High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

Neighbors Bank vs. Varo Bank

Comparing Neighbors Bank and Varo Bank for high-yield savings: Neighbors Bank's Neighbors Savings Account pays 4.20% APY while Varo Bank's High-Yield Savings Account pays 5.00% APY.

Note: Varo Bank requires a checking account.

See how they compare on rate stability, mobile app ratings, and more below.

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated April 21, 2026

The Bottom Line

Who pays more interest on $10,000? Neighbors Bank pays $45 more than Varo Bank annually ($420 vs $375).

Choose Neighbors Bank if getting the best rate matters most, or you value in-person banking. Choose Varo Bank if you're an iPhone user, or you want Zelle for quick transfers.

Important Considerations

Watch out: Varo Bank's 5.00% APY only applies to the first $5,000. With a $10,000 balance, your effective rate drops to 3.75% APY ($375 annually).

Varo Bank requires a checking account to unlock its top savings rate, while Neighbors Bank offers its savings account standalone.

Comparison of Neighbors Bank vs Varo Bank savings accounts
Metric

Neighbors Bank

Neighbors Savings Account

Apr 21, 2026

Varo Bank

High-Yield Savings Account

Apr 21, 2026
APY4.20%2.50% - 5.00%
Est. Earnings
$5,000+$210
$10,000+$420
$25,000+$1,050
$5,000+$250
$10,000+$375
$25,000+$750
Min Deposit
$0$0

Snapshot view. Rates subject to change.

Terms
Balances up to $250,000 earn 4.20% APY. Anything above will earn 0.05% APY.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 InsuredNo MinimumsGreat Android AppIn-Person AccessRate Changes Often
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppZelle® SupportedDirect Deposit ReqChecking BundleDaily CompoundingStable Rate

Comparison Analysis

Comparing Neighbors Bank vs. Varo Bank

Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Executive Summary

Neighbors Bank offers a Neighbors Savings Account with a competitive APY of 4.20% on balances up to $250,000, with no direct deposit requirement and no maintenance fees. In contrast, Varo Bank's High-Yield Savings Account provides a higher APY of 5.00% on balances up to $5,000, but requires a Varo bank account and a minimum direct deposit of $1,000 per month. While Varo's rates are higher for smaller balances, Neighbors Bank allows for larger deposits without a cap on the APY. Both accounts are online-only and FDIC insured, catering to different customer needs.

The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records

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

Why Neighbors Bank?

  • No checking account or direct deposit required
  • Physical branch access (One location in Columbia, Missouri)

Why Varo Bank?

  • Higher potential APY (5.00% vs 4.20%) on balances up to $5,000 (requires checking bundle & direct deposit)
  • Higher rated iOS app (4.9 vs 3.3)
  • Fast transfers via Zelle®
  • Available Nationwide

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
Neighbors Bank

Neighbors Bank's Neighbors Savings Account earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $420 vs $375/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
Neighbors Bank

Neighbors Bank's Neighbors Savings Account pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $1050 vs $750/yr).

Best Mobile App Experience
Varo Bank

Varo Bank offers an iOS app rated 4.9 (vs. 3.3) and Android app rated 4.5 (vs. 4.4)

Shared Benefits

Both offer monthly maintenance-free account options Both banks have options with $0 opening deposit Available to New & Existing Customers
The Bottom Line on APY (Interest Only)

Over a 1-year period, Neighbors Bank's Neighbors Savings Account pays $45 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 BankNeighbors Bank
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Neighbors Bank

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Varo Bank

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Top Market Contenders

Neighbors Bank vs. Varo Bank Savings Calculator

Calculations based on current APY for Neighbors Savings Account and High-Yield Savings Account
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You earn $45 more with Neighbors Bank 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.

Neighbors Bank

Neighbors Savings Account

4.20% APY

4.20% on first $250,000 and 0.05% thereafter.

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$420.00(4.0%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,420.00

Effective APY
4.20%

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.

Still banking with Chase, Bank of America, or Wells Fargo?

On a $10,000 balance, you're missing out on at least $374 per year in interest.

Both Neighbors Bank and Varo Bank dramatically outperform the typical 0.01% APY at traditional big banks.

Big banks currently pay 0.01% APY on savings vs 4.20%+ here
FeatureNeighbors BankVaro Bank
APY
4.20%
Verified: 4/21/2026
Stable (90d)
5.00%
Range: 2.50% - 5.00%
Verified: 4/21/2026
Stable (90d)
Product NameNeighbors Savings AccountHigh-Yield Savings Account
Minimum Deposit$0$0
Min. Balance for APY$0$0.01
Monthly Fee$0$0
Compound FrequencyN/ADaily
Branch AccessYesNone
Account Type
Online & Branches
Online Only
Physical BranchesOne location in Columbia, MissouriNone
Direct Deposit Req.None
RequiredMin. $1,000/month
Checking BundleNo Yes
Mobile Apps
iOS3.3
Android4.4
iOS4.9
Android4.5
FDIC Insured
Zelle® Support
Not Supported
Available
Requires history of qualifying direct deposits.
BBB RatingA+A
Important NotesBalances up to $250,000 earn 4.20% APY. Anything above will earn 0.05% APY.Earn 5.00% APY on up to $5,000 and 2.50% APY on the rest. A Varo bank account & direct deposit required.
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📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 12 Months Analysis
MetricNeighbors BankVaro Bank
Neighbors Savings AccountHigh-Yield Savings Account
Current APY
4.20%5.00%
Trend
Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-4.60.0
Days Since Change
96365
12-Month High
4.60%5.00%
12-Month Low
4.20%5.00%
Adjustments / Mo
0.250.00
Volatility Score
0.0390.000
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 Neighbors Bank's APY of 4.20% with other banks
Compare Varo Bank's APY of 5.00% with other banks