High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

Citibank vs. Newtek Bank

Comparing Citibank and Newtek Bank for high-yield savings: Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings pays 3.15% APY while Newtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings pays 4.20% APY.

See how they compare on rate stability, mobile app ratings, and more below.

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated April 8, 2026

The Bottom Line

Who pays more interest on $10,000? Newtek Bank pays $105 more than Citibank annually ($420 vs $315).

Choose Citibank if you're an Android user, or you want Zelle for quick transfers. Choose Newtek Bank if getting the best rate matters most, or BBB rating matters to you.

Important Considerations

Citibank's Accelerate Savings is only available in select states where Citi has no branch presence. Check eligibility before applying.

Comparison of Citibank vs Newtek Bank savings accounts
Metric

Citibank

Citi Accelerate Savings

Apr 8, 2026

Newtek Bank

Personal High Yield Savings

Apr 8, 2026
APY3.15%4.20%
Est. Earnings
$5,000+$158
$10,000+$315
$25,000+$788
$5,000+$210
$10,000+$420
$25,000+$1,050
Min Deposit
$0$0.01

Snapshot view. Rates subject to change.

Terms
Eligibility restricted to select states.-
Features
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppZelle® SupportedDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often

Prefer In-Person Banking?

Both of these banks are online-only. If you need physical branch access, check out our list of high-yield accounts with brick-and-mortar locations.

Find Branch Access

Comparison Analysis

Comparing Citibank vs. Newtek Bank

Updated: Apr 8, 2026

Executive Summary

Newtek Bank offers a superior savings option with its Personal High Yield Savings account, boasting an APY of 4.20%. This account is online-only and requires a minimum deposit of just $0.01, with no maintenance fees, making it a straightforward choice for savers. In comparison, Citibank's top product, the Citi Accelerate Savings, provides a lower APY of 3.15% and is also online-only, with eligibility restricted to select states. While Citibank's account has a maintenance fee that can be waived with a higher balance, Newtek Bank's offering stands out for its simplicity and higher returns, particularly for both small and larger deposits.

The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records

* This content is provided for informational purposes only; always verify details with the provider.

Why Citibank?

  • Physical branch access (U.S. branches are concentrated in six metropolitan areas, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Miami.)
  • Higher rated iOS app (4.9 vs 4.5)
  • Higher rated Android app (4.8 vs 3.9)
  • Fast transfers via Zelle® (up to $2,500 a day)

Why Newtek Bank?

  • Higher potential APY (4.20% vs 3.15%) on all balances
  • Available Nationwide

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
Newtek Bank

Newtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $420 vs $315/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
Newtek Bank

Newtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $1050 vs $788/yr).

Best for Simplicity
Newtek Bank

Newtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings offers 4.20% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

Best Mobile App Experience
Citibank

Citibank offers an iOS app rated 4.9 (vs. 4.5) and Android app rated 4.8 (vs. 3.9)

Shared Benefits

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

Over a 1-year period, Newtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings pays $105 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings.

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

CitibankNewtek Bank
Verify At
Citibank

Non-sponsored link to official site

Verify At
Newtek Bank

Non-sponsored link to official site

Top Market Contenders

Synchrony Bank
3.50% APY
Axos Bank
4.21% APY

Citibank vs. Newtek Bank Savings Calculator

Calculations based on current APY for Citi Accelerate Savings and Personal High Yield Savings
$
$

You earn $105 more with Newtek Bank than Citibank on a $10,000 initial deposit for 1 year*.

*This calculation assumes that APYs remain unchanged for 1 year, and takes into account known promo rate periods, but does not factor in bonuses. You can see how often these banks have changed their rates in the Compare Savings Rates Over Time section below.

Citibank

Citi Accelerate Savings

3.15% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$315.00(3.1%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,315.00

Effective APY
3.15%

Newtek Bank

Personal High Yield Savings

4.20% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$420.00(4.0%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,420.00

Effective APY
4.20%

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

Still banking with Chase, Bank of America, or Wells Fargo?

On a $10,000 balance, you're missing out on at least $314 per year in interest.

Both Citibank and Newtek Bank dramatically outperform the typical 0.01% APY at traditional big banks.

Big banks currently pay 0.01% APY on savings vs 3.15%+ here
FeatureCitibankNewtek Bank
APY
3.15%
Verified: 4/8/2026
↘︎ 0.15%90d Change
4.20%
Verified: 4/8/2026
↘︎ 0.15%90d Change
Product NameCiti Accelerate SavingsPersonal High Yield Savings
Minimum Deposit$0$0.01
Min. Balance for APY$0.01$0.01
Monthly Fee$4.50. Waived for average monthly balances > $500$0
Compound FrequencyDailyDaily
Branch AccessNoneNone
Account Type
Online Only
Online Only
Physical BranchesU.S. branches are concentrated in six metropolitan areas, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Miami.None
Direct Deposit Req.NoneNone
Checking BundleNoNo
Mobile Apps
iOS4.9
Android4.8
iOS4.5
Android3.9
FDIC Insured
Zelle® Support
Available
Limit: $2,500/dayTiered limits based on account status (Citigold higher).
Not Supported
BBB RatingD-A+
Important NotesEligibility restricted to select states.-
Next Steps
Visit Site

Non-sponsored link to official site

Visit Site

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📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 12 Months Analysis
MetricCitibankNewtek Bank
Citi® Savings AccountCiti Accelerate SavingsPersonal High Yield Savings
Current APY
0.03%3.15%4.20%
Trend
Stable Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-0.0-4.6-1.2
Days Since Change
3652961
12-Month High
0.03%3.70%4.45%
12-Month Low
0.03%3.15%4.20%
Adjustments / Mo
0.000.580.16
Volatility Score
0.0000.0480.014
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 365-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.

More Comparisons

Compare Citibank's APY of 3.15% with other banks
Compare Newtek Bank's APY of 4.20% with other banks