High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

Citizens Access™ vs. Valley Direct

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

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated December 5, 2025
Advertising Disclosure: We may earn a commission from partner links.

Citizens Access™

Citizens Access® Savings

3.35%
APY
Dec 5, 2025
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
Show Fine Print & Trends

Valley Direct

High-Yield Savings Account

Up to
4.10%
APY
Dec 6, 2025
FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
Range: 3.50% 4.10%
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$1,000
Min. Balance$0.01
Maintenance Fee$0
Compound FreqDaily
Direct DepositNot required
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured(Cert: 9396)
EligibilityThe advertised rate is restricted to new customers. Existing Valley Bank or Valley Direct customers may this savings account with a somewhat lower rate.
Mobile Ratings
BBB Rating

Important Note

Promo rate for new customers. 3.50% APY applies to existing customers.

Rate Stability

Rate Adjusted
-0.20%
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

Comparison Analysis

Comparing Citizens Access™ vs. Valley Direct

Updated: Dec 5, 2025

Why Citizens Access™?

  • Higher rated Android app (4.8 vs 4.5)
  • Available to New & Existing Customers

Why Valley Direct?

  • Higher potential APY (4.10% vs 3.35%) on all balances

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
Valley Direct

Valley Direct's High-Yield Savings Account earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $410 vs $335/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
Valley Direct

Valley Direct's High-Yield Savings Account pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $1025 vs $838/yr).

Best for Simplicity
Valley Direct

Valley Direct's High-Yield Savings Account offers 4.10% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

Shared Benefits

Both offer monthly maintenance-free account options Available Nationwide
The Bottom Line

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

Citizens Access™Valley Direct
Automated Data Audit

Executive Summary

Valley Direct offers a High-Yield Savings Account with a competitive APY of 4.10%, making it the superior choice compared to Citizens Access™, which provides a savings account with an APY of 3.35%. Valley Direct's account is available online only and is restricted to new customers for the advertised rate; existing customers may earn a lower APY of 3.50%. Both banks have no maintenance fees and allow for low minimum deposits, with Citizens Access™ requiring just $0.01 and Valley Direct needing $1,000. For those seeking higher returns, Valley Direct is the clear winner.

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 Valley Direct.

Compare All High-Yield Savings Accounts
Pibank
Pibank Savings
FDIC InsuredNo Minimums
4.60% APY
+0.50% vs Valley Direct
Better Rate
Neighbors Bank
Neighbors Savings Account
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat Android App
4.50% APY
+0.40% vs Valley Direct
Better Rate
Axos Bank
Axos ONE
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
4.31% APY
+0.21% vs Valley Direct
Better Rate
FeatureCitizens Access™Valley Direct
APY
3.35%
Verified: 12/5/2025
↘︎ 0.15%90d Change
4.10%
Range: 3.50% - 4.10%
Verified: 12/6/2025
↘︎ 0.20%90d Change
Product NameCitizens Access® SavingsHigh-Yield Savings Account
Minimum Deposit$0.01$1,000
Min. Balance for APY$0.01$0.01
Monthly Fee$0$0
Branch AccessNoneNone
Account Type
Online Only
Online Only
Direct Deposit Req.NoneNone
Checking BundleNoNo
Mobile Apps
iOS4.8
Android4.8
iOS4.8
Android4.5
BBB RatingA+A+
Important Notes-Promo rate for new customers. 3.50% APY applies to existing customers.
Next Steps

Savings Comparison

Calculations based on current APY.
$
$

Valley Direct earns $480.6 more than Citizens Access™.

Citizens Access™

Citizens Access® Savings

3.35% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$2,018.80(10.1%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $5,000

Projected Balance

$20,018.80

Effective APY
3.35%

Valley Direct

High-Yield Savings Account

4.10% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$2,499.40(12.2%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $5,000

Projected Balance

$20,499.40

Effective APY
4.10%

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

📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 10 Months Analysis
MetricCitizens Access™Valley Direct
Citizens Access® SavingsHigh-Yield Savings Account
Current APY
3.35%4.10%
Trend
Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-3.80.7
Days Since Change
3771
10-Month High
3.70%4.40%
10-Month Low
3.35%3.75%
Adjustments / Mo
0.190.67
Volatility Score
0.0370.042
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 312-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 3.35% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
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 BMO Alto3.25%$0
Citizens Access™ vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
Citizens Access™ vs Capital One3.40%$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 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 Bank4.50%$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 TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Citizens Access™ vs UFB Direct3.71%$5000
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 Valley Direct's APY of 4.10% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Valley Direct vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Valley Direct vs American Express3.40%$0
Valley Direct vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Valley Direct vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Valley Direct vs Barclays4.00%$0
Valley Direct vs Bask Bank3.90%$0
Valley Direct vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Valley Direct vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
Valley Direct vs Capital One3.40%$0
Valley Direct vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Valley Direct vs Chime3.50%$0
Valley Direct vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Valley Direct vs Citibank3.30%$0
Valley Direct vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Valley Direct vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Valley Direct vs Elevault4.08%$0
Valley Direct vs EverBank4.05%$0
Valley Direct vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Valley Direct vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Valley Direct vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Valley Direct vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Valley Direct vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Valley Direct vs Ivy Bank4.25%$2,500
Valley Direct vs LendingClub4.20%$0
Valley Direct vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Valley Direct vs Neighbors Bank4.50%$0
Valley Direct vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Valley Direct vs Openbank4.20%$500
Valley Direct vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
Valley Direct vs Pibank4.60%$0
Valley Direct vs PNC3.53%$0
Valley Direct vs Presidential Bank4.00%$5,000
Valley Direct vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
Valley Direct vs Salem Five Direct3.71%$10
Valley Direct vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Valley Direct vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
Valley Direct vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Valley Direct vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Valley Direct vs UFB Direct3.71%$5000
Valley Direct vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Valley Direct vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
Valley Direct vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
Valley Direct vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Valley Direct vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10