Chime vs Wells Fargo
High-Yield Savings Accounts Comparison
Last Updated: August 29, 2025
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Summary of Chime vs. Wells Fargo
As of August 29, 2025 Chime offers an APY of 3.75% for its Chime Savings Account account, compared to Wells Fargo's 2.51% APY for its Platinum Savings account.
Chime yields $370 more than Wells Fargo on a $10,000 balance after one year. Chime pays $375, while Wells Fargo pays $5 (with an effective APY of 0.05%) - an APY advantage for Chime.
In addition, Wells Fargo also offers 0.01% APY for the Way2Save Savings account.
Chime
Strengths
- Chime offers a competitive APY of 3.75%, unchanged from 30 days ago.
- Chime has no maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements.
- Chime has a high App Store rating of 4.8.
Potential Drawbacks
- Chime requires a direct deposit of $200 to earn the 3.75% APY.
- Chime does not have physical branches.
Wells Fargo
Strengths
- Wells Fargo has physical branches and ATMs in 36 states and Washington, D.C.
- Wells Fargo's Platinum Savings account offers a tiered APY of 2.51% for high balances.
Potential Drawbacks
- Wells Fargo has a low BBB rating of F and is not accredited.
- Wells Fargo charges a maintenance fee of $12 unless certain balance conditions are met.
Summary: Chime offers a higher APY of 3.75% but requires a direct deposit, while Wells Fargo provides access to physical branches and a tiered savings account with a 2.51% APY for large balances. However, Wells Fargo's lower BBB rating and maintenance fees could be drawbacks. Chime's lack of fees and high app ratings appeal to tech-savvy users, while Wells Fargo may attract those preferring traditional banking services.
Compare Chime's vs Wells Fargo's Savings Accounts
| Chime | Wells Fargo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Chime Savings Account | vs | Way2Save Savings | Platinum Savings |
| APY | 1.25% - 3.75% (as of 8/29/2025) | 0.01% (as of 8/29/2025) | 0.05% - 2.51% (as of 8/29/2025) | |
| Bundled Account | Yes | No | Yes | |
| FDIC-insured | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Online Only | Yes | No | No | |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily | Daily | |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 | $25 | |
| Minimum Balance for APY | $0.01 | $0 | $1,000,000 | |
| Maintenance Fee | $0 | $5. Waived under some circumstances. | $12. Waived with $3,500 minimum daily balance. | |
| Direct Deposit Required | Yes. You need to receive a qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more within the preceding 34 days | No | 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 3.75% APY, you must have a Chime Checking account and receive a direct deposit of at least $200. Otherwise, the APY is 1.25%. | This is a tiered savings account where rates vary based on the balance. The 2.51% APY is available for balances of $1,000,000 or more, and 0.05% APY up to $99,999.99. These APYs require the account is linked to a Wells Fargo Premier checking account. See bank for more tiers and details. | ||
| App Store Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.9/5 | ||
| Google Play Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.8/5 | ||
| BBB Rating | A- | F | ||
Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 2 Months)
| Chime | Wells Fargo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Chime Savings Account | vs | Platinum Savings | Way2Save Savings |
| Latest APY | 3.75 % | 2.51 % | 0.01 % | |
| Trend | Sideways | Sideways | Sideways | |
| Slope (bps/mo) | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.0 | |
| Rate Changes / Mo | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Days Since Last Change | 45 | 45 | 45 | |
| High (-2 m) | 3.75 % | 2.51 % | 0.01 % | |
| Low (-2 m) | 3.75 % | 2.51 % | 0.01 % | |
| Draw-down from High | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | |
| Volatility (CV) | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | |
APY Insights Glossary
- Latest APY
- Most recent advertised annual-percentage yield.
- Trend
- Direction over the last 2 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 (-2 m)
- Highest APY in the last 46 days.
- Low (-2 m)
- Lowest APY in the last 46 days.
- Draw-down from High
- How far today sits below the 2-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.
Calculate Savings Growth for Chime vs Wells Fargo
All calculations are based on APY.
Chime
APY: 3.75%
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $2,273.8 (11.22%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (64.12%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.66%)
Your total balance
$20,273.80
Effective APY: 3.75% (based on your deposit and contributions)
Total balance: $20,273.8
Earnings: $2,273.8
Bank OverviewWells Fargo
APY: 2.51%
⚠️The higher APY only applies once your balance reaches $1,000,000.
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $28.6 (0.16%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (72.11%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (27.73%)
Your total balance
$18,028.60
Effective APY: 0.05% (based on your deposit and contributions)
Total balance: $18,028.6
Earnings: $28.6
Bank OverviewWith a $5,000 initial deposit and $13,000 in total contributions over 5 years, Chime's total earnings would be $2,245.2 higher than Wells Fargo's total earnings.
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
More Comparisons
Compare Chime's APY of 3.75% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Best APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Chime vs Ally Bank | 3.50% | $0 |
| Chime vs American Express | 3.50% | $0 |
| Chime vs Axos Bank | 4.46% | $0 |
| Chime vs Bank of America | 0.01% | $100 |
| Chime vs Barclays | 4.10% | $0 |
| Chime vs Capital One | 3.50% | $0 |
| Chime vs Chase Bank | 0.01% | $0 |
| Chime vs CIT Bank | 4.00% | $100 |
| Chime vs Discover Bank | 3.50% | $0 |
| Chime vs Fitness Bank | 4.85% | $100 |
| Chime vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.65% | $0 |
| Chime vs Presidential Bank | 4.50% | $5,000 |
| Chime vs SoFi Bank | 3.80% | $0 |
| Chime vs Synchrony Bank | 3.80% | $0 |
| Chime vs UFB Direct | 4.21% | $5000 |
| Chime vs Varo Bank | 5.00% | $0 |
Compare Wells Fargo's APY of 2.51% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Best APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo vs Ally Bank | 3.50% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs American Express | 3.50% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Axos Bank | 4.46% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Bank of America | 0.01% | $100 |
| Wells Fargo vs Barclays | 4.10% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Capital One | 3.50% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Chase Bank | 0.01% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs CIT Bank | 4.00% | $100 |
| Wells Fargo vs Discover Bank | 3.50% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Fitness Bank | 4.85% | $100 |
| Wells Fargo vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.65% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Presidential Bank | 4.50% | $5,000 |
| Wells Fargo vs SoFi Bank | 3.80% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Synchrony Bank | 3.80% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs UFB Direct | 4.21% | $5000 |
| Wells Fargo vs Varo Bank | 5.00% | $0 |