Marcus By Goldman Sachs vs. Varo Money
High-Yield Savings Account Comparison
By Aviel Fahl|Last Updated: November 2, 2025
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Summary of Marcus by Goldman Sachs vs. Varo Bank
Key Metrics at a Glance
| Feature | Marcus by Goldman Sachs | Varo Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Top Savings APY | 3.65% Marcus Online Savings Account | 5.00% High-Yield Savings Account |
| Minimum to Open | $0 | $0 |
| Minimum Balance for Top APY | $0 | $0.01 |
| Note | Earn 5.00% APY on up to $5,000 and 2.50% APY on the rest. Direct deposit required. |
Marcus by Goldman Sachs
Strengths
- Marcus by Goldman Sachs has no direct deposit requirement for its savings account.
- Marcus Online Savings Account offers a competitive APY of 3.65%.
- Marcus by Goldman Sachs has a strong BBB rating of A+.
Potential Drawbacks
- Marcus by Goldman Sachs has no branches available for in-person services.
- Marcus Online Savings Account's APY has not changed in the last 30 days.
Varo Bank
Strengths
- Varo Bank offers a higher APY of 5.00% for its High-Yield Savings Account.
- Varo Bank's app has a higher App Store rating of 4.9.
Potential Drawbacks
- Varo Bank requires a direct deposit of at least $1,000/month to earn the listed APY.
- Varo Bank has a lower BBB rating of A- compared to Marcus by Goldman Sachs.
→ As of November 2, 2025 Marcus by Goldman Sachs offers an APY of 3.65% for its Marcus Online Savings Account, with a minimum balance of $0, compared to Varo Bank's 5.00% APY for its High-Yield Savings Account, with a minimum balance of $0.01.
→ Varo Bank yields $10 more than Marcus by Goldman Sachs on a $10,000 balance after one year. Marcus by Goldman Sachs pays $365, while Varo Bank pays $375 (with an effective APY of 3.75%) - an APY advantage for Varo Bank.
Calculate Savings Growth for Marcus by Goldman Sachs vs Varo Bank
Marcus by Goldman Sachs - Marcus Online Savings Account
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $2,209.7 (10.93%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (64.33%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.74%)
Your total balance
$20,209.70
Total balance: $20,209.7
Earnings: $2,209.7
Bank OverviewVaro Bank - High-Yield Savings Account
ℹ️You earn 5.00% on the first $5,000 and 2.50% on the rest.
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $2,211.4 (10.94%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (64.32%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.74%)
Your total balance
$20,211.40
Total balance: $20,211.4
Earnings: $2,211.4
Bank OverviewWith a $5,000 initial deposit and $13,000 in total contributions over 5 years, Marcus by Goldman Sachs's total earnings would be $1.7 lower than Varo Bank's total earnings.
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Compare Marcus by Goldman Sachs' vs Varo Bank's Savings Accounts
| Marcus by Goldman Sachs | Varo Bank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Marcus Online Savings Account | vs | High-Yield Savings Account |
| APY | 3.65% (as of 11/2/2025) | 2.50% - 5.00% (as of 11/2/2025) | |
| Bundled Account | No | No | |
| FDIC-insured | Yes | Yes | |
| Online Only | Yes | Yes | |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily | |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| Minimum Balance for APY | $0 | $0.01 | |
| Maintenance Fee | $0 | $0 | |
| Direct Deposit Required | No | Yes. Min. $1,000/month | |
| Note | Earn 5.00% APY on up to $5,000 and 2.50% APY on the rest. Direct deposit required. | ||
| App Store Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.9/5 | |
| Google Play Rating | 4.1/5 | 4.6/5 | |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A- |
Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 9 Months)
| Marcus by Goldman Sachs | Varo Bank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Marcus Online Savings Account | vs | High-Yield Savings Account |
| Latest APY | 3.65 % | 5.00 % | |
| Trend | Sideways | Sideways | |
| Slope (bps/mo) | -3.1 | 0.0 | |
| Rate Changes / Mo | 0.22 | 0.00 | |
| Days Since Last Change | 158 | 278 | |
| High (-9 m) | 3.90 % | 5.00 % | |
| Low (-9 m) | 3.65 % | 5.00 % | |
| Draw-down from High | -6.4 % | 0.0 % | |
| Volatility (CV) | 0.026 | 0.000 |
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 279 days.
- Low (-9 m)
- Lowest APY in the last 279 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.