Axos Bank vs. Citibank
Axos Bank's Axos ONE Savings pays 4.21% APY while Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings pays 2.80% APY.
Note: Axos Bank's Axos ONE Savings also needs a checking account.
See how they compare on rate stability, mobile app ratings, and more below.
The Bottom Line
Who pays more interest on $10,000? Axos Bank pays $141 more than Citibank annually ($421 vs $280).
Choose Axos Bank if getting the best rate matters most, or BBB rating matters to you. Choose Citibank if you want a no-strings-attached account, or you want Zelle for quick transfers.
Important Considerations
Axos Bank's Axos ONE Savings pays its top rate only if you also open a checking account with Axos Bank, while Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings stands alone.
Citibank's Accelerate Savings is only available in select states where Citi has no branch presence. Check eligibility before applying.
| Metric | Axos BankAxos ONE Savings Sep 11, 2026 | CitibankCiti Accelerate Savings Sep 11, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.50% - 4.21% | 2.80% |
Earns in a year | $5,000+$211 $10,000+$421 $25,000+$1,053 | $5,000+$140 $10,000+$280 $25,000+$700 |
Min. Deposit | $0 | $0 |
Snapshot view. Rates subject to change. | ||
Terms | The APY is available with the Axos ONE savings and checking bundle. The checking account also earns interest. To qualify, you must either set up a direct deposit of $1,500 and maintain an average daily balance of more than $1,500 in your ONE Checking account, or receive at least $5,000 in total monthly qualifying deposits and maintain an average daily balance of more than $5,000. | Eligibility restricted to select states. |
| Features | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppChecking BundleDaily CompoundingStable Rate | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppZelle® SupportedDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often |
Prefer In-Person Banking?
Both of these institutions are online-only. If you need in-branch access, check out our list of savings accounts with brick-and-mortar locations.
Executive Summary
Axos Bank offers superior savings options with its Axos ONE Savings account, which provides a competitive APY of 4.21%, available through a bundle with a checking account. This account requires a direct deposit or qualifying deposits to maintain higher interest rates. In contrast, Citibank's best offering, the Citi Accelerate Savings account, yields a lower APY of 2.80% and has eligibility restrictions based on location. While Citibank does provide a highly rated mobile app experience, Axos Bank's higher APY makes it the more attractive option for savers.
The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records
* This content is provided for informational purposes only; always verify details with the provider.
Why Axos Bank?
- Access to 95,000 fee-free ATMs
- Higher potential APY (3.50%-4.21% vs 2.80%) on all balances
- Offers 3 different high-yield savings options
- Available Nationwide
Why Citibank?
- Physical branch access (U.S. branches are concentrated in six metropolitan areas, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Miami.)
- Fast transfers via Zelle® (up to $2,500 a day)
Key Feature Differences
Better Returns at $10,000
Axos BankAxos Bank's Axos ONE Savings earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $421 vs $280/yr).
Better Returns at $25,000
Axos BankAxos Bank's Axos ONE Savings pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $1053 vs $700/yr).
Better for Simplicity
Axos BankAxos Bank's Summit Savings offers 3.75% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.
Better for All-in-One Banking
Axos BankAxos Bank's Axos ONE Savings pays a superior APY for customers who also open a checking account.
Better Mobile App Experience
CitibankCitibank offers an iOS app rated 4.9 (vs. 4.7) and Android app rated 4.8 (vs. 4.6)
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period, Axos Bank's Axos ONE Savings pays $141 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings.
*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
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Axos Bank vs. Citibank Savings Calculator
You earn $141 more with Axos Bank than Citibank 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.
Axos Bank
Axos ONE Savings
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$421.00(4.0%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,421.00
Citibank
Citi Accelerate Savings
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$280.00(2.7%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,280.00
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 $275 a year in interest.
Both Axos Bank and Citibank advertise far more than that typical branch-bank rate.
| Feature | Axos Bank | Citibank |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 4.21% Range: 3.50% - 4.21% Observed: 9/11/2026 Stable over 90 days | 2.80% Observed: 9/11/2026 0.20%90-day change |
| Product Name | Axos ONE Savings | Citi Accelerate Savings |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $0 | $0.01 |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | $4.50. Waived for average monthly balances > $500 |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily |
| In-Branch Access | No | No |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online Only |
| Physical Branches | 3 (CA, NV, UT) | 955 (CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, IL, MD, NJ (+6 more)) |
| Direct Deposit Req. | None | None |
| Checking Bundle | Yes | No |
| Mobile Apps | ||
| FDIC or NCUA Insured | YesVerify FDIC | YesVerify FDIC |
| Zelle® Support | Not Supported | Available Limit: $2,500/dayTiered limits based on account status (Citigold higher). |
| BBB Rating | A+ | D- |
| Important Notes | The APY is available with the Axos ONE savings and checking bundle. The checking account also earns interest. To qualify, you must either set up a direct deposit of $1,500 and maintain an average daily balance of more than $1,500 in your ONE Checking account, or receive at least $5,000 in total monthly qualifying deposits and maintain an average daily balance of more than $5,000. | Eligibility restricted to select states. |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteVerify at Axos Bank Non-sponsored link to official site | Visit SiteVerify at Citibank Non-sponsored link to official site |
Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Axos Bank | Citibank | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axos ONE Savings | Summit Savings | High Yield Savings | Citi® Savings Account | Citi Accelerate Savings | |
Current APY | 4.21% | 3.75% | 0.61% | 0.03% | 2.80% |
Trend | Stable | Stable | Stable | Stable | Stable |
Speed of change | -0.04 | -0.06 | -0.00 | 0.00 | -0.05 |
Days Since Change | 221 | 274 | 361 | 361 | 31 |
12-Month High | 4.51% | 4.00% | 0.61% | 0.03% | 3.50% |
12-Month Low | 4.21% | 3.75% | 0.61% | 0.03% | 2.80% |
Changes per month | 0.25 | 0.08 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.66 |
Steadiness | 0.023 | 0.031 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.028 |
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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