Bmo Alto vs. Citizens Access
High-Yield Savings Account Comparison
By Aviel Fahl|Last Updated: November 12, 2025
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Summary of BMO Alto vs. Citizens Access™
Key Metrics at a Glance
| Feature | BMO Alto | Citizens Access™ |
|---|---|---|
| Top Savings APY | 3.25% Savings Account | 3.35% Citizens Access® Savings |
| Minimum to Open | $0 | $0.01 |
| Minimum Balance for Top APY | $0 | $0.01 |
BMO Alto
Strengths
- BMO Alto offers a $0 minimum deposit and balance requirement.
- BMO Alto has an A+ BBB rating and is BBB Accredited.
Potential Drawbacks
- BMO Alto's APY is 3.25%, unchanged from 30 days ago.
Citizens Access™
Strengths
- Citizens Access™ provides a higher APY of 3.35%, though it decreased from 3.50%.
- Citizens Access™ has a 4.8 rating on both the App Store and Google Play.
Potential Drawbacks
- Citizens Access™ requires a minimum deposit and balance of $0.01.
→ As of November 12, 2025 BMO Alto offers an APY of 3.25% for its Savings Account, with a minimum balance of $0, compared to Citizens Access™'s 3.35% APY for its Citizens Access® Savings account, with a minimum balance of $0.01.
→ Citizens Access™ yields $10 more than BMO Alto on a $10,000 balance after one year. BMO Alto pays $325, while Citizens Access™ pays $335 - an APY advantage for Citizens Access™.
Calculate Savings Growth for BMO Alto vs Citizens Access™
BMO Alto - Savings Account
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $1,955.5 (9.80%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (65.14%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (25.06%)
Your total balance
$19,955.50
Total balance: $19,955.5
Earnings: $1,955.5
Bank OverviewCitizens Access™ - Citizens Access® Savings
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $2,018.8 (10.08%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (64.94%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.98%)
Your total balance
$20,018.80
Total balance: $20,018.8
Earnings: $2,018.8
Bank OverviewWith a $5,000 initial deposit and $13,000 in total contributions over 5 years, BMO Alto's total earnings would be $63.3 lower than Citizens Access™'s total earnings.
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Compare BMO Alto's vs Citizens Access™'s Savings Accounts
| BMO Alto | Citizens Access™ | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Savings Account | vs | Citizens Access® Savings |
| APY | 3.25% (as of 11/12/2025) | 3.35% (as of 11/12/2025) | |
| Bundled Account | No | No | |
| FDIC-insured | Yes | Yes | |
| Online Only | Yes | Yes | |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily | |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0.01 | |
| Minimum Balance for APY | $0 | $0.01 | |
| Maintenance Fee | $0 | $0 | |
| Direct Deposit Required | No | No | |
| App Store Rating | No | 4.8/5 | |
| Google Play Rating | No | 4.8/5 | |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ |
Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 9 Months)
| BMO Alto | Citizens Access™ | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Savings Account | vs | Citizens Access® Savings |
| Latest APY | 3.25 % | 3.35 % | |
| Trend | Falling | Sideways | |
| Slope (bps/mo) | -7.2 | -3.5 | |
| Rate Changes / Mo | 0.52 | 0.21 | |
| Days Since Last Change | 55 | 14 | |
| High (-9 m) | 4.10 % | 3.70 % | |
| Low (-9 m) | 3.25 % | 3.35 % | |
| Draw-down from High | -20.7 % | -9.5 % | |
| Volatility (CV) | 0.062 | 0.032 |
APY Insights Glossary
- Latest APY
- Most recent advertised annual-percentage yield.
- Trend
- Direction over the last 9 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 (-9 m)
- Highest APY in the last 289 days.
- Low (-9 m)
- Lowest APY in the last 289 days.
- Draw-down from High
- How far today sits below the 9-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.