Barclays vs. Wells Fargo
Comparing Barclays and Wells Fargo for savings: Barclays's Tiered Savings pays 3.75% APY while Wells Fargo's Platinum Savings pays 0.05% APY.
Note: Wells Fargo requires a checking account.
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 $360 more than Wells Fargo annually ($365 vs $5).
Choose Barclays if getting the best rate matters most, you want a no-strings-attached account, or BBB rating matters to you. Choose Wells Fargo if you value in-person banking, or you want Zelle for quick transfers.
Important Considerations
Wells Fargo requires a checking account to unlock its top savings rate, while Barclays offers its savings account standalone.
| Metric | BarclaysTiered Savings Apr 21, 2026 | Wells FargoPlatinum Savings Apr 21, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.65% - 3.75% | 0.05% |
Est. Earnings | $5,000+$183 $10,000+$365 $25,000+$912 | $5,000+$3 $10,000+$5 $25,000+$13 |
Min Deposit | $0 | $25 |
Snapshot view. Rates subject to change. | ||
Terms | The 3.75% APY is only available for balances over $250,000. For lower balances, the APY is 3.65%. | This is a tiered savings account where rates vary based on the balance. The 0.05% APY is available for balances of $1,000,000 or more, and 0.05% APY up to $99,999.99. These APYs require the account is linked to a Wells Fargo Premier checking account. See bank for more tiers and details. |
| Features | FDIC InsuredHigh MinimumGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often | FDIC InsuredHigh MinimumGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppIn-Person AccessZelle® SupportedChecking BundleDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often |
Market Reality Check
Both of these banks offer rates below the current top tier. The best rates we track are currently above 4.07% APY.
Comparison Analysis
Comparing Barclays vs. Wells Fargo
Executive Summary
Barclays offers a competitive Tiered Savings account with a high APY of 3.75%, applicable for balances over $250,000, while lower balances earn 3.65%. In contrast, Wells Fargo's savings options, including the Way2Save Savings and Platinum Savings accounts, yield significantly lower APYs of 0.01% and 0.05%, respectively. The Barclays account is online-only and has no maintenance fees, while Wells Fargo's accounts may incur fees unless certain conditions are met. Overall, Barclays stands out as the clear winner with its substantially higher APY.
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 (3.75% vs 0.01%-0.05%) on all balances
- ✓No checking account or direct deposit required
Why Wells Fargo?
- ✓Physical branch access (Wells Fargo offers branches and ATMs in 36 states and Washington, D.C.)
- ✓Offers 2 different high-yield savings options
- ✓Fast transfers via Zelle® (up to $3,500 a day)
— Key Feature Differences —
Better Returns at $10,000
BarclaysBarclays's Tiered Savings earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $365 vs $5/yr).
Better Returns at $25,000
BarclaysBarclays's Tiered Savings pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $912 vs $13/yr).
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period, Barclays's Tiered Savings pays $360 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Wells Fargo's Platinum 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. Wells Fargo Savings Calculator
You earn $360 more with Barclays than Wells Fargo 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+$365.00(3.5%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,365.00
Wells Fargo
Platinum Savings
Higher APY requires $1,000,000
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$5.00(0.0%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,005.00
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
| Feature | Barclays | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.75% Range: 3.65% - 3.75% Verified: 4/21/2026 ↘︎ 0.25%90d Change | 0.05% Range: 0.05% - 0.05% Verified: 4/21/2026 Stable (90d) |
| Product Name | Tiered Savings | Platinum Savings |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $250,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | $12. Waived with $3,500 minimum daily balance. |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily |
| Branch Access | None | Yes |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online & Branches |
| Physical Branches | None | Wells Fargo offers branches and ATMs in 36 states and Washington, D.C. |
| Direct Deposit Req. | None | None |
| Checking Bundle | No | Yes |
| Mobile Apps | ||
| FDIC Insured | YesVerify FDIC | YesVerify FDIC |
| Zelle® Support | Not Supported | Available Limit: $3,500/dayFounding member; zero fees to replace wires. |
| BBB Rating | A+ | D- |
| Important Notes | The 3.75% APY is only available for balances over $250,000. For lower balances, the APY is 3.65%. | This is a tiered savings account where rates vary based on the balance. The 0.05% APY is available for balances of $1,000,000 or more, and 0.05% APY up to $99,999.99. These APYs require the account is linked to a Wells Fargo Premier checking account. See bank for more tiers and details. |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteVerify at Barclays Non-sponsored link to official site | Visit SiteVerify at Wells Fargo Non-sponsored link to official site |
📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Barclays | Wells Fargo | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiered Savings | Online Savings | Platinum Savings | Way2Save Savings | |
Current APY | 3.75% | 3.50% | 0.05% | 0.01% |
Trend | Stable | Stable | Stable | Stable |
Velocity (bps/mo) | -3.5 | -2.6 | -32.3 | 0.0 |
Days Since Change | 6 | 60 | 186 | 280 |
9-Month High | 4.10% | 3.70% | 2.51% | 0.01% |
9-Month Low | 3.75% | 3.50% | 0.05% | 0.01% |
Adjustments / Mo | 0.32 | 0.21 | 0.32 | 0.00 |
Volatility Score | 0.026 | 0.019 | 1.583 | 0.000 |
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)
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Compare Barclays' APY of 3.75% with other banks
Compare Wells Fargo's APY of 0.05% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo vs Ally Bank | 3.10% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs American Express | 3.20% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Axos Bank | 4.21% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Capital One | 3.20% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Chime | 3.00% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs CIT Bank | 3.75% | $100 |
| Wells Fargo vs Discover Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs EverBank | 3.90% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.50% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Newtek Bank | 4.20% | $0.01 |
| Wells Fargo vs Openbank | 4.00% | $500 |
| Wells Fargo vs Pibank | 4.40% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs SoFi Bank | 4.00% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Synchrony Bank | 3.40% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Varo Bank | 5.00% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Wealthfront | 4.20% | $0 |