Citizens Access vs. Wells Fargo

High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

By Aviel Fahl|Last Updated: November 16, 2025

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Summary of Citizens Access™ vs. Wells Fargo

Key Metrics at a Glance

FeatureCitizens Access™Wells Fargo
Top Savings APY

3.35%

Citizens Access® Savings

0.05%

Platinum Savings

Minimum to Open$0.01$25
Minimum Balance for Top APY$0.01$1,000,000
NoteThis is a tiered savings account where rates vary based on the balance. The 0.05% APY is available for balances of $1,000,000 or more, and 0.05% APY up to $99,999.99. These APYs require the account is linked to a Wells Fargo Premier checking account. See bank for more tiers and details.

Citizens Access™

Strengths

  • Citizens Access offers a competitive APY of 3.35%, down from 3.50% last month.
  • Citizens Access has an A+ BBB rating and is BBB Accredited.
  • Citizens Access has a high App Store rating of 4.8.

Potential Drawbacks

  • Citizens Access has no physical branches.

Wells Fargo

Strengths

  • Wells Fargo has physical branches and ATMs in 36 states and Washington, D.C.
  • Wells Fargo's App Store rating is slightly higher at 4.9.

Potential Drawbacks

  • Wells Fargo's highest APY is only 0.05%, unchanged from last month.
  • Wells Fargo has a low BBB rating of D- and is not BBB Accredited.
Summary: Citizens Access offers a significantly higher APY of 3.35% compared to Wells Fargo's 0.05%. Additionally, Citizens Access has a strong A+ BBB rating, while Wells Fargo has a D- rating and lacks accreditation. While Wells Fargo provides physical branches, Citizens Access has a higher App Store rating of 4.8 compared to Wells Fargo's 4.9. Overall, Citizens Access is more favorable for high-yield savings despite its online-only nature.

→ As of November 16, 2025 Citizens Access™ offers an APY of 3.35% for its Citizens Access® Savings account, with a minimum balance of $0.01, compared to Wells Fargo's 0.05% APY for its Platinum Savings account, with a minimum balance of $1,000,000.

Citizens Access™ yields $330 more than Wells Fargo on a $10,000 balance after one year. Citizens Access™ pays $335, while Wells Fargo pays $5 - an APY advantage for Citizens Access™.

→ In addition, Wells Fargo also offers 0.01% APY for the Way2Save Savings account.

Calculate Savings Growth for Citizens Access™ vs Wells Fargo

All calculations are based on APY.

Citizens Access™ - Citizens Access® Savings

Top APY: 3.35%

Total savings breakdown:

  • Interest earned: $2,018.8 (10.08%)
  • Total contributions: $13,000 (64.94%)
  • Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.98%)

Your total balance

$20,018.80

Effective APY: 3.35% (based on your deposit and contributions)

Total balance: $20,018.8

Earnings: $2,018.8

Bank Overview

Wells Fargo - Platinum Savings

Top APY: 0.05%

⚠️The higher APY only applies once your balance reaches $1,000,000.

Total savings breakdown:

  • Interest earned: $28.6 (0.16%)
  • Total contributions: $13,000 (72.11%)
  • Initial deposit: $5,000 (27.73%)

Your total balance

$18,028.60

Effective APY: 0.05% (based on your deposit and contributions)

Total balance: $18,028.6

Earnings: $28.6

Bank Overview

With a $5,000 initial deposit and $13,000 in total contributions over 5 years, Citizens Access™'s total earnings would be $1,990.2 higher than Wells Fargo's total earnings.

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

Compare Citizens Access™'s vs Wells Fargo's Savings Accounts

Citizens Access™Wells Fargo
ProductCitizens Access® SavingsvsPlatinum SavingsWay2Save Savings
APY
3.35% (as of 11/16/2025)0.05% - 0.05% (as of 11/16/2025)0.01% (as of 11/16/2025)
Bundled Account
NoYesNo
FDIC-insured
YesYesYes
Online OnlyYesNoNo
Compound Frequency
DailyDailyDaily
Minimum Deposit$0.01$25$25
Minimum Balance for APY$0.01$1,000,000$0
Maintenance Fee$0$12. Waived with $3,500 minimum daily balance.$5. Waived under some circumstances.
Direct Deposit Required
NoNoNo
NoteThis is a tiered savings account where rates vary based on the balance. The 0.05% APY is available for balances of $1,000,000 or more, and 0.05% APY up to $99,999.99. These APYs require the account is linked to a Wells Fargo Premier checking account. See bank for more tiers and details.
App Store Rating4.8/54.9/5
Google Play Rating4.8/54.8/5
BBB RatingA+D-

Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 4 Months)

Citizens Access™Wells Fargo
ProductCitizens Access® SavingsvsPlatinum SavingsWay2Save Savings
Latest APY3.35 %0.05 %0.01 %
TrendFallingFallingSideways
Slope (bps/mo)-5.8-73.40.0
Rate Changes / Mo0.480.730.00
Days Since Last Change1730123
High (-4 m)3.70 %2.51 %0.01 %
Low (-4 m)3.35 %0.05 %0.01 %
Draw-down from High-9.5 %-98.0 %0.0 %
Volatility (CV)0.0270.6530.000
APY Insights Glossary
Latest APY
Most recent advertised annual-percentage yield.
Trend
Direction over the last 4 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 (-4 m)
Highest APY in the last 124 days.
Low (-4 m)
Lowest APY in the last 124 days.
Draw-down from High
How far today sits below the 4-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.

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 Express3.50%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Axos Bank4.51%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Citizens Access™ vs Barclays4.10%$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 Bank3.85%$100
Citizens Access™ vs Citibank3.35%$0
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 Bank4.25%$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 Bank3.80%$0
Citizens Access™ vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Citizens Access™ vs UFB Direct3.71%$5000
Citizens Access™ vs Valley Direct4.10%$1,000
Citizens Access™ vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Vio Bank4.21%$100
Citizens Access™ vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
Citizens Access™ vs Zynlo Bank4.20%$10
Compare Wells Fargo's APY of 0.05% with other banks