Discover Bank vs. Synchrony Bank

High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

Last Updated: October 14, 2025

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Summary of Discover Bank vs. Synchrony Bank

Key Metrics at a Glance

FeatureDiscover BankSynchrony Bank
Top Savings APY

3.40%

Online Savings Account

3.80%

High Yield Savings

Minimum to Open$0$0
Minimum Balance for APY$0$0

Discover Bank

Strengths

  • Discover Bank has an A+ BBB rating and is BBB Accredited.
  • Discover Bank's Online Savings Account has no minimum deposit or balance requirements.
  • Discover Bank's App Store rating is 4.9.

Potential Drawbacks

  • Discover Bank's current APY is 3.40%, down from 3.50% last month.
  • Discover Bank has no physical branches.

Synchrony Bank

Strengths

  • Synchrony Bank offers a higher APY of 3.80% for its High Yield Savings account.
  • Synchrony Bank's Google Play rating is 4.5.
  • Synchrony Bank has no maintenance fees.

Potential Drawbacks

  • Synchrony Bank has no BBB rating.
  • Synchrony Bank has no physical branches.
Summary: Discover Bank offers a solid A+ BBB rating and a competitive App Store rating of 4.9, but its APY is lower at 3.40%. In contrast, Synchrony Bank provides a higher APY of 3.80% and a Google Play rating of 4.5, but lacks a BBB rating. Both banks operate online only and have no maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements.

→ As of October 14, 2025 Discover Bank offers an APY of 3.40% for its Online Savings Account, with a minimum balance of $0, compared to Synchrony Bank's 3.80% APY for its High Yield Savings account, with a minimum balance of $0.

Synchrony Bank yields $40 more than Discover Bank on a $10,000 balance after one year. Discover Bank pays $340, while Synchrony Bank pays $380 - an APY advantage for Synchrony Bank.

Calculate Savings Growth for Discover Bank vs Synchrony Bank

All calculations are based on APY.

Discover Bank

APY: 3.40%

Total savings breakdown:

  • Interest earned: $2,050.5 (10.23%)
  • Total contributions: $13,000 (64.84%)
  • Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.94%)

Your total balance

$20,050.50

Effective APY: 3.40% (based on your deposit and contributions)

Total balance: $20,050.5

Earnings: $2,050.5

Bank Overview

Synchrony Bank

APY: 3.80%

Total savings breakdown:

  • Interest earned: $2,305.9 (11.36%)
  • Total contributions: $13,000 (64.02%)
  • Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.62%)

Your total balance

$20,305.90

Effective APY: 3.80% (based on your deposit and contributions)

Total balance: $20,305.9

Earnings: $2,305.9

Bank Overview

With a $5,000 initial deposit and $13,000 in total contributions over 5 years, Discover Bank's total earnings would be $255.4 lower than Synchrony Bank's total earnings.

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

Compare Discover Bank's vs Synchrony Bank's Savings Accounts

Discover BankSynchrony Bank
ProductOnline Savings AccountvsHigh Yield Savings
APY
3.40% (as of 10/14/2025)3.80% (as of 10/14/2025)
Bundled Account
NoNo
FDIC-insured
YesYes
Online OnlyYesYes
Compound Frequency
DailyDaily
Minimum Deposit$0$0
Minimum Balance for APY$0$0
Maintenance Fee$0$0
Direct Deposit Required
NoNo
App Store Rating4.9/54.8/5
Google Play Rating4.3/54.5/5
BBB RatingA+Not Rated

Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 9 Months)

Discover BankSynchrony Bank
ProductOnline Savings AccountvsHigh Yield Savings
Latest APY3.40 %3.80 %
TrendSidewaysSideways
Slope (bps/mo)-4.0-3.7
Rate Changes / Mo0.450.23
Days Since Last Change14133
High (-9 m)3.75 %4.10 %
Low (-9 m)3.40 %3.80 %
Draw-down from High-9.3 %-7.3 %
Volatility (CV)0.0290.027
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 265 days.
Low (-9 m)
Lowest APY in the last 265 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.

More Comparisons

Compare Discover Bank's APY of 3.40% with other banks
Compare Synchrony Bank's APY of 3.80% with other banks