High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

UFB Direct vs. Upgrade

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

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated December 10, 2025

UFB Direct

UFB Checking and Savings Bundle

Up to
3.71%
APY
Dec 10, 2025
FDIC InsuredHigh MinimumDirect Deposit ReqChecking BundleGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
Range: 3.51% 3.71%
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$5000
Min. Balance$10,000
Maintenance Fee$0
Compound FreqDaily
Direct DepositRequired (See terms)
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured(Cert: 35546)
EligibilityUnited States
Mobile Ratings
BBB Rating

Important Note

The regular savings or money market APY may be boosted up to 3.71% by direct deposits, minimum balance of $10,000 and making 10 approved debit card transactions per statement cycle. The checking account earns 2% APY. See bank for full details.

Rate Stability

Rate Adjusted
-0.50%
Since 90 days ago
Sponsored LinkOpen Account

at UFB Direct, Member FDIC

Upgrade

Premier Savings

3.05%
APY
Dec 10, 2025
FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$0
Min. Balance$1,000
Maintenance Fee$0
Compound FreqDaily
Direct DepositNot required
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured(Cert: 58410)
EligibilityUnited States
Mobile Ratings
BBB Rating

Rate Stability

Rate Adjusted
-0.97%
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

UFB Direct vs. Upgrade Savings Calculator

Calculations based on current APY for UFB Checking and Savings Bundle and Premier Savings
$
$

UFB Direct earns $389.1 more than Upgrade.

Upgrade

Premier Savings

3.05% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$1,829.60(9.2%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $5,000

Projected Balance

$19,829.60

Effective APY
3.05%

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

Comparison Analysis

Comparing UFB Direct vs. Upgrade

Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Why UFB Direct?

  • Offers 2.00% APY on Checking Account in addition to the savings APY
  • Access to over 90,000 fee-free ATMs
  • Higher potential APY (3.51%-3.71% vs 3.05%) (requires checking bundle & direct deposit)
  • Offers 2 different high-yield savings options

Why Upgrade?

No distinct advantages found vs UFB Direct.

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
UFB Direct

UFB Direct's UFB Checking and Savings Bundle earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $371 vs $305/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
UFB Direct

UFB Direct's UFB Checking and Savings Bundle pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $928 vs $763/yr).

Best for Simplicity
UFB Direct

UFB Direct's UFB Portfolio Savings offers 3.51% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

Best for All-in-One Banking
UFB Direct

UFB Direct's UFB Checking and Savings Bundle 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 Available Nationwide Available to New & Existing Customers
The Bottom Line on APY (Interest Only)

Over a 1-year period, UFB Direct's UFB Checking and Savings Bundle pays $66 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Upgrade's Premier Savings.

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

UpgradeUFB Direct
Automated Data Audit

Executive Summary

UFB Direct offers a compelling savings option with its UFB Portfolio Savings account, which provides a competitive APY of 3.51% with no minimum deposit or direct deposit requirement, making it ideal for those seeking simplicity. Alternatively, their UFB Checking and Savings Bundle can yield a higher APY of 3.71% but requires a checking account, a minimum balance of $10,000, and 10 approved debit card transactions per statement cycle. In contrast, Upgrade's Premier Savings account offers a lower APY of 3.05% with a minimum balance of $1,000 but no direct deposit requirement. Overall, UFB Direct stands out as the winner with its higher rates and flexible options.

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 UFB Direct and Upgrade.

Compare All High-Yield Savings Accounts
Pibank
Pibank Savings
FDIC InsuredNo Minimums
4.60% APY
+0.89% vs UFB Direct
Better Rate
Axos Bank
Axos ONE
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
4.31% APY
+0.60% vs UFB Direct
Better Rate
TIMBR
Premium Savings Account
FDIC InsuredLow Minimums
4.40% APY
+0.69% vs UFB Direct
Better Rate
FeatureUFB DirectUpgrade
APY
3.71%
Range: 3.51% - 3.71%
Verified: 12/10/2025
↘︎ 0.50%90d Change
3.05%
Verified: 12/10/2025
↘︎ 0.97%90d Change
Product NameUFB Checking and Savings BundlePremier Savings
Minimum Deposit$5000$0
Min. Balance for APY$10,000$1,000
Monthly Fee$0$0
Branch AccessNoneNone
Account Type
Online Only
Online Only
Direct Deposit Req.
Required
None
Checking Bundle YesNo
Mobile Apps
iOS4.8
Android4.3
iOS4.9
Android4.5
BBB RatingA+A+
Important NotesThe regular savings or money market APY may be boosted up to 3.71% by direct deposits, minimum balance of $10,000 and making 10 approved debit card transactions per statement cycle. The checking account earns 2% APY. See bank for full details.-
Next Steps
SponsoredOpen Account

📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 11 Months Analysis
MetricUFB DirectUpgrade
UFB Checking and Savings BundleUFB Portfolio SavingsPremier Savings
Current APY
3.71%3.51%3.05%
Trend
Stable Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-5.2-4.6-10.4
Days Since Change
414139
11-Month High
4.21%4.01%4.14%
11-Month Low
3.71%3.51%3.05%
Adjustments / Mo
0.280.280.28
Volatility Score
0.0480.0490.105
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 322-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 UFB Direct's APY of 3.71% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
UFB Direct vs Affirm3.60%$0
UFB Direct vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
UFB Direct vs American Express3.40%$0
UFB Direct vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
UFB Direct vs Bank of America0.01%$100
UFB Direct vs Barclays4.00%$0
UFB Direct vs Bask Bank3.90%$0
UFB Direct vs Betterment3.50%$10
UFB Direct vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
UFB Direct vs Bread Savings4.10%$100
UFB Direct vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
UFB Direct vs Capital One3.40%$0
UFB Direct vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
UFB Direct vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
UFB Direct vs Chime3.50%$0
UFB Direct vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
UFB Direct vs Citibank3.30%$0
UFB Direct vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
UFB Direct vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
UFB Direct vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
UFB Direct vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.75%$0
UFB Direct vs Elevault4.08%$0
UFB Direct vs EverBank4.05%$0
UFB Direct vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
UFB Direct vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
UFB Direct vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
UFB Direct vs FVCbank3.85%$500
UFB Direct vs GO2bank4.50%$0
UFB Direct vs Ivy Bank4.25%$2,500
UFB Direct vs LendingClub4.20%$0
UFB Direct vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
UFB Direct vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
UFB Direct vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
UFB Direct vs Openbank4.20%$500
UFB Direct vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
UFB Direct vs Pibank4.60%$0
UFB Direct vs PNC3.53%$0
UFB Direct vs Presidential Bank4.00%$5,000
UFB Direct vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
UFB Direct vs Salem Five Direct3.71%$10
UFB Direct vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
UFB Direct vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
UFB Direct vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
UFB Direct vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
UFB Direct vs TD Bank2.75%$0
UFB Direct vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
UFB Direct vs Valley Direct4.10%$1,000
UFB Direct vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
UFB Direct vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
UFB Direct vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
UFB Direct vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
UFB Direct vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10
Compare Upgrade's APY of 3.05% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Upgrade vs Affirm3.60%$0
Upgrade vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Upgrade vs American Express3.40%$0
Upgrade vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Upgrade vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Upgrade vs Barclays4.00%$0
Upgrade vs Bask Bank3.90%$0
Upgrade vs Betterment3.50%$10
Upgrade vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Upgrade vs Bread Savings4.10%$100
Upgrade vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
Upgrade vs Capital One3.40%$0
Upgrade vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Upgrade vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Upgrade vs Chime3.50%$0
Upgrade vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Upgrade vs Citibank3.30%$0
Upgrade vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Upgrade vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Upgrade vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Upgrade vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.75%$0
Upgrade vs Elevault4.08%$0
Upgrade vs EverBank4.05%$0
Upgrade vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Upgrade vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Upgrade vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Upgrade vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Upgrade vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Upgrade vs Ivy Bank4.25%$2,500
Upgrade vs LendingClub4.20%$0
Upgrade vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Upgrade vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Upgrade vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Upgrade vs Openbank4.20%$500
Upgrade vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
Upgrade vs Pibank4.60%$0
Upgrade vs PNC3.53%$0
Upgrade vs Presidential Bank4.00%$5,000
Upgrade vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
Upgrade vs Salem Five Direct3.71%$10
Upgrade vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
Upgrade vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Upgrade vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
Upgrade vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Upgrade vs TD Bank2.75%$0
Upgrade vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Upgrade vs Valley Direct4.10%$1,000
Upgrade vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Upgrade vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
Upgrade vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
Upgrade vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Upgrade vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10