High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

GO2bank vs. Popular Direct

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

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated January 7, 2026
Comparison of GO2bank vs Popular Direct savings accounts
Metric

GO2bank

High Yield Savings

Jan 7, 2026

Popular Direct

Popular Direct Select Savings

Jan 7, 2026
APY0.00% - 4.50%3.90%
Est. Earnings
$5,000+$225
$10,000+$225
$25,000+$225
$5,000+$195
$10,000+$390
$25,000+$975
Min Deposit
$0$100

Snapshot view. Rates subject to change.

Terms
A GO2bank checking account is required to open a savings account. The 4.50% APY is up to $5,000. Balances above that earn no interest.-
Features
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppChecking Bundle
FDIC InsuredLow Minimums

Prefer In-Person Banking?

Both of these banks are online-only. If you need physical branch access, check out our list of high-yield accounts with brick-and-mortar locations.

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Comparison Analysis

Comparing GO2bank vs. Popular Direct

Updated: Jan 7, 2026

As of GO2bank offers an APY of 4.50% for its High Yield Savings account, with a minimum balance of $0, compared to Popular Direct's 3.90% APY for its Popular Direct Select Savings account, with a minimum balance of $0.01.

Popular Direct pays $165 more than GO2bank on a $10,000 balance after one year. GO2bank pays $225 (with an effective APY of 2.25%), while Popular Direct pays $390 - an APY advantage for Popular Direct.

Why GO2bank?

  • Higher potential APY (4.50% vs 3.90%) on balances up to $5,000 (requires checking bundle)
  • Higher rated iOS app (4.8 vs 1.3)
  • Higher rated Android app (4.5 vs 1.3)

Why Popular Direct?

  • No checking account or direct deposit required

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
Popular Direct

Popular Direct's Popular Direct Select Savings earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $390 vs $225/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
Popular Direct

Popular Direct's Popular Direct Select Savings pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $975 vs $225/yr).

Best for Simplicity
Popular Direct

Popular Direct's Popular Direct Select Savings offers 3.90% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

Best Mobile App Experience
GO2bank

GO2bank offers an iOS app rated 4.8 (vs. 1.3) and Android app rated 4.5 (vs. 1.3)

Shared Benefits

Available Nationwide Available to New & Existing Customers
The Bottom Line on APY (Interest Only)

Over a 1-year period, Popular Direct's Popular Direct Select Savings pays $165 more interest on a $10,000 balance than GO2bank's High Yield Savings.

*This calculation assumes current rates remain consistent for 1 year and does not include temporary bonuses.

GO2bankPopular Direct

Executive Summary as of

GO2bank offers a High Yield Savings account with a competitive APY of 4.50%, applicable on balances up to $5,000, though a GO2bank checking account is required to open this savings account. In contrast, Popular Direct provides a Select Savings account with a slightly lower APY of 3.90%, but it has no minimum balance requirements, maintenance fees, or direct deposit stipulations, making it simpler to manage. Both banks operate online only, with GO2bank's app experience rated highly, while Popular Direct is noted for better returns on larger deposits.

The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records

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

Verify At
GO2bank

Non-sponsored link to official site

Verify At
Popular Direct

Non-sponsored link to official site

Top Market Contenders

Synchrony Bank
3.65% APY

GO2bank vs. Popular Direct Savings Calculator

Calculations based on current APY for High Yield Savings and Popular Direct Select Savings
$
$

You earn $165 more with Popular Direct than GO2bank 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.

GO2bank

High Yield Savings

4.50% APY

4.50% on first $5,000 and 0.00% thereafter.

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$225.00(2.2%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,225.00

Effective APY
2.25%

Popular Direct

Popular Direct Select Savings

3.90% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$390.00(3.8%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,390.00

Effective APY
3.90%

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

FeatureGO2bankPopular Direct
APY
4.50%
0
Verified: 1/7/2026
Stable (90d)
3.90%
Verified: 1/7/2026
↘︎ 0.15%90d Change
Product NameHigh Yield SavingsPopular Direct Select Savings
Minimum Deposit$0$100
Min. Balance for APY$0$0.01
Monthly Fee$5 per month, unless you set up direct deposit$0
Branch AccessNoneNone
Account Type
Online Only
Online Only
Direct Deposit Req.NoneNone
Checking Bundle YesNo
Mobile Apps
iOS4.8
Android4.5
iOS1.3
Android1.3
Zelle® Support
Not Supported
Not Supported
BBB RatingNot RatedA+
Important NotesA GO2bank checking account is required to open a savings account. The 4.50% APY is up to $5,000. Balances above that earn no interest.-
Next Steps
Visit Site

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📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 5 Months Analysis
MetricGO2bankPopular Direct
High Yield SavingsPopular Direct Select Savings
Current APY
4.50%3.90%
Trend
Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
0.0-3.9
Days Since Change
15323
5-Month High
4.50%4.10%
5-Month Low
4.50%3.90%
Adjustments / Mo
0.000.78
Volatility Score
0.0000.017
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 154-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 GO2bank's APY of 4.50% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
GO2bank vs Affirm3.20%$0
GO2bank vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
GO2bank vs American Express3.30%$0
GO2bank vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
GO2bank vs Bank of America0.01%$100
GO2bank vs Barclays4.00%$0
GO2bank vs Bask Bank3.75%$0
GO2bank vs Betterment3.25%$10
GO2bank vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
GO2bank vs Bread Savings4.05%$100
GO2bank vs BrioDirect3.75%$5,000
GO2bank vs Capital One3.40%$0
GO2bank vs Carver Bank4.00%$5,000
GO2bank vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
GO2bank vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
GO2bank vs Chime3.50%$0
GO2bank vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
GO2bank vs Citibank3.30%$0
GO2bank vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
GO2bank vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
GO2bank vs Colorado Federal Savings Bank4.05%$50,000
GO2bank vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
GO2bank vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.50%$0
GO2bank vs Elevault3.82%$0
GO2bank vs EverBank3.90%$0
GO2bank vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
GO2bank vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
GO2bank vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
GO2bank vs FVCbank3.85%$500
GO2bank vs Ivy Bank4.10%$2,500
GO2bank vs Jenius Bank4.05%$0
GO2bank vs LendingClub4.00%$0
GO2bank vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
GO2bank vs MutualOne Bank4.07%$20,000
GO2bank vs My Banking Direct4.02%$500
GO2bank vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
GO2bank vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
GO2bank vs Openbank4.20%$500
GO2bank vs Peak Bank3.99%$100
GO2bank vs Pibank4.60%$0
GO2bank vs PNC3.30%$0
GO2bank vs Presidential Bank3.75%$5,000
GO2bank vs Quontic Bank3.50%$100
GO2bank vs Salem Five Direct3.61%$10
GO2bank vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
GO2bank vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
GO2bank vs SoFi Bank4.00%$0
GO2bank vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
GO2bank vs TD Bank2.60%$0
GO2bank vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
GO2bank vs UFB Direct3.46%$5000
GO2bank vs Upgrade3.05%$0
GO2bank vs Valley Direct4.00%$1,000
GO2bank vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
GO2bank vs Vio Bank4.09%$100
GO2bank vs Wealthfront3.90%$0
GO2bank vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
GO2bank vs Zynlo Bank3.85%$10
Compare Popular Direct's APY of 3.90% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Popular Direct vs Affirm3.20%$0
Popular Direct vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Popular Direct vs American Express3.30%$0
Popular Direct vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Popular Direct vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Popular Direct vs Barclays4.00%$0
Popular Direct vs Bask Bank3.75%$0
Popular Direct vs Betterment3.25%$10
Popular Direct vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Popular Direct vs Bread Savings4.05%$100
Popular Direct vs BrioDirect3.75%$5,000
Popular Direct vs Capital One3.40%$0
Popular Direct vs Carver Bank4.00%$5,000
Popular Direct vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Popular Direct vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Popular Direct vs Chime3.50%$0
Popular Direct vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Popular Direct vs Citibank3.30%$0
Popular Direct vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Popular Direct vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Popular Direct vs Colorado Federal Savings Bank4.05%$50,000
Popular Direct vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Popular Direct vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.50%$0
Popular Direct vs Elevault3.82%$0
Popular Direct vs EverBank3.90%$0
Popular Direct vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Popular Direct vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Popular Direct vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Popular Direct vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Popular Direct vs Ivy Bank4.10%$2,500
Popular Direct vs Jenius Bank4.05%$0
Popular Direct vs LendingClub4.00%$0
Popular Direct vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Popular Direct vs MutualOne Bank4.07%$20,000
Popular Direct vs My Banking Direct4.02%$500
Popular Direct vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Popular Direct vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Popular Direct vs Openbank4.20%$500
Popular Direct vs Peak Bank3.99%$100
Popular Direct vs Pibank4.60%$0
Popular Direct vs PNC3.30%$0
Popular Direct vs Presidential Bank3.75%$5,000
Popular Direct vs Quontic Bank3.50%$100
Popular Direct vs Salem Five Direct3.61%$10
Popular Direct vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
Popular Direct vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Popular Direct vs SoFi Bank4.00%$0
Popular Direct vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Popular Direct vs TD Bank2.60%$0
Popular Direct vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Popular Direct vs UFB Direct3.46%$5000
Popular Direct vs Upgrade3.05%$0
Popular Direct vs Valley Direct4.00%$1,000
Popular Direct vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Popular Direct vs Vio Bank4.09%$100
Popular Direct vs Wealthfront3.90%$0
Popular Direct vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Popular Direct vs Zynlo Bank3.85%$10