Barclays vs. Discover Bank
High-Yield Savings Account Comparison
By Aviel Fahl|Last Updated: November 2, 2025
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Summary of Barclays vs. Discover Bank
Key Metrics at a Glance
| Feature | Barclays | Discover Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Top Savings APY | 4.10% Tiered Savings | 3.40% Online Savings Account |
| Minimum to Open | $0 | $0 |
| Minimum Balance for Top APY | $250,000 | $0 |
| 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 BBB Accredited.
- Barclays has a higher App Store rating of 4.8 compared to Discover Bank.
Potential Drawbacks
- Barclays requires a minimum balance of $250,000 to earn the highest APY.
- Barclays' Online Savings APY is lower at 3.70% compared to its Tiered Savings.
- Barclays has no physical branches.
Discover Bank
Strengths
- Discover Bank has no minimum balance requirement for its Online Savings Account.
- Discover Bank's APY is competitive at 3.40% with no direct deposit requirement.
- Discover Bank has a solid App Store rating of 4.9.
Potential Drawbacks
- Discover Bank's highest APY is lower than Barclays' Tiered Savings APY.
- Discover Bank has a lower Google Play rating of 4.3 compared to Barclays.
- Discover Bank has no physical branches.
→ 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 Discover Bank's 3.40% APY for its Online Savings Account, with a minimum balance of $0.
→ Barclays yields $50 more than Discover Bank on a $10,000 balance after one year. Barclays pays $390 (with an effective APY of 3.9%), while Discover Bank pays $340 - an APY advantage for Barclays.
→ In addition, Barclays also offers 3.70% APY for the Online Savings account.
Calculate Savings Growth for Barclays vs Discover Bank
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 OverviewDiscover Bank - Online Savings Account
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $2,050.5 (10.23%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (64.84%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.94%)
Your total balance
$20,050.50
Total balance: $20,050.5
Earnings: $2,050.5
Bank OverviewWith a $5,000 initial deposit and $13,000 in total contributions over 5 years, Barclays's total earnings would be $319.7 higher than Discover Bank's total earnings.
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Compare Barclays' vs Discover Bank's Savings Accounts
| Barclays | Discover Bank | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Tiered Savings | Online Savings | vs | Online Savings Account |
| APY | 3.90% - 4.10% (as of 11/2/2025) | 3.70% (as of 11/2/2025) | 3.40% (as of 11/2/2025) | |
| 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 | |
| Minimum Balance for APY | $250,000 | Enough to earn $0.01 in interest | $0 | |
| 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 | 4.8/5 | 4.9/5 | ||
| Google Play Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.3/5 | ||
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ | ||
Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 9 Months)
| Barclays | Discover Bank | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Online Savings | Tiered Savings | vs | Online Savings Account |
| Latest APY | 3.70 % | 4.10 % | 3.40 % | |
| Trend | Sideways | Sideways | Sideways | |
| Slope (bps/mo) | -2.9 | -4.9 | -4.0 | |
| Rate Changes / Mo | 0.53 | 0.63 | 0.42 | |
| Days Since Last Change | 145 | 137 | 33 | |
| High (-9 m) | 4.00 % | 4.50 % | 3.75 % | |
| Low (-9 m) | 3.70 % | 4.10 % | 3.40 % | |
| Draw-down from High | -7.5 % | -8.9 % | -9.3 % | |
| Volatility (CV) | 0.024 | 0.035 | 0.032 | |
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 284 days.
- Low (-9 m)
- Lowest APY in the last 284 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.