Barclays vs Synchrony Bank
High-Yield Savings Accounts Comparison

Last Updated: June 13, 2025

Summary of Barclays vs. Synchrony Bank

As of June 13, 2025 Barclays offers an APY of 4.20% for its Tiered Savings account, compared to Synchrony Bank's 3.80% APY for its High Yield Savings account.

Barclays yields $40 more than Synchrony Bank on a $10,000 balance after one year. Barclays pays $420, while Synchrony Bank pays $380 - 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 4.20% for balances over $250,000.
  • Barclays has an A+ BBB rating and is BBB Accredited.
  • Barclays has a higher App Store rating of 4.8 compared to Synchrony Bank.

Potential Drawbacks

  • Barclays' APY decreased from 4.30% to 4.20% in the last 30 days.
  • Barclays requires a minimum balance of $250,000 to earn the highest APY.
  • Barclays has no physical branches.

Synchrony Bank

Strengths

  • Synchrony Bank has no minimum balance requirement for its savings account.
  • Synchrony Bank maintains a competitive APY of 3.80%.
  • Synchrony Bank's App Store rating is 4.8, similar to Barclays.

Potential Drawbacks

  • Synchrony Bank's APY decreased from 4.00% to 3.80% in the last 30 days.
  • Synchrony Bank has no BBB rating.
  • Synchrony Bank has a lower Google Play rating of 4.6.
Summary: Barclays offers a higher APY of 4.20% for large balances but requires $250,000 to earn it. In contrast, Synchrony Bank has a no minimum balance requirement but a lower APY of 3.80%. Barclays has an A+ BBB rating, while Synchrony lacks a BBB rating. Both banks have similar App Store ratings, but Synchrony has a slightly lower Google Play rating.

Compare Barclays' vs Synchrony Bank's Savings Accounts

BarclaysSynchrony Bank
ProductTiered SavingsOnline SavingsvsHigh Yield Savings
APY
4.00% - 4.20% (as of 6/13/2025)3.70% (as of 6/13/2025)3.80% (as of 6/13/2025)
Bundled Account
NoNoNo
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
Maintenance Fee$0$0$0
Direct Deposit Required
NoNoNo
NoteThe 4.20% APY is only available for balances over $250,000. For lower balances, the APY is 4.00%.N/AN/A
Visit BankTiered SavingsOnline SavingsHigh Yield Savings
App Store Rating4.8/54.8/5
Google Play Rating4.7/54.6/5
BBB RatingA+Not Rated

Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 5 Months)

BarclaysSynchrony Bank
ProductOnline SavingsTiered SavingsvsHigh Yield Savings
Latest APY3.70 %4.20 %3.80 %
TrendSidewaysFallingSideways
Slope (bps/mo)-3.8-6.8-3.1
Rate Changes / Mo1.031.030.41
Days Since Last Change6613
High (-5 m)4.00 %4.50 %4.10 %
Low (-5 m)3.70 %4.20 %3.80 %
Draw-down from High-7.5 %-6.7 %-7.3 %
Volatility (CV)0.0160.0230.017
APY Insights Glossary
Latest APY
Most recent advertised annual-percentage yield.
Trend
Direction over the last 5 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 (-5 m)
Highest APY in the last 145 days.
Low (-5 m)
Lowest APY in the last 145 days.
Draw-down from High
How far today sits below the 5-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 Synchrony Bank

All calculations are based on APY.

Barclays

APY: 4.20%

Total savings breakdown:

  • Interest earned: $42 (4.03%)
  • Total contributions: $0 (0.00%)
  • Initial deposit: $1,000 (95.97%)

Your total balance

$1,042.00

Effective APY: 4.20% (based on your deposit and contributions)

Total balance: $1,042

Earnings: $42

Bank Details

Synchrony Bank

APY: 3.80%

Total savings breakdown:

  • Interest earned: $38 (3.66%)
  • Total contributions: $0 (0.00%)
  • Initial deposit: $1,000 (96.34%)

Your total balance

$1,038.00

Effective APY: 3.80% (based on your deposit and contributions)

Total balance: $1,038

Earnings: $38

Bank Details

After 1 year Barclays would earn you $4 more than Synchrony Bank.

More Comparisons

Compare Barclays' APY of 4.20% with other banks
Compare Synchrony Bank's APY of 3.80% with other banks