Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

This device is too small

If you're on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.

Skip to main content

Barclays Tiered Savings Review: Unlock Top APYs With No Fees and Unlimited Withdrawals

Review Updated
Brendan Byrnes
Nathan Alderman
Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. APY = Annual Percentage Yield.

For savers who keep higher balances and prefer online banking, Barclays Tiered Savings offers a killer APY, no fees, and unlimited withdrawals -- a rare combo in today's market. In this review, we'll dive into the perks, potential drawbacks, and everything you need to know before deciding if this account deserves a spot in your savings strategy.

Barclays Tiered Savings
Open Account for Barclays Tiered Savings

On Barclays' Secure Website.

Member FDIC.

Ratings Methodology
Rates as of Apr 05, 2025

Barclays Tiered Savings

Open Account for Barclays Tiered Savings

On Barclays' Secure Website.

Member FDIC.
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Open Account for Barclays Tiered Savings

On Barclays' Secure Website.

APY
4.15% Rate info Circle with letter I in it. Balances less than $250,000 earn 4.15%, and balances greater than $250,000 earn 4.40% APY.
Min. To Earn APY
$0
  • Competitive APY
  • No monthly account fee
  • No minimum deposit to open an account
  • Unlimited number of external transfers
  • FDIC insured

  • Balance requirement for maximum APY
  • No ATM access
  • No wire transfers (inbound or outbound)
  • No branch access; online only

Though top rates are reserved for high balances, Barclay Tiered Savings account's APYs are competitive no matter how much savings you have. Not only does it offer a strong APY, but it also has no monthly fees, no minimum amount to open an account, and no withdrawal limits.

At Motley Fool Money, we rate savings accounts on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). We evaluate all savings accounts across four main criteria: annual percentage yield (APY), brand and reputation, fees and minimum requirements, and perks that really make a difference -- think ATM access, linked checking accounts, or even branch access.

Our scores are weighted as:

  • APY: 50%
  • Brand and reputation: 20%
  • Fees and minimums: 15%
  • Other perks: 15%

Our aim is to maintain a balanced list featuring top-scoring products from reputable brands offering competitive APYs and standout features. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates bank accounts.

At Motley Fool Money, we rate savings accounts on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). We evaluate all savings accounts across four main criteria: annual percentage yield (APY), brand and reputation, fees and minimum requirements, and perks that really make a difference -- think ATM access, linked checking accounts, or even branch access.

Our scores are weighted as:

  • APY: 50%
  • Brand and reputation: 20%
  • Fees and minimums: 15%
  • Other perks: 15%

Our aim is to maintain a balanced list featuring top-scoring products from reputable brands offering competitive APYs and standout features. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates bank accounts.

What I like about the Barclays Tiered Savings account

Sky-high APY

These days, anything over 4.00% APY is a win, so Barclays' APY at the highest tier is seriously impressive. Thanks to its tiered interest system, the more you save, the better your rate -- hit a $250,000-plus balance, and you unlock Barclays' best offer.

Even if you don't reach that tier, you'll still earn a strong return at 4.15% APY, with this account automatically beating the Barclays Online Savings account's 3.90% APY. No matter your balance, you're getting a competitive rate.

No fees or minimum deposit

Barclays keeps it refreshingly simple -- no monthly fees, no minimum deposit, no surprises. The only charge? A $0.50 fee for a paper statement (but who even uses those anymore?). Every dollar you save goes toward growing your balance, not paying off hidden fees. With nothing nibbling away at your earnings, your money is free to do what it does best -- grow.

No withdrawal limitations

Unlike some savings accounts that cap you at six withdrawals per month, Barclays lets you move your money as often as you want -- no daily limits, no restrictions. Whether you're shifting funds for bills, investments, or just peace of mind, you get total flexibility without penalties. Because it's your money -- you should control it.

Compare savings rates

Make sure you're getting the best account for you by comparing savings rates and promotions. Here are some of our favorite high-yield savings accounts to consider.

Account APY Promotion Next Steps
up to 3.80%²
Rate info Circle with letter I in it. You can earn the maximum APY by having Direct Deposit (no minimum amount required) or by making $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits every 30 days. See SoFi Checking and Savings rate sheet at: https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Min. to earn: $0
New customers can earn up to a $300 bonus with qualifying direct deposits!¹
4.10% APY for balances of $5,000 or more
Rate info Circle with letter I in it. 4.10% APY for balances of $5,000 or more; otherwise, 0.25% APY
Min. to earn: $100 to open account, $5,000+ for max APY
Earn a bonus of at least $225 after a one-time deposit of $25,000+. Circle with letter I in it. Transfer a one-time deposit of $25,000-$49,999.99 for a bonus of $225. Transfer a one-time deposit of $50,000+ for a bonus of $300. Account must be opened with code PS2025 while this promotion lasts, and funded within 30 days. Bonus will be fulfilled within 60 days from the funding date. There is no period of time where the customer will be required to maintain the funds. Account must be open when bonus is credited. One bonus per account and primary customer. Bonus will be credited into the Platinum Savings Account that fulfills the funding requirement. Funding can be deposited all at once or incrementally.
3.70%
Rate info Circle with letter I in it. 3.70% annual percentage yield as of April 5, 2025. Terms apply.
Min. to earn: $0
N/A
Open Account for American Express® High Yield Savings

On American Express's Secure Website.

Disclaimers



SoFi disclosure:

¹ New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at sofi.com/banking#1.

² SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Only SoFi Plus members are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. See the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.

³ We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.

⁴ SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations.

Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks.

We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.

Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.

Overdraft Coverage is limited to $50 on debit card purchases only and is an account benefit available to customers with direct deposits of $1,000 or more during the current 30-day Evaluation Period as determined by SoFi Bank, N.A. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the“30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Members with a prior history of non-repayment of negative balances are ineligible for Overdraft Coverage.

Downsides you should consider

Balance tier is steep

To score the highest APY, you'll need to keep $250,000 or more in your account. If that's out of reach, you'll still earn a super competitive rate at 4.15%, but not the highest one available.

Limited withdrawal options

While you can withdraw funds as often as you like, it's electronic transfers only -- no ATMs, no branch access, and no linked checking account for easy cash access. If you need instant withdrawals, this could be a hassle.

Mobile app has low ratings

Barclays' U.S. Savings app gets somewhat low ratings from iOS and Android users. Complaints include login issues, no fingerprint authentication, and update glitches. If you rely on mobile banking, the experience might be frustrating.

Customer service

Since Barclays is online-only, you won't find a local branch for in-person help. But you can still reach support via phone or online chat at 888-710-8756 -- just keep in mind the 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. ET hours.

While that's solid coverage, it falls short compared to 24/7 service offered by competitors like Capital One and American Express. If you like knowing help is available anytime, day or night, this could be a downside.

Accessing your money

Depositing money

To fund your Barclays Tiered Savings account, you'll need to make electronic deposits. You can do this via ACH transfers or by depositing checks through the mobile app. You can also send a physical check to Barclays, but note that some check types, like starter and third-party checks, aren't accepted. Cash, wire transfers, and money orders can't be used to fund your account.

For mobile check deposits, here are the limits:

  • Individual check maximum: $5,000 per day
  • Amount maximum: $10,000 per day
  • Maximum number of checks: 10 per day
  • 10 business day maximum: $50,000 / 20 checks

Withdrawing money

Since Barclays operates as an online-only bank, there are no physical branches or ATMs where you can withdraw cash in person. Your options to withdraw money are limited to electronic transfers between your Barclays Tiered Savings account and another bank account.

Security and reliability

Barclays is a leading financial institution in the U.K., known for its stability and long-standing reputation. While its U.S. operations are online-only, it still delivers reliable and secure banking backed by centuries of expertise.

Most importantly, your deposits are FDIC insured up to $250,000, so your money is protected even in the unlikely event of a bank failure. With the strength of a global banking giant behind it, Barclays offers peace of mind alongside competitive savings.

Who will benefit from the Barclays Tiered Savings account?

  • High-balance savers: The more you save, the more you earn with Barclays' tiered interest rates. If you can keep a sizable balance, this account rewards you with a competitive APY.
  • Fee-averse individuals: No monthly maintenance fees mean your savings grow without unnecessary deductions.
  • Online banking enthusiasts: If you're comfortable managing your money digitally, this online-only account offers convenience without the hassle of branch visits.
  • Frequent electronic movers: Unlimited electronic withdrawals make it easy to move money when needed -- just don't expect to grab cash from a branch.
  • Interest maximizers: Those who can maintain higher balances will unlock the best rates, making this a smart pick for disciplined savers.

If you're ready to maximize your savings with a hassle-free, high-earning account, sign up for the Barclays Tiered Savings account today and start growing your money faster!

Keep reading about Barclays:

FAQs

  • Barclays Online Savings offers the same APY (3.90%) regardless of your balance. The APY for Barclays Tiered Savings can change depending on your balance. It's worth noting that the APY for the lowest tier on the Barclays Tiered Savings account is higher than the APY on the Barclays Online Savings account.

  • Each customer can only have a maximum of three open Barclays Tiered Savings accounts.