Citibank vs. PNC
Comparing Citibank and PNC for high-yield savings: Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings pays 3.20% APY while PNC's PNC High Yield Savings pays 3.30% APY.
See how they compare on rate stability, mobile app ratings, and more below.
The Bottom Line
Who pays more interest on $10,000? PNC pays $10 more than Citibank annually ($330 vs $320).
Choose PNC if BBB rating matters to you, or you value in-person banking.
Important Considerations
Citibank's Accelerate Savings is only available in select states where Citi has no branch presence. Check eligibility before applying.
| Metric | CitibankCiti Accelerate Savings Feb 21, 2026 | PNCPNC High Yield Savings Feb 21, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.20% | 3.30% |
Est. Earnings | $5,000+$160 $10,000+$320 $25,000+$800 | $5,000+$165 $10,000+$330 $25,000+$825 |
Min Deposit | $0 | $0 |
Snapshot view. Rates subject to change. | ||
Terms | Eligibility restricted to select states. | Eligibility restricted to select states. |
| Features | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppZelle® SupportedDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppIn-Person AccessZelle® SupportedRate Changes Often |
Market Reality Check
Both of these banks offer rates below the current top tier. The best rates we track are currently above 4.15% APY.
Executive Summary
Citibank offers the Citi Accelerate Savings account with a competitive APY of 3.20%, but eligibility is restricted to select states. As a secondary option, they also provide the Citi® Savings Account with a significantly lower APY of 0.03%. In comparison, PNC's High Yield Savings account leads with a slightly higher APY of 3.30%, also with state-specific eligibility requirements. PNC's Standard Savings account yields 0.03%, making the rates between the two banks comparable for their lower-tier products. Both banks do not require direct deposit for their savings accounts.
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?
No distinct advantages found vs PNC.
Why PNC?
No distinct advantages found vs Citibank.
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period, PNC's PNC High Yield Savings pays $10 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.
Non-sponsored link to official site
Non-sponsored link to official site
Top Market Contenders
Citibank vs. PNC Savings Calculator
You earn $10 more with PNC 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
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$320.00(3.1%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,320.00
PNC
PNC High Yield Savings
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$330.00(3.2%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,330.00
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 $319 per year in interest.
Both Citibank and PNC dramatically outperform the typical 0.01% APY at traditional big banks.
| Feature | Citibank | PNC |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.20% Verified: 2/21/2026 ↘︎ 0.10%90d Change | 3.30% Verified: 2/21/2026 ↘︎ 0.23%90d Change |
| Product Name | Citi Accelerate Savings | PNC High Yield Savings |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $0.01 | $0 |
| Monthly Fee | $4.50. Waived for average monthly balances > $500 | $0 |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Monthly |
| Branch Access | None | Yes |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online & Branches |
| Physical Branches | U.S. branches are concentrated in six metropolitan areas, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Miami. | Multiple branches in AL, AZ, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MA, MI, MO, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI |
| Direct Deposit Req. | None | None |
| Checking Bundle | No | No |
| Mobile Apps | ||
| FDIC Insured | YesVerify FDIC | YesVerify FDIC |
| Zelle® Support | Available Limit: $2,500/dayTiered limits based on account status (Citigold higher). | Available Limit: $2,000/dayCentral to Virtual Wallet suite. |
| BBB Rating | D- | A+ |
| Important Notes | Eligibility restricted to select states. | Eligibility restricted to select states. |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteVerify at Citibank Non-sponsored link to official site | Visit SiteVerify at PNC Non-sponsored link to official site |
📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Citibank | PNC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citi® Savings Account | Citi Accelerate Savings | PNC High Yield Savings | Standard Savings | |
Current APY | 0.03% | 3.20% | 3.30% | 0.03% |
Trend | Stable | Stable | Stable | Stable |
Velocity (bps/mo) | -0.0 | -4.6 | -6.8 | 0.1 |
Days Since Change | 354 | 25 | 66 | 296 |
12-Month High | 0.03% | 3.80% | 3.95% | 0.03% |
12-Month Low | 0.03% | 3.20% | 3.30% | 0.01% |
Adjustments / Mo | 0.00 | 0.59 | 0.34 | 0.08 |
Volatility Score | 0.000 | 0.047 | 0.073 | 0.264 |
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)
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High Rates (With Checking Bundle)
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More Comparisons
Compare Citibank's APY of 3.20% with other banks
Compare PNC's APY of 3.30% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| PNC vs Ally Bank | 3.20% | $0 |
| PNC vs American Express | 3.30% | $0 |
| PNC vs Axos Bank | 4.21% | $0 |
| PNC vs Bank of America | 0.01% | $100 |
| PNC vs Barclays | 3.85% | $0 |
| PNC vs Capital One | 3.30% | $0 |
| PNC vs Chase Bank | 0.01% | $0 |
| PNC vs Chime | 3.00% | $0 |
| PNC vs CIT Bank | 3.75% | $100 |
| PNC vs Discover Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| PNC vs EverBank | 3.90% | $0 |
| PNC vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.65% | $0 |
| PNC vs Newtek Bank | 4.20% | $0.01 |
| PNC vs Openbank | 4.09% | $500 |
| PNC vs Pibank | 4.60% | $0 |
| PNC vs SoFi Bank | 4.00% | $0 |
| PNC vs Synchrony Bank | 3.50% | $0 |
| PNC vs Varo Bank | 5.00% | $0 |
| PNC vs Wealthfront | 3.95% | $0 |
| PNC vs Wells Fargo | 0.05% | $25 |