Barclays vs Chime
High-Yield Savings Accounts Comparison

Last Updated: September 18, 2025

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Summary of Barclays vs. Chime

As of September 18, 2025 Barclays offers an APY of 4.10% for its Tiered Savings account, with a minimum balance of $250,000, compared to Chime's 3.75% APY for its Chime Savings Account, with a minimum balance of $0.01.

Barclays yields $15 more than Chime on a $10,000 balance after one year. Barclays pays $390 (with an effective APY of 3.9%), while Chime pays $375 - an APY advantage for Barclays.

In addition, Barclays also offers 3.70% APY for the Online Savings account.

Barclays

Strengths

  • Barclays offers a higher APY of 4.10% for balances over $250,000.
  • Barclays has an A+ BBB rating and is BBB Accredited.
  • No maintenance fees for any savings account at Barclays.

Potential Drawbacks

  • Barclays requires a minimum balance of $250,000 for the highest APY.
  • Barclays does not have any branches.

Chime

Strengths

  • Chime's APY of 3.75% is accessible with a direct deposit of $200.
  • Chime has no maintenance fees and a low minimum balance requirement.

Potential Drawbacks

  • Chime's APY drops to 1.25% without a qualifying direct deposit.
  • Chime requires opening a checking account to access the savings account.
Summary: Barclays offers a higher APY of 4.10% for substantial balances, while Chime provides a lower APY of 3.75% with a direct deposit requirement. Barclays has an A+ BBB rating, whereas Chime has an A- rating. Both banks have no maintenance fees, but Barclays requires a high minimum balance for its best rate, while Chime requires a checking account to open a savings account.

Compare Barclays' vs Chime's Savings Accounts

BarclaysChime
ProductTiered SavingsOnline SavingsvsChime Savings Account
APY
3.90% - 4.10% (as of 9/18/2025)3.70% (as of 9/18/2025)1.25% - 3.75% (as of 9/18/2025)
Bundled Account
NoNoYes
FDIC-insured
YesYesYes
Online OnlyYesYesYes
Compound Frequency
DailyDailyDaily
Minimum Deposit$0$0$0
Minimum Balance for APY$250,000Enough to earn $0.01 in interest$0.01
Maintenance Fee$0$0$0
Direct Deposit Required
NoNoYes. You need to receive a qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more within the preceding 34 days
NoteThe 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 3.75% APY, you must have a Chime Checking account and receive a direct deposit of at least $200. Otherwise, the APY is 1.25%.
App Store Rating4.8/54.8/5
Google Play Rating4.7/54.7/5
BBB RatingA+A-

Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 8 Months)

BarclaysChime
ProductOnline SavingsTiered SavingsvsChime Savings Account
Latest APY3.70 %4.10 %3.75 %
TrendSidewaysFallingRising
Slope (bps/mo)-3.6-6.025.7
Rate Changes / Mo0.520.780.13
Days Since Last Change10092171
High (-8 m)3.90 %4.50 %3.75 %
Low (-8 m)3.70 %4.10 %2.00 %
Draw-down from High-5.1 %-8.9 %0.0 %
Volatility (CV)0.0230.0330.231
APY Insights Glossary
Latest APY
Most recent advertised annual-percentage yield.
Trend
Direction over the last 8 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 (-8 m)
Highest APY in the last 231 days.
Low (-8 m)
Lowest APY in the last 231 days.
Draw-down from High
How far today sits below the 8-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.

Calculate Savings Growth for Barclays vs Chime

All calculations are based on APY.

Barclays

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 Overview

Chime

APY: 3.75%

Total savings breakdown:

  • Interest earned: $2,273.8 (11.22%)
  • Total contributions: $13,000 (64.12%)
  • Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.66%)

Your total balance

$20,273.80

Effective APY: 3.75% (based on your deposit and contributions)

Total balance: $20,273.8

Earnings: $2,273.8

Bank Overview

With a $5,000 initial deposit and $13,000 in total contributions over 5 years, Barclays's total earnings would be $96.4 higher than Chime's total earnings.

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

More Comparisons

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