American Express vs. PNC
American Express's High Yield Savings Account pays 3.00% APY while PNC's PNC High Yield Savings pays 3.15% APY.
See how they compare on rate stability, mobile app ratings, and more below.
The Bottom Line
Who pays more interest on $10,000? PNC pays $15 more than American Express annually ($315 vs $300).
Choose PNC if getting the best rate matters most, BBB rating matters to you, or you value in-person banking.
| Metric | American ExpressHigh Yield Savings Account Sep 5, 2026 | PNCPNC High Yield Savings Sep 7, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.00% | 3.15% |
Earns in a year | $5,000+$150 $10,000+$300 $25,000+$750 | $5,000+$158 $10,000+$315 $25,000+$788 |
Min. Deposit | $0 | $0 |
Snapshot view. Rates subject to change. | ||
Terms | - | Eligibility restricted to select states. |
| Features | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppZelle® SupportedDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often | FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppIn-Person AccessZelle® SupportedRate Changes Often |
Market Reality Check
Both of these institutions offer rates below the top 10 savings and money market accounts we track. Those institutions all pay at least 4.01% APY.
Comparison Analysis
Comparing American Express vs. PNC
Executive Summary
American Express offers a High Yield Savings Account with an APY of 3.00%, which is competitive but lower than PNC's High Yield Savings account at 3.15%. The PNC product requires a minimum balance of $100, while American Express has no minimum balance requirement. Both accounts have no maintenance fees and do not require direct deposit. However, PNC's account is subject to eligibility restrictions in select states, while American Express is available nationally. For those looking for a higher yield, PNC's High Yield Savings is the better option.
The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records
* This content is provided for informational purposes only; always verify details with the provider.
Why American Express?
- Higher rated Android app (4.8 vs 4.5)
- Available Nationwide
Why PNC?
- Higher potential APY (3.15% vs 3.00%) on all balances
- 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)
Key Feature Differences
Better Returns at $10,000
PNCPNC's PNC High Yield Savings earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $315 vs $300/yr).
Better Returns at $25,000
PNCPNC's PNC High Yield Savings pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $788 vs $750/yr).
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period, PNC's PNC High Yield Savings pays $15 more interest on a $10,000 balance than American Express's High Yield Savings Account.
*This calculation assumes current rates remain consistent for 1 year and does not include temporary bonuses.
Non-sponsored link to official site
Non-sponsored link to official site
Top Market Contenders
American Express vs. PNC Savings Calculator
You earn $15 more with PNC than American Express 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.
American Express
High Yield Savings Account
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$300.00(2.9%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,300.00
PNC
PNC High Yield Savings
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$315.00(3.1%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,315.00
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Still at a large branch bank?
A typical branch-bank savings rate is 0.05% APY. On a $10,000 balance, the gap to these two banks is at least $295 a year in interest.
Both American Express and PNC advertise far more than that typical branch-bank rate.
| Feature | American Express | PNC |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.00% Observed: 9/5/2026 0.10%90-day change | 3.15% Observed: 9/7/2026 0.10%90-day change |
| Product Name | High Yield Savings Account | PNC High Yield Savings |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $0 | $1 |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Monthly |
| In-Branch Access | No | Yes |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online & Branches |
| Physical Branches | 1 (UT) | 2,420 (AL, AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA (+20 more)) |
| Direct Deposit Req. | None | None |
| Checking Bundle | No | No |
| Mobile Apps | ||
| FDIC or NCUA Insured | YesVerify FDIC | YesVerify FDIC |
| Zelle® Support | Available Requires Amex Rewards Checking; not available for standalone HYSA. | Available Limit: $2,000/dayCentral to Virtual Wallet suite. |
| BBB Rating | F | A+ |
| Important Notes | - | Eligibility restricted to select states. |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteVerify at American Express Non-sponsored link to official site | Visit SiteVerify at PNC Non-sponsored link to official site |
Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | American Express | PNC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Yield Savings Account | PNC High Yield Savings | Standard Savings | |
Current APY | 3.00% | 3.15% | 0.03% |
Trend | Stable | Stable | Stable |
Speed of change | -0.05 | -0.12 | -0.00 |
Days Since Change | 59 | 83 | 363 |
12-Month High | 3.50% | 3.95% | 0.03% |
12-Month Low | 3.00% | 3.15% | 0.03% |
Changes per month | 0.41 | 0.49 | 0.00 |
Steadiness | 0.029 | 0.067 | 0.000 |
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)
Trends and speed
- Trend: The general direction of the rate over the analyzed period. Useful for seeing whether a bank is raising its rate or letting it slip.
- Speed of change: How fast the rate moves. A high positive number means they raise rates quickly. A reading of 0.10 is a tenth of a percentage point each month.
- Changes per month: How often the rate moves. A high number means it changes constantly; a low number means it holds.
Risk & Range
- High/Low: The absolute ceiling and floor of the rate during the 364-day window.
- Steadiness: How far the rate swings around its average. A lower score means a steadier, more predictable rate.
- Days Since Change: A high number, for example above 90, means the rate rarely moves. A low number means it changed recently.
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Comparing against Standard Savings
High Rates (With Checking Bundle)
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More Comparisons
Compare American Express' APY of 3.00% with other banks
Compare PNC's APY of 3.15% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| PNC vs Ally Bank | 3.00% | $0 |
| PNC vs Axos Bank | 4.21% | $0 |
| PNC vs Barclays | 3.65% | $0 |
| PNC vs Capital One | 3.50% | $0 |
| PNC vs Chime | 3.75% | $0 |
| PNC vs CIT Bank | 3.75% | $100 |
| PNC vs EverBank | 3.90% | $0 |
| PNC vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.40% | $0 |
| PNC vs Newtek Bank | 4.20% | $100 |
| PNC vs Openbank | 3.80% | $500 |
| PNC vs Pibank | 4.10% | $0 |
| PNC vs SoFi Bank | 4.00% | $0 |
| PNC vs Synchrony Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| PNC vs Varo Bank | 3.75% | $0 |
| PNC vs Wealthfront | 3.95% | $0 |