Citibank vs. Synchrony Bank
High-Yield Savings Account Comparison
By Aviel Fahl|Last Updated: November 12, 2025
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Summary of Citibank vs. Synchrony Bank
Key Metrics at a Glance
| Feature | Citibank | Synchrony Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Top Savings APY | 3.35% Citi Accelerate Savings | 3.80% High Yield Savings |
| Minimum to Open | $0 | $0 |
| Minimum Balance for Top APY | $0.01 | $0 |
Citibank
Strengths
- Citi Accelerate Savings has a low minimum balance requirement of $0.01.
- Citi Accelerate Savings offers a competitive APY of 3.35%, up from 3.40% last month.
- Citi has a high App Store rating of 4.9.
Potential Drawbacks
- Citi has a poor BBB rating of D- and is not accredited.
- Citi Accelerate Savings charges a maintenance fee of $4.50 unless balance requirements are met.
- Citi's Google Play rating is lower at 4.8.
Synchrony Bank
Strengths
- Synchrony Bank offers a higher APY of 3.80% for its High Yield Savings account.
- Synchrony Bank has no maintenance fees for its savings account.
- Synchrony Bank's Google Play rating is 4.5.
Potential Drawbacks
- Synchrony Bank has no physical branches for in-person banking.
- Synchrony Bank is not rated by the BBB.
- Synchrony Bank's App Store rating is slightly lower at 4.8.
→ As of November 12, 2025 Citibank offers an APY of 3.35% for its Citi Accelerate Savings account, with a minimum balance of $0.01, compared to Synchrony Bank's 3.80% APY for its High Yield Savings account, with a minimum balance of $0.
→ Synchrony Bank yields $45 more than Citibank on a $10,000 balance after one year. Citibank pays $335, while Synchrony Bank pays $380 - an APY advantage for Synchrony Bank.
→ In addition, Citibank also offers 0.03% APY for the Citi® Savings Account account.
Calculate Savings Growth for Citibank vs Synchrony Bank
Citibank - Citi Accelerate Savings
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $2,018.8 (10.08%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (64.94%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.98%)
Your total balance
$20,018.80
Total balance: $20,018.8
Earnings: $2,018.8
Bank OverviewSynchrony Bank - High Yield Savings
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $2,305.9 (11.36%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (64.02%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.62%)
Your total balance
$20,305.90
Total balance: $20,305.9
Earnings: $2,305.9
Bank OverviewWith a $5,000 initial deposit and $13,000 in total contributions over 5 years, Citibank's total earnings would be $287.1 lower than Synchrony Bank's total earnings.
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Compare Citibank's vs Synchrony Bank's Savings Accounts
| Citibank | Synchrony Bank | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Citi Accelerate Savings | Citi® Savings Account | vs | High Yield Savings |
| APY | 3.35% (as of 11/12/2025) | 0.03% (as of 11/12/2025) | 3.80% (as of 11/12/2025) | |
| Bundled Account | No | No | No | |
| FDIC-insured | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Online Only | Yes | No | Yes | |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily | Daily | |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Minimum Balance for APY | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0 | |
| Maintenance Fee | $4.50. Waived for average monthly balances > $500 | $4.50. Waived for average monthly balances > $500 | $0 | |
| Direct Deposit Required | No | No | No | |
| Eligibility | Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida (select parts), Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois (select parts), Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia (partial), Washington (partial), Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming. | California, Connecticut, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Virginia (partial), Washington D.C., and select parts of Florida and Illinois. In addition, promotional rates may be available if requirements are met. | United States | |
| App Store Rating | 4.9/5 | 4.8/5 | ||
| Google Play Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.5/5 | ||
| BBB Rating | D- | Not Rated | ||
Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 9 Months)
| Citibank | Synchrony Bank | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Citi® Savings Account | Citi Accelerate Savings | vs | High Yield Savings |
| Latest APY | 0.03 % | 3.35 % | 3.80 % | |
| Trend | Sideways | Sideways | Sideways | |
| Slope (bps/mo) | 0.0 | -4.8 | -3.1 | |
| Rate Changes / Mo | 0.00 | 0.52 | 0.21 | |
| Days Since Last Change | 289 | 9 | 163 | |
| High (-9 m) | 0.03 % | 3.80 % | 4.10 % | |
| Low (-9 m) | 0.03 % | 3.35 % | 3.80 % | |
| Draw-down from High | 0.0 % | -11.8 % | -7.3 % | |
| Volatility (CV) | 0.000 | 0.039 | 0.026 | |
APY Insights Glossary
- Latest APY
- Most recent advertised annual-percentage yield.
- Trend
- Direction over the last 9 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 (-9 m)
- Highest APY in the last 289 days.
- Low (-9 m)
- Lowest APY in the last 289 days.
- Draw-down from High
- How far today sits below the 9-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.