Lending Club vs. Santander Bank

High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

By Aviel Fahl|Last Updated: October 16, 2025

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Summary of LendingClub vs. Santander Bank

Key Metrics at a Glance

FeatureLendingClubSantander Bank
Top Savings APY

4.20%

LevelUp Savings

0.01%

Santander Savings

Minimum to Open$0$25
Minimum Balance for Top APY$0$0
NoteThe advertised "LevelUp Rate" APY of 4.20% is only available if you deposit $250+ into the account each month. Otherwise the "Standard Rate" of 3.20% applies.

LendingClub

Strengths

  • LendingClub offers a high APY of 4.20%, significantly higher than Santander's 0.01%.
  • LendingClub has no maintenance fees, while Santander charges a $1 monthly fee.
  • LendingClub has an excellent BBB rating of A+.

Potential Drawbacks

  • LendingClub requires a $250 monthly deposit to earn the highest APY.
  • LendingClub has no physical branches, limiting in-person banking options.
  • LendingClub is not BBB accredited.

Santander Bank

Strengths

  • Santander has physical branches primarily in the Northeast and Miami, enhancing accessibility.
  • Santander's account has a lower minimum deposit requirement of $25 compared to LendingClub.

Potential Drawbacks

  • Santander's APY is significantly lower at 0.01%, down from 0.03% last month.
  • Santander charges a $1 monthly maintenance fee, unlike LendingClub.
  • Santander is not rated by the BBB.
Summary: LendingClub's LevelUp Savings account offers a much higher APY of 4.20% with no fees, but requires a $250 monthly deposit. In contrast, Santander's Savings account has a low APY of 0.01%, charges a $1 monthly fee, and offers branch access, but requires a $25 minimum deposit. Both banks are not BBB accredited, but LendingClub has a better BBB rating of A+.

→ As of October 16, 2025 LendingClub offers an APY of 4.20% for its LevelUp Savings account, with a minimum balance of $0, compared to Santander Bank's 0.01% APY for its Santander Savings account, with a minimum balance of $0.

LendingClub yields $419 more than Santander Bank on a $10,000 balance after one year. LendingClub pays $420, while Santander Bank pays $1 - an APY advantage for LendingClub.

Calculate Savings Growth for LendingClub vs Santander Bank

All calculations are based on APY.

LendingClub

APY: 4.20%

Total savings breakdown:

  • Interest earned: $2,564.3 (12.47%)
  • Total contributions: $13,000 (63.22%)
  • Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.31%)

Your total balance

$20,564.30

Effective APY: 4.20% (based on your deposit and contributions)

Total balance: $20,564.3

Earnings: $2,564.3

Bank Overview

Santander Bank

APY: 0.01%

Total savings breakdown:

  • Interest earned: $5.7 (0.03%)
  • Total contributions: $13,000 (72.20%)
  • Initial deposit: $5,000 (27.77%)

Your total balance

$18,005.70

Effective APY: 0.01% (based on your deposit and contributions)

Total balance: $18,005.7

Earnings: $5.7

Bank Overview

With a $5,000 initial deposit and $13,000 in total contributions over 5 years, LendingClub's total earnings would be $2,558.6 higher than Santander Bank's total earnings.

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

Compare LendingClub's vs Santander Bank's Savings Accounts

LendingClubSantander Bank
ProductLevelUp SavingsvsSantander Savings
APY
3.20% - 4.20% (as of 10/16/2025)0.01% (as of 10/16/2025)
Bundled Account
NoNo
FDIC-insured
YesYes
Online OnlyYesNo
Compound Frequency
DailyDaily
Minimum Deposit$0$25
Minimum Balance for APY$0$0
Maintenance Fee$0$1
Direct Deposit Required
NoNo
NoteThe advertised "LevelUp Rate" APY of 4.20% is only available if you deposit $250+ into the account each month. Otherwise the "Standard Rate" of 3.20% applies.
App Store Rating4.8/54.8/5
Google Play Rating4.5/54.1/5
BBB RatingA+Not Rated

Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 9 Months)

LendingClubSantander Bank
ProductLevelUp SavingsvsSantander Savings
Latest APY4.20 %0.01 %
TrendSidewaysSideways
Slope (bps/mo)-4.4-0.1
Rate Changes / Mo0.220.11
Days Since Last Change9727
High (-9 m)4.50 %0.03 %
Low (-9 m)4.20 %0.01 %
Draw-down from High-6.7 %-66.7 %
Volatility (CV)0.0280.217
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 268 days.
Low (-9 m)
Lowest APY in the last 268 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 LendingClub's APY of 4.20% with other banks
Compare Santander Bank's APY of 0.01% with other banks