Barclays vs. PNC
Comparing Barclays and PNC for high-yield savings: Barclays's Tiered Savings pays 3.85% APY while PNC's PNC High Yield Savings pays 3.25% APY.
See how they compare on rate stability, mobile app ratings, and more below.
The Bottom Line
Who pays more interest on $10,000? Barclays pays $45 more than PNC annually ($370 vs $325).
Choose Barclays if getting the best rate matters most. Choose PNC if you value in-person banking, or you want Zelle for quick transfers.
| Metric | BarclaysTiered Savings Apr 7, 2026 | PNCPNC High Yield Savings Apr 7, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.70% - 3.85% | 3.25% |
Est. Earnings | $5,000+$185 $10,000+$370 $25,000+$925 | $5,000+$163 $10,000+$325 $25,000+$813 |
Min Deposit | $0 | $0 |
Snapshot view. Rates subject to change. | ||
Terms | The 3.85% APY is only available for balances over $250,000. For lower balances, the APY is 3.70%. | Eligibility restricted to select states. |
| Features | FDIC InsuredHigh MinimumGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppIn-Person AccessZelle® SupportedRate Changes Often |
Market Reality Check
Both of these banks offer rates below the current top tier. The best rates we track are currently above 4.15% APY.
Executive Summary
Barclays offers a competitive Tiered Savings account with a high APY of 3.85% for balances over $250,000, while lower balances earn 3.70%. This account is online-only and has no maintenance fees. In contrast, PNC's top product, the High Yield Savings account, provides an APY of 3.25% but is limited to select states and has no minimum balance requirement. Although PNC also has a Standard Savings account, its APY is significantly lower at 0.03%. Overall, Barclays's Tiered Savings is the winner based on the highest APY available.
The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records
* This content is provided for informational purposes only; always verify details with the provider.
Why Barclays?
- ✓Higher potential APY (3.85% vs 3.25%) on all balances
- ✓Available Nationwide
Why PNC?
- ✓No checking account or direct deposit required
- ✓Physical branch access (Multiple branches in AL, AZ, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MA, MI, MO, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI)
- ✓Fast transfers via Zelle® (up to $2,000 a day)
— Key Feature Differences —
Better Returns at $10,000
BarclaysBarclays's Tiered Savings earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $370 vs $325/yr).
Better Returns at $25,000
BarclaysBarclays's Tiered Savings pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $925 vs $813/yr).
Best for Simplicity
PNCPNC's PNC High Yield Savings offers 3.25% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period, Barclays's Tiered Savings pays $45 more interest on a $10,000 balance than PNC's PNC High Yield Savings.
*This calculation assumes current rates remain consistent for 1 year and does not include temporary bonuses.
Non-sponsored link to official site
Non-sponsored link to official site
Top Market Contenders
Barclays vs. PNC Savings Calculator
You earn $45 more with Barclays than PNC on a $10,000 initial deposit for 1 year*.
*This calculation assumes that APYs remain unchanged for 1 year, and takes into account known promo rate periods, but does not factor in bonuses. You can see how often these banks have changed their rates in the Compare Savings Rates Over Time section below.
Barclays
Tiered Savings
Higher APY requires $250,000
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$370.00(3.6%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,370.00
PNC
PNC High Yield Savings
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$325.00(3.1%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,325.00
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Still banking with Chase, Bank of America, or Wells Fargo?
On a $10,000 balance, you're missing out on at least $324 per year in interest.
Both Barclays and PNC dramatically outperform the typical 0.01% APY at traditional big banks.
| Feature | Barclays | PNC |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.85% Range: 3.70% - 3.85% Verified: 4/7/2026 ↘︎ 0.15%90d Change | 3.25% Verified: 4/7/2026 ↘︎ 0.05%90d Change |
| Product Name | Tiered Savings | PNC High Yield Savings |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $250,000 | $0 |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Monthly |
| Branch Access | None | Yes |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online & Branches |
| Physical Branches | None | Multiple branches in AL, AZ, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MA, MI, MO, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI |
| Direct Deposit Req. | None | None |
| Checking Bundle | No | No |
| Mobile Apps | ||
| FDIC Insured | YesVerify FDIC | YesVerify FDIC |
| Zelle® Support | Not Supported | Available Limit: $2,000/dayCentral to Virtual Wallet suite. |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ |
| Important Notes | The 3.85% APY is only available for balances over $250,000. For lower balances, the APY is 3.70%. | Eligibility restricted to select states. |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteVerify at Barclays Non-sponsored link to official site | Visit SiteVerify at PNC Non-sponsored link to official site |
📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Barclays | PNC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiered Savings | Online Savings | PNC High Yield Savings | Standard Savings | |
Current APY | 3.85% | 3.50% | 3.25% | 0.03% |
Trend | Stable | Stable | Stable | Stable |
Velocity (bps/mo) | -3.4 | -2.4 | -7.8 | 0.1 |
Days Since Change | 46 | 46 | 32 | 341 |
12-Month High | 4.40% | 3.90% | 3.95% | 0.03% |
12-Month Low | 3.85% | 3.50% | 3.25% | 0.01% |
Adjustments / Mo | 0.58 | 0.49 | 0.41 | 0.08 |
Volatility Score | 0.032 | 0.024 | 0.082 | 0.164 |
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)
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High Rates (With Checking Bundle)
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More Comparisons
Compare Barclays' APY of 3.85% with other banks
Compare PNC's APY of 3.25% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| PNC vs Ally Bank | 3.20% | $0 |
| PNC vs American Express | 3.20% | $0 |
| PNC vs Axos Bank | 4.21% | $0 |
| PNC vs Capital One | 3.20% | $0 |
| PNC vs Chime | 3.00% | $0 |
| PNC vs CIT Bank | 3.75% | $100 |
| PNC vs Discover Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| PNC vs EverBank | 3.90% | $0 |
| PNC vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.65% | $0 |
| PNC vs Newtek Bank | 4.20% | $0.01 |
| PNC vs Openbank | 4.00% | $500 |
| PNC vs Pibank | 4.60% | $0 |
| PNC vs SoFi Bank | 4.00% | $0 |
| PNC vs Synchrony Bank | 3.50% | $0 |
| PNC vs Varo Bank | 5.00% | $0 |
| PNC vs Wealthfront | 4.20% | $0 |