High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

PNC vs. Valley Direct

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 Valley Direct savings accounts
Metric

PNC

PNC High Yield Savings

Jan 7, 2026

Valley Direct

High-Yield Savings Account

Jan 7, 2026
APY3.30%3.40% - 4.00%
Est. Earnings
$5,000+$165
$10,000+$330
$25,000+$825
$5,000+$200
$10,000+$400
$25,000+$1,000
Min Deposit
$0$1,000

Snapshot view. Rates subject to change.

Terms
Eligibility restricted to select states.Promo rate for new customers. 3.40% APY applies to existing customers.
Features
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppIn-Person AccessZelle® Supported
FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppIn-Person AccessZelle® Supported

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. Valley Direct

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 Valley Direct's 4.00% APY for its High-Yield Savings Account, with a minimum balance of $0.01.

Valley Direct pays $70 more than PNC on a $10,000 balance after one year. PNC pays $330, while Valley Direct pays $400 - an APY advantage for Valley Direct.

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)
  • Available to New & Existing Customers

Why Valley Direct?

  • Higher potential APY (4.00% vs 3.30%) on all balances
  • Available Nationwide

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
Valley Direct

Valley Direct's High-Yield Savings Account earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $400 vs $330/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
Valley Direct

Valley Direct's High-Yield Savings Account pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $1000 vs $825/yr).

Best for Simplicity
Valley Direct

Valley Direct's High-Yield Savings Account offers 4.00% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

Shared Benefits

Both offer monthly maintenance-free account options Fast transfers via Zelle®
The Bottom Line on APY (Interest Only)PROMO DETECTED

Over a 1-year period (factoring in a 12-month promo), Valley Direct's High-Yield Savings Account pays $70 more interest on a $10,000 balance than PNC's PNC High Yield Savings.

*Valley Direct's calculation includes their 12-month introductory promotional rate and subsequent standard rate.

PNCValley Direct

Executive Summary as of

Valley Direct offers a High-Yield Savings Account with a competitive APY of 4.00%, significantly higher than PNC's High Yield Savings at 3.30%. While PNC's account has no minimum deposit requirement, Valley Direct requires a minimum deposit of $1,000. However, the Valley Direct account is only available to new customers, with existing customers receiving a lower rate of 3.40%. Both accounts have no maintenance fees and are FDIC insured. For those eligible, Valley Direct's account provides better returns, especially for larger deposits.

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
Valley Direct

Non-sponsored link to official site

Top Market Contenders

Discover Bank
3.40% APY
Barclays
4.00% APY
Marcus by Goldman Sachs
3.65% APY

PNC vs. Valley Direct Savings Calculator

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

You earn $70 more with Valley Direct 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%

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.

FeaturePNCValley Direct
APY
3.30%
Verified: 1/7/2026
↘︎ 0.55%90d Change
4.00%
Range: 3.40% - 4.00%
Verified: 1/7/2026
↘︎ 0.10%90d Change
Product NamePNC High Yield SavingsHigh-Yield Savings Account
Minimum Deposit$0$1,000
Min. Balance for APY$0$0.01
Monthly Fee$0$0
Branch AccessYesYes
Account Type
Online & Branches
Online & Branches
Direct Deposit Req.NoneNone
Checking BundleNoNo
Mobile Apps
iOS4.9
Android4.6
iOS4.8
Android4.6
Zelle® Support
Available
Limit: $2,000/dayCentral to Virtual Wallet suite.
Available
Allows Zelle directly on HYSA.
BBB RatingA+A+
Important NotesEligibility restricted to select states.Promo rate for new customers. 3.40% APY applies to existing customers.
Next Steps
Visit Site

Non-sponsored link to official site

Visit Site

Non-sponsored link to official site

📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 10 Months Analysis
MetricPNCValley Direct
PNC High Yield SavingsStandard SavingsHigh-Yield Savings Account
Current APY
3.30%0.03%4.00%
Trend
Stable Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-5.60.2-3.1
Days Since Change
2125126
10-Month High
3.95%0.03%4.40%
10-Month Low
3.30%0.01%4.00%
Adjustments / Mo
0.390.100.68
Volatility Score
0.0570.2860.029
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 Synchrony Bank3.65%$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 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 Valley Direct's APY of 4.00% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Valley Direct vs Affirm3.20%$0
Valley Direct vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Valley Direct vs American Express3.30%$0
Valley Direct vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Valley Direct vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Valley Direct vs Barclays4.00%$0
Valley Direct vs Bask Bank3.75%$0
Valley Direct vs Betterment3.25%$10
Valley Direct vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Valley Direct vs Bread Savings4.05%$100
Valley Direct vs BrioDirect3.75%$5,000
Valley Direct vs Capital One3.40%$0
Valley Direct vs Carver Bank4.00%$5,000
Valley Direct vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Valley Direct vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Valley Direct vs Chime3.50%$0
Valley Direct vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Valley Direct vs Citibank3.30%$0
Valley Direct vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Valley Direct vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Valley Direct vs Colorado Federal Savings Bank4.05%$50,000
Valley Direct vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Valley Direct vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.50%$0
Valley Direct vs Elevault3.82%$0
Valley Direct vs EverBank3.90%$0
Valley Direct vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Valley Direct vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Valley Direct vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Valley Direct vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Valley Direct vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Valley Direct vs Ivy Bank4.10%$2,500
Valley Direct vs Jenius Bank4.05%$0
Valley Direct vs LendingClub4.00%$0
Valley Direct vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Valley Direct vs MutualOne Bank4.07%$20,000
Valley Direct vs My Banking Direct4.02%$500
Valley Direct vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Valley Direct vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Valley Direct vs Openbank4.20%$500
Valley Direct vs Peak Bank3.99%$100
Valley Direct vs Pibank4.60%$0
Valley Direct vs Popular Direct3.90%$100
Valley Direct vs Presidential Bank3.75%$5,000
Valley Direct vs Quontic Bank3.50%$100
Valley Direct vs Salem Five Direct3.61%$10
Valley Direct vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
Valley Direct vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Valley Direct vs SoFi Bank4.00%$0
Valley Direct vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Valley Direct vs TD Bank2.60%$0
Valley Direct vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Valley Direct vs UFB Direct3.46%$5000
Valley Direct vs Upgrade3.05%$0
Valley Direct vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Valley Direct vs Vio Bank4.09%$100
Valley Direct vs Wealthfront3.90%$0
Valley Direct vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Valley Direct vs Zynlo Bank3.85%$10