Citizens Access vs. Ufb Direct
High-Yield Savings Account Comparison
By Aviel Fahl|Last Updated: October 16, 2025
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Summary of Citizens Access™ vs. UFB Direct
Key Metrics at a Glance
| Feature | Citizens Access™ | UFB Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Top Savings APY | 3.50% Citizens Access® Savings | 3.96% UFB Checking and Savings Bundle |
| Minimum to Open | $0.01 | $5000 |
| Minimum Balance for Top APY | $0.01 | $10,000 |
| Note | The regular savings or money market APY may be boosted up to 3.96% by direct deposits, minimum balance of $10,000 and making 10 approved debit card transactions per statement cycle. See bank for full details. |
Citizens Access™
Strengths
- Citizens Access™ offers a savings account with a current APY of 3.50%.
- No minimum balance or deposit required for Citizens Access™ Savings.
- Citizens Access™ has a high App Store rating of 4.8.
Potential Drawbacks
- Citizens Access™ Savings does not offer a higher APY with direct deposit.
- No branches available for in-person banking with Citizens Access™.
UFB Direct
Strengths
- UFB Direct's UFB Checking and Savings Bundle has a higher APY of 3.96%.
- UFB Direct offers a second savings account option with a competitive APY of 3.76%.
- UFB Direct is BBB Accredited, enhancing its trustworthiness.
Potential Drawbacks
- UFB Direct requires a minimum deposit of $5,000 for the highest APY account.
- Direct deposit is necessary to achieve the highest APY with UFB Direct.
→ As of October 16, 2025 Citizens Access™ offers an APY of 3.50% for its Citizens Access® Savings account, with a minimum balance of $0.01, compared to UFB Direct's 3.96% APY for its UFB Checking and Savings Bundle account, with a minimum balance of $10,000.
→ UFB Direct yields $46 more than Citizens Access™ on a $10,000 balance after one year. Citizens Access™ pays $350, while UFB Direct pays $396 - an APY advantage for UFB Direct.
→ In addition, UFB Direct also offers 3.76% APY for the UFB Portfolio Savings account.
Calculate Savings Growth for Citizens Access™ vs UFB Direct
Citizens Access™
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $2,114.1 (10.51%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (64.63%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.86%)
Your total balance
$20,114.10
Total balance: $20,114.1
Earnings: $2,114.1
Bank OverviewUFB Direct
⚠️The higher APY only applies once your balance reaches $10,000.
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $2,379.1 (11.67%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (63.79%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.53%)
Your total balance
$20,379.10
Total balance: $20,379.1
Earnings: $2,379.1
With a $5,000 initial deposit and $13,000 in total contributions over 5 years, Citizens Access™'s total earnings would be $265 lower than UFB Direct's total earnings.
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Compare Citizens Access™'s vs UFB Direct's Savings Accounts
| Citizens Access™ | UFB Direct | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Citizens Access® Savings | vs | UFB Portfolio Savings | UFB Checking and Savings Bundle |
| APY | 3.50% (as of 10/16/2025) | 3.76% (as of 10/16/2025) | 3.76% - 3.96% (as of 10/16/2025) | |
| Bundled Account | No | No | No | |
| FDIC-insured | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Online Only | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily | Daily | |
| Minimum Deposit | $0.01 | $0 | $5000 | |
| Minimum Balance for APY | $0.01 | $0 | $10,000 | |
| Maintenance Fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Direct Deposit Required | No | No | Yes | |
| Note | The regular savings or money market APY may be boosted up to 3.96% by direct deposits, minimum balance of $10,000 and making 10 approved debit card transactions per statement cycle. See bank for full details. | |||
| Sponsored Link | LEARN MORE at UFB Direct, Member FDIC | LEARN MORE at UFB Direct, Member FDIC | ||
| App Store Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.8/5 | ||
| Google Play Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.5/5 | ||
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ | ||
Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 9 Months)
| Citizens Access™ | UFB Direct | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Citizens Access® Savings | vs | UFB Checking and Savings Bundle | UFB Portfolio Savings |
| Latest APY | 3.50 % | 3.96 % | 3.76 % | |
| Trend | Sideways | Sideways | Sideways | |
| Slope (bps/mo) | -2.9 | -1.4 | -1.2 | |
| Rate Changes / Mo | 0.11 | 0.23 | 0.23 | |
| Days Since Last Change | 78 | 13 | 13 | |
| High (-9 m) | 3.70 % | 4.21 % | 4.01 % | |
| Low (-9 m) | 3.50 % | 3.96 % | 3.76 % | |
| Draw-down from High | -5.4 % | -5.9 % | -6.2 % | |
| Volatility (CV) | 0.025 | 0.015 | 0.015 | |
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 262 days.
- Low (-9 m)
- Lowest APY in the last 262 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.