Savings Account Comparison

Newtek Bank vs. Wells Fargo

Comparing Newtek Bank and Wells Fargo for savings: Newtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings pays 4.20% APY while Wells Fargo's Platinum Savings pays 0.05% APY.

Note: Wells Fargo 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? Newtek Bank pays $415 more than Wells Fargo annually ($420 vs $5).

Choose Newtek Bank if getting the best rate matters most, you want a no-strings-attached account, or BBB rating matters to you. Choose Wells Fargo if you value in-person banking, you're an Android user, or you want Zelle for quick transfers.

Important Considerations

Wells Fargo requires a checking account to unlock its top savings rate, while Newtek Bank offers its savings account standalone.

Comparison of Newtek Bank vs Wells Fargo savings accounts
Metric

Newtek Bank

Personal High Yield Savings

Apr 21, 2026

Wells Fargo

Platinum Savings

Apr 21, 2026
APY4.20%0.05%
Est. Earnings
$5,000+$210
$10,000+$420
$25,000+$1,050
$5,000+$3
$10,000+$5
$25,000+$13
Min Deposit
$0.01$25

Snapshot view. Rates subject to change.

Terms
-This is a tiered savings account where rates vary based on the balance. The 0.05% APY is available for balances of $1,000,000 or more, and 0.05% APY up to $99,999.99. These APYs require the account is linked to a Wells Fargo Premier checking account. See bank for more tiers and details.
Features
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often
FDIC InsuredHigh MinimumGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppIn-Person AccessZelle® SupportedChecking BundleDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often

Comparison Analysis

Comparing Newtek Bank vs. Wells Fargo

Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Executive Summary

Newtek Bank offers a standout Personal High Yield Savings account with an impressive APY of 4.20%, making it a superior choice for savers. This account requires a minimal deposit of only $0.01, has no maintenance fees, and does not mandate direct deposit, all while being online-only. In contrast, Wells Fargo's savings options, including the Way2Save Savings account with a mere 0.01% APY and the Platinum Savings account at 0.05% APY (which requires a $1,000,000 balance and a linked checking account), provide significantly lower yields. Therefore, Newtek Bank is the clear winner for those seeking higher returns on their 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 0.01%-0.05%) on all balances
  • No checking account or direct deposit required

Why Wells Fargo?

  • Physical branch access (Wells Fargo offers branches and ATMs in 36 states and Washington, D.C.)
  • Higher rated iOS app (4.9 vs 4.5)
  • Higher rated Android app (4.8 vs 3.9)
  • Offers 2 different high-yield savings options
  • Fast transfers via Zelle® (up to $3,500 a day)

— 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 $5/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
Newtek Bank

Newtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $1050 vs $13/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
Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo offers an iOS app rated 4.9 (vs. 4.5) and Android app rated 4.8 (vs. 3.9)

Shared Benefits

Available Nationwide Available to New & Existing Customers
The Bottom Line on APY (Interest Only)

Over a 1-year period, Newtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings pays $415 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Wells Fargo's Platinum Savings.

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

Wells FargoNewtek Bank
Verify At
Newtek Bank

Non-sponsored link to official site

Verify At
Wells Fargo

Non-sponsored link to official site

Top Market Contenders

Marcus by Goldman Sachs
3.50% APY

Newtek Bank vs. Wells Fargo Savings Calculator

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

You earn $415 more with Newtek Bank than Wells Fargo 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%

Wells Fargo

Platinum Savings

0.05% APY

Higher APY requires $1,000,000

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$5.00(0.0%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,005.00

Effective APY
0.05%

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

FeatureNewtek BankWells Fargo
APY
4.20%
Verified: 4/21/2026
↘︎ 0.15%90d Change
0.05%
Range: 0.05% - 0.05%
Verified: 4/21/2026
Stable (90d)
Product NamePersonal High Yield SavingsPlatinum Savings
Minimum Deposit$0.01$25
Min. Balance for APY$0.01$1,000,000
Monthly Fee$0$12. Waived with $3,500 minimum daily balance.
Compound FrequencyDailyDaily
Branch AccessNoneYes
Account Type
Online Only
Online & Branches
Physical BranchesNoneWells Fargo offers branches and ATMs in 36 states and Washington, D.C.
Direct Deposit Req.NoneNone
Checking BundleNo Yes
Mobile Apps
iOS4.5
Android3.9
iOS4.9
Android4.8
FDIC Insured
Zelle® Support
Not Supported
Available
Limit: $3,500/dayFounding member; zero fees to replace wires.
BBB RatingA+D-
Important Notes-This is a tiered savings account where rates vary based on the balance. The 0.05% APY is available for balances of $1,000,000 or more, and 0.05% APY up to $99,999.99. These APYs require the account is linked to a Wells Fargo Premier checking account. See bank for more tiers and details.
Next Steps
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📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 9 Months Analysis
MetricNewtek BankWells Fargo
Personal High Yield SavingsPlatinum SavingsWay2Save Savings
Current APY
4.20%0.05%0.01%
Trend
Stable Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-2.0-32.30.0
Days Since Change
74186280
9-Month High
4.35%2.51%0.01%
9-Month Low
4.20%0.05%0.01%
Adjustments / Mo
0.110.320.00
Volatility Score
0.0161.5830.000
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 280-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
Compare Wells Fargo's APY of 0.05% with other banks