Axos Bank vs. Citizens Access™
Axos Bank's Axos ONE Savings pays 4.21% APY while Citizens Access™'s Citizens Access® 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 Citizens Access™ annually ($421 vs $280).
Choose Axos Bank if getting the best rate matters most. Choose Citizens Access™ if you want a no-strings-attached account.
Important Considerations
Axos Bank's Axos ONE Savings pays its top rate only if you also open a checking account with Axos Bank, while Citizens Access™'s Citizens Access® Savings stands alone.
| Metric | Axos BankAxos ONE Savings Sep 5, 2026 | Citizens Access™Citizens Access® Savings Sep 2, 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 | $0.01 |
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. | - |
| Features | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppChecking BundleDaily CompoundingStable Rate | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppDaily 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.
Comparison Analysis
Comparing Axos Bank vs. Citizens Access™
Executive Summary
Axos Bank offers a competitive APY of 4.21% with its Axos ONE Savings account, which requires a checking account and a direct deposit of $1,500 or a total of $5,000 in monthly qualifying deposits. This account provides better returns compared to Citizens Access™, which offers a lower APY of 2.80% on its savings account. For those seeking simplicity, Axos Bank also has the Summit Savings account with a 3.75% APY that does not require bundling or direct deposit. Citizens Access™ does not have such requirements but falls short in APY offerings.
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
Why Citizens Access™?
No distinct advantages found vs Axos Bank.
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
Citizens Access™Citizens Access™ 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 Citizens Access™'s Citizens Access® 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
Top Market Contenders
Axos Bank vs. Citizens Access™ Savings Calculator
You earn $141 more with Axos Bank than Citizens Access™ 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
Citizens Access™
Citizens Access® 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 Citizens Access™ advertise far more than that typical branch-bank rate.
| Feature | Axos Bank | Citizens Access™ |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 4.21% Range: 3.50% - 4.21% Observed: 9/5/2026 Stable over 90 days | 2.80% Observed: 9/2/2026 0.20%90-day change |
| Product Name | Axos ONE Savings | Citizens Access® Savings |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0.01 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $0 | $0.01 |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily |
| In-Branch Access | No | No |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online Only |
| Physical Branches | 3 (CA, NV, UT) | Not reported |
| Direct Deposit Req. | None | None |
| Checking Bundle | Yes | No |
| Mobile Apps | ||
| FDIC or NCUA Insured | YesVerify FDIC | YesVerify FDIC |
| Zelle® Support | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ |
| 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. | - |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteVerify at Axos Bank Non-sponsored link to official site | Visit SiteVerify at Citizens Access™ Non-sponsored link to official site |
Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Axos Bank | Citizens Access™ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axos ONE Savings | Summit Savings | High Yield Savings | Citizens Access® Savings | |
Current APY | 4.21% | 3.75% | 0.61% | 2.80% |
Trend | Stable | Stable | Stable | Stable |
Speed of change | -0.04 | -0.06 | 0.00 | -0.08 |
Days Since Change | 215 | 268 | 361 | 35 |
12-Month High | 4.51% | 4.00% | 0.61% | 3.50% |
12-Month Low | 4.21% | 3.75% | 0.61% | 2.80% |
Changes per month | 0.25 | 0.08 | 0.00 | 0.33 |
Steadiness | 0.023 | 0.030 | 0.000 | 0.049 |
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 362-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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Compare Axos Bank's APY of 4.21% with other banks
Compare Citizens Access™'s APY of 2.80% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Citizens Access™ vs Ally Bank | 3.00% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs American Express | 3.00% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Barclays | 3.65% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Capital One | 3.50% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Chime | 3.75% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs CIT Bank | 3.75% | $100 |
| Citizens Access™ vs EverBank | 3.90% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.40% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Newtek Bank | 4.20% | $100 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Openbank | 3.80% | $500 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Pibank | 4.10% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs SoFi Bank | 4.00% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Synchrony Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Varo Bank | 3.75% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Wealthfront | 3.95% | $0 |