Axos Bank vs. Citibank
Comparing Axos Bank and Citibank for high-yield savings: Axos Bank's Axos ONE pays 4.21% APY while Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings pays 3.20% APY.
Note: Axos Bank requires a checking account.
See how they compare on rate stability, mobile app ratings, and more below.
The Bottom Line
Who pays more interest on $10,000? Axos Bank pays $101 more than Citibank annually ($421 vs $320).
Choose Axos Bank if getting the best rate matters most, or BBB rating matters to you. Choose Citibank if you want a no-strings-attached account, or you want Zelle for quick transfers.
Important Considerations
Axos Bank requires a checking account to unlock its top savings rate, while Citibank offers its savings account standalone.
Citibank's Accelerate Savings is only available in select states where Citi has no branch presence. Check eligibility before applying.
| Metric | Axos BankAxos ONE Feb 21, 2026 | CitibankCiti Accelerate Savings Feb 21, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 4.21% | 3.20% |
Est. Earnings | $5,000+$211 $10,000+$421 $25,000+$1,053 | $5,000+$160 $10,000+$320 $25,000+$800 |
Min Deposit | $0 | $0 |
Snapshot view. Rates subject to change. | ||
Terms | The 4.21% APY is available with the Axos ONE savings and checking bundle. The checking account earns 0.51% APY. To qualify, you must either set up a direct deposit of $1,500 and maintain an average daily balance of more than $1,500 in your ONE Checking account, or receive at least $5,000 in total monthly qualifying deposits and maintain an average daily balance of more than $5,000. | Eligibility restricted to select states. |
| Features | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppChecking BundleDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppZelle® SupportedDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often |
Prefer In-Person Banking?
Both of these banks are online-only. If you need physical branch access, check out our list of high-yield accounts with brick-and-mortar locations.
Executive Summary
Axos Bank offers a competitive savings option with its Axos ONE product, providing a notable APY of 4.21% when bundled with a checking account, which requires setting up a direct deposit or maintaining a certain balance. For those seeking simplicity, the Summit Savings account yields 3.75% APY without any direct deposit or bundling requirements. In contrast, Citibank's best offering, the Citi Accelerate Savings account, provides a lower APY of 3.20%, with eligibility restricted to select states. Both banks maintain online-only services, but Axos Bank's higher APY positions it as the more attractive choice for savers.
The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records
* This content is provided for informational purposes only; always verify details with the provider.
Why Axos Bank?
- ✓Earn 0.51% APY on checking account
- ✓Access to 95,000 fee-free ATMs
- ✓Higher potential APY (3.75%-4.21% vs 3.20%) on all balances
- ✓Offers 2 different high-yield savings options
- ✓Available Nationwide
Why Citibank?
- ✓Physical branch access (U.S. branches are concentrated in six metropolitan areas, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Miami.)
- ✓Fast transfers via Zelle® (up to $2,500 a day)
— Key Feature Differences —
Better Returns at $10,000
Axos BankAxos Bank's Axos ONE earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $421 vs $320/yr).
Better Returns at $25,000
Axos BankAxos Bank's Axos ONE pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $1053 vs $800/yr).
Best for Simplicity
Axos BankAxos Bank's Summit Savings offers 3.75% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.
Best for All-in-One Banking
Axos BankAxos Bank's Axos ONE pays a superior APY for customers who also open a checking account.
Best Mobile App Experience
CitibankCitibank offers an iOS app rated 4.9 (vs. 4.7) and Android app rated 4.8 (vs. 4.6)
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period, Axos Bank's Axos ONE pays $101 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings.
*This calculation assumes current rates remain consistent for 1 year and does not include temporary bonuses.
* Secure link to our partner
Non-sponsored link to official site
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Axos Bank vs. Citibank Savings Calculator
You earn $101 more with Axos Bank than Citibank on a $10,000 initial deposit for 1 year*.
*This calculation assumes that APYs remain unchanged for 1 year, and takes into account known promo rate periods, but does not factor in bonuses. You can see how often these banks have changed their rates in the Compare Savings Rates Over Time section below.
Axos Bank
Axos ONE
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$421.00(4.0%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,421.00
Citibank
Citi Accelerate Savings
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$320.00(3.1%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,320.00
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 $319 per year in interest.
Both Axos Bank and Citibank dramatically outperform the typical 0.01% APY at traditional big banks.
| Feature | Axos Bank | Citibank |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 4.21% Verified: 2/21/2026 ↘︎ 0.30%90d Change | 3.20% Verified: 2/21/2026 ↘︎ 0.10%90d Change |
| Product Name | Axos ONE | Citi Accelerate Savings |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $0 | $0.01 |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | $4.50. Waived for average monthly balances > $500 |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily |
| Branch Access | None | None |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online Only |
| Physical Branches | None | U.S. branches are concentrated in six metropolitan areas, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Miami. |
| Direct Deposit Req. | Not required, but is the easiest way to earn the highest APY. | None |
| Checking Bundle | Yes | No |
| Mobile Apps | ||
| FDIC Insured | YesVerify FDIC | YesVerify FDIC |
| Zelle® Support | Not Supported | Available Limit: $2,500/dayTiered limits based on account status (Citigold higher). |
| BBB Rating | A+ | D- |
| Important Notes | The 4.21% APY is available with the Axos ONE savings and checking bundle. The checking account earns 0.51% APY. To qualify, you must either set up a direct deposit of $1,500 and maintain an average daily balance of more than $1,500 in your ONE Checking account, or receive at least $5,000 in total monthly qualifying deposits and maintain an average daily balance of more than $5,000. | Eligibility restricted to select states. |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteGo to Axos Bank * Secure link to our partner | Visit SiteVerify at Citibank Non-sponsored link to official site |
📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Axos Bank | Citibank | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Savings | Axos ONE | High Yield Savings | Citi® Savings Account | Citi Accelerate Savings | |
Current APY | 3.75% | 4.21% | 0.61% | 0.03% | 3.20% |
Trend | Stable | Stable | Stable | Stable | Stable |
Velocity (bps/mo) | -4.2 | -4.8 | 0.0 | -0.0 | -4.7 |
Days Since Change | 72 | 21 | 365 | 365 | 25 |
12-Month High | 4.00% | 4.86% | 0.61% | 0.03% | 3.80% |
12-Month Low | 3.75% | 4.21% | 0.61% | 0.03% | 3.20% |
Adjustments / Mo | 0.08 | 0.41 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.58 |
Volatility Score | 0.031 | 0.040 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.049 |
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)
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