American Express vs. Ufb Direct
High-Yield Savings Account Comparison
By Aviel Fahl|Last Updated: November 1, 2025
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Summary of American Express vs. UFB Direct
Key Metrics at a Glance
| Feature | American Express | UFB Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Top Savings APY | 3.50% High Yield Savings Account | 3.71% UFB Checking and Savings Bundle |
| Minimum to Open | $0 | $5000 |
| Minimum Balance for Top APY | $0 | $10,000 |
| Note | The regular savings or money market APY may be boosted up to 3.71% by direct deposits, minimum balance of $10,000 and making 10 approved debit card transactions per statement cycle. See bank for full details. |
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 savings account.
- American Express has no maintenance fees associated with its savings account.
Potential Drawbacks
- American Express has an F rating from the BBB and is not accredited.
- American Express's APY has remained unchanged at 3.50% over the last 30 days.
- American Express has no branches for in-person banking.
UFB Direct
Strengths
- UFB Direct offers a higher APY of 3.71% with direct deposit and minimum balance requirements.
- UFB Direct has an A+ BBB rating and is accredited.
- UFB Direct has a higher App Store rating of 4.8 compared to American Express.
Potential Drawbacks
- UFB Direct requires a minimum deposit of $5,000 to open an account.
- UFB Direct's APY decreased from 4.10% to 3.71% over the last 30 days.
- UFB Direct's savings account has a direct deposit requirement for the highest APY.
→ 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 UFB Direct's 3.71% APY for its UFB Checking and Savings Bundle account, with a minimum balance of $10,000.
→ UFB Direct yields $21 more than American Express on a $10,000 balance after one year. American Express pays $350, while UFB Direct pays $371 - an APY advantage for UFB Direct.
→ In addition, UFB Direct also offers 3.51% APY for the UFB Portfolio Savings account.
Calculate Savings Growth for American Express vs UFB Direct
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 OverviewUFB Direct - UFB Checking and Savings Bundle
⚠️The higher APY only applies once your balance reaches $10,000.
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $2,218.7 (10.97%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (64.30%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.73%)
Your total balance
$20,218.70
Total balance: $20,218.7
Earnings: $2,218.7
With a $5,000 initial deposit and $13,000 in total contributions over 5 years, American Express's total earnings would be $104.6 lower than UFB Direct's total earnings.
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Compare American Express' vs UFB Direct's Savings Accounts
| American Express | UFB Direct | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | High Yield Savings Account | vs | UFB Portfolio Savings | UFB Checking and Savings Bundle |
| APY | 3.50% (as of 11/1/2025) | 3.51% (as of 11/1/2025) | 3.51% - 3.71% (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 | $5000 | |
| Minimum Balance for APY | $0 | $0 | $10,000 | |
| Maintenance Fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Direct Deposit Required | No | No | Yes | |
| Note | The regular savings or money market APY may be boosted up to 3.71% by direct deposits, minimum balance of $10,000 and making 10 approved debit card transactions per statement cycle. See bank for full details. | |||
| Sponsored Link | LEARN MORE at UFB Direct, Member FDIC | LEARN MORE at UFB Direct, Member FDIC | ||
| App Store Rating | 4.9/5 | 4.8/5 | ||
| Google Play Rating | 3.7/5 | 4.5/5 | ||
| BBB Rating | F | A+ | ||
Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 9 Months)
| American Express | UFB Direct | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | High Yield Savings Account | vs | UFB Checking and Savings Bundle | UFB Portfolio Savings |
| Latest APY | 3.50 % | 3.71 % | 3.51 % | |
| Trend | Sideways | Sideways | Sideways | |
| Slope (bps/mo) | -3.5 | -2.5 | -2.1 | |
| Rate Changes / Mo | 0.32 | 0.32 | 0.32 | |
| Days Since Last Change | 101 | 2 | 2 | |
| High (-9 m) | 3.80 % | 4.21 % | 4.01 % | |
| Low (-9 m) | 3.50 % | 3.71 % | 3.51 % | |
| Draw-down from High | -7.9 % | -11.9 % | -12.5 % | |
| Volatility (CV) | 0.028 | 0.024 | 0.024 | |
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.