Citibank vs. Salem Five Direct
Comparing Citibank and Salem Five Direct for high-yield savings: Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings pays 3.20% APY while Salem Five Direct's eOne Savings pays 3.61% APY.
See how they compare on rate stability, mobile app ratings, and more below.
The Bottom Line
Who pays more interest on $10,000? Salem Five Direct pays $41 more than Citibank annually ($361 vs $320).
Choose Citibank if you're an Android user. Choose Salem Five Direct 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.
| Metric | CitibankCiti Accelerate Savings Feb 21, 2026 | Salem Five DirecteOne Savings Feb 21, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.20% | 3.61% |
Est. Earnings | $5,000+$160 $10,000+$320 $25,000+$800 | $5,000+$181 $10,000+$361 $25,000+$903 |
Min Deposit | $0 | $10 |
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 InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppZelle® 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.
Comparison Analysis
Comparing Citibank vs. Salem Five Direct
Executive Summary
Salem Five Direct offers a competitive eOne Savings account with an APY of 3.61%, making it the highest-yielding option compared to Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings, which provides an APY of 3.20%. Salem Five Direct's account has no maintenance fees and requires a minimum deposit of only $10, while Citibank's account has a $4.50 fee that can be waived with a balance over $500. Both accounts are online-only and do not require direct deposit. However, Citibank's eligibility is restricted to select states, while Salem Five Direct has no such restrictions. Overall, Salem Five Direct's eOne Savings account is the more favorable choice for higher returns.
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 Android app (4.8 vs 4.1)
Why Salem Five Direct?
- ✓Higher potential APY (3.61% vs 3.20%) on all balances
- ✓Available Nationwide
— Key Feature Differences —
Better Returns at $10,000
Salem Five DirectSalem Five Direct's eOne Savings earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $361 vs $320/yr).
Better Returns at $25,000
Salem Five DirectSalem Five Direct's eOne Savings pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $903 vs $800/yr).
Best for Simplicity
Salem Five DirectSalem Five Direct's eOne Savings offers 3.61% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.
Best Mobile App Experience
CitibankCitibank offers an iOS app rated 4.9 (vs. 4.7) and Android app rated 4.8 (vs. 4.1)
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period, Salem Five Direct's eOne Savings pays $41 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. Salem Five Direct Savings Calculator
You earn $41 more with Salem Five Direct 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
Salem Five Direct
eOne Savings
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$361.00(3.5%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,361.00
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 Salem Five Direct dramatically outperform the typical 0.01% APY at traditional big banks.
| Feature | Citibank | Salem Five Direct |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.20% Verified: 2/21/2026 ↘︎ 0.10%90d Change | 3.61% Verified: 2/21/2026 ↘︎ 0.10%90d Change |
| Product Name | Citi Accelerate Savings | eOne Savings |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $0.01 | $0.01 |
| Monthly Fee | $4.50. Waived for average monthly balances > $500 | $0 |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Monthly |
| Branch Access | None | None |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online Only |
| Physical Branches | U.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. | 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 Uses shared Salem Five mobile platform. |
| BBB Rating | D- | A- |
| Important Notes | Eligibility restricted to select states. | - |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteVerify at Citibank Non-sponsored link to official site | Visit SiteVerify at Salem Five Direct Non-sponsored link to official site |
📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Citibank | Salem Five Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citi® Savings Account | Citi Accelerate Savings | eOne Savings | |
Current APY | 0.03% | 3.20% | 3.61% |
Trend | Stable | Stable | Stable |
Velocity (bps/mo) | -0.0 | -4.7 | -4.2 |
Days Since Change | 365 | 25 | 66 |
12-Month High | 0.03% | 3.80% | 4.01% |
12-Month Low | 0.03% | 3.20% | 3.61% |
Adjustments / Mo | 0.00 | 0.58 | 0.25 |
Volatility Score | 0.000 | 0.049 | 0.045 |
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)
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More Comparisons
Compare Citibank's APY of 3.20% with other banks
Compare Salem Five Direct's APY of 3.61% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Salem Five Direct vs Ally Bank | 3.20% | $0 |
| Salem Five Direct vs American Express | 3.30% | $0 |
| Salem Five Direct vs Axos Bank | 4.21% | $0 |
| Salem Five Direct vs Bank of America | 0.01% | $100 |
| Salem Five Direct vs Barclays | 3.85% | $0 |
| Salem Five Direct vs Capital One | 3.30% | $0 |
| Salem Five Direct vs Chase Bank | 0.01% | $0 |
| Salem Five Direct vs Chime | 3.00% | $0 |
| Salem Five Direct vs CIT Bank | 3.75% | $100 |
| Salem Five Direct vs Discover Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| Salem Five Direct vs EverBank | 3.90% | $0 |
| Salem Five Direct vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.65% | $0 |
| Salem Five Direct vs Newtek Bank | 4.20% | $0.01 |
| Salem Five Direct vs Openbank | 4.09% | $500 |
| Salem Five Direct vs Pibank | 4.60% | $0 |
| Salem Five Direct vs SoFi Bank | 4.00% | $0 |
| Salem Five Direct vs Synchrony Bank | 3.50% | $0 |
| Salem Five Direct vs Varo Bank | 5.00% | $0 |
| Salem Five Direct vs Wealthfront | 3.95% | $0 |
| Salem Five Direct vs Wells Fargo | 0.05% | $25 |