Valley Direct vs. Wealthfront
Comparing Valley Direct and Wealthfront for high-yield savings: Valley Direct's High-Yield Savings Account pays 4.00% APY (including a 12-month 0.60% promo boost) while Wealthfront's Cash Account pays 3.95% APY (including a 3-month 0.65% promo boost).
See how they compare on rate stability, mobile app ratings, and more below.
The Bottom Line
Who pays more interest on $10,000? Valley Direct pays $54 more than Wealthfront annually ($400 vs $346).
Choose Valley Direct if getting the best rate matters most, BBB rating matters to you, you value in-person banking, or you want Zelle for quick transfers.
Important Considerations
Both rates include promotional bonuses. Valley Direct offers 4.00% for the first 12 months (then currently 3.40%), while Wealthfront offers 3.95% for the first 3 months (then currently 3.30%). All rates are subject to change.
| Metric | Valley DirectHigh-Yield Savings Account Feb 21, 2026 | WealthfrontCash Account Feb 21, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.40% - 4.00% | 3.30% - 3.95% |
Est. Earnings | $5,000+$200 $10,000+$400 $25,000+$1,000 | $5,000+$173 $10,000+$346 $25,000+$866 |
Min Deposit | $1,000 | $0 |
Snapshot view. Rates subject to change. | ||
Terms | Promo rate for new customers. 3.40% APY applies to existing customers. | Wealthfront is not a bank but a financial services company. It is FDIC-insured through its many partner banks. New clients get an APY of 3.95% for 3 months, after which the 3.30% APY applies. See terms at Wealthfront. |
| Features | FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppIn-Person AccessZelle® SupportedDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often |
Market Reality Check
Both of these banks offer rates below the current top tier. The best rates we track are currently above 4.15% APY.
Comparison Analysis
Comparing Valley Direct vs. Wealthfront
Executive Summary
Valley Direct offers a High-Yield Savings Account with a competitive APY of 4.00%, making it the higher-yield option compared to Wealthfront's Cash Account, which has an APY of 3.95%. Valley Direct's account requires a minimum deposit of $1,000 and is available to new customers, while existing customers earn a lower rate of 3.40%. In contrast, Wealthfront's account has no minimum deposit requirement and is online-only, but the APY drops to 3.30% after an initial promotional period for new clients. Both accounts have no maintenance fees and are FDIC-insured.
The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records
* This content is provided for informational purposes only; always verify details with the provider.
Why Valley Direct?
- ✓Fast transfers via Zelle®
Why Wealthfront?
- ✓Available to New & Existing Customers
— Key Feature Differences —
Better Returns at $10,000
Valley DirectValley Direct's High-Yield Savings Account earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $400 vs $346/yr).
Better Returns at $25,000
Valley DirectValley Direct's High-Yield Savings Account pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $1000 vs $866/yr).
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period (factoring in a 12-month promo), Valley Direct's High-Yield Savings Account pays $54 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Wealthfront's Cash Account.
*Both calculations include their respective introductory promotional rates and subsequent standard rates.
Non-sponsored link to official site
Non-sponsored link to official site
Top Market Contenders
Valley Direct vs. Wealthfront Savings Calculator
You earn $52.5 more with Valley Direct than Wealthfront 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.
Valley Direct
High-Yield Savings Account
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
Wealthfront
Cash Account
Promo Rate: 3.95% for 3 months, then 3.30%.
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$347.50(3.4%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,347.50
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Still banking with Chase, Bank of America, or Wells Fargo?
On a $10,000 balance, you're missing out on at least $345 per year in interest.
Both Valley Direct and Wealthfront dramatically outperform the typical 0.01% APY at traditional big banks.
| Feature | Valley Direct | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 4.00% Range: 3.40% - 4.00% Verified: 2/21/2026 ↘︎ 0.10%90d Change | 3.95% Range: 3.30% - 3.95% Verified: 2/21/2026 ↘︎ 0.20%90d Change |
| Product Name | High-Yield Savings Account | Cash Account |
| Minimum Deposit | $1,000 | $0 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $0.01 | $0 |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily |
| Branch Access | Yes | None |
| Account Type | Online & Branches | Online Only |
| Physical Branches | After opening online, your accounts can be serviced at one of the Valley branch locations in NJ, NY, FL and AL. | None |
| Direct Deposit Req. | None | None |
| Checking Bundle | No | No |
| Mobile Apps | ||
| FDIC Insured | YesVerify FDIC | Yes |
| Zelle® Support | Available Allows Zelle directly on HYSA. | Not Supported |
| BBB Rating | A+ | F |
| Important Notes | Promo rate for new customers. 3.40% APY applies to existing customers. | Wealthfront is not a bank but a financial services company. It is FDIC-insured through its many partner banks. New clients get an APY of 3.95% for 3 months, after which the 3.30% APY applies. See terms at Wealthfront. |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteVerify at Valley Direct Non-sponsored link to official site | Visit SiteVerify at Wealthfront Non-sponsored link to official site |
📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Valley Direct | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| High-Yield Savings Account | Cash Account | |
Current APY | 4.00% | 3.95% |
Trend | Stable | Stable |
Velocity (bps/mo) | -3.7 | -8.6 |
Days Since Change | 71 | 22 |
3-Month High | 4.10% | 4.15% |
3-Month Low | 4.00% | 3.90% |
Adjustments / Mo | 0.30 | 0.60 |
Volatility Score | 0.011 | 0.028 |
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)
Compare Similar High-Yield Accounts
Compare Valley Direct vs...
Comparing against Standard Savings
Compare Wealthfront vs...
Comparing against Standard Savings
High Rates (With Checking Bundle)
Looking for something different? Check out these top-rated alternatives.
More Comparisons
Compare Valley Direct's APY of 4.00% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Valley Direct vs Ally Bank | 3.20% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs American Express | 3.30% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Axos Bank | 4.21% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Bank of America | 0.01% | $100 |
| Valley Direct vs Barclays | 3.85% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Capital One | 3.30% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Chase Bank | 0.01% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Chime | 3.00% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs CIT Bank | 3.75% | $100 |
| Valley Direct vs Citibank | 3.20% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Discover Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs EverBank | 3.90% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.65% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Newtek Bank | 4.20% | $0.01 |
| Valley Direct vs Openbank | 4.09% | $500 |
| Valley Direct vs Pibank | 4.60% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs SoFi Bank | 4.00% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Synchrony Bank | 3.50% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Varo Bank | 5.00% | $0 |
| Valley Direct vs Wells Fargo | 0.05% | $25 |