Chime vs. Santander Bank
High-Yield Savings Account Comparison
By Aviel Fahl|Last Updated: October 21, 2025
We earn a commission if you open an account through some links on this page.
Summary of Chime vs. Santander Bank
Key Metrics at a Glance
| Feature | Chime | Santander Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Top Savings APY | 3.50% Chime Savings Account | 0.01% Santander Savings |
| Minimum to Open | $0 | $25 |
| Minimum Balance for Top APY | $0.01 | $0 |
| Note | Chime® is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. To open a savings account you must first open a checking account. To qualify for Chime+ with the 3.50% APY, you must have a Chime Checking account and receive a direct deposit of at least $200. Otherwise, the APY is 1.00%. |
Chime
Strengths
- Chime offers a competitive APY of 3.50%, though it decreased from 3.75% last month.
- Chime has an excellent BBB rating of A+.
- Chime has no maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements.
Potential Drawbacks
- Chime requires a direct deposit of $200 or more to qualify for the highest APY.
- Chime has no physical branches.
Santander Bank
Strengths
- Santander Bank has physical branches primarily in the Northeast and Miami.
- Santander does not require direct deposit for its savings account.
Potential Drawbacks
- Santander offers a very low APY of 0.01%, unchanged from last month.
- Santander has a maintenance fee of $1.
Summary: Chime provides a significantly higher APY of 3.50% compared to Santander's 0.01%, but requires a direct deposit for that rate. Santander offers physical branches and no direct deposit requirement, but charges a maintenance fee. Chime also boasts an A+ BBB rating, while Santander is not BBB accredited, reflecting differences in trustworthiness.
→ As of October 21, 2025 Chime offers an APY of 3.50% for its Chime Savings Account, with a minimum balance of $0.01, compared to Santander Bank's 0.01% APY for its Santander Savings account, with a minimum balance of $0.
→ Chime yields $349 more than Santander Bank on a $10,000 balance after one year. Chime pays $350, while Santander Bank pays $1 - an APY advantage for Chime.
Calculate Savings Growth for Chime vs Santander Bank
All calculations are based on APY.
Chime - Chime Savings Account
Top APY: 3.50%
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $2,114.1 (10.51%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (64.63%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.86%)
Your total balance
$20,114.10
Effective APY: 3.50% (based on your deposit and contributions)
Total balance: $20,114.1
Earnings: $2,114.1
Bank OverviewSantander Bank - Santander Savings
Top APY: 0.01%
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $5.7 (0.03%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (72.20%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (27.77%)
Your total balance
$18,005.70
Effective APY: 0.01% (based on your deposit and contributions)
Total balance: $18,005.7
Earnings: $5.7
Bank OverviewWith a $5,000 initial deposit and $13,000 in total contributions over 5 years, Chime's total earnings would be $2,108.4 higher than Santander Bank's total earnings.
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Compare Chime's vs Santander Bank's Savings Accounts
| Chime | Santander Bank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Chime Savings Account | vs | Santander Savings |
| APY | 1.00% - 3.50% (as of 10/21/2025) | 0.01% (as of 10/21/2025) | |
| Bundled Account | Yes | No | |
| FDIC-insured | Yes | Yes | |
| Online Only | Yes | No | |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily | |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 | |
| Minimum Balance for APY | $0.01 | $0 | |
| Maintenance Fee | $0 | $1 | |
| Direct Deposit Required | Yes. You need to receive a qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more within the preceding 34 days | No | |
| Note | Chime® is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. To open a savings account you must first open a checking account. To qualify for Chime+ with the 3.50% APY, you must have a Chime Checking account and receive a direct deposit of at least $200. Otherwise, the APY is 1.00%. | ||
| App Store Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.8/5 | |
| Google Play Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.1/5 | |
| BBB Rating | A+ | Not Rated |
Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 9 Months)
| Chime | Santander Bank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Chime Savings Account | vs | Santander Savings |
| Latest APY | 3.50 % | 0.01 % | |
| Trend | Rising | Sideways | |
| Slope (bps/mo) | 20.4 | -0.1 | |
| Rate Changes / Mo | 0.23 | 0.11 | |
| Days Since Last Change | 5 | 32 | |
| High (-9 m) | 3.75 % | 0.03 % | |
| Low (-9 m) | 2.00 % | 0.01 % | |
| Draw-down from High | -6.7 % | -66.7 % | |
| Volatility (CV) | 0.219 | 0.236 |
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 264 days.
- Low (-9 m)
- Lowest APY in the last 264 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.
More Comparisons
Compare Chime's APY of 3.50% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Chime vs Ally Bank | 3.40% | $0 |
| Chime vs American Express | 3.50% | $0 |
| Chime vs Axos Bank | 4.51% | $0 |
| Chime vs Bank of America | 0.01% | $100 |
| Chime vs Barclays | 4.10% | $0 |
| Chime vs Bask Bank | 4.05% | $0 |
| Chime vs BrioDirect | 4.20% | $5,000 |
| Chime vs Capital One | 3.40% | $0 |
| Chime vs Chase Bank | 0.01% | $0 |
| Chime vs CIT Bank | 3.85% | $100 |
| Chime vs Citizens Access™ | 3.50% | $0.01 |
| Chime vs Discover Bank | 3.40% | $0 |
| Chime vs Elevault | 4.34% | $0 |
| Chime vs EverBank | 4.05% | $0 |
| Chime vs Fitness Bank | 4.75% | $100 |
| Chime vs FNBO Direct | 3.00% | $1 |
| Chime vs FVCbank | 4.10% | $500 |
| Chime vs GO2bank | 4.50% | $0 |
| Chime vs LendingClub | 4.20% | $0 |
| Chime vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.65% | $0 |
| Chime vs Neighbors Bank | 4.50% | $0 |
| Chime vs Newtek Bank | 4.35% | $0 |
| Chime vs Peak Bank | 4.20% | $100 |
| Chime vs Pibank | 4.60% | $0 |
| Chime vs Presidential Bank | 4.50% | $5,000 |
| Chime vs SoFi Bank | 4.50% | $0 |
| Chime vs Synchrony Bank | 3.80% | $0 |
| Chime vs TIMBR | 4.40% | $1,000 |
| Chime vs UFB Direct | 3.96% | $5000 |
| Chime vs Valley Direct | 4.10% | $1,000 |
| Chime vs Varo Bank | 5.00% | $0 |
| Chime vs Wells Fargo | 0.05% | $25 |
| Chime vs Zynlo Bank | 4.20% | $10 |