American Express vs. PNC
American Express and PNC both offer 3.30% APY on their high-yield savings accounts. With identical rates, your choice comes down to other factors like mobile app quality, branch access, or customer service reputation.
The Bottom Line
The American Express and PNC savings accounts are very similar. Choose PNC if BBB rating matters to you, you value in-person banking, or you're an Android user.
| Metric | American ExpressHigh Yield Savings Account Feb 21, 2026 | PNCPNC High Yield Savings Feb 21, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.30% | 3.30% |
Est. Earnings | $5,000+$165 $10,000+$330 $25,000+$825 | $5,000+$165 $10,000+$330 $25,000+$825 |
Min Deposit | $0 | $0 |
Snapshot view. Rates subject to change. | ||
Terms | - | Eligibility restricted to select states. |
| Features | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppZelle® SupportedDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppIn-Person AccessZelle® SupportedRate Changes Often |
Market Reality Check
Both of these banks offer rates below the current top tier. The best rates we track are currently above 4.15% APY.
Comparison Analysis
Comparing American Express vs. PNC
Executive Summary
American Express offers a High Yield Savings Account with a competitive APY of 3.30%, and there are no minimum deposit requirements or maintenance fees. This account is online-only, making it easily accessible. In comparison, PNC also features a High Yield Savings product with the same APY of 3.30%, but eligibility is restricted to select states. PNC's Standard Savings account yields a significantly lower APY of 0.03%. Both banks do not require direct deposits, and American Express stands out as the winner based on the provided data.
The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records
* This content is provided for informational purposes only; always verify details with the provider.
Why American Express?
- ✓Available Nationwide
Why PNC?
- ✓Physical branch access (Multiple branches in AL, AZ, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MA, MI, MO, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI)
- ✓Higher rated Android app (4.6 vs 3.6)
Shared Benefits
Non-sponsored link to official site
Non-sponsored link to official site
Top Market Contenders
American Express vs. PNC Savings Calculator
Both accounts earn exactly the same amount.
American Express
High Yield Savings Account
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$330.00(3.2%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,330.00
PNC
PNC High Yield Savings
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$330.00(3.2%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,330.00
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Still banking with Chase, Bank of America, or Wells Fargo?
On a $10,000 balance, you're missing out on at least $329 per year in interest.
Both American Express and PNC dramatically outperform the typical 0.01% APY at traditional big banks.
| Feature | American Express | PNC |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.30% Verified: 2/21/2026 ↘︎ 0.20%90d Change | 3.30% Verified: 2/21/2026 ↘︎ 0.23%90d Change |
| Product Name | High Yield Savings Account | PNC High Yield Savings |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $0 | $0 |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Monthly |
| Branch Access | None | Yes |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online & Branches |
| Physical Branches | None | Multiple branches in AL, AZ, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MA, MI, MO, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI |
| Direct Deposit Req. | None | None |
| Checking Bundle | No | No |
| Mobile Apps | ||
| FDIC Insured | YesVerify FDIC | YesVerify FDIC |
| Zelle® Support | Available Requires Amex Rewards Checking; not available for standalone HYSA. | Available Limit: $2,000/dayCentral to Virtual Wallet suite. |
| BBB Rating | F | A+ |
| Important Notes | - | Eligibility restricted to select states. |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteVerify at American Express Non-sponsored link to official site | Visit SiteVerify at PNC Non-sponsored link to official site |
📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | American Express | PNC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Yield Savings Account | PNC High Yield Savings | Standard Savings | |
Current APY | 3.30% | 3.30% | 0.03% |
Trend | Stable | Stable | Stable |
Velocity (bps/mo) | -3.6 | -6.8 | 0.1 |
Days Since Change | 53 | 66 | 296 |
12-Month High | 3.70% | 3.95% | 0.03% |
12-Month Low | 3.30% | 3.30% | 0.01% |
Adjustments / Mo | 0.34 | 0.34 | 0.08 |
Volatility Score | 0.037 | 0.073 | 0.264 |
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)
Compare Similar High-Yield Accounts
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Comparing against Standard Savings
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Comparing against Standard Savings
High Rates (With Checking Bundle)
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More Comparisons
Compare American Express' APY of 3.30% with other banks
Compare PNC's APY of 3.30% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| PNC vs Ally Bank | 3.20% | $0 |
| PNC vs Axos Bank | 4.21% | $0 |
| PNC vs Bank of America | 0.01% | $100 |
| PNC vs Barclays | 3.85% | $0 |
| PNC vs Capital One | 3.30% | $0 |
| PNC vs Chase Bank | 0.01% | $0 |
| PNC vs Chime | 3.00% | $0 |
| PNC vs CIT Bank | 3.75% | $100 |
| PNC vs Citibank | 3.20% | $0 |
| PNC vs Discover Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| PNC vs EverBank | 3.90% | $0 |
| PNC vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.65% | $0 |
| PNC vs Newtek Bank | 4.20% | $0.01 |
| PNC vs Openbank | 4.09% | $500 |
| PNC vs Pibank | 4.60% | $0 |
| PNC vs SoFi Bank | 4.00% | $0 |
| PNC vs Synchrony Bank | 3.50% | $0 |
| PNC vs Varo Bank | 5.00% | $0 |
| PNC vs Wealthfront | 3.95% | $0 |
| PNC vs Wells Fargo | 0.05% | $25 |