American Express vs. Wells Fargo
High-Yield Savings Account Comparison
By Aviel Fahl|Last Updated: November 12, 2025
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Summary of American Express vs. Wells Fargo
Key Metrics at a Glance
| Feature | American Express | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| Top Savings APY | 3.50% High Yield Savings Account | 0.05% Platinum Savings |
| Minimum to Open | $0 | $25 |
| Minimum Balance for Top APY | $0 | $1,000,000 |
| Note | This is a tiered savings account where rates vary based on the balance. The 0.05% APY is available for balances of $1,000,000 or more, and 0.05% APY up to $99,999.99. These APYs require the account is linked to a Wells Fargo Premier checking account. See bank for more tiers and details. |
American Express
Strengths
- American Express offers a competitive APY of 3.50%, unchanged from 30 days ago.
- No minimum deposit or balance requirements for the High Yield Savings Account.
- American Express has a high App Store rating of 4.9.
Potential Drawbacks
- American Express has an F rating from the BBB and is not accredited.
- No physical branches available for American Express customers.
- Google Play rating for American Express is only 3.6.
Wells Fargo
Strengths
- Wells Fargo has branches and ATMs in 36 states and Washington, D.C.
- Wells Fargo's App Store rating is 4.9, and Google Play rating is 4.8.
- Offers multiple savings accounts, including the Platinum Savings with tiered rates.
Potential Drawbacks
- Wells Fargo's Platinum Savings has a very low APY of 0.05%.
- Requires a $25 minimum deposit and $1,000,000 minimum balance for higher APY.
- Maintenance fee of $12 unless a $3,500 minimum daily balance is maintained.
→ As of November 12, 2025 American Express offers an APY of 3.50% for its High Yield Savings Account, with a minimum balance of $0, compared to Wells Fargo's 0.05% APY for its Platinum Savings account, with a minimum balance of $1,000,000.
→ American Express yields $345 more than Wells Fargo on a $10,000 balance after one year. American Express pays $350, while Wells Fargo pays $5 - an APY advantage for American Express.
→ In addition, Wells Fargo also offers 0.01% APY for the Way2Save Savings account.
Calculate Savings Growth for American Express vs Wells Fargo
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 OverviewWells Fargo - Platinum Savings
⚠️The higher APY only applies once your balance reaches $1,000,000.
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $28.6 (0.16%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (72.11%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (27.73%)
Your total balance
$18,028.60
Total balance: $18,028.6
Earnings: $28.6
Bank OverviewWith a $5,000 initial deposit and $13,000 in total contributions over 5 years, American Express's total earnings would be $2,085.5 higher than Wells Fargo's total earnings.
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Compare American Express' vs Wells Fargo's Savings Accounts
| American Express | Wells Fargo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | High Yield Savings Account | vs | Way2Save Savings | Platinum Savings |
| APY | 3.50% (as of 11/12/2025) | 0.01% (as of 11/12/2025) | 0.05% - 0.05% (as of 11/12/2025) | |
| Bundled Account | No | No | Yes | |
| FDIC-insured | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Online Only | Yes | No | No | |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily | Daily | |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 | $25 | |
| Minimum Balance for APY | $0 | $0 | $1,000,000 | |
| Maintenance Fee | $0 | $5. Waived under some circumstances. | $12. Waived with $3,500 minimum daily balance. | |
| Direct Deposit Required | No | No | No | |
| Note | This is a tiered savings account where rates vary based on the balance. The 0.05% APY is available for balances of $1,000,000 or more, and 0.05% APY up to $99,999.99. These APYs require the account is linked to a Wells Fargo Premier checking account. See bank for more tiers and details. | |||
| App Store Rating | 4.9/5 | 4.9/5 | ||
| Google Play Rating | 3.6/5 | 4.8/5 | ||
| BBB Rating | F | D- | ||
Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 4 Months)
| American Express | Wells Fargo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | High Yield Savings Account | vs | Platinum Savings | Way2Save Savings |
| Latest APY | 3.50 % | 0.05 % | 0.01 % | |
| Trend | Sideways | Falling | Sideways | |
| Slope (bps/mo) | -0.9 | -70.3 | 0.0 | |
| Rate Changes / Mo | 0.25 | 0.74 | 0.00 | |
| Days Since Last Change | 113 | 27 | 121 | |
| High (-4 m) | 3.60 % | 2.51 % | 0.01 % | |
| Low (-4 m) | 3.50 % | 0.05 % | 0.01 % | |
| Draw-down from High | -2.8 % | -98.0 % | 0.0 % | |
| Volatility (CV) | 0.007 | 0.600 | 0.000 | |
APY Insights Glossary
- Latest APY
- Most recent advertised annual-percentage yield.
- Trend
- Direction over the last 4 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 (-4 m)
- Highest APY in the last 121 days.
- Low (-4 m)
- Lowest APY in the last 121 days.
- Draw-down from High
- How far today sits below the 4-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.