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Citizens Bank Review 2024

Updated July 26, 2024
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At a glance

3.6
Rating: 3.6 stars out of 5
Bankrate Score
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CDs

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Checking

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Savings

Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

MMA

Rating: 2.7 stars out of 5

About Bankrate Score

Overview

Citizens is a good option for consumers living in the 16 states where it has branches in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. Those outside of Citizens Bank’s footprint might consider Citizens Access, Citizens Bank’s online division that began offering accounts in July 2018. While yields are generally low, most accounts don’t require a minimum deposit to open.

Highlights

  • Highly Rated App
  • Large Branch Network
  • Low Min Deposit
Sponsored offers
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These are sponsored offers rated highly by us for competitive rates, fees, and minimums.

Bank logo
Member FDIC
Savings Account
4.00
%
APY
APY
Info Icon
As of 11/18/2024
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
$0
Min. balance for APY
View offer Arrow Right Icon
Promoted offer:
Bank logo
Member FDIC
Savings Account
4.80
%
APY
APY
Info Icon
As of 11/18/2024
Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5
$0
Min. balance for APY
View offer Arrow Right Icon
Promoted offer: No fees. Easy deposits and quick withdrawals.
Bank logo
Member FDIC
Savings Account
5.00
%
APY
APY
Info Icon
As of 11/18/2024
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
$500
Min. balance for APY
View offer Arrow Right Icon
Promoted offer:

Overall

Citizens Bank offers a large range of banking services that will appeal to a multitude of customers. From savings and checking accounts to credit cards and home loans, Citizens Bank can be a one-stop shop for customers looking to save and borrow. The bank has a sizable branch presence in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. While opening a deposit account at Citizens is very easy, savers can easily find better yields elsewhere.

Pros

  • Checkmark Icon

    Citizens has around 1,023 branches and approximately 3,300 ATMs.

  • Checkmark Icon

    Citizens checking accounts have early direct deposit.

  • Checkmark Icon

    Citizens’ CD offers a competitive yield.

  • Checkmark Icon

    No fee is charged on overdrafts of $5 or less.

Cons

  • ATM fees are waived only with higher status accounts; otherwise, a $3 fee for out-of-network ATM withdrawals applies.

  • Yields for the money market and savings accounts are low.

CTA We want to know what you think about Citizens Bank

We want to know what you think about Citizens Bank

Do you have experience with Citizens Bank? Let us know your thoughts.

Citizens Bank banking products

2.5
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5
Bankrate Score

Citizens Bank savings overview

Citizens Bank offers three savings accounts. The base account, scored for this section, is the One Deposit Savings account, which can be opened without a deposit, though you can avoid the $4.99 monthly maintenance fee by making one deposit every month.

For customers under age 25 or 65 and older, the account is free of a monthly fee.

The One Deposit Savings account offers a rock-bottom APY; you can easily find higher yields elsewhere. Those looking for higher rates may wish to consider an online bank, like Citizens Access, the online-only division of Citizens Bank. See more details about Citizens Bank savings account offerings.

Pros

  • Checkmark Icon

    The One Deposit Savings account can be opened with any deposit amount.

  • Checkmark Icon

    Waiving the monthly maintenance fee is easy.

  • Checkmark Icon

    There are no limits on withdrawals from savings accounts.

Cons

  • Other banks offer much higher APYs.

  • There’s a monthly maintenance fee; other banks offer completely free accounts.

  • There’s a $3 fee per statement if you opt in for paper statements.

  • Citizens Bank
    APY
    APY
    Info Icon
    National average APY
    How do we get this data?
    Info Icon

Bank fees

Fee Charged?
Overdraft fee $35
Non-sufficient funds fee None
Monthly maintenance fee $0-$25, depending on the account
Out-of-network ATM fee $3
Excessive transaction fee None*
Paper statements $3

*Money market account will be converted into a checking account that doesn’t pay interest if you surpass the six-per-month withdrawal limit three or more times during any consecutive 12-statement period.

Customer experience

Physical presence. Citizens Bank customers have access to around 1,100 branches and approximately 3,400 ATMs in 16 states in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions.

Highly rated mobile app. The bank’s mobile app receives high scores on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. It can be used to send money with Zelle, deposit checks, pay bills and more.

Customer service. Citizens Bank customer service hours are from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the week and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.

Featured customer reviews

The consumer reviews posted on Bankrate.com ("Bankrate") are individual, subjective opinions of reviewers, and not of Bankrate. Bankrate does not endorse any of the opinions expressed by reviewers or any responses to reviews. Bankrate cannot guarantee or verify the accuracy of the opinions shared by individual reviewers. Some reviews may be edited for length and clarity.

Zestyclose-Handle-73
Feb 1, 2023
Citizens Bank Reviews
Pros: App is fine. Lots of branches locally and regionally. Cons: Around one-third of the time I go in, they try to sell me on a new credit card or some other service.
via Reddit
Maximum-Relative-234
Jul 1, 2023
Which bank should I choose?
If you instead prefer a brick-and-mortar financial institution, then, having used both Citizens and Chase, I would recommend Chase. I prefer the broader range of products and services they offer, and their website/app are much better. Just be sure that no matter which bank you choose, there may be monthly service fees. Make sure you can maintain the requisite account activity/balances so those don’t apply.
via Reddit

Our editor's take

Beyond deposit products, Citizens Bank offers a wide host of financial products and services, ranging from credit cards and wealth management to small business banking. But ensure yourself that you don’t open more accounts than you need.

Both Chase and Citizens Bank offer a wide array of financial services, but Chase has the edge when it comes to brick-and-mortar locations. While Citizens Bank has approximately 1,023 branches across 16 states, Chase maintains around 5,120 branches in 48 states and Washington, D.C.

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The above images were last updated on November 8, 2024.

About Citizens Bank

Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens Bank is a large, full-service regional bank that offers a suite of retail, small business and commercial banking products, including a wide variety of deposit products for consumers to choose from.

Citizens operates in 16 states where its some 1,000 branches are located, mainly in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. Customers have fee-free access to approximately 3,200 ATMs scattered throughout the country.

How does Citizens Bank compare to other banks?

Compare different account types offered by Citizens Bank. Annual percentage yields (APYs) shown were updated between Nov. 11, 2024 and Nov. 17, 2024.

Citizens Bank vs. Citibank

Citizens Bank and Citibank offer many of the same financial products and services, ranging from credit cards and small business banking to CDs, savings and checking accounts. Citibank doesn’t offer a money market account, but Citizens Bank does.

Citibank is the larger institution between these two banks, with a global reach that stretches across more than 200 countries and thousands more fee-free ATMs than Citizens Bank. If you’re looking for a bank with the largest geographical footprint, Citibank may be a good option to consider.

That noted, Citibank’s accounts tend to have higher monthly fees, and neither of these banks offer the most competitive APYs on savings accounts. Higher yields can easily be found at other institutions, particularly online-only banks. 

Citibank is currently offering a couple of competitive CDs, but Citizens Bank’s online-only division — Citizens Access — is offering higher rates between the two.

Citizens Bank FAQs

Review methodology

With so many financial institutions to choose from, it can be hard to know who to trust. Bankrate’s ever-growing list of bank and credit union reviews is updated regularly. Our editorial team analyzes and reviews each institution across deposit products such as savings accounts, checking accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs) and money market accounts (MMAs). Banks are rated by important factors such as offered interest rates, fees, minimum balance requirements, access to funds and more.

We assign a score to each type of account and its features, weigh them carefully based on importance to account holders and determine an overall score. Read our full review methodology.

Citizens Bank customer reviews

CTA Citizens Bank has 24 reviews

Citizens Bank has 24 reviews

Dive into community reviews below and see what others think about Citizens Bank.

4.4 Star Icon
24 ratings
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Score breakdown
5 stars
58%
4 stars
33%
3 stars
4%
2 stars
0%
1 star
4%
Score by category
Overall Rating 4.4 / 5
Competitiveness of APY 3.8 / 5
Amount of fees 3.8 / 5
Customer support 4.3 / 5
Website / Mobile app 4.3 / 5
Verified Badge Icon Bankrate methodology disclosure

In July 2024, Bankrate collaborated with a third-party vendor to survey 1,200 bank account holders nationwide. Bankrate and our vendor collected and summarized account holder responses to five rating questions on a 5-point scale as well as open-ended reviews of the banking experience. Responses are based on individual account holder product details, and therefore cannot be verified for accuracy. Reviewers received an incentive for their feedback. Their ratings are unedited and have not been reviewed or approved by the associated bank or credit union, nor do these responses reflect Bankrate's own expert review of these banking products.

Community Reviews

See what users like you are saying about Citizens Bank.
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Anonymous account holder
September 13, 2024
The interest is not high. I chose it for its convenience, popularity, and easy experience.
Score by category
Amount of fees 2 / 5
Competitiveness of APY 2 / 5
Customer support 4 / 5
Website / Mobile app 3 / 5
Anonymous account holder
September 13, 2024
You might need to have overdraft because with the errors I have had and theft, the account has been overdrawn. My parents bank here My friends bank here It has locations near me.
Score by category
Amount of fees 1 / 5
Competitiveness of APY 1 / 5
Customer support 1 / 5
Website / Mobile app 1 / 5
Anonymous account holder
September 13, 2024
It's convenient and easy to use. I have not had any reason to speak to customer service, so nothing to say about that, but the convenience and the digital experience is awesome!
Score by category
Amount of fees 2 / 5
Competitiveness of APY 2 / 5
Customer support 4 / 5
Website / Mobile app 5 / 5
Anonymous account holder
September 13, 2024
They offer longer hours and weekends to do my banking with customer service that is impeccable. The locations the hours and days of operation and the people that work there.
Score by category
Amount of fees 5 / 5
Competitiveness of APY 5 / 5
Customer support 5 / 5
Website / Mobile app 5 / 5
Anonymous account holder
September 13, 2024
Ease of access. Very pleased with my experience.
Score by category
Amount of fees 5 / 5
Competitiveness of APY 5 / 5
Customer support 5 / 5
Website / Mobile app 5 / 5
Anonymous account holder
September 13, 2024
Great customer service. Always meets the clients needs.
Score by category
Amount of fees 4 / 5
Competitiveness of APY 4 / 5
Customer support 5 / 5
Website / Mobile app 5 / 5
Anonymous account holder
September 13, 2024
I have never had any sides with Citizens Bank since I have been with them. They are close to home and my parents recommended them.
Score by category
Amount of fees 3 / 5
Competitiveness of APY 3 / 5
Customer support 4 / 5
Website / Mobile app 4 / 5
Anonymous account holder
September 13, 2024
Services are average. I came in on a promotion, but really haven't used the account much, as other banks did a better job of retaining my business. I felt like just a number.
Score by category
Amount of fees 3 / 5
Competitiveness of APY 3 / 5
Customer support 3 / 5
Website / Mobile app 4 / 5
Anonymous account holder
September 13, 2024
The savings account can be set up to have automatic deposits from checking accounts. The biggest positive at Citizens Bank is the fact Citizens gives early direct deposits of incoming checks such as pensions and social security.
Score by category
Amount of fees 3 / 5
Competitiveness of APY 3 / 5
Customer support 4 / 5
Website / Mobile app 5 / 5
Anonymous account holder
September 13, 2024
Overall, Citizens Bank experience, has been great. When I had a problem with someone stealing, they responded accurately and reissued another card promptly. Customer service No minimal deposit No fees.
Score by category
Amount of fees 5 / 5
Competitiveness of APY 5 / 5
Customer support 4 / 5
Website / Mobile app 4 / 5