Editorial Review - Virginia

Citibank Review: Checking, Savings and CDs

Citibank offers many of the perks of a big bank and also the advantages of an online bank. Its rates are competitive, but those rates depend on your region.
Spencer Tierney
By Spencer Tierney 
Edited by Yuliya Goldshteyn

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Citibank, N.A.
  • Savings
  • Checking
  • Certificates of deposit
  • Customer experience
  • Overdraft fees

Overall institution rating

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
The bottom line:

Citibank has many perks you can expect from a big, national bank, including a wide range of product offerings and a massive ATM network. But it has fewer branches than some of its peers, like Wells Fargo and Bank of America, and its most competitive savings account is not available in all regions.

Best for: Customers who want access to a huge network of free ATMs and a variety of banking products and live in one of the regions that’s eligible for Citi’s high-yield savings account.

Pros

  • No overdraft fees.
  • Competitive rate on some savings accounts and CDs.
  • Large, free, nationwide ATM network.
  • Large branch network.
  • No minimum opening deposits on checking and savings accounts.

Cons

  • Monthly fees (though they are avoidable).
  • High minimum balance requirements to avoid fees.
  • High savings rates not available in all states.

Full review

Savings

Citi® Savings
Citi® Savings

Savings

3.5

/5
 NerdWallet rating 
APY
0.03%
With $0.01 min. balance for APY

Citi Savings can be a good place to keep your money safe and accessible, but its rates are generally low. You’ll find better rates — generally above 1.70% — at online-only banks or credit unions.

» Want to see more options? Check out NerdWallet’s best savings accounts

Checking

Citi® Simple Checking
Citi® Simple Checking

Checking

3.0

/5
 NerdWallet rating 
Monthly fee
$12.00
Waived with $1,500 minimum balance

The checking account in the basic banking package offers check writing. You can also make free withdrawals from your account at more than 65,000 ATMs, which is many more than some other national banks offer.

» Looking for a sign-up promotion? Check out current Citibank bonus offers

Certificates of deposit

Citi® CD
Citi® CD

CD

3.0

/5
 NerdWallet rating 
1-year APY
2.75%
3-year APY
2.00%
5-year APY
2.00%
Minimum deposit
$500

Citibank’s CD rates are much higher than those of other national banks, and even national average CD yields, but you can still find online banks and credit unions with better rates.

» Find high yields with our list of best CD rates for the month

Customer experience

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

Users can contact the bank 24 hours a day, and its customer service channels include phone, live chat and Twitter. The Android and iOS apps earn high user ratings.

Branches are plentiful in New York and California, but less so in other states. Citi offers more than 65,000 fee-free ATMs — more than the three largest national banks combined. And if you’re traveling abroad, it’s helpful to know that you can get service at the bank’s thousands of overseas branches.

Overdraft fees

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

In June 2022, Citibank joined the league of other banks that don’t charge overdraft fees. If you don’t have enough funds in your account, your ATM and other debit card transactions will be declined. Optional overdraft protection transfers are still available from another linked Citi account, but they're also now free.

How does Citibank, N.A. compare?

NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5

APY 

4.60%

With $0 min. balance for APY

APY 

5.05%

With $5,000 min. balance for APY

Bonus 

$400

Up to $300 cash and $100 in rewards points. Terms apply.

Bonus 

N/A

Learn more

at SoFi Bank, N.A.

Learn more

at CIT Bank

Methodology

NerdWallet’s overall ratings for banks and credit unions are weighted averages of several categories: checking, savings, certificates of deposit or credit union share certificates, banking experience and overdraft fees. Factors we consider, depending on the category, include rates and fees, ATM and branch access, account features and limits, user-facing technology, customer service and innovation. The stars represent ratings from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars). Ratings are rounded to the nearest half-star. How we rate banks, credit unions and other financial service providers.