American Express vs Discover Bank
High-Yield Savings Accounts Comparison

Last Updated: July 15, 2025

Summary of American Express vs. Discover Bank

As of July 15, 2025 American Express offers an APY of 3.60% for its High Yield Savings Account account, compared to Discover Bank's 3.50% APY for its Online Savings Account account.

American Express yields $10 more than Discover Bank on a $10,000 balance after one year. American Express pays $360, while Discover Bank pays $350 - an APY advantage for American Express.

American Express

Strengths

  • American Express offers a higher APY of 3.60% compared to Discover Bank's 3.50%.
  • No maintenance fees for American Express's High Yield Savings Account.
  • American Express has a 4.9 App Store rating.

Potential Drawbacks

  • American Express has an F BBB rating and is not BBB Accredited.
  • American Express has a lower Google Play rating of 3.8 compared to Discover's 4.3.
  • No branches available for American Express.

Discover Bank

Strengths

  • Discover Bank has an A+ BBB rating and is BBB Accredited.
  • Discover Bank has a higher Google Play rating of 4.3.
  • No maintenance fees for Discover Bank's Online Savings Account.

Potential Drawbacks

  • Discover Bank's APY of 3.50% is lower than American Express's 3.60%.
  • Discover Bank has no branches available.
  • Discover Bank has a slightly lower App Store rating of 4.9.
Summary: American Express offers a higher APY of 3.60% for its High Yield Savings Account, while Discover Bank provides an A+ BBB rating and a better Google Play rating of 4.3. Both banks have no maintenance fees and no branches, but American Express's lower Google Play rating and F BBB rating may concern some users. Overall, customers may prioritize APY or trustworthiness based on their preferences.

Compare American Express' vs Discover Bank's Savings Accounts

American ExpressDiscover Bank
ProductHigh Yield Savings AccountvsOnline Savings Account
APY
3.60% (as of 7/15/2025)3.50% (as of 7/15/2025)
Bundled Account
NoNo
FDIC-insured
YesYes
Online OnlyYesYes
Compound Frequency
DailyDaily
Minimum Deposit$0$0
Minimum Balance for APY$0$0
Maintenance Fee$0$0
Direct Deposit Required
NoNo
Visit BankHigh Yield Savings AccountOnline Savings Account
App Store Rating4.9/54.9/5
Google Play Rating3.8/54.3/5
BBB RatingFA+

Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 6 Months)

American ExpressDiscover Bank
ProductHigh Yield Savings AccountvsOnline Savings Account
Latest APY3.60 %3.50 %
TrendSidewaysSideways
Slope (bps/mo)-3.9-4.5
Rate Changes / Mo0.340.51
Days Since Last Change6920
High (-6 m)3.80 %3.75 %
Low (-6 m)3.60 %3.50 %
Draw-down from High-5.3 %-6.7 %
Volatility (CV)0.0190.022
APY Insights Glossary
Latest APY
Most recent advertised annual-percentage yield.
Trend
Direction over the last 6 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 (-6 m)
Highest APY in the last 175 days.
Low (-6 m)
Lowest APY in the last 175 days.
Draw-down from High
How far today sits below the 6-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 Discover Bank

All calculations are based on APY.

American Express

APY: 3.60%

Total savings breakdown:

  • Interest earned: $36 (3.47%)
  • Total contributions: $0 (0.00%)
  • Initial deposit: $1,000 (96.53%)

Your total balance

$1,036.00

Effective APY: 3.60% (based on your deposit and contributions)

Total balance: $1,036

Earnings: $36

Bank Details

Discover Bank

APY: 3.50%

Total savings breakdown:

  • Interest earned: $35 (3.38%)
  • Total contributions: $0 (0.00%)
  • Initial deposit: $1,000 (96.62%)

Your total balance

$1,035.00

Effective APY: 3.50% (based on your deposit and contributions)

Total balance: $1,035

Earnings: $35

Bank Details

After 1 year American Express would earn you $1 more than Discover Bank.

More Comparisons

Compare American Express' APY of 3.60% with other banks
Compare Discover Bank's APY of 3.50% with other banks