Citi
Citi Regular and Access Checking
By Alex Compton · Guidance updated
Regular and Access Checking terms checked against Citi’s deposit agreement and amendments, including the upcoming January 2027 Regular fee-waiver change.
Guidance checked October 23, 2026. Full account terms last verified October 23, 2026; location-specific rates and eligibility still require confirmation with the bank.
Insurance: Citibank, N.A., Member FDIC: up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category; eligible deposits at the same bank are combined
Account Terms History
A dated record of APY, fees and opening requirements. New changes append to this table; prior terms remain visible.
| Observed | APY / yield | Monthly fee | Minimum | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-23 | Neither Regular Checking nor Access Checking earns interest | $15 Regular; $5 Access. Current $250 qualifying monthly deposit waiver; Regular rises to $1,000 January 1, 2027. Tier and Access age waivers also apply. | No minimum opening deposit; zero-balance accounts may close after 90 days | Citi Consumer Deposit Account Agreement and amendments →Reviewed both checking products, qualifying ACH exclusions, age waiver, tier thresholds, ATM fees and service charges against the agreement and effective amendments. Upcoming January 2027 Regular threshold is separate from current terms. Bonus offer remains unverified. |
| 2026-09-04 | No APY advertised for Regular or Access Checking | $15 Regular Checking; $5 Access Checking; waived with $250+ qualifying monthly deposits or an eligible relationship tier | None | Citi Simplified Banking and Relationship Tiers →Reconfirmed fee, waiver, ATM network, overdraft policy, and relationship-tier thresholds; corrected the non-Citi ATM waiver description |
| 2026-06-11 | None at base; linked savings rates vary | $15 Regular Checking; $5 Access Checking | None | Archive record · no attached snapshotLegacy snapshot before event-level evidence attachments |
Primary-source verification log
Append-only evidence ledger- changed
Reviewed Regular and Access Checking; corrected qualifying ACH and ATM waiver distinctions, check-writing access, tier maintenance thresholds and service fees. Separated current $250 deposit waiver from Regular’s $1,000 requirement effective January 1, 2027.
Fields: accountName, tagline, apy, monthlyFee, minimumOpen, fdic, plans, features, atm, pros, cons, ourTake, bestFor, url, sections, editorialReview, termHistory, lastVerified
Citi Consumer Deposit Account Agreement and amendments through October 1, 2026 → - changed
Reconfirmed checking fees, waiver rules, ATM network, no-overdraft policy and tier thresholds; corrected the non-Citi ATM fee waiver description
Fields: apy, atm, plans, termHistory, lastVerified
Citi Simplified Banking and Relationship Tiers →
Monthly fees and ways to waive them
Each row links to the official account details. Waiver requirements apply by statement period; other service fees may still apply. Checked 2026-10-23.
| Account | Monthly fee | Ways to waive the fee | Key differences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Checking | $15; waived with $250+ qualifying deposits per calendar month through December 31, 2026, then $1,000+ from January 1, 2027; also waived with a qualifying relationship tier | See account terms |
|
| Access Checking | $5; waived with $250+ qualifying deposits per calendar month, any owner age 23 or younger, or a qualifying relationship tier | See account terms |
|
Features
- ▸Two checking products: Regular allows check writing; Access has a lower monthly fee and an age-based waiver
- ▸Payroll, pension and government ACH credits qualify for the deposit waiver; other eligible ACH receipts can count too
- ▸Qualifying deposits must post to the Available Now balance during the calendar month, which can differ from the statement period
- ▸65,000+ fee-free ATMs; use Citi’s locator to check nearby ATMs and branches
- ▸Mobile check deposit is available, but check deposits do not count toward the qualifying-deposit fee waiver
- ▸Citi Priority, Citigold and Citigold Private Client are relationship tiers layered onto the account
Pros
- +Access costs $10 less per month than Regular when neither monthly fee is waived
- +Access offers a monthly-fee waiver when any owner is age 23 or younger
- +No minimum opening deposit and a large fee-free ATM network
- +Several types of qualifying ACH receipts can satisfy the monthly deposit waiver
Cons
- −Regular and Access do not earn interest
- −Regular’s qualifying-deposit threshold increases to $1,000 per calendar month on January 1, 2027
- −Deposit and age waivers do not remove the standard $2.50 non-Citi ATM charge
- −Access rejects payments processed as checks, including certain check-by-phone transactions
Our Take
Access is the lower-cost choice if you do not write checks. Regular makes more sense when you need personal check writing, but check your deposit routine before relying on its fee waiver, especially for January 2027. Compare nearby branches and fee-free ATMs before switching. Relationship benefits can be useful for balances you already keep at Citi; the checking account itself pays no interest.
Best for: People who want Citi branch and ATM access and can meet a monthly-fee waiver
Open at Citi →Last verified 2026-10-23
Regular vs Access: the cost if you miss the waiver
At the published monthly fees, 12 full months without a waiver cost $180 for Regular or $60 for Access, before optional service charges. The $120 annual difference buys check-writing access rather than interest. Access can handle electronic ACH payments, but a merchant payment processed as a check can be rejected. Confirm the payment method for bills that require account and routing numbers.
What Citi means by Enhanced Direct Deposit
Citi uses this label for direct deposits and other qualifying transactions. Payroll, pension and government ACH credits count. Other eligible receipts include transfers from another financial institution and payments from Zelle, Venmo or PayPal when processed through ACH. An app name alone does not establish eligibility: non-ACH or instant transfers, mobile checks, branch or ATM deposits, wires and transfers between Citi accounts do not qualify. Count deposits posted to Available Now during the calendar month, not just a pending transfer or the ending balance. Bonus promotions can have separate deposit rules.
January 1, 2027: Regular’s waiver threshold changes
Citi’s October 1 notice raises Regular Checking’s qualifying monthly deposit requirement from $250 to $1,000 effective January 1, 2027. January activity determines the related fee charged in February. Relationship-tier waivers remain available. This notice does not raise Access Checking’s $250 threshold. If you send $250 each month today, review that amount before January or compare Access if you do not need checks.
Relationship tiers and ATM refunds
Citi Priority starts at $30,000 in combined average monthly qualifying balances. Citigold requires $200,000 to attain and $180,000 to retain; Private Client requires $1 million to attain and $800,000 to retain. Normal tier changes use three consecutive calendar months; separate new-relationship and enrolled Tier Acceleration rules can apply. All three tiers waive checking monthly fees and Citi’s non-network ATM fee. Citigold and Private Client additionally refund eligible ATM-operator fees; overseas refunds may require contacting Citi. Qualifying investments may count toward tier balances but are not FDIC-insured deposits.
Wire transfers and official checks have separate fees
The standard outgoing online wire fee is $30 domestic or $40 for an international wire in U.S. dollars. Citi Priority reduces those charges to $25 and $35; Citigold and Private Client waive them. Branch-assisted wires and currency conversion can have different costs. The official-check fee is $10 at standard pricing and waived in those three relationship tiers. A qualifying-deposit monthly-fee waiver does not automatically waive these service charges.
Frequently asked questions
Is Citi checking free?
Regular costs $15 per month and Access costs $5 unless a waiver applies. Through December 2026, $250 in qualifying monthly deposits can waive either fee. An eligible relationship tier also waives both. Access adds a waiver when any owner is 23 or younger. Other service fees can still apply.
What changes for Citi Regular Checking on January 1, 2027?
The qualifying monthly deposit threshold rises from $250 to $1,000. The $15 fee and relationship-tier waiver remain. January 2027 deposit activity determines the related fee charged in February. The notice does not raise Access Checking’s $250 deposit threshold.
Do Zelle, Venmo and PayPal count as Enhanced Direct Deposit?
Citi’s definition includes qualifying receipts through these services when processed as ACH transfers. Non-ACH and instant transfers do not qualify. Check the transfer method; using one of these apps does not make every payment eligible.
Can I write checks with Citi Access Checking?
No. Access does not support check writing or payments processed as checks, including some check-by-phone payments. ACH electronic debits are accepted. Regular Checking is the option for personal check writing.
Does Citi checking earn interest?
Neither Regular nor Access Checking earns interest, including when paired with a relationship tier. Savings is a separate product with its own rates, location rules and terms.
Does the $250 deposit waiver remove ATM fees?
No. It waives the monthly service fee under the current deposit rule, not Citi’s $2.50 out-of-network ATM fee or a separate operator charge. Relationship-tier ATM benefits differ: Citi Priority waives Citi’s fee, while Citigold and Private Client also refund eligible operator fees.
How much do I need to open a Citi checking account?
There is no minimum opening deposit for Regular or Access. Citi may close an account that stays at a zero balance after 90 days. A zero opening minimum does not remove monthly fees or the requirements for a relationship tier.
Rate this card
Be the first to rate it
Commentson Citi Regular and Access Checking
Comments are stored in your browser during our community preview. Accounts, moderation and cross-device sync arrive with Credit Compound Community.