Axos Bank vs. Sallie Mae Bank
Comparing Axos Bank and Sallie Mae Bank for high-yield savings: Axos Bank's Axos ONE pays 4.21% APY while Sallie Mae Bank's High-Yield Savings Account 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 Sallie Mae Bank annually ($421 vs $390).
Choose Axos Bank if getting the best rate matters most, or mobile app quality matters. Choose Sallie Mae Bank if you want a no-strings-attached account.
Important Considerations
Axos Bank requires a checking account to unlock its top savings rate, while Sallie Mae Bank offers its savings account standalone.
| Metric | Axos BankAxos ONE Feb 6, 2026 | Sallie Mae BankHigh-Yield Savings Account Feb 6, 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 | $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. | - |
| Features | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppChecking BundleDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsDaily CompoundingStable Rate |
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. Sallie Mae Bank
Executive Summary
Axos Bank offers a competitive savings option with its Axos ONE product, providing a higher APY of 4.21% when bundled with a checking account, compared to Sallie Mae Bank's High-Yield Savings Account, which earns 3.90%. Both banks feature online-only accounts with no minimum deposit or maintenance fees. While the Axos ONE requires either a direct deposit of $1,500 or total monthly qualifying deposits of at least $5,000 to achieve the highest APY, Sallie Mae Bank does not impose any such requirements. For those seeking higher returns, Axos Bank's Axos ONE is the clear winner.
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 1.5)
- ✓Higher rated Android app (4.5 vs 1.6)
- ✓Offers 2 different high-yield savings options
Why Sallie Mae Bank?
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. 1.5) and Android app rated 4.5 (vs. 1.6)
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period, Axos Bank's Axos ONE pays $31 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Sallie Mae Bank's High-Yield Savings Account.
*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. Sallie Mae Bank Savings Calculator
You earn $31 more with Axos Bank than Sallie Mae Bank 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
Sallie Mae Bank
High-Yield Savings Account
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 Sallie Mae Bank dramatically outperform the typical 0.01% APY at traditional big banks.
| Feature | Axos Bank | Sallie Mae Bank |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 4.21% Verified: 2/6/2026 ↘︎ 0.30%90d Change | 3.90% Verified: 2/6/2026 Stable (90d) |
| Product Name | Axos ONE | High-Yield Savings Account |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $0 | $0 |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily |
| Branch Access | None | None |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online Only |
| Physical Branches | None | N/A |
| 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 Sallie Mae Bank Non-sponsored link to official site |
📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Axos Bank | Sallie Mae Bank | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Savings | Axos ONE | High Yield Savings | High-Yield Savings Account | |
Current APY | 3.75% | 4.21% | 0.61% | 3.90% |
Trend | Stable | Stable | Stable | Stable |
Velocity (bps/mo) | -4.1 | -4.7 | -0.0 | -0.0 |
Days Since Change | 57 | 6 | 365 | 365 |
12-Month High | 4.00% | 4.86% | 0.61% | 3.90% |
12-Month Low | 3.75% | 4.21% | 0.61% | 3.90% |
Adjustments / Mo | 0.08 | 0.41 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Volatility Score | 0.029 | 0.040 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)
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Compare Axos Bank's APY of 4.21% with other banks
Compare Sallie Mae Bank's APY of 3.90% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Sallie Mae Bank vs Ally Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| Sallie Mae Bank vs American Express | 3.30% | $0 |
| Sallie Mae Bank vs Bank of America | 0.01% | $100 |
| Sallie Mae Bank vs Barclays | 4.00% | $0 |
| Sallie Mae Bank vs Capital One | 3.30% | $0 |
| Sallie Mae Bank vs Chase Bank | 0.01% | $0 |
| Sallie Mae Bank vs Chime | 3.00% | $0 |
| Sallie Mae Bank vs CIT Bank | 3.75% | $100 |
| Sallie Mae Bank vs Citibank | 3.20% | $0 |
| Sallie Mae Bank vs Discover Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| Sallie Mae Bank vs EverBank | 3.90% | $0 |
| Sallie Mae Bank vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.65% | $0 |
| Sallie Mae Bank vs Newtek Bank | 4.20% | $0.01 |
| Sallie Mae Bank vs Openbank | 4.09% | $500 |
| Sallie Mae Bank vs Pibank | 4.60% | $0 |
| Sallie Mae Bank vs SoFi Bank | 4.00% | $0 |
| Sallie Mae Bank vs Synchrony Bank | 3.50% | $0 |
| Sallie Mae Bank vs Varo Bank | 5.00% | $0 |
| Sallie Mae Bank vs Wealthfront | 3.95% | $0 |
| Sallie Mae Bank vs Wells Fargo | 0.05% | $25 |