizens Access™ pays $335 - an APY advantage for American Express.
Calculate Savings Growth for American Express vs Citizens Access™
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 OverviewCitizens Access™ - Citizens Access® Savings
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $2,018.8 (10.08%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (64.94%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.98%)
Your total balance
$20,018.80
Total balance: $20,018.8
Earnings: $2,018.8
Bank OverviewWith a $5,000 initial deposit and $13,000 in total contributions over 5 years, American Express's total earnings would be $95.3 higher than Citizens Access™'s total earnings.
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Compare American Express' vs Citizens Access™'s Savings Accounts
| American Express | Citizens Access™ | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | High Yield Savings Account | vs | Citizens Access® Savings |
| APY | 3.50% (as of 11/15/2025) | 3.35% (as of 11/16/2025) | |
| Bundled Account | No | No | |
| FDIC-insured | Yes | Yes | |
| Online Only | Yes | Yes | |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily | |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0.01 | |
| Minimum Balance for APY | $0 | $0.01 | |
| Maintenance Fee | $0 | $0 | |
| Direct Deposit Required | No | No | |
| App Store Rating | 4.9/5 | 4.8/5 | |
| Google Play Rating | 3.6/5 | 4.8/5 | |
| BBB Rating | F | A+ |
Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 10 Months)
| American Express | Citizens Access™ | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | High Yield Savings Account | vs | Citizens Access® Savings |
| Latest APY | 3.50 % | 3.35 % | |
| Trend | Sideways | Sideways | |
| Slope (bps/mo) | -3.2 | -3.6 | |
| Rate Changes / Mo | 0.31 | 0.21 | |
| Days Since Last Change | 116 | 17 | |
| High (-10 m) | 3.80 % | 3.70 % | |
| Low (-10 m) | 3.50 % | 3.35 % | |
| Draw-down from High | -7.9 % | -9.5 % | |
| Volatility (CV) | 0.028 | 0.034 |
APY Insights Glossary
- Latest APY
- Most recent advertised annual-percentage yield.
- Trend
- Direction over the last 10 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 (-10 m)
- Highest APY in the last 292 days.
- Low (-10 m)
- Lowest APY in the last 292 days.
- Draw-down from High
- How far today sits below the 10-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.