High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

Newtek Bank vs. Valley Direct

Comparing Newtek Bank and Valley Direct for high-yield savings: Newtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings pays 4.20% APY while Valley Direct's High-Yield Savings Account pays 4.00% APY (including a 12-month 0.60% promo boost).

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

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated March 7, 2026

The Bottom Line

Who pays more interest on $10,000? Newtek Bank pays $20 more than Valley Direct annually ($420 vs $400).

Choose Newtek Bank if getting the best rate matters most, you want a no-strings-attached account, or you want to avoid a promo rate with a scheduled drop. Choose Valley Direct if you value in-person banking, you're an Android user, or you want Zelle for quick transfers.

Important Considerations

The key difference? Valley Direct's 4.00% rate includes a promotional bonus for the first 12 months, after which it reverts to the standard rate (currently 3.40%). Newtek Bank's 4.20% rate has no scheduled drop, though all rates are subject to change.

Comparison of Newtek Bank vs Valley Direct savings accounts
Metric

Newtek Bank

Personal High Yield Savings

Mar 7, 2026

Valley Direct

High-Yield Savings Account

Mar 7, 2026
APY4.20%3.40% - 4.00%
Est. Earnings
$5,000+$210
$10,000+$420
$25,000+$1,050
$5,000+$200
$10,000+$400
$25,000+$1,000
Min Deposit
$0.01$1,000

Snapshot view. Rates subject to change.

Terms
-Promo rate for new customers. 3.40% APY applies to existing customers.
Features
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often
FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppIn-Person AccessZelle® SupportedDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often

Comparison Analysis

Comparing Newtek Bank vs. Valley Direct

Updated: Mar 7, 2026

Executive Summary

Newtek Bank offers a Personal High Yield Savings account with a competitive APY of 4.20%, making it an attractive option for savers, especially since it has no minimum deposit requirement and no direct deposit needed. This account is online-only and provides daily compounding interest. In contrast, Valley Direct's High-Yield Savings Account offers a slightly lower APY of 4.00%, but is available to new customers, with a minimum deposit of $1,000. Existing customers will earn a lower rate of 3.40%. While Valley Direct has a well-rated mobile app, Newtek Bank's higher APY makes it the preferred choice for maximizing savings.

The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records

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

Why Newtek Bank?

  • Higher potential APY (4.20% vs 4.00%) on all balances
  • Available to New & Existing Customers

Why Valley Direct?

  • Higher rated Android app (4.6 vs 4.0)
  • Fast transfers via Zelle®

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
Newtek Bank

Newtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $420 vs $400/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
Newtek Bank

Newtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $1050 vs $1000/yr).

Best for Simplicity
Newtek Bank

Newtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings offers 4.20% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

Best Mobile App Experience
Valley Direct

Valley Direct offers an iOS app rated 4.8 (vs. 4.5) and Android app rated 4.6 (vs. 4.0)

Shared Benefits

Both offer monthly maintenance-free account options Available Nationwide
The Bottom Line on APY (Interest Only)

Over a 1-year period, Newtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings pays $20 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Valley Direct's High-Yield Savings Account.

*This comparison accounts for Valley Direct's introductory promotional rate, yet Newtek Bank's standard rate still yields a higher 1-year return.

Valley DirectNewtek Bank
Verify At
Newtek Bank

Non-sponsored link to official site

Verify At
Valley Direct

Non-sponsored link to official site

Top Market Contenders

Newtek Bank vs. Valley Direct Savings Calculator

Calculations based on current APY for Personal High Yield Savings and High-Yield Savings Account
$
$

You earn $20 more with Newtek Bank than Valley Direct 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.

Newtek Bank

Personal High Yield Savings

4.20% APY

Savings Breakdown

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

Projected Balance

$10,420.00

Effective APY
4.20%

Valley Direct

High-Yield Savings Account

4.00% APY

Promo Rate: 4.00% for 12 months, then 3.40%.

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$400.00(3.8%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,400.00

Effective APY
4.00%

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 $399 per year in interest.

Both Newtek Bank and Valley Direct dramatically outperform the typical 0.01% APY at traditional big banks.

Big banks currently pay 0.01% APY on savings vs 4.00%+ here
FeatureNewtek BankValley Direct
APY
4.20%
Verified: 3/7/2026
↘︎ 0.15%90d Change
4.00%
Range: 3.40% - 4.00%
Verified: 3/7/2026
↘︎ 0.10%90d Change
Product NamePersonal High Yield SavingsHigh-Yield Savings Account
Minimum Deposit$0.01$1,000
Min. Balance for APY$0.01$0.01
Monthly Fee$0$0
Compound FrequencyDailyDaily
Branch AccessNoneYes
Account Type
Online Only
Online & Branches
Physical BranchesNoneAfter opening online, your accounts can be serviced at one of the Valley branch locations in NJ, NY, FL and AL.
Direct Deposit Req.NoneNone
Checking BundleNoNo
Mobile Apps
iOS4.5
Android4.0
iOS4.8
Android4.6
FDIC Insured
Zelle® Support
Not Supported
Available
Allows Zelle directly on HYSA.
BBB RatingA+A+
Important Notes-Promo rate for new customers. 3.40% APY applies to existing customers.
Next Steps
Visit Site

Non-sponsored link to official site

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📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 12 Months Analysis
MetricNewtek BankValley Direct
Personal High Yield SavingsHigh-Yield Savings Account
Current APY
4.20%4.00%
Trend
Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-1.0-3.3
Days Since Change
2985
12-Month High
4.45%4.40%
12-Month Low
4.20%4.00%
Adjustments / Mo
0.160.58
Volatility Score
0.0130.032
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 Newtek Bank's APY of 4.20% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Newtek Bank vs Affirm3.20%$0
Newtek Bank vs Ally Bank3.20%$0
Newtek Bank vs American Express3.30%$0
Newtek Bank vs Axos Bank4.21%$0
Newtek Bank vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Newtek Bank vs Barclays3.85%$0
Newtek Bank vs Bask Bank0.25%$0
Newtek Bank vs Betterment3.90%$10
Newtek Bank vs BMO Alto3.15%$0
Newtek Bank vs Bread Savings4.00%$100
Newtek Bank vs BrioDirect3.75%$5,000
Newtek Bank vs Capital One3.30%$0
Newtek Bank vs Carver Bank4.00%$5,000
Newtek Bank vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Newtek Bank vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Newtek Bank vs Chime3.00%$0
Newtek Bank vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Newtek Bank vs Citibank3.20%$0
Newtek Bank vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Newtek Bank vs Climate First Bank4.01%$50
Newtek Bank vs Colorado Federal Savings Bank4.05%$50,000
Newtek Bank vs Discover Bank3.30%$0
Newtek Bank vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.35%$0
Newtek Bank vs Elevault3.82%$0
Newtek Bank vs EverBank3.90%$0
Newtek Bank vs Fitness Bank4.50%$100
Newtek Bank vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Newtek Bank vs Forbright Bank3.85%$0
Newtek Bank vs FVCbank4.00%$500
Newtek Bank vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Newtek Bank vs Ivy Bank3.85%$2,500
Newtek Bank vs Jenius Bank4.05%$0
Newtek Bank vs LendingClub4.00%$0
Newtek Bank vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Newtek Bank vs MutualOne Bank4.07%$20,000
Newtek Bank vs My Banking Direct4.02%$500
Newtek Bank vs Neighbors Bank4.20%$0
Newtek Bank vs Openbank4.09%$500
Newtek Bank vs Peak Bank4.02%$100
Newtek Bank vs Pibank4.60%$0
Newtek Bank vs PNC3.25%$0
Newtek Bank vs Popular Direct3.90%$100
Newtek Bank vs Presidential Bank3.75%$5,000
Newtek Bank vs Quontic Bank3.50%$100
Newtek Bank vs Salem Five Direct3.61%$10
Newtek Bank vs Sallie Mae Bank3.85%$0
Newtek Bank vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Newtek Bank vs SoFi Bank4.00%$0
Newtek Bank vs Synchrony Bank3.50%$0
Newtek Bank vs TD Bank2.36%$0
Newtek Bank vs TIMBR4.15%$1,000
Newtek Bank vs UFB Direct3.46%$5000
Newtek Bank vs Upgrade3.05%$0
Newtek Bank vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Newtek Bank vs Vio Bank4.03%$100
Newtek Bank vs Wealthfront4.20%$0
Newtek Bank vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Newtek Bank vs Zynlo Bank3.85%$10
Compare Valley Direct's APY of 4.00% with other banks