High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

Chime vs. Sallie Mae Bank

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

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated December 10, 2025

Chime

Chime High-Yield Savings Account

Up to
3.50%
APY
Dec 10, 2025
FDIC InsuredDirect Deposit ReqChecking BundleNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
Range: 1.00% – 3.50%
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$0
Min. Balance$0.01
Maintenance Fee$0
Compound FreqDaily
Direct DepositRequired (You need to receive a qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more within the preceding 34 days)
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured
EligibilityUnited States
Mobile Ratings
iOS:4.8Android:4.7
BBB Rating
A+(BBB Accredited)

Rate Stability

Rate Adjusted
-0.25%
Since 90 days ago
Read Bank Overview

Sallie Mae Bank

High-Yield Savings Account

3.90%
APY
Dec 10, 2025
FDIC InsuredNo Minimums
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$0
Min. Balance$0
Maintenance Fee$0
Compound FreqDaily
Direct DepositNot required
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured(Cert: 58177)
EligibilityUnited States
Mobile Ratings
iOS:1.5Android:1.6
BBB Rating
A+(BBB Accredited)

Rate Stability

Very StableNo rate changes in last 90 days
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

Chime vs. Sallie Mae Bank Savings Calculator

Calculations based on current APY for Chime High-Yield Savings Account and High-Yield Savings Account
$
$

Sallie Mae Bank earns $256.1 more than Chime.

Chime

Chime High-Yield Savings Account

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

Sallie Mae Bank

High-Yield Savings Account

3.90% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$2,370.20(11.6%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $5,000

Projected Balance

$20,370.20

Effective APY
3.90%
View Details

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

Comparison Analysis

Comparing Chime vs. Sallie Mae Bank

Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Why Chime?

  • ✓Higher rated iOS app (4.8 vs 1.5)
  • ✓Higher rated Android app (4.7 vs 1.6)

Why Sallie Mae Bank?

  • ✓Higher potential APY (3.90% vs 3.50%) on all balances
  • ✓No checking account or direct deposit required

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
Sallie Mae Bank

Sallie Mae Bank's High-Yield Savings Account earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $390 vs $350/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
Sallie Mae Bank

Sallie Mae Bank's High-Yield Savings Account pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $975 vs $875/yr).

Best for Simplicity
Sallie Mae Bank

Sallie Mae Bank's High-Yield Savings Account offers 3.90% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

Best Mobile App Experience
Chime

Chime offers an iOS app rated 4.8 (vs. 1.5) and Android app rated 4.7 (vs. 1.6)

Shared Benefits

Both offer monthly maintenance-free account options Both banks have options with $0 opening deposit Available Nationwide Available to New & Existing Customers
The Bottom Line on APY (Interest Only)

Over a 1-year period, Sallie Mae Bank's High-Yield Savings Account pays $40 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Chime's Chime High-Yield Savings Account.

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

ChimeSallie Mae Bank
Automated Data Audit

Executive Summary

Sallie Mae Bank offers a High-Yield Savings Account with a competitive APY of 3.90%, making it the superior option compared to Chime's High-Yield Savings Account, which provides an APY of 3.50%. Sallie Mae's account stands out for its simplicity, requiring no direct deposit and having no maintenance fees, while also being online-only. In contrast, Chime's account necessitates a qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more within the preceding 34 days. Both accounts are online-only and have no minimum deposit requirements, but Sallie Mae Bank is the clear winner based on the higher APY.

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.

ExploreChimeExploreSallie Mae Bank

Top Market Contenders

See who beats both Chime and Sallie Mae Bank.

Compare All High-Yield Savings Accounts
Pibank
Pibank Savings
FDIC InsuredNo Minimums
4.60% APY
+0.70% vs Sallie Mae Bank
Better Rate
Pibank vs ChimePibank vs Sallie Mae Bank
Axos Bank
Axos ONE
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
4.31% APY
+0.41% vs Sallie Mae Bank
Better Rate
Axos Bank vs ChimeAxos Bank vs Sallie Mae Bank
TIMBR
Premium Savings Account
FDIC InsuredLow Minimums
4.40% APY
+0.50% vs Sallie Mae Bank
Better Rate
TIMBR vs ChimeTIMBR vs Sallie Mae Bank
FeatureChimeSallie Mae Bank
APY
3.50%
Range: 1.00% - 3.50%
Verified: 12/10/2025
↘︎ 0.25%90d Change
3.90%
Verified: 12/10/2025
Stable (90d)
Product NameChime High-Yield Savings AccountHigh-Yield Savings Account
Minimum Deposit$0$0
Min. Balance for APY$0.01$0
Monthly Fee$0$0
Branch AccessNoneNone
Account Type
Online Only
Online Only
Direct Deposit Req.
RequiredYou need to receive a qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more within the preceding 34 days
None
Checking Bundle YesNo
Mobile Apps
iOS4.8
Android4.7
iOS1.5
Android1.6
BBB RatingA+A+
Next Steps
- View Details
- View Details

📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 10 Months Analysis
MetricChimeSallie Mae Bank
Chime High-Yield Savings AccountHigh-Yield Savings Account
Current APY
3.50%3.90%
Trend
 Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
11.90.0
Days Since Change
55313
10-Month High
3.75%3.90%
10-Month Low
2.00%3.90%
Adjustments / Mo
0.190.00
Volatility Score
0.1920.000
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 314-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 Alternatives

Compare Chime vs...

Comparing against other Bundled Accounts

vs Chime
Axos BankChecking Bundle
4.31%
APY
vs Chime
SoFi BankChecking Bundle
4.30%
APY
vs Chime
Presidential BankChecking Bundle
4.00%
APY

Compare Sallie Mae Bank vs...

Comparing against Standard Savings

vs Sallie Mae Bank
PibankNo Bundle Req
4.60%
APY
vs Sallie Mae Bank
TIMBRNo Bundle Req
4.40%
APY
vs Sallie Mae Bank
Newtek BankNo Bundle Req
4.35%
APY

More Comparisons

Compare Chime's APY of 3.50% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Chime vs Affirm3.60%$0
Chime vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Chime vs American Express3.40%$0
Chime vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Chime vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Chime vs Barclays4.00%$0
Chime vs Bask Bank3.90%$0
Chime vs Betterment3.50%$10
Chime vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Chime vs Bread Savings4.10%$100
Chime vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
Chime vs Capital One3.40%$0
Chime vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Chime vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Chime vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Chime vs Citibank3.30%$0
Chime vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Chime vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Chime vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Chime vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.75%$0
Chime vs Elevault4.08%$0
Chime vs EverBank4.05%$0
Chime vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Chime vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Chime vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Chime vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Chime vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Chime vs Ivy Bank4.25%$2,500
Chime vs LendingClub4.20%$0
Chime vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Chime vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Chime vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Chime vs Openbank4.20%$500
Chime vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
Chime vs Pibank4.60%$0
Chime vs PNC3.53%$0
Chime vs Presidential Bank4.00%$5,000
Chime vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
Chime vs Salem Five Direct3.71%$10
Chime vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Chime vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
Chime vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Chime vs TD Bank2.75%$0
Chime vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Chime vs UFB Direct3.71%$5000
Chime vs Upgrade3.05%$0
Chime vs Valley Direct4.10%$1,000
Chime vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Chime vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
Chime vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
Chime vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Chime vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10
Compare Sallie Mae Bank's APY of 3.90% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Sallie Mae Bank vs Affirm3.60%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs American Express3.40%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs Barclays4.00%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Bask Bank3.90%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Betterment3.50%$10
Sallie Mae Bank vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Bread Savings4.10%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
Sallie Mae Bank vs Capital One3.40%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs Citibank3.30%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Sallie Mae Bank vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Sallie Mae Bank vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.75%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Elevault4.08%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs EverBank4.05%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Sallie Mae Bank vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Sallie Mae Bank vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Ivy Bank4.25%$2,500
Sallie Mae Bank vs LendingClub4.20%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Sallie Mae Bank vs Openbank4.20%$500
Sallie Mae Bank vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs Pibank4.60%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs PNC3.53%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Presidential Bank4.00%$5,000
Sallie Mae Bank vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs Salem Five Direct3.71%$10
Sallie Mae Bank vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Sallie Mae Bank vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs TD Bank2.75%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Sallie Mae Bank vs UFB Direct3.71%$5000
Sallie Mae Bank vs Upgrade3.05%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Valley Direct4.10%$1,000
Sallie Mae Bank vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Sallie Mae Bank vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10