Pnc vs. Wells Fargo
High-Yield Savings Account Comparison
By Aviel Fahl|Last Updated: November 14, 2025
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Summary of PNC vs. Wells Fargo
Key Metrics at a Glance
| Feature | PNC | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| Top Savings APY | 3.53% PNC High Yield Savings | 0.05% Platinum Savings |
| Minimum to Open | $0 | $25 |
| Minimum Balance for Top APY | $0 | $1,000,000 |
| Note | Eligibility restricted. | 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. |
PNC
Strengths
- PNC High Yield Savings offers a competitive APY of 3.53%, though it decreased from 3.85% in the last 30 days.
- PNC has an A+ BBB rating, indicating strong trustworthiness.
- PNC has no maintenance fees for its high-yield savings account.
Potential Drawbacks
- Eligibility for PNC High Yield Savings is restricted, limiting access.
Wells Fargo
Strengths
- Wells Fargo has a large branch network with locations in 36 states and D.C.
- Wells Fargo offers a tiered Platinum Savings account, but only for high balances.
Potential Drawbacks
- Wells Fargo's Platinum Savings has a low APY of 0.05%, requiring a $1,000,000 balance for this rate.
- Wells Fargo has a D- BBB rating, indicating significant trust issues.
- Wells Fargo charges a $12 maintenance fee for the Platinum Savings account unless certain conditions are met.
→ As of November 14, 2025 PNC offers an APY of 3.53% for its PNC High Yield Savings account, with a minimum balance of $0, compared to Wells Fargo's 0.05% APY for its Platinum Savings account, with a minimum balance of $1,000,000.
→ PNC yields $348 more than Wells Fargo on a $10,000 balance after one year. PNC pays $353, while Wells Fargo pays $5 - an APY advantage for PNC.
→ In addition, PNC also offers 0.03% APY for the Standard Savings account, while Wells Fargo offers 0.01% APY for the Way2Save Savings account.
Calculate Savings Growth for PNC vs Wells Fargo
PNC - PNC High Yield Savings
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $2,133.2 (10.60%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (64.57%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (24.83%)
Your total balance
$20,133.20
Total balance: $20,133.2
Earnings: $2,133.2
Bank OverviewWells Fargo - Platinum Savings
⚠️The higher APY only applies once your balance reaches $1,000,000.
Total savings breakdown:
- Interest earned: $28.6 (0.16%)
- Total contributions: $13,000 (72.11%)
- Initial deposit: $5,000 (27.73%)
Your total balance
$18,028.60
Total balance: $18,028.6
Earnings: $28.6
Bank OverviewWith a $5,000 initial deposit and $13,000 in total contributions over 5 years, PNC's total earnings would be $2,104.6 higher than Wells Fargo's total earnings.
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Compare PNC's vs Wells Fargo's Savings Accounts
| PNC | Wells Fargo | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Standard Savings | PNC High Yield Savings | vs | Way2Save Savings | Platinum Savings |
| APY | 0.03% (as of 11/14/2025) | 3.53% (as of 11/14/2025) | 0.01% (as of 11/14/2025) | 0.05% - 0.05% (as of 11/14/2025) | |
| Bundled Account | No | No | No | Yes | |
| FDIC-insured | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Online Only | No | No | No | No | |
| Compound Frequency | Monthly | Monthly | Daily | Daily | |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | $25 | $25 | |
| Minimum Balance for APY | $1 | $0 | $0 | $1,000,000 | |
| Maintenance Fee | $0 / $5 (see bank for details) | $0 | $5. Waived under some circumstances. | $12. Waived with $3,500 minimum daily balance. | |
| Direct Deposit Required | No | No | No | No | |
| Eligibility | United States | AK, AR, CT, HI, ID, IA, LA, ME, MN, MS, MT, NE, NV, NH, ND, OK, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WY | United States | United States | |
| Note | APY may improve with a linked PNC account. Terms and conditions apply. | Eligibility restricted. | 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. | ||
| App Store Rating | 4.9/5 | 4.9/5 | |||
| Google Play Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.8/5 | |||
| BBB Rating | A+ | D- | |||
Comparative Historical APY Insights (Last 4 Months)
| PNC | Wells Fargo | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | PNC High Yield Savings | Standard Savings | vs | Platinum Savings | Way2Save Savings |
| Latest APY | 3.53 % | 0.03 % | 0.05 % | 0.01 % | |
| Trend | Falling | Sideways | Falling | Sideways | |
| Slope (bps/mo) | -6.0 | -0.0 | -71.4 | -0.0 | |
| Rate Changes / Mo | 0.73 | 0.00 | 0.73 | 0.00 | |
| Days Since Last Change | 1 | 122 | 28 | 122 | |
| High (-4 m) | 3.95 % | 0.03 % | 2.51 % | 0.01 % | |
| Low (-4 m) | 3.53 % | 0.03 % | 0.05 % | 0.01 % | |
| Draw-down from High | -10.6 % | 0.0 % | -98.0 % | 0.0 % | |
| Volatility (CV) | 0.024 | 0.000 | 0.624 | 0.000 | |
APY Insights Glossary
- Latest APY
- Most recent advertised annual-percentage yield.
- Trend
- Direction over the last 4 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 (-4 m)
- Highest APY in the last 123 days.
- Low (-4 m)
- Lowest APY in the last 123 days.
- Draw-down from High
- How far today sits below the 4-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.