High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

Betterment vs. Santander Bank

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

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated December 10, 2025

Betterment

Cash Reserve

3.50%
APY
Dec 10, 2025
FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$10
Min. Balance$0
Maintenance Fee$0
Compound FreqN/A
Direct DepositNot required
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured
EligibilityUnited States
Mobile Ratings
iOS:4.8Android:4.7
BBB Rating
A-(BBB Accredited)

Rate Stability

Rate Adjusted
-0.50%
Since 90 days ago
Read Bank Overview

Santander Bank

Santander Savings

0.01%
APY
Dec 10, 2025
FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppIn-Person Access
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$25
Min. Balance$0
Maintenance Fee$1
Compound FreqDaily
Direct DepositNot required
Branch AccessPrimarily in the Northeast and Miami, Florida
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured(Cert: 29950)
EligibilityUnited States
Mobile Ratings
iOS:4.8Android:4.0
BBB Rating
Not Rated(Not BBB Accredited)

Rate Stability

Rate Adjusted
-0.02%
Since 90 days ago
Read Bank Overview

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. Santander Bank Savings Calculator

Calculations based on current APY for Cash Reserve and Santander Savings
$
$

Betterment earns $2,108.4 more than Santander Bank.

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%
View Details

Santander Bank

Santander Savings

0.01% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$5.70(0.0%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $5,000

Projected Balance

$18,005.70

Effective APY
0.01%
View Details

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

Comparison Analysis

Comparing Betterment vs. Santander Bank

Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Why Betterment?

  • ✓Higher potential APY (3.50% vs 0.01%) on all balances
  • ✓No checking account or direct deposit required
  • ✓Higher rated Android app (4.7 vs 4.0)

Why Santander Bank?

  • ✓Physical branch access (Primarily in the Northeast and Miami, Florida)

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
Betterment

Betterment's Cash Reserve earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $350 vs $1/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
Betterment

Betterment's Cash Reserve pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $875 vs $3/yr).

Best for Simplicity
Betterment

Betterment's Cash Reserve offers 3.50% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

Shared Benefits

Available Nationwide Available to New & Existing Customers
The Bottom Line on APY (Interest Only)

Over a 1-year period, Betterment's Cash Reserve pays $349 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Santander Bank's Santander Savings.

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

Santander BankBetterment
Automated Data Audit

Executive Summary

Betterment offers a competitive savings product, the Cash Reserve, which provides a notable APY of 3.50%. This online-only account requires a minimum deposit of just $10 and has no maintenance fees or direct deposit requirements, making it a straightforward option for savers. In contrast, Santander Bank's savings account, while available through traditional channels, offers a significantly lower APY of 0.01% with a minimum deposit of $25 and a $1 monthly maintenance fee. Therefore, Betterment's Cash Reserve stands out as the superior choice for those seeking higher returns on their savings.

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.

ExploreBettermentExploreSantander Bank

Stop Losing Interest

See who beats both Betterment and Santander Bank.

Compare All High-Yield Savings Accounts
Pibank
Pibank Savings
FDIC InsuredNo Minimums
4.60% APY
+1.10% vs Betterment
Better Rate
Pibank vs BettermentPibank vs Santander Bank
Axos Bank
Axos ONE
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
4.31% APY
+0.81% vs Betterment
Better Rate
Axos Bank vs BettermentAxos Bank vs Santander Bank
TIMBR
Premium Savings Account
FDIC InsuredLow Minimums
4.40% APY
+0.90% vs Betterment
Better Rate
TIMBR vs BettermentTIMBR vs Santander Bank
FeatureBettermentSantander Bank
APY
3.50%
Verified: 12/10/2025
↘︎ 0.50%90d Change
0.01%
Verified: 12/10/2025
↘︎ 0.02%90d Change
Product NameCash ReserveSantander Savings
Minimum Deposit$10$25
Min. Balance for APY$0$0
Monthly Fee$0$1
Branch AccessNoneYes
Account Type
Online Only
Online & Branches
Direct Deposit Req.NoneNone
Checking BundleNoNo
Mobile Apps
iOS4.8
Android4.7
iOS4.8
Android4.0
BBB RatingA-Not Rated
Next Steps
- View Details
- View Details

📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 11 Months Analysis
MetricBettermentSantander Bank
Cash ReserveSantander Savings
Current APY
3.50%0.01%
Trend
 Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-4.6-0.2
Days Since Change
3982
11-Month High
4.00%0.03%
11-Month Low
3.50%0.01%
Adjustments / Mo
0.190.09
Volatility Score
0.0490.384
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 322-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.

Compare Similar High-Yield Accounts

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APY
vs Betterment
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APY
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Compare Santander Bank vs...

Comparing against Standard Savings

vs Santander Bank
PibankNo Bundle Req
4.60%
APY
vs Santander Bank
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APY
vs Santander Bank
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Checking Bundle
Axos Bank View Details
4.31%
APY
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APY
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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 PNC3.53%$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 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 Santander Bank's APY of 0.01% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Santander Bank vs Affirm3.60%$0
Santander Bank vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Santander Bank vs American Express3.40%$0
Santander Bank vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Santander Bank vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Santander Bank vs Barclays4.00%$0
Santander Bank vs Bask Bank3.90%$0
Santander Bank vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Santander Bank vs Bread Savings4.10%$100
Santander Bank vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
Santander Bank vs Capital One3.40%$0
Santander Bank vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Santander Bank vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Santander Bank vs Chime3.50%$0
Santander Bank vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Santander Bank vs Citibank3.30%$0
Santander Bank vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Santander Bank vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Santander Bank vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Santander Bank vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.75%$0
Santander Bank vs Elevault4.08%$0
Santander Bank vs EverBank4.05%$0
Santander Bank vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Santander Bank vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Santander Bank vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Santander Bank vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Santander Bank vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Santander Bank vs Ivy Bank4.25%$2,500
Santander Bank vs LendingClub4.20%$0
Santander Bank vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Santander Bank vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Santander Bank vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Santander Bank vs Openbank4.20%$500
Santander Bank vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
Santander Bank vs Pibank4.60%$0
Santander Bank vs PNC3.53%$0
Santander Bank vs Presidential Bank4.00%$5,000
Santander Bank vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
Santander Bank vs Salem Five Direct3.71%$10
Santander Bank vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
Santander Bank vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
Santander Bank vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Santander Bank vs TD Bank2.75%$0
Santander Bank vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Santander Bank vs UFB Direct3.71%$5000
Santander Bank vs Upgrade3.05%$0
Santander Bank vs Valley Direct4.10%$1,000
Santander Bank vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Santander Bank vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
Santander Bank vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
Santander Bank vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Santander Bank vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10