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Citibank fits people who want a big bank with no overdraft fees, low fee checking that a $250 monthly direct deposit makes free, and perks that grow once you keep $30,000 or more with Citi. It is a legitimate, FDIC-insured bank (Citibank, N.A., FDIC certificate 7213) and one of the largest in the US, with about $1.98 trillion in assets. The tradeoffs are far fewer branches than Chase, Bank of America or Wells Fargo, savings products that vary by state, a BBB D- rating, and about 23,000 CFPB complaints in the last year across all Citi products. Its regulators have also fined it repeatedly, most recently in 2024, and New York's attorney general is suing it over how it handles fraud victims.
- Legal name
- Citibank, National Association, Sioux Falls, SD; FDIC certificate 7213; established 18124
- Size
- About $1.98 trillion in assets and $1.55 trillion in deposits as of June 30, 20264
- Locations
- 667 domestic offices listed by the FDIC (Chase 5,176, Wells Fargo 4,161, Bank of America 3,598)4
- Checking fees
- Access Checking $5 a month, Regular Checking $15 a month; both waived with $250+ in direct deposits or other qualifying transactions1
- Overdraft fees
- None; no overdraft or returned item fees on any tier1
- ATMs
- 65,000+ fee-free ATMs in the US; $2.50 per withdrawal at other banks' ATMs below the Citi Priority tier1
- Relationship tiers
- Citi Priority from $30,000 and Citigold from $200,000 combined average monthly balance, with no monthly fees1
- CDs
- Terms from 3 months to 5 years; rates vary by ZIP code2
Pros
- No overdraft or returned item fees on any account
- Checking fees of $5 or $15 waived with a $250 monthly direct deposit
- 65,000+ fee-free ATMs and a 4.9-star mobile app
- Large Relationship Tier perks, including ATM fee refunds at Citigold
- FDIC insured and one of the largest US banks
Cons
- BBB D- rating and a 1.1 Trustpilot score
- Savings account types and rates depend on your state, and APYs are not shown without a ZIP code
- $2.50 fee at out-of-network ATMs and 3% on debit card use abroad below Citi Priority
- Far fewer locations than rivals: the FDIC lists 667 domestic Citibank offices versus 5,176 for Chase
- Repeated federal penalties over risk controls and a pending New York lawsuit over fraud reimbursement
Best for: People who can set up a $250 monthly direct deposit, want no overdraft fees and a strong app, or have $30,000 or more to qualify for Citi's relationship perks.
Skip it if: You want the highest savings rate, need a branch close by, or put customer service ratings first.
Citibank vs. competitors
| Company | Basic checking fee | How to pay $0 | Overdraft fee | CFPB complaints, last 12 months (all products) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citibank | $5 (Access) or $15 (Regular) | $250+ in direct deposits or qualifying transactions | No overdraft fees | 23,436 |
| Chase | $15 (Total Checking) | $500+ in electronic deposits or $1,500+ daily balance | $34, up to 3 a day | 26,196 |
| Bank of America | $12 (Advantage Plus) | One $250+ direct deposit or $1,500+ daily balance | $10 | 23,829 |
| Wells Fargo | $15 (Everyday Checking) | $500+ in electronic deposits or $1,500+ daily balance | $35, up to 3 a day | 22,635 |
Citibank pricing at a glance
Citibank checking and savings fees, as listed October 20261
| Item | Fee | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Access Checking (no checks, no overdrafts) | $5 a month | $250+ in direct deposits or qualifying transactions, or an owner 23 or younger |
| Regular Checking | $15 a month | $250+ in direct deposits or qualifying transactions, or a Citi Priority or higher tier |
| Savings | $4.50 a month | $500 average monthly balance, or also owning a Citi checking account |
| Citi Priority tier | No monthly fee | Keep $30,000 to $199,999.99 combined average monthly balance |
| Citigold tier | No monthly fee | Keep $200,000 or more to start ($180,000 to stay) |
| Non-Citi ATM withdrawal | $2.50 | Use Citi or in-network ATMs, or reach Citi Priority |
| Debit card purchase abroad | 3% foreign exchange fee | Waived at Citi Priority and Citigold |
| Overdraft or returned item | $0 | No fee at any tier |
| Stop payment / official check / money order | $30 / $10 / $5 | Waived at Citi Priority and above |
Products and pricing vary by home ZIP code. Savings and Citi Accelerate Savings are each sold only in certain states. Citi did not show savings APYs or CD rates without a ZIP code, so check your rate on citi.com before opening.
Citibank, step by step
Check what is sold where you live
Enter your home ZIP code on citi.com, since products, rates and savings account types differ by state.
Apply online or in a branch
You must be a US citizen or resident alien, 18 or older, with a US physical address, and provide an SSN or ITIN.
Pick a tier
New customers can choose a Relationship Tier at opening and keep it if they reach the balance range, such as $30,000 for Citi Priority, within 3 calendar months.
Set up direct deposit
A $250 or larger monthly direct deposit or qualifying ACH credit waives the Access or Regular Checking fee.
Register for online and mobile banking
Use citi.com/register or the Citi Mobile app to set up a login; the first wire to a new payee may be held up to 2 business days.
Close the account
Citi may close accounts that sit at a zero balance for 90 days, so if you leave, move your money and confirm the closure in writing.
Citibank legitimacy and licensing
Yes. Citibank, N.A. is a national bank based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, insured by the FDIC under certificate 7213, and the FDIC dates it to 1812. It reported about $1.98 trillion in assets as of June 30, 2026. Your deposits are insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category. Investments sold through Citi Personal Wealth Management are not FDIC insured.
Being legitimate is not the same as being easy to deal with. Citi’s corporate BBB profile has a D- rating with 6,740 complaints in 3 years, its Trustpilot page averages 1.1 out of 5, and the CFPB logged 23,436 complaints about Citibank, N.A. in the last 12 months, most about credit cards and credit reporting.
Citibank fees explained
Citi simplified its accounts into two checking options. Access Checking costs $5 a month, has no paper checks and declines transactions that would overdraw it. Regular Checking costs $15 a month and includes checks. Both fees go away in any month with $250 or more in direct deposits or other qualifying ACH credits, and from July 18, 2026 Access Checking is also free when an owner is 23 or younger.
Savings costs $4.50 a month unless you keep $500 or also own a Citi checking account. Citi does not charge overdraft or returned item fees. The fees that remain are $2.50 at non-network ATMs, 3% on debit card purchases abroad, $30 stop payments, $10 official checks and $5 money orders, all waived once you reach the Citi Priority tier.
Citi Priority and Citigold tiers
Citi groups customers by combined average monthly balance across eligible deposit, retirement and investment accounts. Below $30,000 you get the everyday features. Citi Priority ($30,000 to $199,999.99) removes monthly fees and non-Citi ATM fees, waives the foreign exchange fee and takes 0.25% off personal loan APRs. Citigold ($200,000 to start, $180,000 to stay) adds unlimited worldwide ATM fee refunds, up to $200 a year in subscription rebates and financial planning. If your balance stays below a tier’s range for 3 months in a row, Citi moves you down.
What customers say about Citibank
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- No overdraft fees and easy fee waivers with direct deposit
- A large fee-free ATM network
- A highly rated mobile app
- Strong perks and fee waivers for customers in the Citigold tiers
Common complaints
- Long hold times and unhelpful phone support
- Transactions and cards declined or accounts frozen without a clear reason
- Disputes over unauthorized charges and fraud reimbursement
- Credit card billing and credit reporting problems, the most common CFPB complaint topics
Regulatory actions and lawsuits
- 2020: the OCC fined Citibank $400 million over weak risk management, data governance and internal controls, and the Federal Reserve issued its own order. Those orders were still in place in our last check.
- 2023: the CFPB fined Citi $24.5 million and ordered $1.4 million in redress for discriminating against credit card applicants it identified as Armenian American. The CFPB terminated that order on October 16, 2025.
- 2024: regulators fined Citi about $136 million ($75 million by the OCC and $60.6 million by the Federal Reserve) for slow progress on the 2020 orders. The OCC ended the 2024 amendment on December 18, 2025.
- New York lawsuit: in January 2024 New York’s attorney general sued Citibank, alleging it fails to protect customers from online account takeovers and wrongly denies fraud reimbursement. In January 2025 a federal judge let the core claims proceed; we found no final ruling.
Complaints and how to protect your account
Across the BBB, Trustpilot and CFPB, the recurring problems are long phone waits, declined transactions or frozen accounts, and disputes over unauthorized charges. Over 3 years, the top CFPB issues for Citibank were problems with a purchase on a statement, incorrect credit report information and managing an account.
- Turn on alerts in the Citi Mobile app and use Citi Quick Lock if your card goes missing.
- Never move money because a caller, text or email tells you to; call the number on your card instead.
- Report unauthorized electronic transfers quickly. Federal rules limit your losses more when you report within 2 business days of learning about them.
- If Citi does not resolve a dispute, file a complaint with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov or the OCC’s HelpWithMyBank.gov.
Who should look elsewhere
Citi is a weak fit if you want a high savings rate without shopping by ZIP code, if you need a branch nearby (the FDIC lists 667 domestic Citibank offices, far fewer than Chase’s 5,176), or if you pay cash at many non-network ATMs and will not reach the Citi Priority tier. Savers chasing yield will usually do better at an online bank or credit union, and people who want in-person service in a smaller city may prefer a bank with a wider footprint.
Alternatives to Citibank
- Chase Far more branches (the FDIC lists 5,176 domestic offices) if you want in-person banking near you. Read review
- Bank of America A lower $12 basic checking fee with a wide branch footprint, though it still charges a $10 overdraft fee. Read review
- A credit union or online bank Credit unions and online banks often pay more on savings and charge fewer fees; credit union deposits are insured by the NCUA up to $250,000.
Citibank reviews
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Frequently asked questions
Is Citibank FDIC insured?
Yes. Citibank, N.A. is FDIC insured under certificate 7213, so deposits are covered up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category. Investment products sold through Citi are not FDIC insured.
Does Citibank charge overdraft fees?
No. Citi charges no overdraft or returned item fees on any account tier. Access Checking is built so that transactions that would overdraw the account are declined.
How do I avoid the Citibank monthly fee?
Receive $250 or more a month in direct deposits or other qualifying ACH credits into Access or Regular Checking. Keeping $30,000 or more across eligible Citi accounts also removes monthly fees through the Citi Priority tier.
What is the difference between Citi Access and Regular Checking?
Access Checking costs $5 a month, has no paper checks and blocks transactions that would overdraw it. Regular Checking costs $15 a month and includes checks. Both fees are waived with $250 in monthly direct deposits.
What is Citi Priority?
Citi Priority is the Relationship Tier for customers with a combined average monthly balance of $30,000 to $199,999.99. It removes monthly fees, non-Citi ATM fees and the 3% foreign exchange fee on the debit card.
How many fee-free ATMs does Citibank have?
Citi says customers can use 65,000+ fee-free ATMs in the US. Below the Citi Priority tier, Citi charges $2.50 per withdrawal at other ATMs, and the ATM owner may add its own fee.
What are Citibank's CD rates?
Citi offers CDs from 3 months to 5 years, but rates depend on your home ZIP code and are not shown until you enter it. Compare the quoted APY with online banks before you lock in a term.
What is Citibank's BBB rating?
Citi's corporate BBB profile has a D- rating and is not accredited, with 6,740 complaints in the last 3 years. The BBB rates the business on how it handles complaints, not on product quality.
Is Citibank being sued?
Yes. New York's attorney general sued Citibank in January 2024 over account takeovers and fraud reimbursement, and a federal judge allowed key claims to proceed in January 2025. We found no final ruling.
Who owns Citibank?
Citibank, N.A. is the main bank subsidiary of Citigroup Inc., a public company. Jane Fraser is Citigroup's CEO.
Sources (14)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Citi: Compare bank account features, fees and Relationship Tiers (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Citi: Open a bank account and account FAQs (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Citi: Savings accounts and availability by state (accessed October 12, 2026)
- FDIC BankFind: Citibank, National Association (cert 7213) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: Citi business profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
- CFPB: Consumer complaint database, Citibank, N.A. (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Trustpilot: Citi reviews (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Apple App Store: Citi Mobile (accessed October 12, 2026)
- OCC: $400 million civil money penalty against Citibank (2020) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Federal Reserve: Board fines Citigroup $60.6 million (2024) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- OCC: News release 2025-131, termination of Citibank consent order amendment (accessed October 12, 2026)
- CFPB: Enforcement action, Citibank, N.A. (2023 order and 2025 termination) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- New York Attorney General: lawsuit against Citibank (2024) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- New York Attorney General: court allows lawsuit against Citibank to continue (2025) (accessed October 12, 2026)
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