Barclays vs. Citibank
High-Yield Savings Account Comparison
By Aviel Fahl|Last Updated: November 12, 2025
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Summary of Barclays vs. Citibank
Key Metrics at a Glance
| Feature | Barclays | Citibank |
|---|---|---|
| Top Savings APY | 4.10% Tiered Savings | 3.35% Citi Accelerate Savings |
| 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%. |
Barclays
Strengths
- Barclays offers a high APY of 4.10% for balances over $250,000.
- Barclays has a strong BBB rating of A+ and is accredited.
- Barclays has no maintenance fees for its accounts.
Potential Drawbacks
- Barclays requires a minimum balance of $250,000 to earn the highest APY.
- Barclays has no physical branches for in-person banking.
- Barclays' lower APY is 3.90%, which is less competitive.
Citibank
Strengths
- Citibank has a wide branch network in major U.S. cities.
- Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings has a competitive APY of 3.35%.
- Citibank offers a savings account with no minimum balance requirement.
Potential Drawbacks
- Citibank has a low BBB rating of D- and is not accredited.
- Citibank charges a maintenance fee of $4.50, waived only for higher balances.
- Citibank's highest APY is significantly lower than Barclays'.
→ As of November 12, 2025 Barclays offers an APY of 4.10% for its Tiered Savings account, with a minimum balance of $250,000, compared to Citibank's 3.35% APY for its Citi Accelerate Savings account, with a minimum balance of $0.01.
→ Barclays yields $55 more than Citibank on a $10,000 balance after one year. Barclays pays $390 (with an effective APY of 3.9%), while Citibank pays $335 - an APY advantage for Barclays.
→ In addition, Barclays also offers 3.70% APY for the Online Savings account, while Citibank offers 0.03% APY for the Citi® Savings Account account.
Calculate Savings Growth for Barclays vs Citibank
Barclays - Tiered Savings
⚠️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
Total balance: $20,370.2
Earnings: $2,370.2
Bank OverviewCitibank - Citi Accelerate Savings
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $2,018.8 (10.08%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (64.94%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.98%)
Your total balance
$20,018.80
Total balance: $20,018.8
Earnings: $2,018.8
Bank OverviewWith a $5,000 initial deposit and $13,000 in total contributions over 5 years, Barclays's total earnings would be $351.4 higher than Citibank's total earnings.
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Compare Barclays' vs Citibank's Savings Accounts
| Barclays | Citibank | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Tiered Savings | Online Savings | vs | Citi Accelerate Savings | Citi® Savings Account |
| APY | 3.90% - 4.10% (as of 11/12/2025) | 3.70% (as of 11/12/2025) | 3.35% (as of 11/12/2025) | 0.03% (as of 11/12/2025) | |
| Bundled Account | No | No | No | No | |
| FDIC-insured | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Online Only | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily | Daily | Daily | |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Minimum Balance for APY | $250,000 | Enough to earn $0.01 in interest | $0.01 | $0.01 | |
| Maintenance Fee | $0 | $0 | $4.50. Waived for average monthly balances > $500 | $4.50. Waived for average monthly balances > $500 | |
| Direct Deposit Required | No | No | No | No | |
| Eligibility | United States | United States | Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida (select parts), Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois (select parts), Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia (partial), Washington (partial), Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming. | California, Connecticut, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Virginia (partial), Washington D.C., and select parts of Florida and Illinois. In addition, promotional rates may be available if requirements are met. | |
| Note | The 4.10% APY is only available for balances over $250,000. For lower balances, the APY is 3.90%. | ||||
| App Store Rating | 4.9/5 | 4.9/5 | |||
| Google Play Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.8/5 | |||
| BBB Rating | A+ | D- | |||
Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 9 Months)
| Barclays | Citibank | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Online Savings | Tiered Savings | vs | Citi® Savings Account | Citi Accelerate Savings |
| Latest APY | 3.70 % | 4.10 % | 0.03 % | 3.35 % | |
| Trend | Sideways | Sideways | Sideways | Sideways | |
| Slope (bps/mo) | -2.7 | -4.5 | 0.0 | -4.8 | |
| Rate Changes / Mo | 0.42 | 0.62 | 0.00 | 0.52 | |
| Days Since Last Change | 156 | 148 | 289 | 9 | |
| High (-9 m) | 3.90 % | 4.50 % | 0.03 % | 3.80 % | |
| Low (-9 m) | 3.70 % | 4.10 % | 0.03 % | 3.35 % | |
| Draw-down from High | -5.1 % | -8.9 % | 0.0 % | -11.8 % | |
| Volatility (CV) | 0.023 | 0.034 | 0.000 | 0.039 | |
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 289 days.
- Low (-9 m)
- Lowest APY in the last 289 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.