High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

Betterment vs. PNC

Compare rates, requirements, and features side-by-side to find the best option for you.

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated December 10, 2025

PNC

PNC High Yield Savings

3.53%
APY
Dec 10, 2025
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppIn-Person Access
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$0
Min. Balance$0
Maintenance Fee$0
Compound FreqMonthly
Direct DepositNot required
Branch AccessMultiple 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
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured(Cert: 6384)
EligibilityAK, AR, CT, HI, ID, IA, LA, ME, MN, MS, MT, NE, NV, NH, ND, OK, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WY
Mobile Ratings
BBB Rating

Important Note

Eligibility restricted to select states.

Rate Stability

30 days
↘︎ 0.17%
90 days
↘︎ 0.42%

Market Reality Check

Both of these banks offer rates below the current top tier. The best rates we track are currently above 4.25% APY.

See Top Rates

Betterment vs. PNC Savings Calculator

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

PNC earns $19.1 more than Betterment.

Betterment

Cash Reserve

3.50% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$2,114.10(10.5%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $5,000

Projected Balance

$20,114.10

Effective APY
3.50%

PNC

PNC High Yield Savings

3.53% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$2,133.20(10.6%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $5,000

Projected Balance

$20,133.20

Effective APY
3.53%

The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.

Comparison Analysis

Comparing Betterment vs. PNC

Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Why Betterment?

  • Available Nationwide

Why PNC?

  • 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)

Shared Benefits

Both offer monthly maintenance-free account options Available to New & Existing Customers
The Bottom Line on APY (Interest Only)

Over a 1-year period, PNC's PNC High Yield Savings pays $3 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.

BettermentPNC
Automated Data Audit

Executive Summary

Betterment offers a competitive APY of 3.50% on its Cash Reserve savings account, which is an online-only product requiring a minimum deposit of $10 and has no maintenance fees. In comparison, PNC's High Yield Savings account provides a slightly higher APY of 3.53%, but eligibility is restricted to select states. PNC also has a Standard Savings account with a significantly lower APY of 0.03%. Both banks do not require direct deposit for their savings products, making them accessible options for savers.

Analysis generated based on current Banksparency database records

* AI-generated content provided for informational purposes only. Accuracy is not guaranteed; always verify details with the provider.

Stop Losing Interest

See who beats both Betterment and PNC.

Compare All High-Yield Savings Accounts
Pibank
Pibank Savings
FDIC InsuredNo Minimums
4.60% APY
+1.07% vs PNC
Better Rate
Axos Bank
Axos ONE
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
4.31% APY
+0.78% vs PNC
Better Rate
TIMBR
Premium Savings Account
FDIC InsuredLow Minimums
4.40% APY
+0.87% vs PNC
Better Rate
FeatureBettermentPNC
APY
3.50%
Verified: 12/10/2025
↘︎ 0.50%90d Change
3.53%
Verified: 12/10/2025
↘︎ 0.42%90d Change
Product NameCash ReservePNC High Yield Savings
Minimum Deposit$10$0
Min. Balance for APY$0$0
Monthly Fee$0$0
Branch AccessNoneYes
Account Type
Online Only
Online & Branches
Direct Deposit Req.NoneNone
Checking BundleNoNo
Mobile Apps
iOS4.8
Android4.7
iOS4.9
Android4.6
BBB RatingA-A+
Important Notes-Eligibility restricted to select states.
Next Steps

📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 9 Months Analysis
MetricBettermentPNC
Cash ReservePNC High Yield SavingsStandard Savings
Current APY
3.50%3.53%0.03%
Trend
Stable Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-5.6-3.80.2
Days Since Change
3927223
9-Month High
4.00%3.95%0.03%
9-Month Low
3.50%3.53%0.01%
Adjustments / Mo
0.210.320.11
Volatility Score
0.0510.0380.305
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 281-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 3.50% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Betterment vs Affirm3.60%$0
Betterment vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Betterment vs American Express3.40%$0
Betterment vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Betterment vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Betterment vs Barclays4.00%$0
Betterment vs Bask Bank3.90%$0
Betterment vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Betterment vs Bread Savings4.10%$100
Betterment vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
Betterment vs Capital One3.40%$0
Betterment vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Betterment vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Betterment vs Chime3.50%$0
Betterment vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Betterment vs Citibank3.30%$0
Betterment vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Betterment vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Betterment vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Betterment vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.75%$0
Betterment vs Elevault4.08%$0
Betterment vs EverBank4.05%$0
Betterment vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Betterment vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Betterment vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Betterment vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Betterment vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Betterment vs Ivy Bank4.25%$2,500
Betterment vs LendingClub4.20%$0
Betterment vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Betterment vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Betterment vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Betterment vs Openbank4.20%$500
Betterment vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
Betterment vs Pibank4.60%$0
Betterment vs Presidential Bank4.00%$5,000
Betterment vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
Betterment vs Salem Five Direct3.71%$10
Betterment vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
Betterment vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Betterment vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
Betterment vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Betterment vs TD Bank2.75%$0
Betterment vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Betterment vs UFB Direct3.71%$5000
Betterment vs Upgrade3.05%$0
Betterment vs Valley Direct4.10%$1,000
Betterment vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Betterment vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
Betterment vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
Betterment vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Betterment vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10
Compare PNC's APY of 3.53% with other banks