Barclays vs. Wells Fargo
Barclays's Tiered Savings pays 3.65% APY while Wells Fargo's Platinum Savings pays 0.05% APY.
Note: Wells Fargo's Platinum 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? Barclays pays $345 more than Wells Fargo annually ($350 vs $5).
Choose Barclays if getting the best rate matters most, you want a no-strings-attached account, or BBB rating matters to you. Choose Wells Fargo if you value in-person banking, or you want Zelle for quick transfers.
Important Considerations
Wells Fargo's Platinum Savings pays its top rate only if you also open a checking account with Wells Fargo, while Barclays's Tiered Savings stands alone.
| Metric | BarclaysTiered Savings Sep 11, 2026 | Wells FargoPlatinum Savings Sep 11, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.50% - 3.65% | 0.05% |
Earns in a year | $5,000+$175 $10,000+$350 $25,000+$875 | $5,000+$3 $10,000+$5 $25,000+$13 |
Min. Deposit | $0 | $25 |
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. | This is a tiered savings account where rates vary based on the balance. The highest rates require the account is linked to a Wells Fargo Premier checking account. See bank for more tiers and details. |
| Features | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often | FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppIn-Person AccessZelle® SupportedChecking BundleDaily CompoundingRate 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 Barclays vs. Wells Fargo
Executive Summary
Barclays offers a competitive Online Savings account with an APY of 3.20%, which is accessible without a direct deposit requirement and has no maintenance fees. Alternatively, their Tiered Savings account provides a higher APY of 3.65% but is only available for balances over $250,000. In contrast, Wells Fargo's Way2Save Savings account yields a mere 0.01% APY, while their Platinum Savings account offers slightly better returns at 0.05%, but requires linking to a checking account and has a maintenance fee. Overall, Barclays stands out with significantly higher APYs.
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 0.01%-0.05%) on all balances
- No checking account or direct deposit required
Why Wells Fargo?
- Physical branch access (Wells Fargo offers branches and ATMs in 36 states and Washington, D.C.)
- Fast transfers via Zelle® (up to $3,500 a day)
Key Feature Differences
Better Returns at $10,000
BarclaysBarclays's Tiered Savings earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $350 vs $5/yr).
Better Returns at $25,000
BarclaysBarclays's Tiered Savings pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $875 vs $13/yr).
Better for Simplicity
BarclaysBarclays's Online Savings offers 3.20% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period, Barclays's Tiered Savings pays $345 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Wells Fargo's Platinum 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. Wells Fargo Savings Calculator
You earn $345 more with Barclays than Wells Fargo 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
Wells Fargo
Platinum Savings
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$5.00(0.0%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,005.00
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
| Feature | Barclays | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.65% Range: 3.50% - 3.65% Observed: 9/11/2026 0.35%90-day change | 0.05% Observed: 9/11/2026 Stable over 90 days |
| Product Name | Tiered Savings | Platinum Savings |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $0.01 | $0.01 |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | $12. Waived with $3,500 minimum daily balance. |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily |
| In-Branch Access | No | Yes |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online & Branches |
| Physical Branches | 1 (DE) | 4,184 (AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC (+32 more)) |
| Direct Deposit Req. | None | None |
| Checking Bundle | No | Yes |
| Mobile Apps | ||
| FDIC or NCUA Insured | YesVerify FDIC | YesVerify FDIC |
| Zelle® Support | Not Supported | Available Limit: $3,500/dayFounding member; zero fees to replace wires. |
| BBB Rating | A+ | D- |
| Important Notes | The top APY is only available for balances over $250,000. For lower balances, a lower APY applies. | This is a tiered savings account where rates vary based on the balance. The highest rates require the account is linked to a Wells Fargo Premier checking account. See bank for more tiers and details. |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteVerify at Barclays Non-sponsored link to official site | Visit SiteVerify at Wells Fargo Non-sponsored link to official site |
Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Barclays | Wells Fargo | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiered Savings | Online Savings | Platinum Savings | Way2Save Savings | |
Current APY | 3.65% | 3.20% | 0.05% | 0.01% |
Trend | Stable | Stable | Stable | Stable |
Speed of change | -0.04 | -0.04 | -0.37 | -0.00 |
Days Since Change | 79 | 8 | 329 | 361 |
12-Month High | 4.10% | 3.70% | 2.51% | 0.01% |
12-Month Low | 3.65% | 3.20% | 0.05% | 0.01% |
Changes per month | 0.33 | 0.41 | 0.25 | 0.00 |
Steadiness | 0.019 | 0.023 | 1.951 | 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.
Compare Similar Alternatives
Compare Barclays vs...
Comparing against Standard Savings
Compare Wells Fargo vs...
Comparing against other Bundled Accounts
More Comparisons
Compare Barclays' APY of 3.65% with other banks
Compare Wells Fargo's APY of 0.05% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo vs Ally Bank | 3.00% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs American Express | 3.00% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Axos Bank | 4.21% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Capital One | 3.50% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Chime | 3.75% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs CIT Bank | 3.75% | $100 |
| Wells Fargo vs EverBank | 3.90% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.40% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Newtek Bank | 4.20% | $100 |
| Wells Fargo vs Openbank | 3.80% | $500 |
| Wells Fargo vs Pibank | 4.10% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs SoFi Bank | 4.00% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Synchrony Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Varo Bank | 3.75% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo vs Wealthfront | 3.95% | $0 |