Citizens Bank Review 2024

July 2024 · 15 minute read
2024-07-23T16:57:46Z JUMP TO Section Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
  • Overall Rating
  • Pros and Cons
  • About Citizens Bank
  • FAQs
  • Citizens Bank Account Reviews
  • How Citizens Bank Compares
  • Why You Should Trust Us
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    The bottom line: You may like Citizens Bank if you live on the East Coast or Midwest and are looking for a brick-and-mortar bank. It pays good rates on online CDs, but the best CD rates are still at other banks.

    Compare Citizens Bank accountsChevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Annual Percentage Yield (APY) Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. 0.01% Minimum deposit Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. $0 Annual Percentage Yield (APY) Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. None Minimum deposit Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. $0 Annual Percentage Yield (APY) Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. 0.01% Minimum deposit Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. $0 Annual Percentage Yield (APY) Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. 2.75% Minimum deposit Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. $1,000 Start saving On Citizens Bank's website Start banking On Citizens Bank's website Start banking On Citizens Bank's website Start saving On Citizens Bank's site. Citizens Bank, FDIC Insured

    Citizens Bank: Overall Rating

    FeaturePersonal Finance Insider rating (out of 5)
    Savings3.5
    Checking3.75
    Money market3.5
    CD3.25
    Trustworthiness3.5
    Total3.5

    Citizens Bank Pros and Cons

    ProsCons
    • No minimum opening deposits required

    • Citizens Peace of Mind reimburses overdraft fees if you deposit money into your account within one business day

    • Possible to waive monthly service fees

    • Branches only on the East Coast and Midwest
    • Monthly service fees 
    • Pays low savings rates
    • Interest compounded monthly, not daily

    About Citizens Bank

    Citizens Bank has more than 1,100 branches and 3,400 ATMs along the East Coast and Midwest. You may want to consider the brick-and-mortar bank if you live in the following places:

    For questions about your bank account, call customer support from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET on weekdays or from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET on weekends.

    The bank's mobile app is rated 4.7 out of 5 stars in both the Apple and Google Play stores.

    Citizens Bank is FDIC-insured, which means up to $250,000 is secure in an individual bank account. 

    Is Citizens Bank Trustworthy?

    The Better Business Bureau rates banks based on whether they respond effectively to customer complaints, advertise honestly, and have transparent business practices.

    Citizens Bank has a B rating from the BBB due to the amount of time the bank takes to respond to customer complaints, and due to government action taken against the business. 

    In May 2023, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau required Citizens Bank to pay a $9 million penalty in a settlement that accused the bank of violating the Truth in Lending Act and not resolving customer issues regarding credit cards.

    Citizens Bank FAQs

    Is Citizens Bank legit?  Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

    Yes, Citizens Bank is legitimate. It has bank accounts that are federally insured by the FDIC. Up to $250,000 per depositor is safe in an account.

    What is the minimum balance for Citizens One Deposit Checking? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

    Citizens One Deposit Checking has a $0 minimum opening deposit.

    Which states have Citizens Bank?  Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

    Citizens Bank has branches in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington, DC.

    Is Citizens a good bank to open a savings account? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

    Citizens Bank is not the best option for a savings account, because it pays a low interest rate. But Citizens, the online-only division of the bank, has a good high-yield savings account called Citizens Access Savings.

    Is Citizens Online Bank a good bank? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

    Citizens Bank has an online-only division, Citizens (previously called Citizens Access), that offers a high-yield savings account and CDs. It's a good bank overall that pays high rates.

    How is Citizens Bank ranked? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

    Citizens Bank is the 14th-largest bank by assets in the U.S., and the ninth-largest bank by branch number.

    Is Citizens Bank a strong bank? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

    In general, Citizens Bank is a strong bank; it has multiple types of bank accounts, plus an online division with high-yield accounts that are available nationwide.

    Citizens Bank Account Reviews

    One Deposit Savings from Citizens

    One Deposit Savings from Citizens Start saving On Citizens Bank's website Citizens Bank One Deposit Savings from Citizens Insider’s Rating A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 3.5/5 Fees

    $4.99 monthly service fee

    Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

    0.01%

    Minimum Opening Deposit

    $0

    ProsConsInsider’s Take

    You may like Citizens Bank if you live on the East Coast or Midwest and are looking for a brick-and-mortar bank. It pays good rates on online CDs, but the best CD rates are still at other banks.

    Citizens Bank review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user." Product DetailsShow Pros, Cons, and More chevron down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down.

    One Deposit Savings from Citizens doesn't require an opening deposit and automatically waives the monthly bank maintenance fee if you're a minor, young adult, or senior. You can also waive the fee if you make one deposit each month.

    Citizens Bank savings rates on standard bank accounts at branches are low, overall. If you'd like to earn a higher interest, our best high-yield savings accounts guide will have some more compelling options to consider.

    Compare Today's Rates

    Citizens Bank One Deposit Checking Account

    Citizens Bank One Deposit Checking Account Start banking On Citizens Bank's website Citizens Bank Citizens Bank One Deposit Checking Account Insider’s Rating A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 3.75/5 Fees

    $9.99 monthly service fee

    Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

    None

    Minimum Opening Deposit

    $0

    ProsConsInsider’s Take

    You may like Citizens Bank if you live on the East Coast or Midwest and are looking for a brick-and-mortar bank. It pays good rates on online CDs, but the best CD rates are still at other banks.

    Citizens Bank review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user." Product DetailsShow Pros, Cons, and More chevron down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down.

    The Citizens Bank One Deposit Checking Account is a solid checking account with no minimum opening deposit. It waives the monthly service fee if you deposit money into your account at least once a month.

    The bank still charges a $35 overdraft fee for overdrawing, but it has a program for reimbursing these fees. Through Citizens Peace of Mind, the bank refunds overdraft fees on any checking or money market accounts if you deposit money into your account before 10 p.m. ET the next business day. 

    Compare Today's Banking Offers

    Citizens Bank 14 Month Online CD

    Citizens Bank 14 Month Online CD Start saving On Citizens Bank's site. Citizens Bank, FDIC Insured Citizens Bank Citizens Bank 14 Month Online CD Insider’s Rating A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 3.25/5 Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

    2.75%

    Minimum Opening Deposit

    $1,000

    ProsConsInsider’s Take

    You may like Citizens Bank if you live on the East Coast or Midwest and are looking for a brick-and-mortar bank. It pays good rates on online CDs, but the best CD rates are still at other banks.

    Citizens Bank 14 Month Online CD review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user." Product DetailsShow Pros, Cons, and More chevron down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down.

    Citizens Bank pays a decent interest rate on its 14-month online-only CD, but you can find even higher CD rates at other banks. The Citizens Bank 8 Month Online CD pays a great rate, but the minimum deposit is significantly higher.

    If you need to withdraw money from your CD before it matures, keep in mind there's a hefty early withdrawal penalty. 

    Citizens Bank Personal Money Market Account

    Citizens Bank Personal Money Market Account Read Review Citizens Bank Citizens Bank Personal Money Market Account Insider’s Rating A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 3.5/5 Fees

    $10 monthly service fee

    Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

    0.01%

    Minimum Opening Deposit

    $0

    ProsConsInsider’s Take

    You may like Citizens Bank if you live on the East Coast or Midwest and are looking for a brick-and-mortar bank. It pays good rates on online CDs, but the best CD rates are still at other banks.

    Citizens Bank review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user." Product DetailsShow Pros, Cons, and More chevron down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down.

    The Citizens Bank Personal Money Market Account might be worthwhile if you plan to keep at least $2,500 in your account daily, so you don't have to pay a monthly bank fee.

    Otherwise, the bank's checking account is likely a stronger option if you'd like easy access to your bank account.

    How Citizens Bank Compares

    Citizens Bank  vs. TD Bank 

    TD Bank is a brick-and-mortar financial institution on the East Coast with over 1,100 branches and 2,600 free ATMs. 

    Both banks offer decent options for checking accounts. The TD Bank Beyond Checking Account notably doesn't charge out-of-network ATM fees and reimburses two overdraft fees per year. With the Citizens Bank One Deposit Checking Account, there's no minimum opening deposit, and you're eligible for overdraft fee refunds if you restore your account balance promptly.

    If your priority is earning a high interest rate on a CD, you may want to choose a different bank. Other financial institutions have more competitive CD rates right now.

    TD Bank Review

    Citizens Bank vs. Santander Bank 

    Citizens Bank may be a better option if you prefer an institution with a large branch and ATM network. Citizens Bank has 1,200 branches in 14 US states, while Santander has about 443 branches in 8 Northeast states.

    You'll probably prefer Santander if you want to open a traditional savings account or CD. The Santander® Bank, N.A. Savings Account pays a slightly higher interest rate than One Deposit Savings from Citizens and lets you waive the $1 monthly service fee if you have $100 in your account, open a Santander checking account, or for account owners under the age of 26. Santander CDs also have a low minimum opening deposit. 

    Santander Bank Review

    Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Citizens Bank 

    At Personal Finance Insider, we rate savings, checking, CD, and money market accounts using our banking methodology and CD methodology.

    Each account receives a rating between 0 and 5. We evaluate a bank's ethics, customer service, and mobile app for all accounts. We also consider different features for specific types of bank accounts. For example, we look at overdraft fees for checking accounts and early withdrawal penalties for CDs.

    spanSophia Acevedo is a banking editor at Business Insider. She has spent three years as a personal finance journalist and is an expert across numerous banking topics./spanspanExperience/spanspanSophia leads Personal Finance Insider's banking coverage, including reviews, guides, reference articles, and news. She edits and updates articles about banks, checking and savings accounts, CD rates, and budgeting and saving. She is highly knowledgeable about long-term trends in rates and offers at banks across the U.S./spanspanBefore joining Business Insider, Sophia worked as a journalist at her college newspaper and was a freelance writer. She has spent seven years writing and editing as a journalist./spanspanSophia was nominated for an Axel Springer Award for Change in 2023 for her coverage of a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/what-is-able-savings-account"ABLE accounts/a, tax-free savings accounts for people with disabilities. She was also a winner of a a href="https://cnpa.com/cja/2018campus/"2018 California Journalism Awards Campus Contest/a for her photography./spanspanShe loves helping people find the best solutions for their unique needs and hopes that more people will find the tools to solve their financial problems. She’s inspired by stories of everyday people adapting to their financial circumstances and overcoming their fears around money./spanspanExpertise/spanspanSophia's expertise includes:/spanullispanBank accounts/span/lilispanSavings and CD rate trends/span/lilispanBudgeting/span/lilispanSaving/span/lilispanHow banks operate/span/li/ulspanEducation/spanspanSophia graduated from California State University Fullerton with a degree in journalism and a minor in political science./spanspanShe is an avid reader across a variety of genres, and she started running in 2021. She ran in the 2024 Los Angeles Marathon./span Banking Editor Sophia Acevedo is a banking editor at Business Insider. She has spent three years as a personal finance journalist and is an expert across numerous banking topics.ExperienceSophia leads Personal Finance Insider's banking coverage, including reviews, guides, reference articles, and news. She edits and updates articles about banks, checking and savings accounts, CD rates, and budgeting and saving. She is highly knowledgeable about long-term trends in rates and offers at banks across the U.S.Before joining Business Insider, Sophia worked as a journalist at her college newspaper and was a freelance writer. She has spent seven years writing and editing as a journalist.Sophia was nominated for an Axel Springer Award for Change in 2023 for her coverage of ABLE accounts, tax-free savings accounts for people with disabilities. She was also a winner of a 2018 California Journalism Awards Campus Contest for her photography.She loves helping people find the best solutions for their unique needs and hopes that more people will find the tools to solve their financial problems. She’s inspired by stories of everyday people adapting to their financial circumstances and overcoming their fears around money.ExpertiseSophia's expertise includes:EducationSophia graduated from California State University Fullerton with a degree in journalism and a minor in political science.She is an avid reader across a variety of genres, and she started running in 2021. She ran in the 2024 Los Angeles Marathon. Read more Read less spanEvelyn He is a Compliance and Operations Associate on the Personal Finance team to ensure content accuracy and editorial independence so readers get up-to-date and objective financial advice./spanspanThe compliance team's mission is to provide readers with fact-checked and current stories so they can make informed financial decisions. The team also works to minimize risk for partners by ensuring language is clear, precise, and fully compliant with regulatory and partner marketing guidelines that align with the editorial team./span Compliance and Operations Associate Evelyn He is a Compliance and Operations Associate on the Personal Finance team to ensure content accuracy and editorial independence so readers get up-to-date and objective financial advice.The compliance team's mission is to provide readers with fact-checked and current stories so they can make informed financial decisions. 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