High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

Bank of America vs. Sallie Mae Bank

Compare rates, requirements, and features side-by-side to find the best option for you.

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated December 10, 2025

Bank of America

Advantage Savings

0.01%
APY
Dec 10, 2025
FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppIn-Person Access
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$100
Min. Balance$0
Maintenance Fee$8
Compound FreqMonthly
Direct DepositNot required
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured(Cert: 3510)
EligibilityUnited States
Mobile Ratings
BBB Rating

Important Note

APY may vary by market. The monthly fee may be waived under some circumstances, such as if you maintain a minimum balance of $500, or are below the age of 25, etc.

Rate Stability

Very StableNo rate changes in last 90 days

Sallie Mae Bank

High-Yield Savings Account

3.90%
APY
Dec 10, 2025
FDIC InsuredNo Minimums
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$0
Min. Balance$0
Maintenance Fee$0
Compound FreqDaily
Direct DepositNot required
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured(Cert: 58177)
EligibilityUnited States
Mobile Ratings
BBB Rating

Rate Stability

Very StableNo rate changes in last 90 days

Market Reality Check

Both of these banks offer rates below the current top tier. The best rates we track are currently above 4.25% APY.

See Top Rates

Bank of America vs. Sallie Mae Bank Savings Calculator

Calculations based on current APY for Advantage Savings and High-Yield Savings Account
$
$

Sallie Mae Bank earns $2,364.5 more than Bank of America.

Bank of America

Advantage Savings

0.01% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$5.70(0.0%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $5,000

Projected Balance

$18,005.70

Effective APY
0.01%

Sallie Mae Bank

High-Yield Savings Account

3.90% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$2,370.20(11.6%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $5,000

Projected Balance

$20,370.20

Effective APY
3.90%

The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.

Comparison Analysis

Comparing Bank of America vs. Sallie Mae Bank

Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Why Bank of America?

  • Higher rated iOS app (4.8 vs 1.5)
  • Higher rated Android app (4.6 vs 1.6)

Why Sallie Mae Bank?

  • Higher potential APY (3.90% vs 0.01%) on all balances
  • No checking account or direct deposit required

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
Sallie Mae Bank

Sallie Mae Bank's High-Yield Savings Account earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $390 vs $1/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
Sallie Mae Bank

Sallie Mae Bank's High-Yield Savings Account pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $975 vs $3/yr).

Best for Simplicity
Sallie Mae Bank

Sallie Mae Bank's High-Yield Savings Account offers 3.90% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

Best Mobile App Experience
Bank of America

Bank of America offers an iOS app rated 4.8 (vs. 1.5) and Android app rated 4.6 (vs. 1.6)

Shared Benefits

Available Nationwide Available to New & Existing Customers
The Bottom Line on APY (Interest Only)

Over a 1-year period, Sallie Mae Bank's High-Yield Savings Account pays $389 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Bank of America's Advantage Savings.

*This calculation assumes current rates remain consistent for 1 year and does not include temporary bonuses.

Bank of AmericaSallie Mae Bank
Automated Data Audit

Executive Summary

Sallie Mae Bank offers a High-Yield Savings Account with an impressive APY of 3.90%, significantly higher than Bank of America's Advantage Savings, which provides a mere 0.01% APY. Sallie Mae's account has no minimum deposit or balance requirements, and there are no maintenance fees, making it a straightforward option for savers. In contrast, Bank of America requires a minimum deposit of $100 and has an $8 monthly maintenance fee, though this fee can be waived under certain conditions. Additionally, Sallie Mae's account is online-only, while Bank of America provides access to physical branches.

Analysis generated based on current Banksparency database records

* AI-generated content provided for informational purposes only. Accuracy is not guaranteed; always verify details with the provider.

Top Market Contenders

See who beats both Bank of America and Sallie Mae Bank.

Compare All High-Yield Savings Accounts
Pibank
Pibank Savings
FDIC InsuredNo Minimums
4.60% APY
+0.70% vs Sallie Mae Bank
Better Rate
Axos Bank
Axos ONE
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
4.31% APY
+0.41% vs Sallie Mae Bank
Better Rate
TIMBR
Premium Savings Account
FDIC InsuredLow Minimums
4.40% APY
+0.50% vs Sallie Mae Bank
Better Rate
FeatureBank of AmericaSallie Mae Bank
APY
0.01%
Verified: 12/10/2025
Stable (90d)
3.90%
Verified: 12/10/2025
Stable (90d)
Product NameAdvantage SavingsHigh-Yield Savings Account
Minimum Deposit$100$0
Min. Balance for APYN/A$0
Monthly Fee$8$0
Branch AccessYesNone
Account Type
Online & Branches
Online Only
Direct Deposit Req.NoneNone
Checking BundleNoNo
Mobile Apps
iOS4.8
Android4.6
iOS1.5
Android1.6
BBB RatingA+A+
Important NotesAPY may vary by market. The monthly fee may be waived under some circumstances, such as if you maintain a minimum balance of $500, or are below the age of 25, etc.-
Next Steps

📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 10 Months Analysis
MetricBank of AmericaSallie Mae Bank
Advantage SavingsHigh-Yield Savings Account
Current APY
0.01%3.90%
Trend
Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-0.0-0.0
Days Since Change
315313
10-Month High
0.01%4.00%
10-Month Low
0.01%3.90%
Adjustments / Mo
0.000.09
Volatility Score
0.0000.002
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)

Trends & Velocity

  • Trend: The general direction of the rate over the analyzed period. Useful for spotting if a bank is currently aggressive or pulling back.
  • Velocity (bps/mo): Speed of change. A high positive number means they raise rates quickly. 10 bps = 0.10%.
  • Adjustments/Mo: "Twitchiness." High frequency means the rate changes constantly; low frequency means it's stable.

Risk & Range

  • High/Low: The absolute ceiling and floor of the rate during the 316-day window.
  • Volatility Score: Lower is better for predictability. It indicates how wildly the rate swings relative to its average.
  • Days Since Change: If this number is high (e.g., >90), the rate is very sticky. If low, it changed recently.

More Comparisons

Compare Bank of America's APY of 0.01% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Bank of America vs Affirm3.60%$0
Bank of America vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Bank of America vs American Express3.40%$0
Bank of America vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Bank of America vs Barclays4.00%$0
Bank of America vs Bask Bank3.90%$0
Bank of America vs Betterment3.50%$10
Bank of America vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Bank of America vs Bread Savings4.10%$100
Bank of America vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
Bank of America vs Capital One3.40%$0
Bank of America vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Bank of America vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Bank of America vs Chime3.50%$0
Bank of America vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Bank of America vs Citibank3.30%$0
Bank of America vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Bank of America vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Bank of America vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Bank of America vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.75%$0
Bank of America vs Elevault4.08%$0
Bank of America vs EverBank4.05%$0
Bank of America vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Bank of America vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Bank of America vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Bank of America vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Bank of America vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Bank of America vs Ivy Bank4.25%$2,500
Bank of America vs LendingClub4.20%$0
Bank of America vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Bank of America vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Bank of America vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Bank of America vs Openbank4.20%$500
Bank of America vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
Bank of America vs Pibank4.60%$0
Bank of America vs PNC3.53%$0
Bank of America vs Presidential Bank4.00%$5,000
Bank of America vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
Bank of America vs Salem Five Direct3.71%$10
Bank of America vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Bank of America vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
Bank of America vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Bank of America vs TD Bank2.75%$0
Bank of America vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Bank of America vs UFB Direct3.71%$5000
Bank of America vs Upgrade3.05%$0
Bank of America vs Valley Direct4.10%$1,000
Bank of America vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Bank of America vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
Bank of America vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
Bank of America vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Bank of America vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10
Compare Sallie Mae Bank's APY of 3.90% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Sallie Mae Bank vs Affirm3.60%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs American Express3.40%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Barclays4.00%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Bask Bank3.90%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Betterment3.50%$10
Sallie Mae Bank vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Bread Savings4.10%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
Sallie Mae Bank vs Capital One3.40%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Chime3.50%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs Citibank3.30%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Sallie Mae Bank vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Sallie Mae Bank vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.75%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Elevault4.08%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs EverBank4.05%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Sallie Mae Bank vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Sallie Mae Bank vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Ivy Bank4.25%$2,500
Sallie Mae Bank vs LendingClub4.20%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Sallie Mae Bank vs Openbank4.20%$500
Sallie Mae Bank vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs Pibank4.60%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs PNC3.53%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Presidential Bank4.00%$5,000
Sallie Mae Bank vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs Salem Five Direct3.71%$10
Sallie Mae Bank vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Sallie Mae Bank vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs TD Bank2.75%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Sallie Mae Bank vs UFB Direct3.71%$5000
Sallie Mae Bank vs Upgrade3.05%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Valley Direct4.10%$1,000
Sallie Mae Bank vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Sallie Mae Bank vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10