High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

PNC vs. Synchrony 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 PNC vs Synchrony Bank savings accounts
Metric

PNC

PNC High Yield Savings

Jan 7, 2026

Synchrony Bank

High Yield Savings

Jan 7, 2026
APY3.30%3.65%
Est. Earnings
$5,000+$165
$10,000+$330
$25,000+$825
$5,000+$183
$10,000+$365
$25,000+$912
Min Deposit
$0$0

Snapshot view. Rates subject to change.

Terms
Eligibility restricted to select states.-
Features
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppIn-Person AccessZelle® Supported
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App

Market Reality Check

Both of these banks offer rates below the current top tier. The best rates we track are currently above 4.21% APY.

See Top Rates

Comparison Analysis

Comparing PNC vs. Synchrony Bank

Updated: Jan 7, 2026

As of PNC offers an APY of 3.30% for its PNC High Yield Savings account, with a minimum balance of $0, compared to Synchrony Bank's 3.65% APY for its High Yield Savings account, with a minimum balance of $0.

Synchrony Bank pays $35 more than PNC on a $10,000 balance after one year. PNC pays $330, while Synchrony Bank pays $365 - an APY advantage for Synchrony Bank.

In addition, PNC also offers 0.03% APY for the Standard Savings account, with a minimum balance of $1.

Why PNC?

  • Physical branch access (Multiple branches in AL, AZ, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MA, MI, MO, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI)
  • Fast transfers via Zelle® (up to $2,000 a day)

Why Synchrony Bank?

  • Higher potential APY (3.65% vs 3.30%) on all balances
  • Available Nationwide

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
Synchrony Bank

Synchrony Bank's High Yield Savings earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $365 vs $330/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
Synchrony Bank

Synchrony Bank's High Yield Savings pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $912 vs $825/yr).

Best for Simplicity
Synchrony Bank

Synchrony Bank's High Yield Savings offers 3.65% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

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, Synchrony Bank's High Yield Savings pays $35 more interest on a $10,000 balance than PNC's PNC High Yield Savings.

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

PNCSynchrony Bank

Executive Summary as of

Synchrony Bank offers a High Yield Savings account with a competitive APY of 3.65%, making it the clear winner in this comparison. This account is online-only and requires no minimum deposit or maintenance fees, providing a straightforward savings option. In contrast, PNC's High Yield Savings account yields a lower APY of 3.30% and is only available to residents in select states. While PNC does offer a Standard Savings account with a 0.03% APY, it pales in comparison to Synchrony's offering. Overall, Synchrony Bank's account is ideal for those seeking higher returns without complex requirements.

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
PNC

Non-sponsored link to official site

Verify At
Synchrony Bank

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Top Market Contenders

CIT Bank
3.75% APY
Axos Bank
4.31% APY
Ally Bank
3.30% APY

PNC vs. Synchrony Bank Savings Calculator

Calculations based on current APY for PNC High Yield Savings and High Yield Savings
$
$

You earn $35 more with Synchrony Bank than PNC 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.

PNC

PNC High Yield Savings

3.30% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$330.00(3.2%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,330.00

Effective APY
3.30%

Synchrony Bank

High Yield Savings

3.65% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$365.00(3.5%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,365.00

Effective APY
3.65%

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

FeaturePNCSynchrony Bank
APY
3.30%
Verified: 1/7/2026
↘︎ 0.55%90d Change
3.65%
Verified: 1/7/2026
↘︎ 0.15%90d Change
Product NamePNC High Yield SavingsHigh Yield Savings
Minimum Deposit$0$0
Min. Balance for APY$0$0
Monthly Fee$0$0
Branch AccessYesNone
Account Type
Online & Branches
Online Only
Direct Deposit Req.NoneNone
Checking BundleNoNo
Mobile Apps
iOS4.9
Android4.6
iOS4.8
Android4.4
Zelle® Support
Available
Limit: $2,000/dayCentral to Virtual Wallet suite.
Not Supported
BBB RatingA+Not Rated
Important NotesEligibility restricted to select states.-
Next Steps
Visit Site

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📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 10 Months Analysis
MetricPNCSynchrony Bank
PNC High Yield SavingsStandard SavingsHigh Yield Savings
Current APY
3.30%0.03%3.65%
Trend
Stable Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-5.60.2-3.6
Days Since Change
2125150
10-Month High
3.95%0.03%4.00%
10-Month Low
3.30%0.01%3.65%
Adjustments / Mo
0.390.100.19
Volatility Score
0.0570.2860.032
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 309-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 PNC's APY of 3.30% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
PNC vs Affirm3.20%$0
PNC vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
PNC vs American Express3.30%$0
PNC vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
PNC vs Bank of America0.01%$100
PNC vs Barclays4.00%$0
PNC vs Bask Bank3.75%$0
PNC vs Betterment3.25%$10
PNC vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
PNC vs Bread Savings4.05%$100
PNC vs BrioDirect3.75%$5,000
PNC vs Capital One3.40%$0
PNC vs Carver Bank4.00%$5,000
PNC vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
PNC vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
PNC vs Chime3.50%$0
PNC vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
PNC vs Citibank3.30%$0
PNC vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
PNC vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
PNC vs Colorado Federal Savings Bank4.05%$50,000
PNC vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
PNC vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.50%$0
PNC vs Elevault3.82%$0
PNC vs EverBank3.90%$0
PNC vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
PNC vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
PNC vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
PNC vs FVCbank3.85%$500
PNC vs GO2bank4.50%$0
PNC vs Ivy Bank4.10%$2,500
PNC vs Jenius Bank4.05%$0
PNC vs LendingClub4.00%$0
PNC vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
PNC vs MutualOne Bank4.07%$20,000
PNC vs My Banking Direct4.02%$500
PNC vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
PNC vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
PNC vs Openbank4.20%$500
PNC vs Peak Bank3.99%$100
PNC vs Pibank4.60%$0
PNC vs Popular Direct3.90%$100
PNC vs Presidential Bank3.75%$5,000
PNC vs Quontic Bank3.50%$100
PNC vs Salem Five Direct3.61%$10
PNC vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
PNC vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
PNC vs SoFi Bank4.00%$0
PNC vs TD Bank2.60%$0
PNC vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
PNC vs UFB Direct3.46%$5000
PNC vs Upgrade3.05%$0
PNC vs Valley Direct4.00%$1,000
PNC vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
PNC vs Vio Bank4.09%$100
PNC vs Wealthfront3.90%$0
PNC vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
PNC vs Zynlo Bank3.85%$10
Compare Synchrony Bank's APY of 3.65% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Synchrony Bank vs Affirm3.20%$0
Synchrony Bank vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Synchrony Bank vs American Express3.30%$0
Synchrony Bank vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Synchrony Bank vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Synchrony Bank vs Barclays4.00%$0
Synchrony Bank vs Bask Bank3.75%$0
Synchrony Bank vs Betterment3.25%$10
Synchrony Bank vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Synchrony Bank vs Bread Savings4.05%$100
Synchrony Bank vs BrioDirect3.75%$5,000
Synchrony Bank vs Capital One3.40%$0
Synchrony Bank vs Carver Bank4.00%$5,000
Synchrony Bank vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Synchrony Bank vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Synchrony Bank vs Chime3.50%$0
Synchrony Bank vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Synchrony Bank vs Citibank3.30%$0
Synchrony Bank vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Synchrony Bank vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Synchrony Bank vs Colorado Federal Savings Bank4.05%$50,000
Synchrony Bank vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Synchrony Bank vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.50%$0
Synchrony Bank vs Elevault3.82%$0
Synchrony Bank vs EverBank3.90%$0
Synchrony Bank vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Synchrony Bank vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Synchrony Bank vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Synchrony Bank vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Synchrony Bank vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Synchrony Bank vs Ivy Bank4.10%$2,500
Synchrony Bank vs Jenius Bank4.05%$0
Synchrony Bank vs LendingClub4.00%$0
Synchrony Bank vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Synchrony Bank vs MutualOne Bank4.07%$20,000
Synchrony Bank vs My Banking Direct4.02%$500
Synchrony Bank vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Synchrony Bank vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Synchrony Bank vs Openbank4.20%$500
Synchrony Bank vs Peak Bank3.99%$100
Synchrony Bank vs Pibank4.60%$0
Synchrony Bank vs Popular Direct3.90%$100
Synchrony Bank vs Presidential Bank3.75%$5,000
Synchrony Bank vs Quontic Bank3.50%$100
Synchrony Bank vs Salem Five Direct3.61%$10
Synchrony Bank vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
Synchrony Bank vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Synchrony Bank vs SoFi Bank4.00%$0
Synchrony Bank vs TD Bank2.60%$0
Synchrony Bank vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Synchrony Bank vs UFB Direct3.46%$5000
Synchrony Bank vs Upgrade3.05%$0
Synchrony Bank vs Valley Direct4.00%$1,000
Synchrony Bank vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Synchrony Bank vs Vio Bank4.09%$100
Synchrony Bank vs Wealthfront3.90%$0
Synchrony Bank vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Synchrony Bank vs Zynlo Bank3.85%$10