Citibank Review: Account Good for You?
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Citibank, a CreditDonkey partner, offers banking services and credit cards. But service fees and balance requirements are on the high side. Is it the right bank for you?
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CreditDonkey Score | 3.5 | ||
Savings | 3.0 | ||
CD | 3.0 | ||
Checking | 3.0 | ||
Customer Service | 4.0 | ||
Mobile App | 4.5 | ||
Pros and Cons
- Perks for high balance customers
- Many fee-free ATMs
- Global presence
- No free checking option
- Higher balance requirements
- Low savings APY
Bottom Line
Large national bank best for high balance customers
Citibank has a large number of branches and ATMs throughout the US. But it's a bank geared towards those with high balances in their deposit accounts.
Low-balance customers may find the requirements too high and the perks a bit lacking. See if their offerings are good for you.
Services Offered
Citibank offers the following:
- Access Account: This is for consumers who don't write checks. Even though you get a checking account, it doesn't come with paper checks.
Instead, you can use Citi's online banking platform to pay your bills and manage your finances. There are no overdraft fees for this account because Citi won't approve transactions that exceed your balance.
- Basic Banking: If you won't keep a balance higher than $1,500 in your account, but you want access to paper checks, the Basic Banking account is a good choice. You can write an unlimited number of checks, and use online banking services and Citibank or partner ATMs.
- Citibank Account: If you keep a minimum of $10,000 in your checking, savings, retirement, or investment accounts, you can use the Citibank Account.
In exchange for the larger balance, you won't pay any non-Citibank ATM fees and you get your first order of checks free of charge.
- Citi Priority: With a combined average monthly balance of $30,000+, the Citi Priority offers financial advice over the phone from a Citi Financial Advisor.
You'll also get preferred rates on deposit products, and waived fees in addition to the standard benefits of online banking and use of Citi ATMs worldwide.
Citi Priority - Earn up to $2,000 Cash Bonus
- Earn up to $2,000 when you open a new eligible Citi checking account and enroll in the offer the same day
- New to Relationship customers can choose their Relationship Tier.
- Within 20 days of opening, deposit the minimum amount of new-to-Citibank funds.
- Maintain a minimum balance for 60 consecutive calendar days from the 21st day.
- If your balance falls to a lower Balance Level at any point during the maintenance period, the bonus changes.
- Bonus will be paid within 30 days after you successfully complete all required activities.
- Restrictions apply.
- Citigold: With a combined average monthly balance of $200,000+, the Citigold also offers a dedicated financial services team, around-the-clock customer support, waived or reduced fees, and preferred pricing and rates on Citi deposit products.
Citigold® - Earn up to $2,000 Bonus
- Earn up to $2,000 when you open a new eligible Citi checking account and enroll in the offer the same day.
- New to Relationship customers can choose their Relationship Tier.
- Within 20 days of opening, deposit the minimum amount of new-to-Citibank funds.
- Maintain a minimum balance for 60 consecutive calendar days from the 21st day.
- If your balance falls to a lower Balance Level at any point during the maintenance period, the bonus changes.
- Bonus will be paid within 30 days after you successfully complete all required activities.
- Restrictions apply
Citi also offers a variety of CD and IRA options to help you reach your investment and/or retirement goals.
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Reasons We Like Citibank
- Citibank has a large network of ATMs that you can use fee-free. More than 70,000 fee-free ATMs at Citi branches and participating retail locations nationwide, including Target, CVS Pharmacy, Rite aid, Walgreens, Duane Reade and ATMs displaying Allpoint or MoneyPass logo.
- Citibank has more than 1,800 branches outside of the United States. If you travel, it may be helpful to have your bank in the country you travel to as it can save you money and confusion.
Keep in mind that foreign exchange fees may apply to any withdrawals made overseas.
Your Citibank Routing Number:
Each state that Citibank is located in has its own routing number. Use the routing number on the lower left-hand side of your checks when routing money to your account either via Direct Deposit or from any other type of transfer. - You can pay your bills online through your Citi checking account. If you are tired of mailing paper checks, you can set up online bill pay right through your Citi account.
This service is free and handles paying your bills for you, whether you set up a one-time payment or put your bills on a recurring payment status.
- You can make mobile deposits with the Citibank app. As long as you have an iPhone, iPod Touch, or Android device, you can download the Citibank app.
Within the app, you can deposit your checks from the comfort of your own home by taking a picture of the front/back of the check and following the on-screen prompts.
Citibank Credit Card: Citi offers a large variety of credit cards, each with its own benefits. Whether you want to earn rewards, avoid late/penalty fees, or want to earn cash back, Citi offers a variety of options. - The online Citibank platform is user-friendly. Whether you need to transfer funds, pay a bill, check balances, or review your spending, the online platform is easy to navigate.
You can even link outside bank accounts to your Citi account to truly have one-stop banking when you log into your Citi account.
- You have several options to contact Citibank's customer service. You can call 1-888-248-4226; chat online by logging into your account and choosing the "chat" option; or visit a branch in person.
FYI: You can also make an appointment online through Citibank's portal.
- Citibank offers a variety of CD options with terms ranging between 3 months to 5 years. They also offer automatic renewal at maturity and CD laddering to give you access to your funds while allowing the interest to grow.
- You can open a Citibank IRA with either a money market account or CD. They are both FDIC insured. This gives you some reassurance that your retirement funds will be there even if Citibank were to go out of business.
Reasons You May Want to Look Elsewhere
- The rates on their CDs are on the low side. If you compare the CD rates to other national banks, they may compare.
But, if you compare them to nationwide online banks, the rates often pale in comparison. If you don't mind not having a physical branch to bank at, an online bank may be a better choice.
How It Compares
Bank of America:
Bank of America is more widely spread throughout the United States, making it easier to find a branch for in-person banking.
Like Citi, Bank of America also offers lower interest rates than online banks. However, Bank of America requires a minimum opening deposit while Citibank's basic account does not require one at all.
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Learn More | Visit Site | |
Citibank | Bank of America | |
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Citi Priority - Earn up to $2,000 Cash Bonus | Bank of America Business Advantage Checking Account - $200 Bonus Offer - | |
Benefits and Features | ||
Savings |
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CD | ![]() | ![]() |
Checking | Citi Priority | ![]() |
Money Market | ![]() | |
Customer Service | 24/7 Live Customer Service (Telephone) |
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ATMs | More than 70,000 fee-free ATMs at Citi branches and participating retail locations nationwide, including Target, CVS Pharmacy, Rite aid, Walgreens, Duane Reade and ATMs displaying Allpoint or MoneyPass logo. | |
IRA CD | ![]() | ![]() |
Locations | More than 700 Citibank branches (concentrated in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC and Miami) | Approximately 3,900 retail financial centers |
Learn More | Visit Site | |
Blank fields may indicate the information is not available, not applicable, or not known to CreditDonkey. Please visit the product website for details. Citibank: Pricing information from published website as of 11/24/2023. This content is not provided by Citi. Any opinions expressed are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by Citi. Bank of America: Pricing information from published website as of 11/24/2023 based on 91107 zip code. |
Capital One:
Capital One has caught on to the online banking competition. They made Capital One 360 as a result, which offers competitive interest rates. There are also no monthly fees or minimum monthly balance requirements.
The trade-off with Capital One 360 is the lack of physical branches to conduct your banking in person.
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Learn More | Learn More | |
Citibank | Capital One | |
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Citi Priority - Earn up to $2,000 Cash Bonus | 360 Performance Savings - 4.30% APY - | |
Benefits and Features | ||
Savings |
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CD | ![]() | 4.10% to 5.00% APY. Terms of 6 months to 5 years. 12-month CD APY of 5.00% |
Checking | Citi Priority | |
Money Market | ![]() | |
Customer Service | 24/7 Live Customer Service (Telephone) | |
ATMs | More than 70,000 fee-free ATMs at Citi branches and participating retail locations nationwide, including Target, CVS Pharmacy, Rite aid, Walgreens, Duane Reade and ATMs displaying Allpoint or MoneyPass logo. | Over 70,000 no-fee Capital One & Allpoint ATMs |
Locations | More than 700 Citibank branches (concentrated in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC and Miami) | |
Learn More | Learn More | |
Blank fields may indicate the information is not available, not applicable, or not known to CreditDonkey. Please visit the product website for details. Citibank: Pricing information from published website as of 11/24/2023. This content is not provided by Citi. Any opinions expressed are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by Citi. Capital One: Pricing information from published website as of 11/13/2023. |
- Chase coupon for National Bank
- Discover Bank offer code
- CIT Bank promo code (read latest review)
Compare Checking Account Promos
BMO Smart Advantage Checking - $400 Cash Bonus
Open a new BMO Smart Advantage Checking online and get a $400 cash bonus when you have a total of at least $4,000 in qualifying direct deposits within the first 120 days of account opening. Offer is limited to one per customer and is not available for existing BMO personal checking customers (including signers on joint accounts) or those who have closed a BMO personal checking account within the past 12 months. Conditions apply.
Chase Total Checking® - $200 Bonus
- New Chase checking customers enjoy a $200 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking® account with qualifying activities
- Access to more than 15,000 Chase ATMs and more than 4,700 branches
- Chase Mobile® app - Manage your accounts, deposit checks, transfer money and more -- all from your device.
- JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
- Open your account online now
- Available online nationwide except in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. For branch locations, visit locator.chase.com.
- Chase Overdraft Assist℠ - no overdraft fees if you're overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day or if you're overdrawn by more than $50 and bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day*
Online Checking Account - Earn Cash Back
- 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month. See website for details
- No fees
- Early Pay - Get your paycheck up to two days early with no charge
- No credit impact - You can apply without affecting your credit score.
- Access to over 60,000 no-fee ATMs in the U.S.
Compare Savings Accounts
Discover Online Savings - $200 Cash Bonus
To get your $150 or $200 Bonus: What to do: Apply for your first Discover Online Savings Account, online, in the Discover App or by phone. Enter Offer Code CY923 when applying. Deposit into your account a total of at least $15,000 to earn a $150 Bonus or deposit a total of at least $25,000 to earn a $200 Bonus. Deposit must be posted to account within 30 days of account open date. Maximum bonus eligibility is $200.
What to know: Offer not valid for existing or prior Discover savings customers or existing or prior customers with savings accounts that are co-branded, or affinity accounts provided by Discover. Eligibility is based on primary account owner. Account must be open when bonus is credited. Bonus will be credited to the account within 60 days of the account qualifying for the bonus. Bonus is interest and subject to reporting on Form 1099-INT. Offer ends 12/14/2023, 11:59 PM ET. Offer may be modified or withdrawn without notice. See advertiser website for full details.
High Yield Savings Account - 5.26% APY
- No fees
- $1 minimum deposit
- 24/7 online access
- FDIC insured
CIT Bank Platinum Savings - 5.05% APY
- 5.05% APY with a balance of $5,000 or more
- 0.25% APY with a balance of less than $5,000
- $100 minimum opening deposit
- No monthly maintenance fee
- Member FDIC
Bottom Line
Citi can be especially beneficial for those who travel or need access to a large ATM network.
Citi Priority - Earn up to $2,000 Cash Bonus
- Earn up to $2,000 when you open a new eligible Citi checking account and enroll in the offer the same day
- New to Relationship customers can choose their Relationship Tier.
- Within 20 days of opening, deposit the minimum amount of new-to-Citibank funds.
- Maintain a minimum balance for 60 consecutive calendar days from the 21st day.
- If your balance falls to a lower Balance Level at any point during the maintenance period, the bonus changes.
- Bonus will be paid within 30 days after you successfully complete all required activities.
- Restrictions apply.
Chase Total Checking® - $200 Bonus
- New Chase checking customers enjoy a $200 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking® account with qualifying activities
- Access to more than 15,000 Chase ATMs and more than 4,700 branches
- Chase Mobile® app - Manage your accounts, deposit checks, transfer money and more -- all from your device.
- JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
- Open your account online now
- Available online nationwide except in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. For branch locations, visit locator.chase.com.
- Chase Overdraft Assist℠ - no overdraft fees if you're overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day or if you're overdrawn by more than $50 and bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day*
Bank of America Business Advantage Checking Account - $200 Bonus Offer
- Open a new eligible business checking account by December 31, 2023
- Make Qualifying Deposits* of $5,000 or more in new money within 30 days of opening the new eligible business checking account
- Maintain an average balance of $5,000 for the next 60 days (day 31-90) during the maintenance period**
**The maintenance period begins thirty-one (31) days after account opening and ends ninety (90) calendar days after account opening.
Member FDIC
TD Beyond Checking - $300 Cash Bonus
- New customers who apply online for a TD Beyond Checking account can earn a $300 cash bonus after receiving direct deposits of $2,500 or more within 60 days. To qualify for this offer, you must be a U.S. resident and apply for the offer online. Offer is available in these states: CT, DC, DE, FL, MD, ME, MA, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, SC, VT, VA
- Three ways to go monthly maintenance fee-free: Monthly Maintenance fee waived when you set up direct deposits of $5,000 or more within a statement cycle, maintain a $2,500 minimum daily balance, or have a $25,000 combined balance across eligible TD accounts.
- ATM perks: TD fees waived at any ATM and non-TD fees reimbursed when you keep at least a $2,500 daily balance
- A little extra time. A lot of extra relief: Avoid fees with Grace Period, which gives you until 11 PM ET the next business day to fix an overdraft. Make sure your available balance is at least $0 by depositing enough to cover the overdrawn balance plus any additional transactions and TD will refund the overdraft fee to your checking account.
- Fast and secure payments: TD Bank debit cards are backed by the Zero Liability guarantee and 24/7 fraud monitoring
- Convenient locations with the longest hours around: We have over 1,100 locations from Maine to Florida that's open early, late, and weekends.
- Get reimbursed for fees including two overdraft fees per year, all Rush Bill Payments, and one outgoing wire per statement cycle (domestic or international).
- Additional TD Bank checking account perks worth talking about: Get 24/7 access to all your TD accounts with Online & Mobile Banking, plus Bill Pay, Send
- Money with Zelle®, Mobile Deposit and Online Statements.
Discover Online Savings - $200 Cash Bonus
To get your $150 or $200 Bonus: What to do: Apply for your first Discover Online Savings Account, online, in the Discover App or by phone. Enter Offer Code CY923 when applying. Deposit into your account a total of at least $15,000 to earn a $150 Bonus or deposit a total of at least $25,000 to earn a $200 Bonus. Deposit must be posted to account within 30 days of account open date. Maximum bonus eligibility is $200.
What to know: Offer not valid for existing or prior Discover savings customers or existing or prior customers with savings accounts that are co-branded, or affinity accounts provided by Discover. Eligibility is based on primary account owner. Account must be open when bonus is credited. Bonus will be credited to the account within 60 days of the account qualifying for the bonus. Bonus is interest and subject to reporting on Form 1099-INT. Offer ends 12/14/2023, 11:59 PM ET. Offer may be modified or withdrawn without notice. See advertiser website for full details.
Write to Kim P at feedback@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.
Note: This website is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content. You do not have to use our links, but you help support CreditDonkey if you do.
This content is not provided by Citi. Any opinions expressed are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by Citi.
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