Axos Bank vs. Popular Direct
Comparing Axos Bank and Popular Direct for high-yield savings: Axos Bank's Axos ONE pays 4.21% APY while Popular Direct's Popular Direct Select Savings pays 3.90% 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 $31 more than Popular Direct annually ($421 vs $390).
Choose Axos Bank if getting the best rate matters most, or mobile app quality matters. Choose Popular Direct if you want a no-strings-attached account.
Important Considerations
Axos Bank requires a checking account to unlock its top savings rate, while Popular Direct offers its savings account standalone.
| Metric | Axos BankAxos ONE Feb 21, 2026 | Popular DirectPopular Direct Select Savings Feb 21, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 4.21% | 3.90% |
Est. Earnings | $5,000+$211 $10,000+$421 $25,000+$1,053 | $5,000+$195 $10,000+$390 $25,000+$975 |
Min Deposit | $0 | $100 |
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. | - |
| Features | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppChecking BundleDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often | FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsDaily 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.
Comparison Analysis
Comparing Axos Bank vs. Popular Direct
Executive Summary
Axos Bank offers a competitive savings option with its Axos ONE product, which provides an APY of 4.21% when bundled with a checking account, requiring either a direct deposit of $1,500 or monthly qualifying deposits of at least $5,000. In contrast, Popular Direct's Select Savings account offers a slightly lower APY of 3.90%, with a minimum deposit requirement of $100. Both banks are online-only and do not charge maintenance fees, making them accessible for savers looking to maximize their returns.
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 3.90%) on all balances
- ✓Higher rated iOS app (4.7 vs 1.3)
- ✓Higher rated Android app (4.6 vs 1.3)
- ✓Offers 2 different high-yield savings options
Why Popular Direct?
No distinct advantages found vs Axos Bank.
— Key Feature Differences —
Better Returns at $10,000
Axos BankAxos Bank's Axos ONE earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $421 vs $390/yr).
Better Returns at $25,000
Axos BankAxos Bank's Axos ONE pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $1053 vs $975/yr).
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
Axos BankAxos Bank offers an iOS app rated 4.7 (vs. 1.3) and Android app rated 4.6 (vs. 1.3)
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period, Axos Bank's Axos ONE pays $31 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Popular Direct's Popular Direct Select 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
Top Market Contenders
Axos Bank vs. Popular Direct Savings Calculator
You earn $31 more with Axos Bank than Popular Direct 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
Popular Direct
Popular Direct Select Savings
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$390.00(3.8%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,390.00
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 $389 per year in interest.
Both Axos Bank and Popular Direct dramatically outperform the typical 0.01% APY at traditional big banks.
| Feature | Axos Bank | Popular Direct |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 4.21% Verified: 2/21/2026 ↘︎ 0.30%90d Change | 3.90% Verified: 2/21/2026 ↘︎ 0.10%90d Change |
| Product Name | Axos ONE | Popular Direct Select Savings |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $0 | $0.01 |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily |
| Branch Access | None | None |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online Only |
| Physical Branches | None | None. You cannot make use of Popular Bank's branches. |
| 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 | Not Supported |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ |
| 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. | - |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteGo to Axos Bank * Secure link to our partner | Visit SiteVerify at Popular Direct Non-sponsored link to official site |
📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Axos Bank | Popular Direct | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Savings | Axos ONE | High Yield Savings | Popular Direct Select Savings | |
Current APY | 3.75% | 4.21% | 0.61% | 3.90% |
Trend | Stable | Stable | Stable | Stable |
Velocity (bps/mo) | -4.2 | -4.8 | 0.0 | -1.9 |
Days Since Change | 72 | 21 | 365 | 68 |
12-Month High | 4.00% | 4.86% | 0.61% | 4.30% |
12-Month Low | 3.75% | 4.21% | 0.61% | 3.90% |
Adjustments / Mo | 0.08 | 0.41 | 0.00 | 0.58 |
Volatility Score | 0.031 | 0.040 | 0.000 | 0.021 |
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)
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Compare Axos Bank's APY of 4.21% with other banks
Compare Popular Direct's APY of 3.90% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Popular Direct vs Ally Bank | 3.20% | $0 |
| Popular Direct vs American Express | 3.30% | $0 |
| Popular Direct vs Bank of America | 0.01% | $100 |
| Popular Direct vs Barclays | 3.85% | $0 |
| Popular Direct vs Capital One | 3.30% | $0 |
| Popular Direct vs Chase Bank | 0.01% | $0 |
| Popular Direct vs Chime | 3.00% | $0 |
| Popular Direct vs CIT Bank | 3.75% | $100 |
| Popular Direct vs Citibank | 3.20% | $0 |
| Popular Direct vs Discover Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| Popular Direct vs EverBank | 3.90% | $0 |
| Popular Direct vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.65% | $0 |
| Popular Direct vs Newtek Bank | 4.20% | $0.01 |
| Popular Direct vs Openbank | 4.09% | $500 |
| Popular Direct vs Pibank | 4.60% | $0 |
| Popular Direct vs SoFi Bank | 4.00% | $0 |
| Popular Direct vs Synchrony Bank | 3.50% | $0 |
| Popular Direct vs Varo Bank | 5.00% | $0 |
| Popular Direct vs Wealthfront | 3.95% | $0 |
| Popular Direct vs Wells Fargo | 0.05% | $25 |