Varo Bank vs. Wells Fargo
Varo Bank's High-Yield Savings Account pays 3.75% APY while Wells Fargo's Platinum Savings pays 0.05% APY.
See how they compare on rate stability, mobile app ratings, and more below.
The Bottom Line
Who pays more interest on $10,000? Varo Bank pays $232 more than Wells Fargo annually ($237 vs $5).
Choose Varo Bank if getting the best rate matters most, or BBB rating matters to you. Choose Wells Fargo if you value in-person banking.
Important Considerations
Both High-Yield Savings Account and Platinum Savings pay their top rate only if you also open a checking account at the same institution.
| Metric | Varo BankHigh-Yield Savings Account Sep 5, 2026 | Wells FargoPlatinum Savings Sep 5, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 1.00% - 3.75% | 0.05% |
Earns in a year | $5,000+$187 $10,000+$237 $25,000+$387 | $5,000+$3 $10,000+$5 $25,000+$13 |
Min. Deposit | $0 | $25 |
Snapshot view. Rates subject to change. | ||
Terms | Earn the stated APY on up to $5,000 and a lower APY on the rest. A Varo bank account & direct deposit required. | 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 AppZelle® SupportedDirect Deposit ReqChecking BundleDaily 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 Varo Bank vs. Wells Fargo
Executive Summary
Varo Bank offers a High-Yield Savings Account with a competitive APY of 3.75% on balances up to $5,000, making it a strong choice for savers. This account requires a Varo bank account and direct deposit, and it is available online only. In contrast, Wells Fargo's highest yielding product, the Platinum Savings account, offers a mere 0.05% APY, but this rate is contingent upon linking to a Wells Fargo Premier checking account. While Wells Fargo also has a Way2Save Savings account with a 0.01% APY, it pales in comparison to Varo's offering. Therefore, Varo Bank is the clear winner based on the provided data.
The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records
* This content is provided for informational purposes only; always verify details with the provider.
Why Varo Bank?
- Higher potential APY (3.75% vs 0.01%-0.05%) on all balances
Why Wells Fargo?
- Physical branch access (Wells Fargo offers branches and ATMs in 36 states and Washington, D.C.)
- Higher rated Android app (4.8 vs 4.5)
- Offers 2 different high-yield savings options
Key Feature Differences
Better Returns at $10,000
Varo BankVaro Bank's High-Yield Savings Account earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $237 vs $5/yr).
Better Returns at $25,000
Varo BankVaro Bank's High-Yield Savings Account pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $387 vs $13/yr).
Requires Banking Relationship
High-Yield Savings Account and Platinum Savings both require a checking account bundle to pay their highest rates.
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period, Varo Bank's High-Yield Savings Account pays $232 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
Varo Bank vs. Wells Fargo Savings Calculator
You earn $232.5 more with Varo Bank 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.
Varo Bank
High-Yield Savings Account
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$237.50(2.3%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,237.50
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 | Varo Bank | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.75% Range: 1.00% - 3.75% Observed: 9/5/2026 1.25%90-day change | 0.05% Observed: 9/5/2026 Stable over 90 days |
| Product Name | High-Yield Savings Account | 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 (UT) | 4,184 (AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC (+32 more)) |
| Direct Deposit Req. | Required | None |
| Checking Bundle | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Apps | ||
| FDIC or NCUA Insured | YesVerify FDIC | YesVerify FDIC |
| Zelle® Support | Available Requires history of qualifying direct deposits. | Available Limit: $3,500/dayFounding member; zero fees to replace wires. |
| BBB Rating | A+ | D- |
| Important Notes | Earn the stated APY on up to $5,000 and a lower APY on the rest. A Varo bank account & direct deposit required. | 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 Varo Bank 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 | Varo Bank | Wells Fargo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-Yield Savings Account | Platinum Savings | Way2Save Savings | |
Current APY | 3.75% | 0.05% | 0.01% |
Trend | Stable | Stable | Stable |
Speed of change | -0.07 | -0.41 | 0.00 |
Days Since Change | 65 | 323 | 361 |
12-Month High | 5.00% | 2.51% | 0.01% |
12-Month Low | 3.75% | 0.05% | 0.01% |
Changes per month | 0.08 | 0.25 | 0.00 |
Steadiness | 0.038 | 1.807 | 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 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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More Comparisons
Compare Varo Bank's APY of 3.75% 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 Barclays | 3.65% | $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 Wealthfront | 3.95% | $0 |