Barclays vs. Citizens Access
High-Yield Savings Account Comparison
By Aviel Fahl|Last Updated: November 16, 2025
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Summary of Barclays vs. Citizens Access™
Key Metrics at a Glance
| Feature | Barclays | Citizens Access™ |
|---|---|---|
| Top Savings APY | 4.10% Tiered Savings | 3.35% Citizens Access® Savings |
| Minimum to Open | $0 | $0.01 |
| 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 higher App Store rating of 4.9 compared to Citizens Access™.
- Barclays has no maintenance fees for any account.
Potential Drawbacks
- Barclays requires a $250,000 minimum balance to earn the highest APY.
- Barclays' lower APY for smaller balances is only 3.90%.
- Barclays has no branches for in-person banking.
Citizens Access™
Strengths
- Citizens Access™ has a low minimum deposit of $0.01 to open an account.
- Citizens Access™ has a higher APY of 3.35% compared to its previous 3.50%.
- Citizens Access™ has a Google Play rating of 4.8.
Potential Drawbacks
- Citizens Access™ offers a lower maximum APY of 3.35% compared to Barclays.
- Citizens Access™ requires a minimum balance of $0.01 to earn interest.
- Citizens Access™ has no branches for in-person banking.
→ As of November 16, 2025 Barclays offers an APY of 4.10% for its Tiered Savings account, with a minimum balance of $250,000, compared to Citizens Access™'s 3.35% APY for its Citizens Access® Savings account, with a minimum balance of $0.01.
→ Barclays yields $55 more than Citizens Access™ on a $10,000 balance after one year. Barclays pays $390 (with an effective APY of 3.9%), while Citizens Access™ pays $335 - an APY advantage for Barclays.
→ In addition, Barclays also offers 3.70% APY for the Online Savings account.
Calculate Savings Growth for Barclays vs Citizens Access™
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 OverviewCitizens Access™ - Citizens Access® 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 Citizens Access™'s total earnings.
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Compare Barclays' vs Citizens Access™'s Savings Accounts
| Barclays | Citizens Access™ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Online Savings | Tiered Savings | vs | Citizens Access® Savings |
| APY | 3.70% (as of 11/16/2025) | 3.90% - 4.10% (as of 11/16/2025) | 3.35% (as of 11/16/2025) | |
| Bundled Account | No | No | No | |
| FDIC-insured | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Online Only | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily | Daily | |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | $0.01 | |
| Minimum Balance for APY | Enough to earn $0.01 in interest | $250,000 | $0.01 | |
| Maintenance Fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Direct Deposit Required | No | No | No | |
| 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 | 4.8/5 | ||
| Google Play Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.8/5 | ||
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ | ||
Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 10 Months)
| Barclays | Citizens Access™ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Online Savings | Tiered Savings | vs | Citizens Access® Savings |
| Latest APY | 3.70 % | 4.10 % | 3.35 % | |
| Trend | Sideways | Sideways | Sideways | |
| Slope (bps/mo) | -2.6 | -4.4 | -3.6 | |
| Rate Changes / Mo | 0.41 | 0.61 | 0.20 | |
| Days Since Last Change | 160 | 152 | 17 | |
| High (-10 m) | 3.90 % | 4.50 % | 3.70 % | |
| Low (-10 m) | 3.70 % | 4.10 % | 3.35 % | |
| Draw-down from High | -5.1 % | -8.9 % | -9.5 % | |
| Volatility (CV) | 0.023 | 0.034 | 0.034 | |
APY Insights Glossary
- Latest APY
- Most recent advertised annual-percentage yield.
- Trend
- Direction over the last 10 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 (-10 m)
- Highest APY in the last 293 days.
- Low (-10 m)
- Lowest APY in the last 293 days.
- Draw-down from High
- How far today sits below the 10-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.