High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

My Banking Direct vs. Varo Bank

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 My Banking Direct vs Varo Bank savings accounts
Metric

My Banking Direct

High Yield Savings Account

Jan 7, 2026

Varo Bank

High-Yield Savings Account

Jan 7, 2026
APY4.02%2.50% - 5.00%
Est. Earnings
$5,000+$201
$10,000+$402
$25,000+$1,005
$5,000+$250
$10,000+$375
$25,000+$750
Min Deposit
$500$0

Snapshot view. Rates subject to change.

Terms
-Earn 5.00% APY on up to $5,000 and 2.50% APY on the rest. A Varo bank account & direct deposit required.
Features
FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppZelle® Supported
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppZelle® SupportedDirect Deposit ReqChecking Bundle

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 My Banking Direct vs. Varo Bank

Updated: Jan 7, 2026

As of My Banking Direct offers an APY of 4.02% for its High Yield Savings Account, with a minimum balance of $1, compared to Varo Bank's 5.00% APY for its High-Yield Savings Account, with a minimum balance of $0.01.

My Banking Direct pays $27 more than Varo Bank on a $10,000 balance after one year. My Banking Direct pays $402, while Varo Bank pays $375 (with an effective APY of 3.75%) - an APY advantage for My Banking Direct.

Why My Banking Direct?

  • No checking account or direct deposit required

Why Varo Bank?

  • Higher potential APY (5.00% vs 4.02%) on balances up to $5,000 (requires checking bundle & direct deposit)
  • Higher rated Android app (4.6 vs 4.3)

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
My Banking Direct

My Banking Direct's High Yield Savings Account earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $402 vs $375/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
My Banking Direct

My Banking Direct's High Yield Savings Account pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $1005 vs $750/yr).

Best for Simplicity
My Banking Direct

My Banking Direct's High Yield Savings Account offers 4.02% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

Best Mobile App Experience
Varo Bank

Varo Bank offers an iOS app rated 4.9 (vs. 4.7) and Android app rated 4.6 (vs. 4.3)

Shared Benefits

Both offer monthly maintenance-free account options Fast transfers via Zelle® Available Nationwide Available to New & Existing Customers
The Bottom Line on APY (Interest Only)

Over a 1-year period, My Banking Direct's High Yield Savings Account pays $27 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Varo Bank's High-Yield Savings Account.

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

Varo BankMy Banking Direct

Executive Summary as of

Varo Bank's High-Yield Savings Account offers a competitive 5.00% APY on balances up to $5,000, with a lower rate of 2.50% on amounts exceeding that limit. However, eligibility requires a Varo bank account and a minimum direct deposit of $1,000 per month. In contrast, My Banking Direct provides a straightforward High Yield Savings Account with a 4.02% APY, requiring a minimum deposit of $500 but no direct deposit or account bundling. Both accounts are online-only and have no maintenance fees, making them appealing options for savers.

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
My Banking Direct

Non-sponsored link to official site

Verify At
Varo Bank

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Top Market Contenders

My Banking Direct vs. Varo Bank Savings Calculator

Calculations based on current APY for High Yield Savings Account and High-Yield Savings Account
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You earn $27 more with My Banking Direct than Varo Bank 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.

My Banking Direct

High Yield Savings Account

4.02% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$402.00(3.9%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,402.00

Effective APY
4.02%

Varo Bank

High-Yield Savings Account

5.00% APY

5.00% on first $5,000 and 2.50% thereafter.

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$375.00(3.6%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,375.00

Effective APY
3.75%

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

FeatureMy Banking DirectVaro Bank
APY
4.02%
Verified: 1/7/2026
↘︎ 0.18%90d Change
5.00%
Range: 2.50% - 5.00%
Verified: 1/7/2026
Stable (90d)
Product NameHigh Yield Savings AccountHigh-Yield Savings Account
Minimum Deposit$500$0
Min. Balance for APY$1$0.01
Monthly Fee$0$0
Branch AccessNoneNone
Account Type
Online Only
Online Only
Direct Deposit Req.None
RequiredMin. $1,000/month
Checking BundleNo Yes
Mobile Apps
iOS4.7
Android4.3
iOS4.9
Android4.6
Zelle® Support
Available
Uses Flagstar/NYCB parent infrastructure.
Available
Requires history of qualifying direct deposits.
BBB RatingFA
Important Notes-Earn 5.00% APY on up to $5,000 and 2.50% APY on the rest. A Varo bank account & direct deposit required.
Next Steps
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📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 12 Months Analysis
MetricMy Banking DirectVaro Bank
High Yield Savings AccountHigh-Yield Savings Account
Current APY
4.02%5.00%
Trend
Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-3.90.0
Days Since Change
53364
12-Month High
4.55%5.00%
12-Month Low
4.02%5.00%
Adjustments / Mo
0.490.00
Volatility Score
0.0350.000
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 365-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 My Banking Direct's APY of 4.02% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
My Banking Direct vs Affirm3.20%$0
My Banking Direct vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
My Banking Direct vs American Express3.30%$0
My Banking Direct vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
My Banking Direct vs Bank of America0.01%$100
My Banking Direct vs Barclays4.00%$0
My Banking Direct vs Bask Bank3.75%$0
My Banking Direct vs Betterment3.25%$10
My Banking Direct vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
My Banking Direct vs Bread Savings4.05%$100
My Banking Direct vs BrioDirect3.75%$5,000
My Banking Direct vs Capital One3.40%$0
My Banking Direct vs Carver Bank4.00%$5,000
My Banking Direct vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
My Banking Direct vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
My Banking Direct vs Chime3.50%$0
My Banking Direct vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
My Banking Direct vs Citibank3.30%$0
My Banking Direct vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
My Banking Direct vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
My Banking Direct vs Colorado Federal Savings Bank4.05%$50,000
My Banking Direct vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
My Banking Direct vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.50%$0
My Banking Direct vs Elevault3.82%$0
My Banking Direct vs EverBank3.90%$0
My Banking Direct vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
My Banking Direct vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
My Banking Direct vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
My Banking Direct vs FVCbank3.85%$500
My Banking Direct vs GO2bank4.50%$0
My Banking Direct vs Ivy Bank4.10%$2,500
My Banking Direct vs Jenius Bank4.05%$0
My Banking Direct vs LendingClub4.00%$0
My Banking Direct vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
My Banking Direct vs MutualOne Bank4.07%$20,000
My Banking Direct vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
My Banking Direct vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
My Banking Direct vs Openbank4.20%$500
My Banking Direct vs Peak Bank3.99%$100
My Banking Direct vs Pibank4.60%$0
My Banking Direct vs PNC3.30%$0
My Banking Direct vs Popular Direct3.90%$100
My Banking Direct vs Presidential Bank3.75%$5,000
My Banking Direct vs Quontic Bank3.50%$100
My Banking Direct vs Salem Five Direct3.61%$10
My Banking Direct vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
My Banking Direct vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
My Banking Direct vs SoFi Bank4.00%$0
My Banking Direct vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
My Banking Direct vs TD Bank2.60%$0
My Banking Direct vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
My Banking Direct vs UFB Direct3.46%$5000
My Banking Direct vs Upgrade3.05%$0
My Banking Direct vs Valley Direct4.00%$1,000
My Banking Direct vs Vio Bank4.09%$100
My Banking Direct vs Wealthfront3.90%$0
My Banking Direct vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
My Banking Direct vs Zynlo Bank3.85%$10
Compare Varo Bank's APY of 5.00% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Varo Bank vs Affirm3.20%$0
Varo Bank vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Varo Bank vs American Express3.30%$0
Varo Bank vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Varo Bank vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Varo Bank vs Barclays4.00%$0
Varo Bank vs Bask Bank3.75%$0
Varo Bank vs Betterment3.25%$10
Varo Bank vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Varo Bank vs Bread Savings4.05%$100
Varo Bank vs BrioDirect3.75%$5,000
Varo Bank vs Capital One3.40%$0
Varo Bank vs Carver Bank4.00%$5,000
Varo Bank vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Varo Bank vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Varo Bank vs Chime3.50%$0
Varo Bank vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Varo Bank vs Citibank3.30%$0
Varo Bank vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Varo Bank vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Varo Bank vs Colorado Federal Savings Bank4.05%$50,000
Varo Bank vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Varo Bank vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.50%$0
Varo Bank vs Elevault3.82%$0
Varo Bank vs EverBank3.90%$0
Varo Bank vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Varo Bank vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Varo Bank vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Varo Bank vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Varo Bank vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Varo Bank vs Ivy Bank4.10%$2,500
Varo Bank vs Jenius Bank4.05%$0
Varo Bank vs LendingClub4.00%$0
Varo Bank vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Varo Bank vs MutualOne Bank4.07%$20,000
Varo Bank vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Varo Bank vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Varo Bank vs Openbank4.20%$500
Varo Bank vs Peak Bank3.99%$100
Varo Bank vs Pibank4.60%$0
Varo Bank vs PNC3.30%$0
Varo Bank vs Popular Direct3.90%$100
Varo Bank vs Presidential Bank3.75%$5,000
Varo Bank vs Quontic Bank3.50%$100
Varo Bank vs Salem Five Direct3.61%$10
Varo Bank vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
Varo Bank vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Varo Bank vs SoFi Bank4.00%$0
Varo Bank vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Varo Bank vs TD Bank2.60%$0
Varo Bank vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Varo Bank vs UFB Direct3.46%$5000
Varo Bank vs Upgrade3.05%$0
Varo Bank vs Valley Direct4.00%$1,000
Varo Bank vs Vio Bank4.09%$100
Varo Bank vs Wealthfront3.90%$0
Varo Bank vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Varo Bank vs Zynlo Bank3.85%$10