High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

Santander Bank vs. Valley Direct

Compare rates, requirements, and features side-by-side to find the best option for you.

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated December 6, 2025
Advertising Disclosure: We may earn a commission from partner links.

Santander Bank

Santander Savings

0.01%
APY
Dec 6, 2025
FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppIn-Person Access
Show Fine Print & Trends

Valley Direct

High-Yield Savings Account

Up to
4.10%
APY
Dec 6, 2025
FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
Range: 3.50% 4.10%
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$1,000
Min. Balance$0.01
Maintenance Fee$0
Compound FreqDaily
Direct DepositNot required
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured(Cert: 9396)
EligibilityThe advertised rate is restricted to new customers. Existing Valley Bank or Valley Direct customers may this savings account with a somewhat lower rate.
Mobile Ratings
BBB Rating

Important Note

Promo rate for new customers. 3.50% APY applies to existing customers.

Rate Stability

Rate Adjusted
-0.20%
Since 90 days ago

Market Reality Check

Both of these banks offer rates below the current top tier. The best rates we track are currently above 4.25% APY.

See Top Rates

Comparison Analysis

Comparing Santander Bank vs. Valley Direct

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Why Santander Bank?

  • Physical branch access (Primarily in the Northeast and Miami, Florida)
  • Available to New & Existing Customers

Why Valley Direct?

  • Higher potential APY (4.10% vs 0.01%) on all balances
  • No checking account or direct deposit required
  • Higher rated Android app (4.5 vs 4.0)

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
Valley Direct

Valley Direct's High-Yield Savings Account earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $410 vs $1/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
Valley Direct

Valley Direct's High-Yield Savings Account pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $1025 vs $3/yr).

Best for Simplicity
Valley Direct

Valley Direct's High-Yield Savings Account offers 4.10% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

Shared Benefits

Available Nationwide
The Bottom Line

Over a 1-year period, Valley Direct's High-Yield Savings Account pays $409 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Santander Bank's Santander Savings.

Santander BankValley Direct
Automated Data Audit

Executive Summary

Valley Direct offers a High-Yield Savings Account with a competitive APY of 4.10%, significantly outperforming Santander Bank's savings product, which yields only 0.01% APY. The Valley Direct account requires a minimum deposit of $1,000 and is available exclusively online, with the advertised rate restricted to new customers. Existing customers will receive a lower APY of 3.50%. In contrast, Santander's savings account has a low minimum deposit of $25 and no direct deposit requirement, but its returns are minimal. Overall, Valley Direct's offering is clearly superior for those eligible.

Analysis generated based on current Banksparency database records

* AI-generated content provided for informational purposes only. Accuracy is not guaranteed; always verify details with the provider.

Top Market Contenders

See who beats both Santander Bank and Valley Direct.

Compare All High-Yield Savings Accounts
Pibank
Pibank Savings
FDIC InsuredNo Minimums
4.60% APY
+0.50% vs Valley Direct
Better Rate
Neighbors Bank
Neighbors Savings Account
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat Android App
4.50% APY
+0.40% vs Valley Direct
Better Rate
Axos Bank
Axos ONE
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
4.31% APY
+0.21% vs Valley Direct
Better Rate
FeatureSantander BankValley Direct
APY
0.01%
Verified: 12/6/2025
↘︎ 0.02%90d Change
4.10%
Range: 3.50% - 4.10%
Verified: 12/6/2025
↘︎ 0.20%90d Change
Product NameSantander SavingsHigh-Yield Savings Account
Minimum Deposit$25$1,000
Min. Balance for APY$0$0.01
Monthly Fee$1$0
Branch AccessYesNone
Account Type
Online & Branches
Online Only
Direct Deposit Req.NoneNone
Checking BundleNoNo
Mobile Apps
iOS4.8
Android4.0
iOS4.8
Android4.5
BBB RatingNot RatedA+
Important Notes-Promo rate for new customers. 3.50% APY applies to existing customers.
Next Steps

Savings Comparison

Calculations based on current APY.
$
$

Valley Direct earns $2,493.7 more than Santander Bank.

Santander Bank

Santander Savings

0.01% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$5.70(0.0%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $5,000

Projected Balance

$18,005.70

Effective APY
0.01%

Valley Direct

High-Yield Savings Account

4.10% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$2,499.40(12.2%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $5,000

Projected Balance

$20,499.40

Effective APY
4.10%

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

📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 10 Months Analysis
MetricSantander BankValley Direct
Santander SavingsHigh-Yield Savings Account
Current APY
0.01%4.10%
Trend
Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-0.21.0
Days Since Change
7871
10-Month High
0.03%4.40%
10-Month Low
0.01%3.75%
Adjustments / Mo
0.090.66
Volatility Score
0.3750.044
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 318-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 Santander Bank's APY of 0.01% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Santander Bank vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Santander Bank vs American Express3.40%$0
Santander Bank vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Santander Bank vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Santander Bank vs Barclays4.00%$0
Santander Bank vs Bask Bank3.90%$0
Santander Bank vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Santander Bank vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
Santander Bank vs Capital One3.40%$0
Santander Bank vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Santander Bank vs Chime3.50%$0
Santander Bank vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Santander Bank vs Citibank3.30%$0
Santander Bank vs Citizens Access™3.35%$0.01
Santander Bank vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Santander Bank vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Santander Bank vs Elevault4.08%$0
Santander Bank vs EverBank4.05%$0
Santander Bank vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Santander Bank vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Santander Bank vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Santander Bank vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Santander Bank vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Santander Bank vs Ivy Bank4.25%$2,500
Santander Bank vs LendingClub4.20%$0
Santander Bank vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Santander Bank vs Neighbors Bank4.50%$0
Santander Bank vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Santander Bank vs Openbank4.20%$500
Santander Bank vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
Santander Bank vs Pibank4.60%$0
Santander Bank vs PNC3.53%$0
Santander Bank vs Presidential Bank4.00%$5,000
Santander Bank vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
Santander Bank vs Salem Five Direct3.71%$10
Santander Bank vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
Santander Bank vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Santander Bank vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Santander Bank vs UFB Direct3.71%$5000
Santander Bank vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Santander Bank vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
Santander Bank vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
Santander Bank vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Santander Bank vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10
Compare Valley Direct's APY of 4.10% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Valley Direct vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Valley Direct vs American Express3.40%$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 Bank3.90%$0
Valley Direct vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Valley Direct vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
Valley Direct vs Capital One3.40%$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™3.35%$0.01
Valley Direct vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Valley Direct vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Valley Direct vs Elevault4.08%$0
Valley Direct vs EverBank4.05%$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 Bank4.25%$2,500
Valley Direct vs LendingClub4.20%$0
Valley Direct vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Valley Direct vs Neighbors Bank4.50%$0
Valley Direct vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Valley Direct vs Openbank4.20%$500
Valley Direct vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
Valley Direct vs Pibank4.60%$0
Valley Direct vs PNC3.53%$0
Valley Direct vs Presidential Bank4.00%$5,000
Valley Direct vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
Valley Direct vs Salem Five Direct3.71%$10
Valley Direct vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
Valley Direct vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Valley Direct vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Valley Direct vs UFB Direct3.71%$5000
Valley Direct vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Valley Direct vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
Valley Direct vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
Valley Direct vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Valley Direct vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10