Citizens Bank Review: A Variety of Accounts and Efficient Money Management
Written by
Cynthia Measom
Edited by
Emily Gadd
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If in-person banking is important to you, take a look at Citizens Bank.
Citizens Bank offers personal and business financial products for the consumer who is looking to do all their banking in one place. CD rates require a high minimum balance, but APYs are competitive.
Citizens Bank offers many accounts, many of which have no monthly account fees or easy fee waiver requirements. The relatively few states in the bank’s service area have numerous branches and ATMs, and online and mobile access extends the bank’s reach. GOBankingRates has ranked it among the Best Banks of 2025 in several categories, including Best Banks in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Citizens Bank Checking Account
Citizens Bank offers five checking accounts. Two are for everyday banking, one is a premium checking account, one is for students and one is for seniors.
Best For
Mobile App
No Minimum Deposit
Banking in Delaware
Banking in Connecticut
Banking in Massachusetts
A Variety of Checking Accounts to Pick From
Citizens Bank has three primary checking accounts: One Deposit Checking from Citizens Bank, Citizens Quest Checking and Citizens Private Client Checking. The bank also offers a Student Checking account and a Citizens Evervalue Checking account.Â
Fees
$0 to $25
APY
0%
Min Opening
$0
Pros
- One Deposit Checking lives up to its name, with just one deposit each statement period required to waive the $9.99 monthly fee
- Premium rates on checking and other accounts with Citizens and Citizens Private Client Checking
- Citizens Quest and Citizens Private Client Checking offer fee waivers on many basic banking transactions, such as money orders, stop payments, bank checks, and four non-Citizens ATM fees monthly
- There is no fee for student checking if under the age of 25
Cons
- Maintenance fees as high as $25 for Citizens Quest and Citizens Private Client Checking
- High requirement of a combined $25,000 and $200,000 monthly balance in deposit and investment accounts to avoid fees on Citizens Quest and Citizens Private Client, respectively
- Geographical limits because branches only in 14 states Â
Quick Take
Citizens Bank offers a wide variety of checking accounts that meet diverse needs. The checking accounts do not require a minimum opening deposit.
- About 1,100 branches and 3,400 ATMs offer lots of flexibility
- Online and mobile banking offer 24/7 account access
- Access to funds via debit card, Digital Wallet, or Zelle
- Start with any amount for an account
- Overdraft protection options
- Limited to in-person transactions for a select number of statesÂ
- Zero liability protection for debit cards
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Citizens Bank Savings Accounts
Citizens Banks offers four different savings accounts. With high savings rates and low fees, there’s something for everyone.
Best For
Mobile App
No Minimum Deposit
Banking in Delaware
Banking in Connecticut
Banking in Massachusetts
Min. Balance to Earn APY $0
In addition to its educational account, dubbed College Saver, Citizens Bank offers three traditional savings accounts: One Deposit Savings From Citizens Bank, Citizens Quest Savings, and Citizens Private Client Savings.
- No minimum balances to open an account
- All savings accounts bear interest
- $4.99 monthly fee on One Deposit Savings waived with a $200 minimum daily balance or one deposit per month
- There are no monthly fees on Citizens Quest and Citizens Private ClientÂ
Fees
$0-$4.99
APY
–
Min Opening
$0
Pros
- No minimum opening deposit
- Easy to waive the monthly fee on One Deposit Saving
- Higher interest rates on Platinum and Platinum Plus Savings
Cons
- Extremely low APY and APY on One Deposit and Citizens Quest/Citizens Private Client, respectively
- Geographic limitations because only 14 states have branchesÂ
- Citizens Quest Savings and Citizens Private Client Savings require a Citizens Quest or Citizens Private Checking account, respectively
Quick Take
There are a variety of savings accounts to choose from at Citizens Bank. There is no minimum opening deposit, but be aware that APYs are lower than competitors, and to take advantage of the higher-tiered savings account, you will need to open a companion checking account.
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Citizens Bank CD Accounts
Citizens Bank’s CD rates vary by location. Some are only available when you visit a Citizens Bank offers a variety of CD terms and rates, but they vary by location. To get a complete list of the CD options in your area, you’ll have to visit a branch.
Best For
Mobile App
No Minimum Deposit
Banking in Delaware
Banking in Connecticut
Banking in Massachusetts
Rates Depend on Location
Only two CD options are offered on the bank’s website: the Online-Only 7-Month CD and the 14-Month CD. CD availability is based on having a Citizens Quest or Citizens Private Client Checking account.Â
- Online terms from seven months or 14 months
- $25,000 minimum for the seven-month CDÂ
- $1,000 minimum for the 14-month CD
- Penalties for early withdrawal might apply
Fees
No monthly service fee
APY
–
Min Opening
$1,000- $25,000
Pros
- Competitive ratesÂ
- FDIC insuredÂ
- APYs up to
Cons
- Limited online options for CD
- $25,000 for a seven-month CD may price out some customers
- Early withdrawal penaltiesÂ
Quick Take
Although Citizens Access has some options for CDs, the minimum deposit on the longer-term CD is $25,000 is high, and although the APY of 4.50% is competitive, it may prove to be a high bar for customers.
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Citizens Access Money Market Accounts
Citizens Access offers several money market accounts but APYs are low.
Best For
Mobile App
No Minimum Deposit
Banking in Delaware
Banking in Connecticut
Banking in Massachusetts
Min. Balance to Earn APY $0
Citizens Bank offers three money market accounts: Personal Money Market, Citizens Quest Platinum Money Market and Citizens Private Client Money Market.
- The monthly maintenance fee of $10 on Personal Money Market waived with $2,500 minimum daily balance
- Open an account with any deposit amount
- Check-writing access to accounts
- Rates are based on balancesÂ
Fees
No monthly service fee
APY
Up to
Min Opening
$0
Pros
- Citizens Quest and Citizens Private Client Money Market accounts have no monthly maintenance fee
- Three types of accounts to choose from, based on your service needs
- FDIC insuredÂ
Cons
- Citizens Quest and Private Client Money Markets require Platinum or Platinum Plus Checking, respectively
- Extremely low % APY on Personal Money Market account
Quick Take
Although Citizens Bank offers money market accounts, the APYs are relatively low compared to competitors. Higher-tiered money market accounts also require a companion checking account.
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Banking Experience
Citizens Bank serves only 14 states but has a multitude of ATMs and branches, along with robust online and mobile capabilities, all of which make it easy for most customers to bank with them.
Physical Branch Locations
Citizens Bank has approximately 1,100 branches and 3,400 ATMs across a 14-state area spanning New England, the Midwest and the Mid-Atlantic states.
Mobile and Digital Experience
Citizens Bank offers mobile apps for Android and iOS users. User ratings are favorable, with reviews of 4.8 stars out of five for the app on Google Play and 4.7 stars on Apple’s App Store. Features available on the mobile apps include the following:
- Account management
- Debit card control
- Remote check deposit
- Money transfer to non-Citizens Bank account holders via Zelle
A highlight of the app is that deposits made as late as 10 p.m. EST get credited the same business day.
Customer Service
Citizens Bank has dedicated customer service phone numbers for each of its main product divisions, such as credit cards, checking and savings accounts, home borrowing, personal loans, investments, and business accounts. Additional numbers are available within each division depending on your specific needs; for example, there are separate customer service numbers for checking and savings accounts, depending on whether you are opening a new account or have questions about an existing account.
For general customer service inquiries, however, you can reach Citizens Bank at 800-922-9999, or 888-398-7900 for Spanish speakers.
Comparable Banks
Make sure you shop around before you open a new bank account. Here are how some similar banks compare to Citizens Bank.
SELECTED BANK
MOST COMPARABLE
MOST COMPARABLE
Fees
Fees
Fees
$0 to $25
$0 or $12, with options to waive
$0 to $10
APY
APY
APY
0%
N/A
Up to
Min Opening
Min Opening
Min Opening
$0
$0
$25 to $100
SELECTED BANK
MOST COMPARABLE
MOST COMPARABLE
Fees
Fees
Fees
$0-$4.99
$5 monthly, waivable
No monthly service fee
APY
APY
APY
–
Min Opening
Min Opening
Min Opening
$0
$0
$25
SELECTED BANK
MOST COMPARABLE
MOST COMPARABLE
Fees
Fees
Fees
No monthly service fee
$5 monthly, waivable
Early withdrawal penalties may apply
APY
APY
APY
–
Up to
Min Opening
Min Opening
Min Opening
$1,000- $25,000
$0
$1,000
SELECTED BANK
MOST COMPARABLE
MOST COMPARABLE
Fees
Fees
Fees
No monthly service fee
No monthly service fee
$5
APY
APY
APY
Up to
to
Up to
Min Opening
Min Opening
Min Opening
$0
$25
$100
Citizens Bank vs. M&T Bank
M&T Bank operates approximately 690 branches from New York to Virginia. The bank’s EZChoice Checking account has no monthly maintenance fees and still offers a debit card and services such as Zelle and mobile deposit. The One Deposit Checking account at Citizens is nearly fee-free, but qualifying activities are required.
Citizens Bank has more branches and ATMs than M&T Bank, at about 1,100 and 3,400 vs. 690 and 1,500, respectively. The Citizens Bank overdraft fee also is slightly higher, at $35 vs. $15.00.
Citizens Bank vs. KeyBank
Although Citizens Bank has an impressive roster of customer service numbers, KeyBank offers extensive live chat hours in addition to 24/7 telephone service. KeyBank customers can chat with a representative from 7 a.m. to midnight EST Mondays through Fridays and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST on Saturdays and Sundays.
If you’re a smaller CD investor, you might give Citizens Bank the nod because it requires only $1,000 to invest in a CD. KeyBank requires a significant $2,500 deposit to open a CD account.
Citizens Bank vs. Northeast Bank
Northeast Bank takes the cake over Citizens regarding most deposit account interest rates. Northeast Bank’s money market accounts pay as much as 0.40% APY, for example, and even its checking account can pay as much as 0.15% APY on balances of at least $50,000.
Citizens Bank has a broader array of accounts than Northeast Bank, including three savings accounts and three money market accounts vs. one savings account and two money market accounts at Northeast.Â
Final TakeÂ
Citizens Bank offers what most customers need in a banking institution — a wide variety of accounts with fees that are either low or relatively easy to waive.
Citizens Bank FAQ
Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions about Citizens Bank.- Is Citizens Bank a good bank to bank with?
- Citizens Bank offers a wide variety of financial products for a regional bank. Citizens Bank is FDIC insured for $250,000 per depositor per category.
- How do I avoid monthly fees at Citizens Bank?
- To avoid monthly fees at Citizens Bank, you should maintain the required balances. For instance, for the One Deposit Savings Account, the maintenance fee will be waived if you make one deposit during each statement period. Establish direct deposits, enroll in electronic statements, use in-network ATMs and monitor for inactivity on your account.
- What is the savings interest rate at Citizens Bank?
- The savings interest rate ranges between 0.01% to 0.03% depending on the balance.
- What type of accounts does Citizens Bank have?
- Citizens Bank offers checking, savings, money market and business accounts.Â
- How do I get the $300 checking account bonus at Citizens Bank?
- You will receive a $300 checking account bonus if you open your first new personal checking account and make a single direct deposit of $500 or more within 60 days.
Rudri Patel and Lorina Morton contributed to the reporting of this article.
To discover the Best Banks by state, GOBankingRates analyzed the top institutions (excluding online banks and neobanks) by state branch locations. To determine rankings, GOBankingRates looked at the following factors: (1) total assets as sourced from the FDIC; (2) checking product minimum deposit; (3) monthly checking fee ratio (percentage of the minimum to avoid fees compared to the monthly fee itself); (4) savings product minimum deposit; (5) savings product APY; (6) Bauer rating (out of 5 stars); (7) products/services offered (auto loans, mortgage loans, credit cards, investment services and insurance); and (8) the average mobile app rating between the Google Play (Android) and Apple stores. All factors were then scored and combined, with the lowest score being the best. Factors (1), (2) and (4) were weighed 0.5 times, factor (5) was weighed 2.5 times and factor (7) was weighed 1.5 times. All products and offerings had to be available as of Nov. 8, 2024, to be considered. Rates are subject to change; unless otherwise noted, rates are updated periodically. All other information on accounts is accurate as of Dec. 17, 2024.
To qualify as one of the Best Banks in the state, the institution needed at least five branch locations in the respective state, with some exceptions for larger and/or smaller states.
Rates are subject to change. Information on accounts is accurate as of Dec. 17, 2024
This content is not provided by Citizens 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 Citizens Bank.
