Newtek Bank vs. Varo Money
High-Yield Savings Account Comparison
By Aviel Fahl|Last Updated: October 21, 2025
We earn a commission if you open an account through some links on this page.
Summary of Newtek Bank vs. Varo Bank
Key Metrics at a Glance
| Feature | Newtek Bank | Varo Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Top Savings APY | 4.35% Personal High Yield Savings | 5.00% High-Yield Savings Account |
| Minimum to Open | $0 | $0 |
| Minimum Balance for Top APY | $0.01 | $0.01 |
| Note | Earn 5.00% APY on up to $5,000 and 2.50% APY on the rest. Direct deposit required. |
Newtek Bank
Strengths
- Newtek Bank offers a competitive APY of 4.35%.
- No maintenance fees for the Personal High Yield Savings account.
- Newtek Bank has an A+ BBB rating, indicating high trustworthiness.
Potential Drawbacks
- Newtek Bank has no branches available.
- The APY has not changed in the last 30 days.
- The account does not offer a direct deposit option.
Varo Bank
Strengths
- Varo Bank provides a higher APY of 5.00% on the first $5,000.
- Varo Bank has an excellent App Store rating of 4.9.
- No maintenance fees for the High-Yield Savings Account.
Potential Drawbacks
- Varo Bank requires a minimum direct deposit of $1,000/month.
- Varo Bank has a lower APY of 2.50% on amounts over $5,000.
- Varo Bank has an A- BBB rating, which is lower than Newtek Bank.
→ As of October 21, 2025 Newtek Bank offers an APY of 4.35% for its Personal High Yield Savings account, with a minimum balance of $0.01, compared to Varo Bank's 5.00% APY for its High-Yield Savings Account, with a minimum balance of $0.01.
→ Newtek Bank yields $60 more than Varo Bank on a $10,000 balance after one year. Newtek Bank pays $435, while Varo Bank pays $375 (with an effective APY of 3.75%) - an APY advantage for Newtek Bank.
Calculate Savings Growth for Newtek Bank vs Varo Bank
Newtek Bank - Personal High Yield Savings
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $2,662 (12.88%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (62.92%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.20%)
Your total balance
$20,662.00
Total balance: $20,662
Earnings: $2,662
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, Newtek Bank's total earnings would be $450.6 higher than Varo Bank's total earnings.
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Compare Newtek Bank's vs Varo Bank's Savings Accounts
| Newtek Bank | Varo Bank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Personal High Yield Savings | vs | High-Yield Savings Account |
| APY | 4.35% (as of 10/21/2025) | 2.50% - 5.00% (as of 10/21/2025) | |
| Bundled Account | No | No | |
| FDIC-insured | Yes | Yes | |
| Online Only | Yes | Yes | |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily | |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| Minimum Balance for APY | $0.01 | $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 | 4.5/5 | 4.9/5 | |
| Google Play Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.6/5 | |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A- |
Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 10 Months)
| Newtek Bank | Varo Bank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Personal High Yield Savings | vs | High-Yield Savings Account |
| Latest APY | 4.35 % | 5.00 % | |
| Trend | Sideways | Sideways | |
| Slope (bps/mo) | -2.8 | 0.0 | |
| Rate Changes / Mo | 0.39 | 0.00 | |
| Days Since Last Change | 193 | 306 | |
| High (-10 m) | 4.90 % | 5.00 % | |
| Low (-10 m) | 4.35 % | 5.00 % | |
| Draw-down from High | -11.2 % | 0.0 % | |
| Volatility (CV) | 0.023 | 0.000 |
APY Insights Glossary
- Latest APY
- Most recent advertised annual-percentage yield.
- Trend
- Direction over the last 10 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 (-10 m)
- Highest APY in the last 308 days.
- Low (-10 m)
- Lowest APY in the last 308 days.
- Draw-down from High
- How far today sits below the 10-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.