High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

PNC vs. Varo 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 Varo Bank savings accounts
Metric

PNC

PNC High Yield Savings

Jan 7, 2026

Varo Bank

High-Yield Savings Account

Jan 7, 2026
APY3.30%2.50% - 5.00%
Est. Earnings
$5,000+$165
$10,000+$330
$25,000+$825
$5,000+$250
$10,000+$375
$25,000+$750
Min Deposit
$0$0

Snapshot view. Rates subject to change.

Terms
Eligibility restricted to select states.Earn 5.00% APY on up to $5,000 and 2.50% APY on the rest. A Varo bank account & direct deposit required.
Features
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppIn-Person AccessZelle® Supported
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppZelle® SupportedDirect Deposit ReqChecking Bundle

Comparison Analysis

Comparing PNC vs. Varo 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 Varo Bank's 5.00% APY for its High-Yield Savings Account, with a minimum balance of $0.01.

Varo Bank pays $45 more than PNC on a $10,000 balance after one year. PNC pays $330, while Varo Bank pays $375 (with an effective APY of 3.75%) - an APY advantage for Varo Bank.

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

Why PNC?

  • No checking account or direct deposit required
  • 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)

Why Varo Bank?

  • Higher potential APY (5.00% vs 3.30%) on balances up to $5,000 (requires checking bundle & direct deposit)
  • Available Nationwide

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
Varo Bank

Varo Bank's High-Yield Savings Account earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $375 vs $330/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
PNC

PNC's PNC High Yield Savings pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $825 vs $750/yr).

Best for Simplicity
PNC

PNC's PNC High Yield Savings offers 3.30% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

Best for All-in-One Banking
Varo Bank

Varo Bank's High-Yield Savings Account pays a superior APY for customers who also open a checking account.

Shared Benefits

Both offer monthly maintenance-free account options Both banks have options with $0 opening deposit Fast transfers via Zelle® Available to New & Existing Customers
The Bottom Line on APY (Interest Only)

Over a 1-year period, Varo Bank's High-Yield Savings Account pays $45 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.

PNCVaro Bank

Executive Summary as of

Varo Bank offers a High-Yield Savings Account with a competitive 5.00% APY, significantly higher than PNC's High Yield Savings at 3.30%. However, Varo's account requires a linked Varo bank account and a minimum direct deposit of $1,000 per month, which may limit accessibility for some users. In contrast, PNC's High Yield Savings does not have these requirements, making it a simpler option for those in eligible states (AK, AR, CT, HI, ID, IA, LA, ME, MN, MS, MT, NE, NV, NH, ND, OK, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WY). Both banks have no maintenance fees, but Varo's account is online-only, while PNC offers more traditional access.

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
Varo Bank

Non-sponsored link to official site

Top Market Contenders

EverBank
3.90% APY
CIT Bank
3.75% APY
Ally Bank
3.30% APY

PNC vs. Varo Bank Savings Calculator

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

You earn $45 more with Varo 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%

Varo Bank

High-Yield Savings Account

5.00% APY

5.00% on first $5,000 and 2.50% thereafter.

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$375.00(3.6%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,375.00

Effective APY
3.75%

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

FeaturePNCVaro Bank
APY
3.30%
Verified: 1/7/2026
↘︎ 0.55%90d Change
5.00%
Range: 2.50% - 5.00%
Verified: 1/7/2026
Stable (90d)
Product NamePNC High Yield SavingsHigh-Yield Savings Account
Minimum Deposit$0$0
Min. Balance for APY$0$0.01
Monthly Fee$0$0
Branch AccessYesNone
Account Type
Online & Branches
Online Only
Direct Deposit Req.None
RequiredMin. $1,000/month
Checking BundleNo Yes
Mobile Apps
iOS4.9
Android4.6
iOS4.9
Android4.6
Zelle® Support
Available
Limit: $2,000/dayCentral to Virtual Wallet suite.
Available
Requires history of qualifying direct deposits.
BBB RatingA+A
Important NotesEligibility restricted to select states.Earn 5.00% APY on up to $5,000 and 2.50% APY on the rest. A Varo bank account & direct deposit required.
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
MetricPNCVaro Bank
PNC High Yield SavingsStandard SavingsHigh-Yield Savings Account
Current APY
3.30%0.03%5.00%
Trend
Stable Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-5.60.20.0
Days Since Change
21251308
10-Month High
3.95%0.03%5.00%
10-Month Low
3.30%0.01%5.00%
Adjustments / Mo
0.390.100.00
Volatility Score
0.0570.2860.000
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 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 Valley Direct4.00%$1,000
PNC vs Vio Bank4.09%$100
PNC vs Wealthfront3.90%$0
PNC vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
PNC vs Zynlo Bank3.85%$10
Compare Varo Bank's APY of 5.00% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Varo Bank vs Affirm3.20%$0
Varo Bank vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Varo Bank vs American Express3.30%$0
Varo Bank vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Varo Bank vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Varo Bank vs Barclays4.00%$0
Varo Bank vs Bask Bank3.75%$0
Varo Bank vs Betterment3.25%$10
Varo Bank vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Varo Bank vs Bread Savings4.05%$100
Varo Bank vs BrioDirect3.75%$5,000
Varo Bank vs Capital One3.40%$0
Varo Bank vs Carver Bank4.00%$5,000
Varo Bank vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Varo Bank vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Varo Bank vs Chime3.50%$0
Varo Bank vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Varo Bank vs Citibank3.30%$0
Varo Bank vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Varo Bank vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Varo Bank vs Colorado Federal Savings Bank4.05%$50,000
Varo Bank vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Varo Bank vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.50%$0
Varo Bank vs Elevault3.82%$0
Varo Bank vs EverBank3.90%$0
Varo Bank vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Varo Bank vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Varo Bank vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Varo Bank vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Varo Bank vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Varo Bank vs Ivy Bank4.10%$2,500
Varo Bank vs Jenius Bank4.05%$0
Varo Bank vs LendingClub4.00%$0
Varo Bank vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Varo Bank vs MutualOne Bank4.07%$20,000
Varo Bank vs My Banking Direct4.02%$500
Varo Bank vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Varo Bank vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Varo Bank vs Openbank4.20%$500
Varo Bank vs Peak Bank3.99%$100
Varo Bank vs Pibank4.60%$0
Varo Bank vs Popular Direct3.90%$100
Varo Bank vs Presidential Bank3.75%$5,000
Varo Bank vs Quontic Bank3.50%$100
Varo Bank vs Salem Five Direct3.61%$10
Varo Bank vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
Varo Bank vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Varo Bank vs SoFi Bank4.00%$0
Varo Bank vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Varo Bank vs TD Bank2.60%$0
Varo Bank vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Varo Bank vs UFB Direct3.46%$5000
Varo Bank vs Upgrade3.05%$0
Varo Bank vs Valley Direct4.00%$1,000
Varo Bank vs Vio Bank4.09%$100
Varo Bank vs Wealthfront3.90%$0
Varo Bank vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Varo Bank vs Zynlo Bank3.85%$10