Citibank Review: Checking, Savings and CDs
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Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.
Overview
Citibank has many perks you can expect from a big, national bank, including a wide range of product offerings and a massive fee-free 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.
In July 2024, Citibank was fined a total of more than $135 million for failing to make progress on data quality management issues that were part of an enforcement action in 2020. Read more in the "Customer experience" section below.
No overdraft fees.
Competitive rate on some savings accounts.
Large, free, nationwide ATM network.
No minimum opening deposits on checking and savings accounts.
Monthly fees (though they are avoidable).
High savings rates not available in all states.
Product reviews
Savings
Citi® Accelerate Savings (Member FDIC; select markets only) earns a higher-than-average rate on deposits, and there's no minimum deposit required to open the account. It comes with a feature that lets you round up checking transactions and automatically deposit the difference into your savings account. These types of programs can make it easier for you to build your savings balance.
The account has a $4.50 monthly fee, but it can be waived in a few different ways: having an average monthly balance of at least $500, having a Citi checking account or by being part of a premium relationship package. There’s a minimum $30,000 combined average monthly balance requirement for premium packages.
This account is not available to residents of select markets including California, Connecticut, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and select areas in Florida and Illinois.
Citi® Accelerate Savings
Checking
Citi’s Regular Checking account comes with a debit card and the ability to write checks. You’ll have access to free withdrawals from your account at more than 60,000 ATMs. About 2,300 of those are bank ATMs, while the others are part of the MoneyPass network, with locations at participating retail stores. The combined network of fee-free ATMs is much larger than other national banks’ ATM networks.
The monthly fee for this checking account is steep at $15 a month, but is waived with monthly direct deposits totaling at least $250 or if it’s part of a premium relationship package. Relationship tiers have a minimum $30,000 combined average monthly balance requirement.
The bank currently offers a reward for opening this checking account; see our roundup of the best bank bonuses for details.
Citi® Regular Checking Account
Certificates of deposit
Citibank offers CDs with terms that range from a few months to five years. There’s a $500 minimum opening deposit requirement, which is reasonable, but you can find better rates at other online banks and credit unions. Note that CD balances count toward the combined average monthly balance requirements for the bank’s premier relationship tiers.
» Find high yields with our list of best CD rates for the month
Full List of CD Rates
| Term | APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months | 2.00% | $500 |
| 5 months | 3.25% | $500 |
| 6 months | 2.00% | $500 |
| 7 months | 2.00% | $500 |
| 8 months | 2.00% | $500 |
| 9 months | 2.00% | $500 |
| 1 year | 2.00% | $500 |
| 1 year no-penalty | 0.05% | $500 |
| 13 months | 2.00% | $500 |
| 1.5 years | 2.00% | $500 |
| 2 years | 3.00% | $500 |
| 2.5 years | 0.10% | $500 |
| 3 years | 2.00% | $500 |
| 4 years | 2.00% | $500 |
| 5 years | 2.00% | $500 |
Citi® CD
Customer experience & overdraft fees
Customer experience
Users can contact the bank by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Other customer service channels include live chat and social media. Branches are plentiful in New York and California, but less so in other states. For those who prefer mobile banking, Citi’s Android and iOS apps earn high user ratings.
Citi offers access to the expansive MoneyPass ATM network, which has locations at retailers across the country, as well as 2,300 bank ATMs. In all, customers can access around 65,000 fee-free ATMs. That's more than what the other three biggest national banks offer — combined.
The account packages with combinations of checking and savings accounts can be confusing and time-consuming to decipher.
Editor’s note: In July 2024, Citibank was fined a total of more than $135 million for deficiencies in its data governance, risk management and internal controls, according to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Reserve. This fine is related to enforcement actions that the OCC and the Federal Reserve took against Citibank in 2020. While the OCC said that the bank took steps to comply, it “failed to make sufficient and sustainable progress towards achieving compliance” since 2020.
This enforcement action and fine, which did not factor into our ratings, helps make customers aware of Citibank’s data and risk management behavior. Even if customer funds are protected by federal insurance, poor data management can erode consumer trust in a bank. Citibank said in a statement that it’s working to address the 2020 enforcement action so that its data quality management meets requirements, but it’s been a multi-year effort so far.
» Looking for more Citi products? Check out Citi credit cards with cash-back, balance transfer and travel rewards features
Overdraft fees
Citibank does not charge overdraft fees. If you don’t have enough money in your account, your ATM and other debit card transactions can be declined. Optional overdraft protection transfers are available from other linked Citi accounts. These transfers are free.
» Want to see more options? Check out other banks that don’t charge overdraft fees
The information related to Citi checking and savings accounts has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.
Rating methodology
How we rate banks and credit unions
Banking writers and editors use an objective methodology to rate banks, credit unions, and other providers, and to recommend the best products.
100+
Financial institutions reviewed
100+
Financial institutions reviewed
We took a close look at around 100 financial institutions and financial service providers, including the largest U.S. banks based on assets, internet search traffic and other factors; the nation’s largest credit unions, based on assets and membership; and other notable players in the industry. We rated them on criteria including annual percentage yields, minimum balances, fees, digital experience and more.
30+
Categories assessed
30+
Categories assessed
Each provider is evaluated across five weighted categories and 30 subcategories, including checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, customer experience, and overdraft services. For banks or credit unions without one or more types of accounts, the overall rating is modified to include only applicable categories. Institutions are not penalized if they don't offer every type of account.
60+
Data points analyzed
60+
Data points analyzed
We considered more than 60 data points for each provider. Depending on the category, these included account fees and rates (such as annual percentage yields), ATM and branch access, account features, account bonuses, customer service access and user-facing technology, such as innovative tools and mobile apps. We gathered this information for each financial institution from its website, a media representative or both.
Star rating categories
The review team is made up of seasoned writers and editors who cover personal banking deposit accounts, such as checking, savings and certificates of deposit, as well as related banking services, such as overdraft programs and ATM networks. For providers without one or more types of accounts, the overall rating is modified to include only applicable categories. Institutions are not penalized if they don't offer every type of account.
Financial institutions and providers surveyed are: Affirm, All America Bank, Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, Alto, Amalgamated Bank, American Express National Bank, Andrews Federal Credit Union, Associated Bank, Axos Bank, Bank of America, Bank5 Connect, Barclays, Bask Bank, BMO, Boeing Employees Credit Union, Bread Savings®, BrioDirect, Capital One, Cash App, CFG Bank, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime, CIBC U.S., CIT Bank, Citibank, Citizens Access, Citizens Bank, Climate First Bank, ConnectOne Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Current, Customers Bank, Discover® Bank, E*TRADE, EverBank, Fifth Third Bank, First Foundation, First Internet Bank, First Tech Federal Credit Union, FNBO Direct, Forbright Bank, FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, GO2bank, Golden 1 Credit Union, Hope Credit Union, HSBC Bank, Huntington Bank, Ivy Bank, KeyBank, Lake Michigan Credit Union, LendingClub Bank, Live Oak Bank, M&T Bank, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, My Banking Direct, NASA Federal Credit Union, Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC, Newtek Bank, OMB Bank, OnePay, Openbank, PayPal, Peak Bank, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, PNC, Poppy Bank, Popular Direct, Quontic Bank, Regions Bank, Revolut, Salem Five Direct, Sallie Mae Bank, Santander Bank, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Security Service Federal Credit Union, Securityplus Federal Credit Union, Self-Help Credit Union, Service Credit Union, SoFi, State Employees’ Credit Union of North Carolina, Synchrony Bank, TAB Bank, TD Bank, Truist Bank, U.S. Bank, UFB Direct, Upgrade, USAA Bank, Valley Bank, Varo, Venmo, Vio Bank, Wells Fargo, Western Alliance Bank, Zolve and Zynlo Bank.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for our star ratings. Read more about our ratings methodologies for banks and credit unions and our editorial guidelines.