Barclays vs. Chime
High-Yield Savings Account Comparison
By Aviel Fahl|Last Updated: November 2, 2025
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Summary of Barclays vs. Chime
Key Metrics at a Glance
| Feature | Barclays | Chime |
|---|---|---|
| Top Savings APY | 4.10% Tiered Savings | 3.50% Chime Savings Account |
| Minimum to Open | $0 | $0 |
| Minimum Balance for Top APY | $250,000 | $0.01 |
| Note | The 4.10% APY is only available for balances over $250,000. For lower balances, the APY is 3.90%. | Chime® is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. To open a savings account you must first open a checking account. To qualify for Chime+ with the 3.50% APY, you must have a Chime Checking account and receive a direct deposit of at least $200. Otherwise, the APY is 1.00%. |
Barclays
Strengths
- Barclays offers a high APY of 4.10% for balances over $250,000.
- No maintenance fees for all savings accounts at Barclays.
- Barclays has an A+ BBB rating and is accredited.
Potential Drawbacks
- Barclays requires a minimum balance of $250,000 for the highest APY.
- Barclays does not offer a direct deposit option for savings accounts.
- No branches available for in-person banking at Barclays.
Chime
Strengths
- Chime offers a low minimum balance of $0.01 for its savings account.
- Chime has no maintenance fees for its savings account.
- Chime has a high App Store rating of 4.8.
Potential Drawbacks
- Chime's highest APY is 3.50%, lower than Barclays' 4.10%.
- Chime requires a qualifying direct deposit of $200 to earn the highest APY.
- Chime's APY decreased from 3.75% in the last 30 days.
Summary: Barclays offers a significantly higher APY of 4.10% for large balances, while Chime provides easier access with no minimum balance. Both banks have no maintenance fees, but Chime requires a direct deposit for its APY. Barclays has an A+ BBB rating, which may appeal to customers seeking trustworthiness. However, Chime's account is more accessible for those with lower balances.
→ As of November 2, 2025 Barclays offers an APY of 4.10% for its Tiered Savings account, with a minimum balance of $250,000, compared to Chime's 3.50% APY for its Chime Savings Account, with a minimum balance of $0.01.
→ Barclays yields $40 more than Chime on a $10,000 balance after one year. Barclays pays $390 (with an effective APY of 3.9%), while Chime pays $350 - an APY advantage for Barclays.
→ In addition, Barclays also offers 3.70% APY for the Online Savings account.
Calculate Savings Growth for Barclays vs Chime
All calculations are based on APY.
Barclays - Tiered Savings
Top APY: 4.10%
⚠️The higher APY only applies once your balance reaches $250,000.
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $2,370.2 (11.64%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (63.82%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.55%)
Your total balance
$20,370.20
Effective APY: 3.90% (based on your deposit and contributions)
Total balance: $20,370.2
Earnings: $2,370.2
Bank OverviewChime - Chime Savings Account
Top APY: 3.50%
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $2,114.1 (10.51%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (64.63%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.86%)
Your total balance
$20,114.10
Effective APY: 3.50% (based on your deposit and contributions)
Total balance: $20,114.1
Earnings: $2,114.1
Bank OverviewWith a $5,000 initial deposit and $13,000 in total contributions over 5 years, Barclays's total earnings would be $256.1 higher than Chime's total earnings.
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Compare Barclays' vs Chime's Savings Accounts
| Barclays | Chime | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Tiered Savings | Online Savings | vs | Chime Savings Account |
| APY | 3.90% - 4.10% (as of 11/2/2025) | 3.70% (as of 11/2/2025) | 1.00% - 3.50% (as of 11/2/2025) | |
| Bundled Account | No | No | Yes | |
| FDIC-insured | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Online Only | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily | Daily | |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Minimum Balance for APY | $250,000 | Enough to earn $0.01 in interest | $0.01 | |
| Maintenance Fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Direct Deposit Required | No | No | Yes. You need to receive a qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more within the preceding 34 days | |
| Note | The 4.10% APY is only available for balances over $250,000. For lower balances, the APY is 3.90%. | Chime® is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. To open a savings account you must first open a checking account. To qualify for Chime+ with the 3.50% APY, you must have a Chime Checking account and receive a direct deposit of at least $200. Otherwise, the APY is 1.00%. | ||
| App Store Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.8/5 | ||
| Google Play Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.7/5 | ||
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ | ||
Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 9 Months)
| Barclays | Chime | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Online Savings | Tiered Savings | vs | Chime Savings Account |
| Latest APY | 3.70 % | 4.10 % | 3.50 % | |
| Trend | Sideways | Sideways | Rising | |
| Slope (bps/mo) | -2.8 | -4.7 | 17.5 | |
| Rate Changes / Mo | 0.43 | 0.65 | 0.22 | |
| Days Since Last Change | 145 | 137 | 17 | |
| High (-9 m) | 3.90 % | 4.50 % | 3.75 % | |
| Low (-9 m) | 3.70 % | 4.10 % | 2.00 % | |
| Draw-down from High | -5.1 % | -8.9 % | -6.7 % | |
| Volatility (CV) | 0.023 | 0.033 | 0.210 | |
APY Insights Glossary
- Latest APY
- Most recent advertised annual-percentage yield.
- Trend
- Direction over the last 9 months (regression slope).
- Slope (bps/mo)
- Average monthly change; 10 bps = 0.10 pp.
- Rate Changes / Mo
- Typical number of APY moves per month.
- Days Since Last Change
- Recency of the latest APY adjustment.
- High (-9 m)
- Highest APY in the last 276 days.
- Low (-9 m)
- Lowest APY in the last 276 days.
- Draw-down from High
- How far today sits below the 9-month peak.
- Volatility (CV)
- Coefficient of variation = stdev ÷ mean.
Why Track Savings-Account APYs?
- See how quickly a bank reacts to Fed moves or competition.
- Gauge “twitchiness” - frequent moves can annoy savers.
- Spot if you're buying near a peak (draw-down) or riding a rise.
- Slope (bps/mo) shows speed of change.
- Volatility (CV) scales jumps by average level.
More Comparisons
Compare Barclays' APY of 4.10% with other banks
Compare Chime's APY of 3.50% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Chime vs Ally Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| Chime vs American Express | 3.50% | $0 |
| Chime vs Axos Bank | 4.51% | $0 |
| Chime vs Bank of America | 0.01% | $100 |
| Chime vs Bask Bank | 4.05% | $0 |
| Chime vs BrioDirect | 4.00% | $5,000 |
| Chime vs Capital One | 3.40% | $0 |
| Chime vs Chase Bank | 0.01% | $0 |
| Chime vs CIT Bank | 3.85% | $100 |
| Chime vs Citizens Access™ | 3.35% | $0.01 |
| Chime vs Discover Bank | 3.40% | $0 |
| Chime vs Elevault | 4.34% | $0 |
| Chime vs EverBank | 4.05% | $0 |
| Chime vs Fitness Bank | 4.75% | $100 |
| Chime vs FNBO Direct | 3.00% | $1 |
| Chime vs FVCbank | 3.85% | $500 |
| Chime vs GO2bank | 4.50% | $0 |
| Chime vs LendingClub | 4.20% | $0 |
| Chime vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.65% | $0 |
| Chime vs Neighbors Bank | 4.50% | $0 |
| Chime vs Newtek Bank | 4.35% | $0 |
| Chime vs Peak Bank | 4.20% | $100 |
| Chime vs Pibank | 4.60% | $0 |
| Chime vs Presidential Bank | 4.50% | $5,000 |
| Chime vs Santander Bank | 0.01% | $25 |
| Chime vs SoFi Bank | 4.50% | $0 |
| Chime vs Synchrony Bank | 3.80% | $0 |
| Chime vs TIMBR | 4.40% | $1,000 |
| Chime vs UFB Direct | 3.71% | $5000 |
| Chime vs Valley Direct | 4.10% | $1,000 |
| Chime vs Varo Bank | 5.00% | $0 |
| Chime vs Wells Fargo | 0.05% | $25 |
| Chime vs Zynlo Bank | 4.20% | $10 |