High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

Bank of America vs. Varo Bank

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

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated December 17, 2025

Bank of America

Advantage Savings

0.01%
APY
Dec 17, 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

Varo Bank

High-Yield Savings Account

Up to
5.00%
APY
Dec 16, 2025
FDIC InsuredDirect Deposit ReqChecking BundleNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
Range: 2.50% 5.00%
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$0
Min. Balance$0.01
Maintenance Fee$0
Compound FreqDaily
Direct DepositRequired (Min. $1,000/month)
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured(Cert: 59190)
EligibilityUnited States
Mobile Ratings
BBB Rating

Important Note

Earn 5.00% APY on up to $5,000 and 2.50% APY on the rest. A Varo bank account & direct deposit required.

Rate Stability

Very StableNo rate changes in last 90 days

Comparison Analysis

Comparing Bank of America vs. Varo Bank

Updated: Dec 17, 2025

As of Bank of America offers an APY of 0.01% for its Advantage Savings account, with a minimum balance of , compared to Varo Bank's 5.00% APY for its High-Yield Savings Account, with a minimum balance of $0.01.

Varo Bank pays $374 more than Bank of America on a $10,000 balance after one year. Bank of America pays $1, while Varo Bank pays $375 (with an effective APY of 3.75%) - an APY advantage for Varo Bank.

Why Bank of America?

  • No checking account or direct deposit required

Why Varo Bank?

  • Higher potential APY (5.00% vs 0.01%) on all balances

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
Varo Bank

Varo Bank's High-Yield Savings Account earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $375 vs $1/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
Varo Bank

Varo Bank's High-Yield Savings Account pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $750 vs $3/yr).

Best for All-in-One Banking
Varo Bank

Varo Bank's High-Yield Savings Account pays a superior APY for customers who also open a checking account.

Shared Benefits

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

Over a 1-year period, Varo Bank's High-Yield Savings Account pays $374 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 AmericaVaro Bank
Automated Data Audit

Executive Summary

Varo Bank offers a High-Yield Savings Account with a significantly higher APY of 5.00%, allowing customers to earn this rate on up to $5,000, with a lower rate of 2.50% on amounts above that. In contrast, Bank of America's Advantage Savings account provides a minimal APY of 0.01%. Varo's account requires a direct deposit of at least $1,000 per month and a Varo bank account, making it an online-only option. Bank of America, while having a lower APY, has a more accessible structure with no direct deposit requirement and a lower minimum deposit of $100.

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.

Bank of America vs. Varo Bank Savings Calculator

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

You earn $374 more with Varo Bank than Bank of America 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.

Bank of America

Advantage Savings

0.01% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$1.00(0.0%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,001.00

Effective APY
0.01%

Varo Bank

High-Yield Savings Account

5.00% APY

5.00% on first $5,000 and 2.50% thereafter.

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$375.00(3.6%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,375.00

Effective APY
3.75%

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

FeatureBank of AmericaVaro Bank
APY
0.01%
Verified: 12/17/2025
Stable (90d)
5.00%
Range: 2.50% - 5.00%
Verified: 12/16/2025
Stable (90d)
Product NameAdvantage SavingsHigh-Yield Savings Account
Minimum Deposit$100$0
Min. Balance for APYN/A$0.01
Monthly Fee$8$0
Branch AccessYesNone
Account Type
Online & Branches
Online Only
Direct Deposit Req.None
RequiredMin. $1,000/month
Checking BundleNo Yes
Mobile Apps
iOS4.8
Android4.6
iOS4.9
Android4.6
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.Earn 5.00% APY on up to $5,000 and 2.50% APY on the rest. A Varo bank account & direct deposit required.
Next Steps

📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 11 Months Analysis
MetricBank of AmericaVaro Bank
Advantage SavingsHigh-Yield Savings Account
Current APY
0.01%5.00%
Trend
Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
0.00.0
Days Since Change
2322
11-Month High
0.03%5.00%
11-Month Low
0.01%5.00%
Adjustments / Mo
0.190.00
Volatility Score
0.1280.000
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 323-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 Betterment3.25%$10
Bank of America vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Bank of America vs Bread Savings4.10%$100
Bank of America vs BrioDirect3.75%$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 Stanley3.50%$0
Bank of America vs Elevault3.82%$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 Bank4.10%$2,500
Bank of America vs LendingClub4.00%$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 PNC3.30%$0
Bank of America vs Presidential Bank3.75%$5,000
Bank of America vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
Bank of America vs Salem Five Direct3.61%$10
Bank of America vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
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 Direct3.60%$5000
Bank of America vs Upgrade3.05%$0
Bank of America vs Valley Direct4.00%$1,000
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 Varo Bank's APY of 5.00% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Varo Bank vs Affirm3.60%$0
Varo Bank vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Varo Bank vs American Express3.40%$0
Varo Bank vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Varo Bank vs Barclays4.00%$0
Varo Bank vs Bask Bank3.90%$0
Varo Bank vs Betterment3.25%$10
Varo Bank vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Varo Bank vs Bread Savings4.10%$100
Varo Bank vs BrioDirect3.75%$5,000
Varo Bank vs Capital One3.40%$0
Varo Bank vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Varo Bank vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Varo Bank vs Chime3.50%$0
Varo Bank vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Varo Bank vs Citibank3.30%$0
Varo Bank vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Varo Bank vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Varo Bank vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Varo Bank vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.50%$0
Varo Bank vs Elevault3.82%$0
Varo Bank vs EverBank4.05%$0
Varo Bank vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Varo Bank vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Varo Bank vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Varo Bank vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Varo Bank vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Varo Bank vs Ivy Bank4.10%$2,500
Varo Bank vs LendingClub4.00%$0
Varo Bank vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Varo Bank vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Varo Bank vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Varo Bank vs Openbank4.20%$500
Varo Bank vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
Varo Bank vs Pibank4.60%$0
Varo Bank vs PNC3.30%$0
Varo Bank vs Presidential Bank3.75%$5,000
Varo Bank vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
Varo Bank vs Salem Five Direct3.61%$10
Varo Bank vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
Varo Bank vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Varo Bank vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
Varo Bank vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Varo Bank vs TD Bank2.75%$0
Varo Bank vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Varo Bank vs UFB Direct3.60%$5000
Varo Bank vs Upgrade3.05%$0
Varo Bank vs Valley Direct4.00%$1,000
Varo Bank vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
Varo Bank vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
Varo Bank vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Varo Bank vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10