Citizens Access™ vs. Newtek Bank
Citizens Access™'s Citizens Access® Savings pays 2.80% APY while Newtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings pays 4.20% APY.
See how they compare on rate stability, mobile app ratings, and more below.
The Bottom Line
Who pays more interest on $10,000? Newtek Bank pays $140 more than Citizens Access™ annually ($420 vs $280).
Choose Citizens Access™ if you're an Android user, or choose Newtek Bank if getting the best rate matters most.
| Metric | Citizens Access™Citizens Access® Savings Sep 2, 2026 | Newtek BankPersonal High Yield Savings Sep 5, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 2.80% | 4.20% |
Earns in a year | $5,000+$140 $10,000+$280 $25,000+$700 | $5,000+$210 $10,000+$420 $25,000+$1,050 |
Min. Deposit | $0.01 | $100 |
Snapshot view. Rates subject to change. | ||
Terms | - | Newtek Bank has paused new applications for this account. New customers can only join a waitlist. The advertised APY applies to existing accounts. |
| Features | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often | FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppDaily CompoundingStable Rate |
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 Citizens Access™ vs. Newtek Bank
Executive Summary
Newtek Bank offers a competitive Personal High Yield Savings account with an APY of 4.20%, significantly higher than Citizens Access™ Savings, which has an APY of 2.80%. Newtek's account is available online only and requires a minimum deposit of $10,000, but new customers can only join a waitlist for this account. In contrast, Citizens Access™ does not require a direct deposit and has a lower minimum deposit of $1, making it accessible for more customers. Both banks provide daily compounding and have no maintenance fees, but Newtek Bank clearly stands out with its higher yield.
The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records
* This content is provided for informational purposes only; always verify details with the provider.
Why Citizens Access™?
- Higher rated iOS app (4.9 vs 4.5)
- Higher rated Android app (4.8 vs 3.9)
Why Newtek Bank?
- Higher potential APY (4.20% vs 2.80%) on all balances
- No checking account or direct deposit required
Key Feature Differences
Better Returns at $10,000
Newtek BankNewtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $420 vs $280/yr).
Better Returns at $25,000
Newtek BankNewtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $1050 vs $700/yr).
Better for Simplicity
Newtek BankNewtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings offers 4.20% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.
Better Mobile App Experience
Citizens Access™Citizens Access™ offers an iOS app rated 4.9 (vs. 4.5) and Android app rated 4.8 (vs. 3.9)
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period, Newtek Bank's Personal High Yield Savings pays $140 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
Citizens Access™ vs. Newtek Bank Savings Calculator
You earn $140 more with Newtek 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.
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
Newtek Bank
Personal High Yield Savings
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$420.00(4.0%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,420.00
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 Citizens Access™ and Newtek Bank advertise far more than that typical branch-bank rate.
| Feature | Citizens Access™ | Newtek Bank |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 2.80% Observed: 9/2/2026 0.20%90-day change | 4.20% Observed: 9/5/2026 Stable over 90 days |
| Product Name | Citizens Access® Savings | Personal High Yield Savings |
| Minimum Deposit | $0.01 | $100 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $0.01 | $0.01 |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily |
| In-Branch Access | No | No |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online Only |
| Physical Branches | Not reported | 1 (FL) |
| Direct Deposit Req. | None | None |
| Checking Bundle | No | No |
| Mobile Apps | ||
| FDIC or NCUA Insured | YesVerify FDIC | YesVerify FDIC |
| Zelle® Support | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ |
| Important Notes | - | Newtek Bank has paused new applications for this account. New customers can only join a waitlist. The advertised APY applies to existing accounts. |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteVerify at Citizens Access™ Non-sponsored link to official site | Visit SiteVerify at Newtek Bank Non-sponsored link to official site |
Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Citizens Access™ | Newtek Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Citizens Access® Savings | Personal High Yield Savings | |
Current APY | 2.80% | 4.20% |
Trend | Stable | Stable |
Speed of change | -0.08 | -0.01 |
Days Since Change | 35 | 212 |
12-Month High | 3.50% | 4.35% |
12-Month Low | 2.80% | 4.20% |
Changes per month | 0.33 | 0.08 |
Steadiness | 0.049 | 0.004 |
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.
Compare Similar High-Yield Accounts
Compare Citizens Access™ vs...
Comparing against Standard Savings
Compare Newtek Bank vs...
Comparing against Standard Savings
High Rates (With Checking Bundle)
Looking for something different? Check out these top-rated alternatives.
More Comparisons
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 Axos Bank | 4.21% | $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 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 |