Axos Bank vs. Valley Direct
Comparing Axos Bank and Valley Direct for high-yield savings: Axos Bank's Axos ONE pays 4.21% APY while Valley Direct's High-Yield Savings Account pays 4.00% APY (including a 12-month 0.60% promo boost).
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 $21 more than Valley Direct annually ($421 vs $400).
Choose Axos Bank if getting the best rate matters most, or you want to avoid a promo rate with a scheduled drop. Choose Valley Direct if you value in-person banking, or you want Zelle for quick transfers.
Important Considerations
The key difference? Valley Direct's 4.00% rate includes a promotional bonus for the first 12 months, after which it reverts to the standard rate (currently 3.40%). Axos Bank's 4.21% rate has no scheduled drop, though all rates are subject to change.
Axos Bank requires a checking account to unlock its top savings rate, while Valley Direct offers its savings account standalone.
| Metric | Axos BankAxos ONE Mar 7, 2026 | Valley DirectHigh-Yield Savings Account Mar 7, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 4.21% | 3.40% - 4.00% |
Est. Earnings | $5,000+$211 $10,000+$421 $25,000+$1,053 | $5,000+$200 $10,000+$400 $25,000+$1,000 |
Min Deposit | $0 | $1,000 |
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. | Promo rate for new customers. 3.40% APY applies to existing customers. |
| Features | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppChecking BundleDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often | FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppIn-Person AccessZelle® SupportedDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often |
Comparison Analysis
Comparing Axos Bank vs. Valley Direct
Executive Summary
Axos Bank's Axos ONE offers the highest APY at 4.21%, available through a savings and checking account bundle, which requires either a direct deposit of $1,500 or total monthly qualifying deposits of at least $5,000. In comparison, Valley Direct provides a High-Yield Savings Account with a competitive APY of 4.00%, but this rate is limited to new customers, while existing customers earn a lower rate of 3.40%. Both accounts have no maintenance fees, but the Axos ONE requires a checking account to achieve its top rate, whereas Valley Direct's account does not require direct deposit or bundling.
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 4.00%) on all balances
- ✓Offers 2 different high-yield savings options
- ✓Available to New & Existing Customers
Why Valley Direct?
- ✓Fast transfers via Zelle®
— Key Feature Differences —
Better Returns at $10,000
Axos BankAxos Bank's Axos ONE earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $421 vs $400/yr).
Better Returns at $25,000
Axos BankAxos Bank's Axos ONE pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $1053 vs $1000/yr).
Best for Simplicity
Valley DirectValley Direct's High-Yield Savings Account offers 4.00% 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.
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period, Axos Bank's Axos ONE pays $21 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Valley Direct's High-Yield Savings Account.
*This comparison accounts for Valley Direct's introductory promotional rate, yet Axos Bank's standard rate still yields a higher 1-year return.
* Secure link to our partner
Non-sponsored link to official site
Top Market Contenders
Axos Bank vs. Valley Direct Savings Calculator
You earn $21 more with Axos Bank than Valley 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
Valley Direct
High-Yield Savings Account
Promo Rate: 4.00% for 12 months, then 3.40%.
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$400.00(3.8%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,400.00
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 $399 per year in interest.
Both Axos Bank and Valley Direct dramatically outperform the typical 0.01% APY at traditional big banks.
| Feature | Axos Bank | Valley Direct |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 4.21% Verified: 3/7/2026 ↘︎ 0.10%90d Change | 4.00% Range: 3.40% - 4.00% Verified: 3/7/2026 ↘︎ 0.10%90d Change |
| Product Name | Axos ONE | High-Yield Savings Account |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1,000 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $0 | $0.01 |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily |
| Branch Access | None | Yes |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online & Branches |
| Physical Branches | None | After opening online, your accounts can be serviced at one of the Valley branch locations in NJ, NY, FL and AL. |
| 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 Allows Zelle directly on HYSA. |
| 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. | Promo rate for new customers. 3.40% APY applies to existing customers. |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteGo to Axos Bank * Secure link to our partner | Visit SiteVerify at Valley Direct Non-sponsored link to official site |
📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Axos Bank | Valley Direct | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Savings | Axos ONE | High Yield Savings | High-Yield Savings Account | |
Current APY | 3.75% | 4.21% | 0.61% | 4.00% |
Trend | Stable | Stable | Stable | Stable |
Velocity (bps/mo) | -4.2 | -4.7 | 0.0 | -3.3 |
Days Since Change | 86 | 35 | 365 | 85 |
12-Month High | 4.00% | 4.86% | 0.61% | 4.40% |
12-Month Low | 3.75% | 4.21% | 0.61% | 4.00% |
Adjustments / Mo | 0.08 | 0.41 | 0.00 | 0.58 |
Volatility Score | 0.031 | 0.040 | 0.000 | 0.032 |
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)
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Compare Axos Bank's APY of 4.21% with other banks
Compare Valley Direct's APY of 4.00% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Valley Direct vs Ally Bank | 3.20% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs American Express | 3.30% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Bank of America | 0.01% | $100 |
| Valley Direct vs Barclays | 3.85% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Capital One | 3.30% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Chase Bank | 0.01% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Chime | 3.00% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs CIT Bank | 3.75% | $100 |
| Valley Direct vs Citibank | 3.20% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Discover Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs EverBank | 3.90% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.65% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Newtek Bank | 4.20% | $0.01 |
| Valley Direct vs Openbank | 4.09% | $500 |
| Valley Direct vs Pibank | 4.60% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs SoFi Bank | 4.00% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Synchrony Bank | 3.50% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Varo Bank | 5.00% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Wealthfront | 4.20% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Wells Fargo | 0.05% | $25 |