CIT Bank Review: Make Savings a Habit To Get the Best Rates

By John Csiszar

January 15, 2021

GOBankingRates Score

4.5

Our Take: It pays to save at CIT Bank. The online-only bank offers above-average interest rates on its selection of deposit accounts and certificates of deposit. When you commit to saving and make it a habit, you get access to the bank's best rates.

• Rates
  5.0
• Fees
  5.0
• Opening Deposit Requirements
  5.0
• Accessibility
  3.0

How did we calculate this?

About CIT Bank

CIT is an online-only bank headquartered in Pasadena, Calif. Its parent company, CIT Group, is a financial holding company with more than $40 billion in assets that trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CIT. In its annual rankings by GOBankingRates, CIT was named one of the Best Online Banks 2021, as well as one of the Best Checking Accounts, CD Accounts and Money Market Accounts of 2021.

CIT Bank Products

CIT Bank’s product line is limited to deposit accounts and mortgages. Here’s a quick look:

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CIT Bank has a limited product line, but customers benefit from low fees and higher-than-average interest rates on their savings. Keep reading for more details.

CIT Bank Checking Account

CIT has one checking account, called eChecking. Unlike traditional checking accounts, this account doesn’t come with checks. You can use a debit card, your online account or the mobile app to make transactions. GOBankingRates has ranked it as one of the Best Checking Accounts of 2021.

Features

• $30-per-month ATM reimbursements for other banks’ fees
• No monthly maintenance fee
• APY of 0.10% on balances under $25,000 and 0.25% for balances of  $25,000 or more
• $100 opening deposit

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Pros:

• Low fees for wire transfers and returned deposit items
• Unlimited withdrawals through mobile app
• APY higher than national average

Cons:

• Best interest rate reserved for higher balances
• No option to pay with checks

CIT Bank Savings Account

The idea behind the Savings Builder online savings account is that if you can commit to regular ongoing deposits — thus, building your savings — you’ll be rewarded with the bank’s highest interest rate. To earn the highest rates, you have to make a monthly deposit of at least $100 or maintain a $25,000 balance.

Features

• $100 minimum opening deposit
• APY of 0.42% or 0.50%, depending on the balance
• All accounts earn the top interest rate for the first month
• No monthly maintenance fees
• Interest compounds daily

Pros:

• APY is higher than the national average
• Daily compounding interest earns money faster
• Interest rate boost for making regular deposits

Cons:

• Some banks offer higher APY

CIT Bank Money Market Account

CIT Bank’s Money Market account is FDIC-insured and charges no monthly service fees. Customers are limited to six transactions per statement cycle, but fees for excess transactions are capped at $50. GOBankingRates has ranked it as one of the Best Money Market Accounts of 2021.

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Features

• $100 minimum opening deposit
• 0.45% APY
• No monthly maintenance fees
• Access to account through mobile app

Pros:

• APY is seven times higher than the national average
• No opening or maintenance fees
• Low opening deposit requirement

Cons:

• Some financial institutions offer higher APY

CIT Bank CD Accounts

CIT Bank currently offers three types of CDs: Term CDs, Jumbo CDs and No-Penalty CDs. None charge monthly maintenance fees, and some can be set up for automatic renewal. GOBankingRates has ranked it as one of the Best CD Accounts of 2021.

Features

• Terms from six months to five years
• No account opening or maintenance fees
• Interest compounds daily
• APY up to 0.50% on the 5-Year Jumbo CD

Pros:

• Flexible options available, including a no-penalty CD
• Rates compare favorably to most other banks
• No maintenance fees

Cons:

• Early withdrawal penalties for most CDs
• No ultra-short or ultra-long maturities available

Banking Experience

Banking at CIT is a different experience than doing business with a neighborhood bank. According to the branch locator on the bank’s website, there are fewer than 25 physical branches across the U.S. You should be comfortable managing your accounts online if you don’t live near one of these branches.

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Customer Service

Customer service representatives are available by phone Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. ET and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. ET. The bank’s website also contains an FAQ section for customers who don’t want to wait in the phone queue.

Accessibility

CIT Bank has fewer than 25 physical branches across the continental U.S. and Hawaii. Customers can manage their accounts at any time through online and mobile banking.

Mobile and Digital Experience

CIT Bank has a mobile app available for download through Google Play and the App Store. With this app, you can manage your money at any time. This is where you deposit checks, transfer funds, check balances and pay bills. The app has a rating of 4.2 on Google Play and 4.6 in the App Store.

Convenience

Customers must access their accounts through the mobile app or website. The generous ATM fee rebate gives eChecking customers the ability to use any ATM available without running up huge fees.

How To Open an Account

You can open an account with CIT Bank online in about five to 10 minutes. Here’s how:

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1.  Choose the type of account you want to open.
2. Provide personal information such as your home address, email address, phone number and Social Security number.
3. Set up the initial deposit.
4. Set up access to online banking.

Once your account is open, you’ll have access to the CIT Bank mobile app, where you can initiate a variety of account transactions.

Key Information

Customer Service Number: 855-462-2652 within the U.S.; 626-535-8964 outside the U.S. (toll call)

Routing Number: 124084834

Promotions: See CIT Bank’s Promos and Bonuses

CIT Bank Fees

CIT Bank‘s accounts are mostly fee-free. Here’s a look at the fees the bank does charge:

You can avoid paying fees at CIT Bank by keeping track of your spending and skipping the activities that require fees.

CIT Bank vs. Competitors

As part of any CIT Bank review, it helps to compare the bank’s products and services with other banks. Here’s an overview:

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CIT Bank vs. Citibank

Both CIT Bank and Citibank offer competitive rates and low minimum deposit requirements. CIT might be a better choice for customers who want fee-free banking without maintaining a minimum balance. Customers who need 24-hour access to a live customer service representative should consider Citibank.

CIT Bank vs. Ally Bank

CIT and Ally are both online-only banks that offer competitive rates. CIT emphasizes savings products, and its Savings Builder account is an excellent choice for customers who want to make saving money a habit. Ally is a better option for those who want to do one-stop banking across many different products and services.

CIT Bank vs. Capital One 360

CIT Bank and Capital One 360 accounts both come with competitive APYs for savings and checking accounts. Customers who use ATMs can take advantage of CIT’s generous ATM rebate. Capital One 360 customers enjoy above-average rates no matter how much money they keep in the bank.

Final Take

CIT Bank has plenty of enticing features, but you have to be comfortable with digital banking before opening an account there. The yield available on the Savings Builder Account makes it a good choice, even among competitors with online savings accounts.

The low fees and high yields at CIT Bank make it worth checking out for customers who don’t need a personal banking experience.

Editor’s Favorite

If you want to build your savings, keeping your money in a CIT Bank Savings Builder account offers several advantages. You might find a higher interest rate at other online banks, but CIT still gives you an above-average rate with no monthly service fees. Even better, you have to commit to savings to get the bank’s best terms. Establishing a savings habit now can pay off later.

This article has been updated with additional reporting since its original publication.

Rates are subject to change; unless otherwise noted, rates are updated periodically. All other information on accounts is accurate as of Jan. 5, 2020.

This content is not provided by CIT Bank. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by CIT Bank.

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About the Author

John Csiszar

After earning a B.A. in English with a Specialization in Business from UCLA, John Csiszar worked in the financial services industry as a registered representative for 18 years. Along the way, Csiszar earned both Certified Financial Planner and Registered Investment Adviser designations, in addition to being licensed as a life agent, while working for both a major Wall Street wirehouse and for his own investment advisory firm. During his time as an advisor, Csiszar managed over $100 million in client assets while providing individualized investment plans for hundreds of clients.