High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

Citibank vs. Upgrade

Compare rates, requirements, and features side-by-side to find the best option for you.

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated December 10, 2025

Citibank

Citi Accelerate Savings

3.30%
APY
Dec 10, 2025
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$0
Min. Balance$0.01
Maintenance Fee$4.50. Waived for average monthly balances > $500
Compound FreqDaily
Direct DepositNot required
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured(Cert: 7213)
EligibilityAlaska, 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.
Mobile Ratings
BBB Rating

Important Note

Eligibility restricted to select states.

Rate Stability

30 days
↘︎ 0.05%
90 days
↘︎ 0.20%

Upgrade

Premier Savings

3.05%
APY
Dec 10, 2025
FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$0
Min. Balance$1,000
Maintenance Fee$0
Compound FreqDaily
Direct DepositNot required
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured(Cert: 58410)
EligibilityUnited States
Mobile Ratings
BBB Rating

Rate Stability

Rate Adjusted
-0.97%
Since 90 days ago

Market Reality Check

Both of these banks offer rates below the current top tier. The best rates we track are currently above 4.25% APY.

See Top Rates

Citibank vs. Upgrade Savings Calculator

Calculations based on current APY for Citi Accelerate Savings and Premier Savings
$
$

Citibank earns $157.5 more than Upgrade.

Citibank

Citi Accelerate Savings

3.30% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$1,987.10(9.9%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $5,000

Projected Balance

$19,987.10

Effective APY
3.30%

Upgrade

Premier Savings

3.05% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$1,829.60(9.2%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $5,000

Projected Balance

$19,829.60

Effective APY
3.05%

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

Comparison Analysis

Comparing Citibank vs. Upgrade

Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Why Citibank?

  • Higher potential APY (3.30% vs 3.05%) on all balances
  • 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 4.5)

Why Upgrade?

  • Available Nationwide

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
Citibank

Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $330 vs $305/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
Citibank

Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $825 vs $763/yr).

Best for Simplicity
Citibank

Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings offers 3.30% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

Shared Benefits

Both banks have options with $0 opening deposit Available to New & Existing Customers
The Bottom Line on APY (Interest Only)

Over a 1-year period, Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings pays $25 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Upgrade's Premier Savings.

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

UpgradeCitibank
Automated Data Audit

Executive Summary

Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings leads with a competitive APY of 3.30%, providing better returns compared to Upgrade's Premier Savings, which offers a lower APY of 3.05%. Citibank's account has no direct deposit requirement and is available to residents in select states, making it a strong choice for those eligible. In contrast, Upgrade's Premier Savings is online-only and requires a minimum balance of $1,000 but has no maintenance fees. Overall, Citibank's offering is more advantageous for savers looking for higher yields.

Analysis generated based on current Banksparency database records

* AI-generated content provided for informational purposes only. Accuracy is not guaranteed; always verify details with the provider.

Stop Losing Interest

See who beats both Citibank and Upgrade.

Compare All High-Yield Savings Accounts
Pibank
Pibank Savings
FDIC InsuredNo Minimums
4.60% APY
+1.30% vs Citibank
Better Rate
Axos Bank
Axos ONE
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
4.31% APY
+1.01% vs Citibank
Better Rate
TIMBR
Premium Savings Account
FDIC InsuredLow Minimums
4.40% APY
+1.10% vs Citibank
Better Rate
FeatureCitibankUpgrade
APY
3.30%
Verified: 12/10/2025
↘︎ 0.20%90d Change
3.05%
Verified: 12/10/2025
↘︎ 0.97%90d Change
Product NameCiti Accelerate SavingsPremier Savings
Minimum Deposit$0$0
Min. Balance for APY$0.01$1,000
Monthly Fee$4.50. Waived for average monthly balances > $500$0
Branch AccessNoneNone
Account Type
Online Only
Online Only
Direct Deposit Req.NoneNone
Checking BundleNoNo
Mobile Apps
iOS4.9
Android4.8
iOS4.9
Android4.5
BBB RatingD-A+
Important NotesEligibility restricted to select states.-
Next Steps

📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 10 Months Analysis
MetricCitibankUpgrade
Citi® Savings AccountCiti Accelerate SavingsPremier Savings
Current APY
0.03%3.30%3.05%
Trend
Stable Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-0.0-4.9-10.6
Days Since Change
3152239
10-Month High
0.03%3.80%4.14%
10-Month Low
0.03%3.30%3.05%
Adjustments / Mo
0.000.570.28
Volatility Score
0.0000.0440.105
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 316-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 3.30% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Citibank vs Affirm3.60%$0
Citibank vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Citibank vs American Express3.40%$0
Citibank vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Citibank vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Citibank vs Barclays4.00%$0
Citibank vs Bask Bank3.90%$0
Citibank vs Betterment3.50%$10
Citibank vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Citibank vs Bread Savings4.10%$100
Citibank vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
Citibank vs Capital One3.40%$0
Citibank vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Citibank vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Citibank vs Chime3.50%$0
Citibank vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Citibank vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Citibank vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Citibank vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Citibank vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.75%$0
Citibank vs Elevault4.08%$0
Citibank vs EverBank4.05%$0
Citibank vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Citibank vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Citibank vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Citibank vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Citibank vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Citibank vs Ivy Bank4.25%$2,500
Citibank vs LendingClub4.20%$0
Citibank vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Citibank vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Citibank vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Citibank vs Openbank4.20%$500
Citibank vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
Citibank vs Pibank4.60%$0
Citibank vs PNC3.53%$0
Citibank vs Presidential Bank4.00%$5,000
Citibank vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
Citibank vs Salem Five Direct3.71%$10
Citibank vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
Citibank vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Citibank vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
Citibank vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Citibank vs TD Bank2.75%$0
Citibank vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Citibank vs UFB Direct3.71%$5000
Citibank vs Valley Direct4.10%$1,000
Citibank vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Citibank vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
Citibank vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
Citibank vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Citibank vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10
Compare Upgrade's APY of 3.05% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Upgrade vs Affirm3.60%$0
Upgrade vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Upgrade vs American Express3.40%$0
Upgrade vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Upgrade vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Upgrade vs Barclays4.00%$0
Upgrade vs Bask Bank3.90%$0
Upgrade vs Betterment3.50%$10
Upgrade vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Upgrade vs Bread Savings4.10%$100
Upgrade vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
Upgrade vs Capital One3.40%$0
Upgrade vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Upgrade vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Upgrade vs Chime3.50%$0
Upgrade vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Upgrade vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Upgrade vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Upgrade vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Upgrade vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.75%$0
Upgrade vs Elevault4.08%$0
Upgrade vs EverBank4.05%$0
Upgrade vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Upgrade vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Upgrade vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Upgrade vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Upgrade vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Upgrade vs Ivy Bank4.25%$2,500
Upgrade vs LendingClub4.20%$0
Upgrade vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Upgrade vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Upgrade vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Upgrade vs Openbank4.20%$500
Upgrade vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
Upgrade vs Pibank4.60%$0
Upgrade vs PNC3.53%$0
Upgrade vs Presidential Bank4.00%$5,000
Upgrade vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
Upgrade vs Salem Five Direct3.71%$10
Upgrade vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
Upgrade vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Upgrade vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
Upgrade vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Upgrade vs TD Bank2.75%$0
Upgrade vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Upgrade vs UFB Direct3.71%$5000
Upgrade vs Valley Direct4.10%$1,000
Upgrade vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Upgrade vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
Upgrade vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
Upgrade vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Upgrade vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10