High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

Citizens Access™ vs. SoFi Bank

Comparing Citizens Access™ and SoFi Bank for high-yield savings: Citizens Access™'s Citizens Access® Savings pays 3.15% APY while SoFi Bank's SoFi Savings pays 4.00% APY (including a 6-month 0.70% promo boost).

Note: SoFi Bank requires a checking account.

See how they compare on rate stability, mobile app ratings, and more below.

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated March 5, 2026

The Bottom Line

Who pays more interest on $10,000? SoFi Bank pays $50 more than Citizens Access™ annually ($365 vs $315).

Choose Citizens Access™ if you want a no-strings-attached account, you want to avoid a promo rate with a scheduled drop, or you're an Android user. Choose SoFi Bank if getting the best rate matters most, or you want Zelle for quick transfers.

Important Considerations

The key difference? SoFi Bank's 4.00% rate includes a promotional bonus for the first 6 months, after which it reverts to the standard rate (currently 3.30%). Citizens Access™'s 3.15% rate has no scheduled drop, though all rates are subject to change.

SoFi Bank requires a checking account to unlock its top savings rate, while Citizens Access™ offers its savings account standalone.

Comparison of Citizens Access™ vs SoFi Bank savings accounts
Metric

Citizens Access™

Citizens Access® Savings

Mar 5, 2026

SoFi Bank

SoFi Savings

Mar 7, 2026
APY3.15%3.30% - 4.00%
Est. Earnings
$5,000+$158
$10,000+$315
$25,000+$788
$5,000+$183
$10,000+$365
$25,000+$913
Min Deposit
$0.01$0

Snapshot view. Rates subject to change.

Terms
-Limited offer: The 4.00% includes a temporary 0.70% APY boost for 6 months. It is available with a direct deposit of regular income, or a $10/month subscription. See terms at SoFi Bank. The savings account comes bundled with a checking account with a 0.50% APY.
Features
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppZelle® SupportedChecking BundleDaily 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.

See Top Rates

Comparison Analysis

Comparing Citizens Access™ vs. SoFi Bank

Updated: Mar 5, 2026

Executive Summary

SoFi Bank's SoFi Savings leads with a competitive 4.00% APY, which includes a temporary 0.70% boost for the first six months, available with a direct deposit or a $10 monthly subscription fee. This account is bundled with a checking account that offers a 0.50% APY. In contrast, Citizens Access™ offers its Citizens Access® Savings account with a solid 3.15% APY, requiring no direct deposit and no maintenance fees, making it a straightforward option for savers. Both accounts are online-only and have no minimum balance requirements, but SoFi's higher APY makes it the more attractive choice for maximizing savings.

The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records

* This content is provided for informational purposes only; always verify details with the provider.

Why Citizens Access™?

  • No checking account or direct deposit required
  • Higher rated Android app (4.8 vs 3.9)

Why SoFi Bank?

  • Earn a $50 bonus with $1,000+ in direct deposits, or $300 with $5,000+.
  • Earn 0.50% APY on checking account with access to 55,000+ fee free ATMs
  • Higher potential APY (4.00% vs 3.15%) on all balances
  • Fast transfers via Zelle®

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
SoFi Bank

SoFi Bank's SoFi Savings earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $365 vs $315/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
SoFi Bank

SoFi Bank's SoFi Savings pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $913 vs $788/yr).

Best for Simplicity
Citizens Access™

Citizens Access™'s Citizens Access® Savings offers 3.15% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

Best for All-in-One Banking
SoFi Bank

SoFi Bank's SoFi Savings pays a superior APY for customers who also open a checking account.

Shared Benefits

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

Over a 1-year period (factoring in a 6-month promo), SoFi Bank's SoFi Savings pays $50 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Citizens Access™'s Citizens Access® Savings.

*SoFi Bank's calculation includes their 6-month introductory promotional rate and subsequent standard rate.

Citizens Access™SoFi Bank
Verify At
Citizens Access™

Non-sponsored link to official site

Verify At
SoFi Bank

Non-sponsored link to official site

Top Market Contenders

Citizens Access™ vs. SoFi Bank Savings Calculator

Calculations based on current APY for Citizens Access® Savings and SoFi Savings
$
$

You earn $49.9 more with SoFi Bank than Citizens Access™ 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.

Citizens Access™

Citizens Access® Savings

3.15% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$315.00(3.1%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,315.00

Effective APY
3.15%

SoFi Bank

SoFi Savings

4.00% APY

Promo Rate: 4.00% for 6 months, then 3.30%.

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$364.90(3.5%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,364.90

Effective APY
3.65%

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 $314 per year in interest.

Both Citizens Access™ and SoFi Bank dramatically outperform the typical 0.01% APY at traditional big banks.

Big banks currently pay 0.01% APY on savings vs 3.15%+ here
FeatureCitizens Access™SoFi Bank
APY
3.15%
Verified: 3/5/2026
↘︎ 0.20%90d Change
4.00%
Range: 3.30% - 4.00%
Verified: 3/7/2026
↘︎ 0.30%90d Change
Product NameCitizens Access® SavingsSoFi Savings
Minimum Deposit$0.01$0
Min. Balance for APY$0.01$0
Monthly Fee$0$0
Compound FrequencyDailyDaily
Branch AccessNoneNone
Account Type
Online Only
Online Only
Physical BranchesN/AN/A
Direct Deposit Req.NoneWhile direct deposit is not required, the alternative is a subscription fee of $10/month
Checking BundleNo Yes
Mobile Apps
iOS4.8
Android4.8
iOS4.7
Android3.9
FDIC Insured
Zelle® Support
Not Supported
Available
Native support added in 2024 for banking members.
BBB RatingA+A+
Important Notes-Limited offer: The 4.00% includes a temporary 0.70% APY boost for 6 months. It is available with a direct deposit of regular income, or a $10/month subscription. See terms at SoFi Bank. The savings account comes bundled with a checking account with a 0.50% APY.
Next Steps
Visit Site

Non-sponsored link to official site

Visit Site

Non-sponsored link to official site

📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 12 Months Analysis
MetricCitizens Access™SoFi Bank
Citizens Access® SavingsSoFi Savings
Current APY
3.15%4.00%
Trend
Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-5.83.7
Days Since Change
8572
12-Month High
3.70%4.50%
12-Month Low
3.15%3.80%
Adjustments / Mo
0.250.25
Volatility Score
0.0620.066
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 365-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
Compare SoFi Bank's APY of 4.00% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
SoFi Bank vs Affirm3.20%$0
SoFi Bank vs Ally Bank3.20%$0
SoFi Bank vs American Express3.30%$0
SoFi Bank vs Axos Bank4.21%$0
SoFi Bank vs Bank of America0.01%$100
SoFi Bank vs Barclays3.85%$0
SoFi Bank vs Bask Bank0.25%$0
SoFi Bank vs Betterment3.90%$10
SoFi Bank vs BMO Alto3.15%$0
SoFi Bank vs Bread Savings4.00%$100
SoFi Bank vs BrioDirect3.75%$5,000
SoFi Bank vs Capital One3.30%$0
SoFi Bank vs Carver Bank4.00%$5,000
SoFi Bank vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
SoFi Bank vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
SoFi Bank vs Chime3.00%$0
SoFi Bank vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
SoFi Bank vs Citibank3.20%$0
SoFi Bank vs Climate First Bank4.01%$50
SoFi Bank vs Colorado Federal Savings Bank4.05%$50,000
SoFi Bank vs Discover Bank3.30%$0
SoFi Bank vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.35%$0
SoFi Bank vs Elevault3.82%$0
SoFi Bank vs EverBank3.90%$0
SoFi Bank vs Fitness Bank4.50%$100
SoFi Bank vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
SoFi Bank vs Forbright Bank3.85%$0
SoFi Bank vs FVCbank4.00%$500
SoFi Bank vs GO2bank4.50%$0
SoFi Bank vs Ivy Bank3.85%$2,500
SoFi Bank vs Jenius Bank4.05%$0
SoFi Bank vs LendingClub4.00%$0
SoFi Bank vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
SoFi Bank vs MutualOne Bank4.07%$20,000
SoFi Bank vs My Banking Direct4.02%$500
SoFi Bank vs Neighbors Bank4.20%$0
SoFi Bank vs Newtek Bank4.20%$0.01
SoFi Bank vs Openbank4.09%$500
SoFi Bank vs Peak Bank4.02%$100
SoFi Bank vs Pibank4.60%$0
SoFi Bank vs PNC3.25%$0
SoFi Bank vs Popular Direct3.90%$100
SoFi Bank vs Presidential Bank3.75%$5,000
SoFi Bank vs Quontic Bank3.50%$100
SoFi Bank vs Salem Five Direct3.61%$10
SoFi Bank vs Sallie Mae Bank3.85%$0
SoFi Bank vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
SoFi Bank vs Synchrony Bank3.50%$0
SoFi Bank vs TD Bank2.36%$0
SoFi Bank vs TIMBR4.15%$1,000
SoFi Bank vs UFB Direct3.46%$5000
SoFi Bank vs Upgrade3.05%$0
SoFi Bank vs Valley Direct4.00%$1,000
SoFi Bank vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
SoFi Bank vs Vio Bank4.03%$100
SoFi Bank vs Wealthfront4.20%$0
SoFi Bank vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
SoFi Bank vs Zynlo Bank3.85%$10