Barclays vs. PNC
Barclays's Tiered Savings pays 3.65% 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? Barclays pays $35 more than PNC annually ($350 vs $315).
Choose Barclays if getting the best rate matters most. Choose PNC if you value in-person banking, or you want Zelle for quick transfers.
| Metric | BarclaysTiered Savings Sep 4, 2026 | PNCPNC High Yield Savings Sep 3, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.50% - 3.65% | 3.15% |
Earns in a year | $5,000+$175 $10,000+$350 $25,000+$875 | $5,000+$158 $10,000+$315 $25,000+$788 |
Min. Deposit | $0 | $0 |
Snapshot view. Rates subject to change. | ||
Terms | The top APY is only available for balances over $250,000. For lower balances, a lower APY applies. | Eligibility restricted to select states. |
| Features | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppDaily 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.
Executive Summary
Barclays offers a competitive Tiered Savings account with a top APY of 3.65% for balances over $250,000, while lower balances earn 3.50%. This product is online-only and requires no minimum deposit or maintenance fees. In contrast, PNC's High Yield Savings account provides an APY of 3.15%, also with no minimum deposit but a minimum balance of $100. PNC's account is not available nationwide, as eligibility is limited to select states. Overall, Barclays's Tiered Savings account is the winner with a higher APY.
The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records
* This content is provided for informational purposes only; always verify details with the provider.
Why Barclays?
- Higher potential APY (3.20%-3.65% vs 3.15%) on all balances
- Offers 2 different high-yield savings options
- Available Nationwide
Why PNC?
- 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)
- Fast transfers via Zelle® (up to $2,000 a day)
Key Feature Differences
Better Returns at $10,000
BarclaysBarclays's Tiered Savings earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $350 vs $315/yr).
Better Returns at $25,000
BarclaysBarclays's Tiered Savings pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $875 vs $788/yr).
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period, Barclays's Tiered Savings pays $35 more interest on a $10,000 balance than PNC's PNC High Yield 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
Barclays vs. PNC Savings Calculator
You earn $35 more with Barclays than PNC 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.
Barclays
Tiered Savings
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$350.00(3.4%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,350.00
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 $310 a year in interest.
Both Barclays and PNC advertise far more than that typical branch-bank rate.
| Feature | Barclays | PNC |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.65% Range: 3.50% - 3.65% Observed: 9/4/2026 0.35%90-day change | 3.15% Observed: 9/3/2026 0.10%90-day change |
| Product Name | Tiered Savings | PNC High Yield Savings |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $0.01 | $1 |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Monthly |
| In-Branch Access | No | Yes |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online & Branches |
| Physical Branches | 1 (DE) | 2,419 (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 | Not Supported | Available Limit: $2,000/dayCentral to Virtual Wallet suite. |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ |
| Important Notes | The top APY is only available for balances over $250,000. For lower balances, a lower APY applies. | Eligibility restricted to select states. |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteVerify at Barclays Non-sponsored link to official site | Visit SiteVerify at PNC Non-sponsored link to official site |
Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Barclays | PNC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiered Savings | Online Savings | Standard Savings | PNC High Yield Savings | |
Current APY | 3.65% | 3.20% | 0.03% | 3.15% |
Trend | Stable | Stable | Stable | Stable |
Speed of change | -0.04 | -0.04 | 0.00 | -0.13 |
Days Since Change | 72 | 1 | 361 | 80 |
12-Month High | 4.10% | 3.70% | 0.03% | 3.95% |
12-Month Low | 3.65% | 3.20% | 0.03% | 3.15% |
Changes per month | 0.33 | 0.41 | 0.00 | 0.49 |
Steadiness | 0.019 | 0.023 | 0.000 | 0.068 |
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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High Rates (With Checking Bundle)
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More Comparisons
Compare Barclays' APY of 3.65% 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 American Express | 3.00% | $0 |
| PNC vs Axos Bank | 4.21% | $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 |