Citi Access Checking Account: Online Checking Account

Q: Is Access Checking suitable for mobile banking?

Yes, the Citi Mobile App provides mobile check deposit, bill pay, person-to-person payments, transaction alerts, and the ability to view Access Checking account activity in real time.

Ways to get waived Monthly Service Fees

Monthly Service Fee waived for months the account has $250+ in Direct Deposits or other qualifying transactions, or with a Relationship Tier¹

Student-friendly checking account

23 or younger? You automatically won't be charged a Monthly Service Fee¹

No overdraft, no surprises

Access Checking is designed so that certain transactions will not be authorized²

65,000+ fee-free ATMs

Get cash at ATMs and select Target, CVS, Walgreens and other neighborhood stores^1,2

An account that gets you

Low-fee checking account

	Access Checking	Regular Checking
Monthly Service Fee (MSF)	$5	$15
Minimum Direct Deposits or other qualifying transactions to waive MSF	$250	$250 $1,000 effective 1/1/2027
Paper checks	No	Yes
Citi Premium Boost for Citi^® Savings account²	No	Yes

Learn more about Regular Checking

Benefits that fit your life

Earn cash back
With Citi^® Merchant Offers, earn savings on shopping, dining, travel and more with your Citibank Debit Card
Mobile-first banking
Stay on top of your money, right from your phone. Send cash, check your balance, and manage your account wherever you are²
Citi Entertainment
Early access to concerts, sports, and events — plus exclusive experiences you won't find anywhere else
Preferred name
Use your chosen name on your eligible Citi-branded consumer credit and debit cards

On-the-go banking

With the Citi Mobile^® App, your money moves with you²

Snapshot

Enroll in Snapshot to check your balances at a glance — no login required

Digital Wallet

Connect your card to digital wallets you already use in Apple Pay and Google Pay²

Citi^® Quick Lock

Lost your card? Lock it instantly to block charges, then unlock when you find it — all from the app²

Send Money with Zelle^®

Seamlessly send money to friends and family with Zelle^®²

You can also check balances, view transactions, make payments, transfer funds and so much more.

Text 'APP17' to 692484 for a link to download the app²

Ready to apply?

Select your account
Choose from Access Checking for daily use, Citi^® Savings for your future or both — all in the same application.
Download the Citi Mobile^® App
Manage your funds, send money with Zelle^® and lock your card with just a few taps. Your bank in your pocket.²
Set up Direct Deposit
Receive $250 or more in Direct Deposits or other qualifying transactions each month and your $5 Monthly Service Fee will be waived.¹

Apply online now

Start an application

Apply in person

Schedule an appointment

Smart money

When it comes to your finances, knowledge is power. Stay on top of managing your money and savings with financial education resources that can help you achieve your goals.

Certified low-cost checking account

Citi Access Checking is certified as meeting Bank On National Account Standards for low-cost accounts.

Build your financial foundation with Citi

Make savings a breeze with Ways to Save

Pair with a Citi Savings account and automatically transfer funds to hit your goals sooner.

Set & Save
Earn & Save
Spend & Save
Move Your Money

Learn more

Citi Credit Knowledge Center

Free access to educational tools and resources
Actionable guidance from complex topics
Build financial confidence and wellness
Learn tips to help avoid financial mistakes

Learn more

Investing in your future starts now

Take control of your investments with Citi Self Invest from Citi Personal Wealth Management, a self-directed, commission-free online trading account that lets you manage your portfolio with more convenience.²

No account minimums
Invest anywhere
Always-on service

Learn more

INVESTMENT AND INSURANCE PRODUCTS: NOT INSURED BY THE FDIC • NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR ANY OTHER FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY, BY THE BANK, OR BY ANY AFFILIATE OF THE BANK • NOT A DEPOSIT OR OTHER OBLIGATION OF, OR GUARANTEED BY, THE BANK OR AN AFFILIATE OF THE BANK • SUBJECT TO INVESTMENT RISK, INCLUDING POSSIBLE LOSS OF THE PRINCIPAL INVESTED

Access Checking FAQs

We have the answers to common checking questions.

What is Access Checking at Citi?

Access Checking is designed by Citi to provide convenient, everyday banking without paper checks. You can manage your day-to-day finances, make payments, and access your money at over 65,000+ fee-free ATMs at convenient locations such as Target, CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Duane Reade and more. And you can bank on-the-go with online banking and the Citi Mobile^® App.²

Does Access Checking have a Monthly Service Fee?

Although Access Checking has a $5.00 Monthly Service Fee, it will be waived in months when you receive $250+ in Direct Deposits or other qualifying transactions or if you or another account owner are 23 or younger.^1. Citi Priority, Citigold and Citigold Private Client Relationship Tier customers do not incur checking account Monthly Service Fees or Non-Citi ATM fees in the month(s) they are in those Relationship Tiers.¹

How can I access my funds with Access Checking?

With Access Checking, you can conveniently access your funds through multiple channels:

Citi Debit Card: Use your debit card for purchases online and in-store, and for cash withdrawals at ATMs.
Citi Online Banking: Manage your account, pay bills, and transfer funds securely from any web browser.
Citi Mobile^® App: Deposit checks, send money, and monitor your account activity on-the-go.²
ATM Access: Enjoy access to 65,000+ fee-free ATMs for deposits, cash withdrawals and balance inquiries.²

Can I open an Access Checking account online?

Yes, you can apply to open an Access Checking account at citi.com on either your desktop or mobile browser. When applying, you'll enter basic information, such as your address and Social Security number and choose funding options. Once you get an email confirmation that your Access checking account request has been approved, you're on your way to enjoying your new Citi account. You can also open a new Access Checking account by calling 1-800-321-2484 (TTY: We accept 711 or other Relay Service) or visiting a branch.

Is Access Checking suitable for mobile banking?

Yes, the Citi Mobile^® App provides a robust suite of features, including Mobile Check Deposit, bill pay, person-to-person payments, transaction alerts and the ability to view Access Checking account activity in real time to help you manage your finances on-the-go.

What is the difference between Citi Regular Checking and Access Checking?

You can choose between an Access Checking or Regular Checking account, depending on your banking needs. With a Citi Regular Checking account, you can write checks for the money within your account. In contrast, an Access Checking account does not offer check writing and the Monthly Service Fee for an Access Checking account is waived if an account owner is age 23 or younger. Additionally, please be aware that the Access Checking account is not an available product for Citi Premium Boost.

Legal Disclosures and Information

TERMS & CONDITIONS AND FEES FOR ACCOUNTS, PRODUCTS, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Pricing & Fee Waivers


Deposit Account	Monthly Service Fee	Options to Waive the Monthly Service Fee
Access Checking	$5.00	If you receive at least $250 in Direct Deposits or other qualifying transactions* in a calendar month, or are age 23 or younger, or are in a Relationship Tier, you will not be charged a Monthly Service Fee for that month on the first Business Day of your next Statement Period.
Regular Checking	$15.00	If you are in a Relationship Tier or receive at least $250 in Direct Deposits or other qualifying transactions* in a calendar month, you will not be charged a Monthly Service Fee for that month on the first Business Day of your next Statement Period. Important Information: Starting January 1, 2027, customers must either be in a Relationship Tier or have $1,000 or more in Direct Deposits or other qualifying transactions* to not incur a Monthly Service Fee.
Citi Savings	$4.50	If you are in a Relationship Tier, or any owner of your Citi Savings account also owns a Regular or Access Checking account, or your Citi Savings account has an Average Monthly balance of $500 or more, you will not be charged a Monthly Service Fee for that month on the first Business Day of your next Statement Period.

Your Statement Period may not cycle on the first day of the calendar month. Deposit accounts are subject to service, transaction or other fees not covered by the Monthly Service Fee. For a complete list of applicable fees, please review your Consumer Deposit Account Agreement and carefully review any fee disclosures provided at the time of a transaction or when a service is provided, such as when you open a Safe Deposit Box or order checks. Accounts with zero balances are subject to closure after 90 days.

* Direct Deposit means an Automated Clearing House (ACH) credit posted to your account via payroll, pension, or government payments. Other qualifying transactions include money received when processed through the ACH Network, including other ACH transfers and payments received from another financial institution and payments from Zelle^® and other payment apps like Venmo or PayPal when processed as ACH transfers. Transfers from other banks or payment apps not via the ACH Network, Mobile Check Deposit, funds deposited at a branch or ATM, transferring money from one Citibank account to another, or money received via a wire transfer are excluded. Note: Citi may refer to Direct Deposits and other qualifying transactions as Enhanced Direct Deposit.

Relationship Tier & Re-Tiering Information

Customers who did not own a Citibank checking, savings, CD, IRA, or investment account (investment accounts are offered through Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.) in the 30 days prior to opening a new deposit account (“New to Relationship customers”) may choose their Relationship Tier when opening a deposit account. If you are a New to Relationship customer, you will begin to enjoy benefits of Citi Relationship Tiers upon account opening. For customers with the Premium Boost Rate, the Relationship Tier decision made by New to Relationship customers when they open their account may impact Monthly Service Fees and the rate applied to their Citi Savings accounts.
We will begin reviewing your Combined Average Monthly Balance (CAMB) for all Eligible Deposit and Investment* (EDI) accounts in the first full month after you open your new account. You must achieve a $30,000 CAMB in EDI accounts in at least one month of the first three full months after account opening to remain in the Citi Priority Relationship Tier. You must achieve a $180,000 CAMB in EDI accounts in at least one month of the first three full months after account opening to remain in the Citigold^® Relationship Tier. You must achieve a $800,000 CAMB in EDI accounts in at least one month of the first three full months after account opening to remain in the Citigold^® Private Client Relationship Tier. Your CAMB is determined by calculating the average monthly balance of all EDI accounts you own during a calendar month.
*Eligible deposit, retirement, and investment accounts (investment accounts are offered through Citigroup Global Markets Inc.) (EDI) that you own or for which you are beneficial owner can contribute toward your CAMB. Please refer to the Consumer Deposit Account Agreement to determine which EDI accounts contribute toward your CAMB. The following accounts are excluded from EDI accounts: accounts owned by Estates, accounts that are not consumer accounts, COMMA accounts, Collateral Holding accounts, Secured CD accounts, certain personal investment companies and non operating entities, accounts in a money purchase plan or profit sharing plan, certain accounts in a tax-qualified education savings plan, and accounts opened through Citi Global Wealth at Work, and Citi Private Bank.

Family Linking

If you are a deposit customer and choose to enroll in Family Linking with Eligible Family Members (“Members”), your family Combined Average Monthly Balance (CAMB) may be higher than your individual CAMB, entitling you to join Relationship Tiers offering benefits such as higher Annual Percentage Yields and certain fee waivers. Only Immediate Family Members living at the same residential address can participate in a Family Link and restrictions apply. Although Members will not have access to accounts they do not own, they will see the CAMB range for the Family Link. When deciding to join a Family Link, customers should evaluate their privacy needs along with their need for combined balance advantages. You can terminate that membership in a Family Link at any time by calling us or visiting a branch. Please see definition of Members in the Family Link section of the Consumer Deposit Account Agreement and note retirement accounts have different rules for Family Linking than other EDI accounts.

Non-Citi ATM Fee

There is no charge for making cash withdrawals with a Citibank Banking Card at Proprietary Citibank ATM locations in the U.S., but Citibank will charge you a $2.50 “Non-Citi ATM fee” when you use a Network ATM other than at a location within our surcharge-free network. Non-Citi ATM fees are waived for customer in the Citigold Private Client, Citigold or Citi Priority Relationship Tiers during the calendar month.

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Please review your Consumer Deposit Account Agreement for a complete list of waived and reduced fees.

Not all benefits are available at account opening.

TERMS & CONDITIONS AND FEES FOR ACCOUNTS, PRODUCTS, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

No Overdraft Fees. While Citibank will not charge you an overdraft fee, Citibank encourages its customers to consider the impact of overdrawing an account. The ability to overdraw your account may be limited. An overdrawn account has a negative balance. An account can become overdrawn when a Transaction Item is deducted from your account and causes your account to have a negative balance or increases the amount by which your account is negative. In the event of insufficient funds to pay one or more Transaction Items from your Available Now Balance, in our sole discretion we may return (“Returned Item”) or pay (“Overdraft”) one or more Transaction Items. We may discontinue permitting Overdrafts without cause or notice to you.

You may deposit checks into your account that are returned, regardless of whether or not your account is overdrawn. In addition, Access Checking accounts are designed so that Transaction Items that cause an overdraft will not be authorized.

65,000+ Fee-Free ATMs. Claim is based on locations in the United States where customers can make cash withdrawals with no surcharge (usage) fee by the ATM operator. Citibank customers can get cash, get information and make transfers between their eligible linked Citibank accounts with no surcharge fee when they use their Citibank^® Banking Card at ATMs in the U.S. located at Citibank branches, ATMs at select retail store locations, and ATMs participating in the MoneyPass^® Network; regular account charges apply. ATMs in retail stores and at other non-Citi locations are not owned or operated by Citibank and offer fewer functions. Use the Citi Worldwide ATM/Branch Locator on Citibank Online or the Citi Mobile^® App to find the nearest ATMs and branches, including non-Citibank ATMs in the U.S. with surcharge free access. MoneyPass is a registered trademark of Fiserv, Inc.
Citi Mobile App and Mobile Check Deposit. Regular account charges apply. Citibank does not charge you a fee for using the Citi Mobile app or the Mobile Check Deposit service. However, you must have a Web-enabled cell or smartphone to use the Citi Mobile app or Mobile Check Deposit service and charges from your wireless carrier may apply. Citibank is not responsible for products and services offered by other companies. The Mobile Check Deposit service is for personal checking accounts only and is subject to eligibility. Deposit limits and other restrictions apply.
Zelle^® Payments. To send or receive money with Zelle^®, both parties must have an eligible checking or savings account. Transactions between enrolled users typically occur in minutes. Terms, conditions and restrictions apply. For the protection of your account, Zelle^® should only be used to send money to those you know and trust. Neither Citibank nor Zelle^® offers purchase protection for payments made with Zelle^® -- for example, if you do not receive the item you paid for or the item is not as described or as you expected.
Mobile Wallet. Citi is not responsible for products and services provided by third parties who accept payment through mobile wallet.
Citi^® Quick Lock. Includes point-of-sale (in person and via digital wallets), cash back and online purchases.
Citi Premium Boost. Citi Premium Boost is only available for Relationship Tier customers with a Regular Checking account and Citi^{^®} Savings account who complete Premium Boost Required Activities. For more information about joining Citi Premium Boost visit Citi Savings.
Citi Personal Wealth Management. Citi Personal Wealth Management (CPWM) is a business of Citigroup Inc., which offers investment products through Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (CGMI), member SIPC. Citibank and CGMI are affiliated companies under the common control of Citigroup Inc.

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In order to use digital features on Citi Online or the Citi Mobile^{^®} App including merchant offers and money movement products, like Mobile Check Deposit and Zelle^{^®} payments, you must agree to receive monthly statements and some legal notices electronically, only, when setting up digital access if you have not previously agreed. You can change your delivery preferences at any time after registration by managing the paperless settings for your account, and you'll continue to have access to digital features.

For full terms and conditions please view the Consumer Deposit Account Agreement and Account Agreement and Notices page. To apply online, you must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. resident alien and at least 18 years old. You'll need to provide a physical address in the U.S., date of birth and applicable identification documentation which may include a Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification number.

Deposit products are provided by Citibank, N.A. Member FDIC. Only bank deposit products are FDIC insured.

Deposits are FDIC insured up to $250,000 per depositor, for each account ownership category. To learn more visit www.fdic.gov.

Zelle^® and the Zelle^{^®} related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.

PayPal.com and the PayPal logo are trademarks of PayPal Holdings, Inc., or its affiliates. PayPal terms and conditions apply.

Venmo is a service of PayPal, Inc., a licensed provider of money transfer services (NMLS ID: 910457). All money transmission is provided by PayPal, Inc. pursuant to PayPal, Inc.'s licenses.

Apple Pay is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.

Android, Google Play and Google Pay are trademarks of Google LLC.

Certain other trademarks listed above are owned by third parties not affiliated with Citibank.

World Wallet^® services are provided by Citibank, N.A. World Wallet is a registered service mark of Citigroup, Inc.

access checking Account

Focus on your future with Citi at your side

An account that gets you

Low-fee checking account

Benefits that fit your life

Earn cash back

Mobile-first banking

Citi Entertainment

Preferred name