American Express vs Ufb Direct
High-Yield Savings Accounts Comparison
Last Updated: September 16, 2025
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Summary of American Express vs. UFB Direct
As of September 16, 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 4.21% APY for its UFB Checking and Savings Bundle account, with a minimum balance of $10,000.
UFB Direct yields $71 more than American Express on a $10,000 balance after one year. American Express pays $350, while UFB Direct pays $421 - an APY advantage for UFB Direct.
In addition, UFB Direct also offers 4.01% APY for the UFB Portfolio Savings account.
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.
- Zero maintenance fees for the High Yield Savings Account.
Potential Drawbacks
- American Express has a BBB rating of F and is not BBB Accredited.
- The High Yield Savings Account does not offer a higher APY for direct deposits.
- American Express has no branches for in-person banking.
UFB Direct
Strengths
- UFB Direct provides a higher APY of 4.21% with conditions met.
- UFB Direct has a BBB rating of A+ and is BBB Accredited.
- The UFB Portfolio Savings account has no minimum deposit or balance requirements.
Potential Drawbacks
- UFB Direct requires a minimum deposit of $5,000 for the Checking and Savings Bundle.
- The higher APY of 4.21% requires direct deposits and a minimum balance of $10,000.
- UFB Direct has no branches for in-person banking.
Summary: American Express offers a High Yield Savings Account with a 3.50% APY and no minimum requirements, but has a poor BBB rating. In contrast, UFB Direct features a higher APY of 4.21% with conditions, a strong BBB rating, but requires a minimum deposit and balance for its best rate. Both banks operate online only with no physical branches.
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 9/16/2025) | 4.01% (as of 9/16/2025) | 4.01% - 4.21% (as of 9/16/2025) | |
| 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 4.21% 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 8 Months)
| American Express | UFB Direct | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | High Yield Savings Account | vs | UFB Checking and Savings Bundle | UFB Portfolio Savings |
| Latest APY | 3.50 % | 4.21 % | 4.01 % | |
| Trend | Sideways | Sideways | Sideways | |
| Slope (bps/mo) | -4.1 | -0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Rate Changes / Mo | 0.38 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Days Since Last Change | 55 | 214 | 236 | |
| High (-8 m) | 3.80 % | 4.21 % | 4.01 % | |
| Low (-8 m) | 3.50 % | 4.21 % | 4.01 % | |
| Draw-down from High | -7.9 % | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | |
| Volatility (CV) | 0.027 | 0.000 | 0.000 | |
APY Insights Glossary
- Latest APY
- Most recent advertised annual-percentage yield.
- Trend
- Direction over the last 8 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 (-8 m)
- Highest APY in the last 237 days.
- Low (-8 m)
- Lowest APY in the last 237 days.
- Draw-down from High
- How far today sits below the 8-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 UFB Direct
All calculations are based on APY.
American Express
APY: 3.50%
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
Effective APY: 3.50% (based on your deposit and contributions)
Total balance: $20,114.1
Earnings: $2,114.1
Bank OverviewUFB Direct
APY: 4.21%
⚠️The higher APY only applies once your balance reaches $10,000.
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $2,541.6 (12.37%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (63.29%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.34%)
Your total balance
$20,541.60
Effective APY: 4.17% (based on your deposit and contributions)
Total balance: $20,541.6
Earnings: $2,541.6
With a $5,000 initial deposit and $13,000 in total contributions over 5 years, American Express's total earnings would be $427.5 lower than UFB Direct's total earnings.
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
More Comparisons
Compare American Express' APY of 3.50% with other banks
Compare UFB Direct's APY of 4.21% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| UFB Direct vs Ally Bank | 3.50% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Bank of America | 0.01% | $100 |
| UFB Direct vs Barclays | 4.10% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs BrioDirect | 4.30% | $5,000 |
| UFB Direct vs Capital One | 3.50% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Chase Bank | 0.01% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Chime | 3.75% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs CIT Bank | 4.00% | $100 |
| UFB Direct vs Discover Bank | 3.50% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Elevault | 4.60% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs EverBank | 4.30% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Fitness Bank | 4.75% | $100 |
| UFB Direct vs FVCbank | 4.35% | $500 |
| UFB Direct vs GO2bank | 4.50% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.65% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Neighbors Bank | 4.60% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Newtek Bank | 4.35% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Peak Bank | 4.35% | $100 |
| UFB Direct vs Pibank | 4.60% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Presidential Bank | 4.50% | $5,000 |
| UFB Direct vs Santander Bank | 0.03% | $25 |
| UFB Direct vs SoFi Bank | 4.50% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Synchrony Bank | 3.80% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs TIMBR | 4.40% | $1,000 |
| UFB Direct vs Varo Bank | 5.00% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Wells Fargo | 2.51% | $25 |
| UFB Direct vs Zynlo Bank | 4.35% | $10 |