Citibank vs. Santander Bank
Comparing Citibank and Santander Bank for savings: Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings pays 3.20% APY while Santander Bank's Santander Savings pays 0.01% APY.
See how they compare on rate stability, mobile app ratings, and more below.
The Bottom Line
Who pays more interest on $10,000? Citibank pays $319 more than Santander Bank annually ($320 vs $1).
Choose Citibank if getting the best rate matters most, or you're an Android user. Choose Santander Bank 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 | Santander BankSantander Savings Jan 29, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.20% | 0.01% |
Est. Earnings | $5,000+$160 $10,000+$320 $25,000+$800 | $5,000+$1 $10,000+$1 $25,000+$3 |
Min Deposit | $0 | $25 |
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 AppIn-Person AccessZelle® SupportedDaily CompoundingRate 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. Santander Bank
Executive Summary
Citibank offers a competitive savings option with its Citi Accelerate Savings account, providing a notable 3.20% APY with no direct deposit requirement and a minimum deposit of $0.01, although eligibility is restricted to select states. In contrast, Santander Bank's savings account yields only 0.01% APY, making Citibank the clear winner in terms of returns. While Santander's account has a minimum deposit of $25 and a $1 maintenance fee, it does not come close to matching the high interest rate offered by Citibank. For those eligible, the Citi Accelerate Savings account stands out as the superior choice.
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?
- ✓Higher potential APY (3.20% vs 0.01%) on all balances
- ✓No checking account or direct deposit required
- ✓Higher rated Android app (4.8 vs 4.1)
Why Santander Bank?
- ✓Available Nationwide
— Key Feature Differences —
Better Returns at $10,000
CitibankCitibank's Citi Accelerate Savings earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $320 vs $1/yr).
Better Returns at $25,000
CitibankCitibank's Citi Accelerate Savings pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $800 vs $3/yr).
Best for Simplicity
CitibankCitibank's Citi Accelerate Savings offers 3.20% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.
Best Mobile App Experience
CitibankCitibank offers an iOS app rated 4.9 (vs. 4.8) and Android app rated 4.8 (vs. 4.1)
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period, Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings pays $319 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Santander Bank's Santander 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. Santander Bank Savings Calculator
You earn $319 more with Citibank than Santander Bank 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
Santander Bank
Santander Savings
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$1.00(0.0%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,001.00
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
| Feature | Citibank | Santander Bank |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.20% Verified: 2/21/2026 ↘︎ 0.10%90d Change | 0.01% Verified: 1/29/2026 Stable (90d) |
| Product Name | Citi Accelerate Savings | Santander Savings |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $0.01 | $0 |
| Monthly Fee | $4.50. Waived for average monthly balances > $500 | $1 |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily |
| 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. | Primarily in the Northeast and Miami, Florida |
| 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 Branch-based retail accounts only. |
| 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 Santander Bank Non-sponsored link to official site |
📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Citibank | Santander Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citi® Savings Account | Citi Accelerate Savings | Santander Savings | |
Current APY | 0.03% | 3.20% | 0.01% |
Trend | Stable | Stable | Stable |
Velocity (bps/mo) | 0.0 | -4.7 | -0.2 |
Days Since Change | 365 | 2 | 132 |
12-Month High | 0.03% | 3.80% | 0.03% |
12-Month Low | 0.03% | 3.20% | 0.01% |
Adjustments / Mo | 0.00 | 0.58 | 0.08 |
Volatility Score | 0.000 | 0.053 | 0.462 |
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 Santander Bank's APY of 0.01% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Santander Bank vs Ally Bank | 3.20% | $0 |
| Santander Bank vs American Express | 3.30% | $0 |
| Santander Bank vs Axos Bank | 4.21% | $0 |
| Santander Bank vs Bank of America | 0.01% | $100 |
| Santander Bank vs Barclays | 3.85% | $0 |
| Santander Bank vs Capital One | 3.30% | $0 |
| Santander Bank vs Chase Bank | 0.01% | $0 |
| Santander Bank vs Chime | 3.00% | $0 |
| Santander Bank vs CIT Bank | 3.75% | $100 |
| Santander Bank vs Discover Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| Santander Bank vs EverBank | 3.90% | $0 |
| Santander Bank vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.65% | $0 |
| Santander Bank vs Newtek Bank | 4.20% | $0.01 |
| Santander Bank vs Openbank | 4.09% | $500 |
| Santander Bank vs Pibank | 4.60% | $0 |
| Santander Bank vs SoFi Bank | 4.00% | $0 |
| Santander Bank vs Synchrony Bank | 3.50% | $0 |
| Santander Bank vs Varo Bank | 5.00% | $0 |
| Santander Bank vs Wealthfront | 3.95% | $0 |
| Santander Bank vs Wells Fargo | 0.05% | $25 |