High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

Citizens Access™ vs. Sallie Mae Bank

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

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated December 10, 2025

Citizens Access™

Citizens Access® Savings

3.15%
APY
Dec 10, 2025
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$0.01
Min. Balance$0.01
Maintenance Fee$0
Compound FreqDaily
Direct DepositNot required
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured(Cert: 57957)
EligibilityUnited States
Mobile Ratings
BBB Rating

Rate Stability

7 days
↘︎ 0.20%
90 days
↘︎ 0.35%

Sallie Mae Bank

High-Yield Savings Account

3.90%
APY
Dec 10, 2025
FDIC InsuredNo Minimums
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$0
Min. Balance$0
Maintenance Fee$0
Compound FreqDaily
Direct DepositNot required
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured(Cert: 58177)
EligibilityUnited States
Mobile Ratings
BBB Rating

Rate Stability

Very StableNo rate changes in last 90 days

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

Citizens Access™ vs. Sallie Mae Bank Savings Calculator

Calculations based on current APY for Citizens Access® Savings and High-Yield Savings Account
$
$

Sallie Mae Bank earns $477.7 more than Citizens Access™.

Citizens Access™

Citizens Access® Savings

3.15% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$1,892.50(9.5%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $5,000

Projected Balance

$19,892.50

Effective APY
3.15%

Sallie Mae Bank

High-Yield Savings Account

3.90% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$2,370.20(11.6%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $5,000

Projected Balance

$20,370.20

Effective APY
3.90%

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

Comparison Analysis

Comparing Citizens Access™ vs. Sallie Mae Bank

Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Why Citizens Access™?

  • Higher rated iOS app (4.8 vs 1.5)
  • Higher rated Android app (4.9 vs 1.6)

Why Sallie Mae Bank?

  • Higher potential APY (3.90% vs 3.15%) on all balances

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
Sallie Mae Bank

Sallie Mae Bank's High-Yield Savings Account earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $390 vs $315/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
Sallie Mae Bank

Sallie Mae Bank's High-Yield Savings Account pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $975 vs $788/yr).

Best for Simplicity
Sallie Mae Bank

Sallie Mae Bank's High-Yield Savings Account offers 3.90% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

Best Mobile App Experience
Citizens Access™

Citizens Access™ offers an iOS app rated 4.8 (vs. 1.5) and Android app rated 4.9 (vs. 1.6)

Shared Benefits

Both offer monthly maintenance-free account options Available Nationwide Available to New & Existing Customers
The Bottom Line on APY (Interest Only)

Over a 1-year period, Sallie Mae Bank's High-Yield Savings Account pays $75 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Citizens Access™'s Citizens Access® Savings.

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

Citizens Access™Sallie Mae Bank
Automated Data Audit

Executive Summary

Sallie Mae Bank offers a High-Yield Savings Account with a competitive APY of 3.90%, making it the winner in this comparison. This account is online-only and requires no minimum deposit or balance, and it has no maintenance fees, providing a straightforward savings option. In contrast, Citizens Access™ features a Citizens Access® Savings account with a lower APY of 3.15%. While Citizens Access™ has a strong mobile app experience, Sallie Mae Bank's account is noted for better returns, especially on larger deposits. Both accounts do not require direct deposit and are FDIC insured.

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.

Top Market Contenders

See who beats both Citizens Access™ and Sallie Mae Bank.

Compare All High-Yield Savings Accounts
Pibank
Pibank Savings
FDIC InsuredNo Minimums
4.60% APY
+0.70% vs Sallie Mae Bank
Better Rate
Axos Bank
Axos ONE
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
4.31% APY
+0.41% vs Sallie Mae Bank
Better Rate
TIMBR
Premium Savings Account
FDIC InsuredLow Minimums
4.40% APY
+0.50% vs Sallie Mae Bank
Better Rate
FeatureCitizens Access™Sallie Mae Bank
APY
3.15%
Verified: 12/10/2025
↘︎ 0.35%90d Change
3.90%
Verified: 12/10/2025
Stable (90d)
Product NameCitizens Access® SavingsHigh-Yield Savings Account
Minimum Deposit$0.01$0
Min. Balance for APY$0.01$0
Monthly Fee$0$0
Branch AccessNoneNone
Account Type
Online Only
Online Only
Direct Deposit Req.NoneNone
Checking BundleNoNo
Mobile Apps
iOS4.8
Android4.9
iOS1.5
Android1.6
BBB RatingA+A+
Next Steps

📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 10 Months Analysis
MetricCitizens Access™Sallie Mae Bank
Citizens Access® SavingsHigh-Yield Savings Account
Current APY
3.15%3.90%
Trend
Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-3.9-0.1
Days Since Change
0313
10-Month High
3.70%4.00%
10-Month Low
3.15%3.90%
Adjustments / Mo
0.280.09
Volatility Score
0.0380.003
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 317-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 Citizens Access™'s APY of 3.15% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Citizens Access™ vs Affirm3.60%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Citizens Access™ vs American Express3.40%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Citizens Access™ vs Barclays4.00%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Bask Bank3.90%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Betterment3.50%$10
Citizens Access™ vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Bread Savings4.10%$100
Citizens Access™ vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
Citizens Access™ vs Capital One3.40%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Chime3.50%$0
Citizens Access™ vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Citizens Access™ vs Citibank3.30%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Citizens Access™ vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Citizens Access™ vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.75%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Elevault4.08%$0
Citizens Access™ vs EverBank4.05%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Citizens Access™ vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Citizens Access™ vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Citizens Access™ vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Citizens Access™ vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Ivy Bank4.25%$2,500
Citizens Access™ vs LendingClub4.20%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Citizens Access™ vs Openbank4.20%$500
Citizens Access™ vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
Citizens Access™ vs Pibank4.60%$0
Citizens Access™ vs PNC3.53%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Presidential Bank4.00%$5,000
Citizens Access™ vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
Citizens Access™ vs Salem Five Direct3.71%$10
Citizens Access™ vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Citizens Access™ vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Citizens Access™ vs TD Bank2.75%$0
Citizens Access™ vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Citizens Access™ vs UFB Direct3.71%$5000
Citizens Access™ vs Upgrade3.05%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Valley Direct4.10%$1,000
Citizens Access™ vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
Citizens Access™ vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Citizens Access™ vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10
Compare Sallie Mae Bank's APY of 3.90% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Sallie Mae Bank vs Affirm3.60%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs American Express3.40%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs Barclays4.00%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Bask Bank3.90%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Betterment3.50%$10
Sallie Mae Bank vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Bread Savings4.10%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
Sallie Mae Bank vs Capital One3.40%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Chime3.50%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs Citibank3.30%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Sallie Mae Bank vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.75%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Elevault4.08%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs EverBank4.05%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Sallie Mae Bank vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Sallie Mae Bank vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Ivy Bank4.25%$2,500
Sallie Mae Bank vs LendingClub4.20%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Sallie Mae Bank vs Openbank4.20%$500
Sallie Mae Bank vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs Pibank4.60%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs PNC3.53%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Presidential Bank4.00%$5,000
Sallie Mae Bank vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs Salem Five Direct3.71%$10
Sallie Mae Bank vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Sallie Mae Bank vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs TD Bank2.75%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Sallie Mae Bank vs UFB Direct3.71%$5000
Sallie Mae Bank vs Upgrade3.05%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Valley Direct4.10%$1,000
Sallie Mae Bank vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
Sallie Mae Bank vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
Sallie Mae Bank vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Sallie Mae Bank vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10