High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

Betterment vs. Newtek Bank

Comparing Betterment and Newtek Bank for high-yield savings: Betterment's Cash Reserve pays 3.90% APY while Newtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings pays 4.20% APY.

See how they compare on rate stability, mobile app ratings, and more below.

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated March 24, 2026

The Bottom Line

Who pays more interest on $10,000? Newtek Bank pays $30 more than Betterment annually ($420 vs $390).

Choose Betterment if you're an Android user, or choose Newtek Bank if getting the best rate matters most.

Comparison of Betterment vs Newtek Bank savings accounts
Metric

Betterment

Cash Reserve

Mar 24, 2026

Newtek Bank

Personal High Yield Savings

Mar 24, 2026
APY3.25% - 3.90%4.20%
Est. Earnings
$5,000+$195
$10,000+$390
$25,000+$975
$5,000+$210
$10,000+$420
$25,000+$1,050
Min Deposit
$10$0.01

Snapshot view. Rates subject to change.

Terms
Promo rate for new customers. 3.25% APY applies to existing customers.-
Features
FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppRate Changes Often
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often

Prefer In-Person Banking?

Both of these banks are online-only. If you need physical branch access, check out our list of high-yield accounts with brick-and-mortar locations.

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Comparison Analysis

Comparing Betterment vs. Newtek Bank

Updated: Mar 24, 2026

Executive Summary

Newtek Bank offers a competitive Personal High Yield Savings account with an APY of 4.20%, making it the winner in this comparison. This account requires a minimum deposit and balance of just $0.01, with no maintenance fees or direct deposit requirements, making it a straightforward option for savers. In contrast, Betterment's Cash Reserve provides a promo APY of 3.90% for new customers, while existing customers receive a lower rate of 3.25%. Betterment also boasts a strong mobile app experience, but its offering is less attractive in terms of yield compared to Newtek Bank.

The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records

* This content is provided for informational purposes only; always verify details with the provider.

Why Betterment?

  • Higher rated Android app (4.7 vs 4.0)

Why Newtek Bank?

  • Higher potential APY (4.20% vs 3.90%) on all balances
  • No checking account or direct deposit required
  • Available to New & Existing Customers

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
Newtek Bank

Newtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $420 vs $390/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
Newtek Bank

Newtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $1050 vs $975/yr).

Best for Simplicity
Newtek Bank

Newtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings offers 4.20% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

Best Mobile App Experience
Betterment

Betterment offers an iOS app rated 4.8 (vs. 4.5) and Android app rated 4.7 (vs. 4.0)

Shared Benefits

Both offer monthly maintenance-free account options Available Nationwide
The Bottom Line on APY (Interest Only)

Over a 1-year period, Newtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings pays $30 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Betterment's Cash Reserve.

*This calculation assumes current rates remain consistent for 1 year and does not include temporary bonuses.

BettermentNewtek Bank
Verify At
Betterment

Non-sponsored link to official site

Verify At
Newtek Bank

Non-sponsored link to official site

Top Market Contenders

Marcus by Goldman Sachs
3.65% APY
American Express
3.20% APY

Betterment vs. Newtek Bank Savings Calculator

Calculations based on current APY for Cash Reserve and Personal High Yield Savings
$
$

You earn $30 more with Newtek Bank than Betterment 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.

Betterment

Cash Reserve

3.90% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$390.00(3.8%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,390.00

Effective APY
3.90%

Newtek Bank

Personal High Yield Savings

4.20% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$420.00(4.0%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,420.00

Effective APY
4.20%

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 $389 per year in interest.

Both Betterment and Newtek Bank dramatically outperform the typical 0.01% APY at traditional big banks.

Big banks currently pay 0.01% APY on savings vs 3.90%+ here
FeatureBettermentNewtek Bank
APY
3.90%
Range: 3.25% - 3.90%
Verified: 3/24/2026
↗︎ 0.65%90d Change
4.20%
Verified: 3/24/2026
↘︎ 0.15%90d Change
Product NameCash ReservePersonal High Yield Savings
Minimum Deposit$10$0.01
Min. Balance for APY$0$0.01
Monthly Fee$0$0
Compound FrequencyN/ADaily
Branch AccessNoneNone
Account Type
Online Only
Online Only
Physical BranchesNoneNone
Direct Deposit Req.NoneNone
Checking BundleNoNo
Mobile Apps
iOS4.8
Android4.7
iOS4.5
Android4.0
FDIC Insured
Yes
Zelle® Support
Not Supported
Not Supported
BBB RatingA-A+
Important NotesPromo rate for new customers. 3.25% APY applies to existing customers.-
Next Steps
Visit Site

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📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 12 Months Analysis
MetricBettermentNewtek Bank
Cash ReservePersonal High Yield Savings
Current APY
3.90%4.20%
Trend
Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-5.8-1.1
Days Since Change
3246
12-Month High
4.00%4.45%
12-Month Low
3.25%4.20%
Adjustments / Mo
0.330.16
Volatility Score
0.0830.014
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)

Trends & Velocity

  • Trend: The general direction of the rate over the analyzed period. Useful for spotting if a bank is currently aggressive or pulling back.
  • Velocity (bps/mo): Speed of change. A high positive number means they raise rates quickly. 10 bps = 0.10%.
  • Adjustments/Mo: "Twitchiness." High frequency means the rate changes constantly; low frequency means it's stable.

Risk & Range

  • High/Low: The absolute ceiling and floor of the rate during the 365-day window.
  • Volatility Score: Lower is better for predictability. It indicates how wildly the rate swings relative to its average.
  • Days Since Change: If this number is high (e.g., >90), the rate is very sticky. If low, it changed recently.

More Comparisons

Compare Betterment's APY of 3.90% with other banks
Compare Newtek Bank's APY of 4.20% with other banks