Citibank Checking Account 2026: Fees, Options & How to Waive

Citibank offers two checking products: Regular Checking ($15/month) and Access Checking ($5/month). Both fees are waived each month the account receives $250 or more in Enhanced Direct Deposits (payroll, government benefits, and similar electronic credits) or other qualifying transactions — there is no direct-deposit-amount cliff and no requirement to also make a bill payment. Access Checking also waives its fee automatically for account owners age 23 or younger, effective July 18, 2026. Citi’s Non-Citi ATM fee ($2.50) is not waivable through deposit activity — only Relationship Tier status (Citi Priority, Citigold, Citigold Private Client) waives it.

The key facts: $15/month on Regular Checking, $5/month on Access Checking, both waived with $250+ in qualifying deposits per month. Fees and terms can vary by market — confirm current terms at citibank.com or your local branch.

Citibank Checking Account Tiers

Fees and terms shown reflect Citi’s published Consumer Deposit Account Agreement and may vary by market or change over time — confirm current terms at citibank.com.

Regular Checking: The Standard Option

Regular Checking is Citi’s standard consumer checking account. It offers check writing but does not earn interest. It includes a debit card, Zelle, mobile deposit, bill pay, online banking, and access to Citi’s fee-free ATM network.

The fee situation: $15/month, waived each month you have $250 or more in Enhanced Direct Deposits (payroll, government benefits, and similar ACH credits) or other qualifying transactions. This is a meaningfully lower bar than a large minimum-balance requirement — most people with any regular direct deposit will qualify.

Overdraft protection: Regular Checking can be linked to Safety Check (free transfers from a linked Citi savings account) or, subject to credit approval, a Checking Plus line of credit. Confirm current overdraft-related fees directly with Citi, since these can change.

Access Checking: The No-Check-Writing Alternative

Citi’s Access Checking is a lower-cost checking option. It does not offer check writing and does not earn interest. Transactions that would overdraw the account — PIN-based purchases, ACH items, debit card transactions, or ATM withdrawals over the available balance — are generally declined rather than paid, similar to a second-chance checking account at other banks. Access Checking cannot generally be linked to Safety Check or a Checking Plus line of credit for overdraft coverage, with limited exceptions for accounts converted from Regular Checking.

The fee: $5/month, waived with $250+ in qualifying deposits, or automatically for account owners age 23 or younger starting July 18, 2026.

Citi Priority: A Relationship Tier, Not a Separate Account

Citi Priority is not its own checking product — it’s a Relationship Tier you reach by maintaining a combined average monthly balance of $30,000–$199,999.99 across your linked Citi checking, savings, CD, and qualifying investment accounts. Reaching Citi Priority waives the Monthly Service Fee and Non-Citi ATM fee on your Regular or Access Checking account, and provides reduced wire transfer fees, among other benefits.

Citigold: The Premier Tier

Citigold is reached with a combined average monthly balance of $200,000–$999,999.99 (to attain; $180,000–$999,999.99 to remain in the tier). It provides:

• No monthly checking fee
• Unlimited reimbursement of non-Citi ATM fees globally
• Access to a Citi Personal Wealth Management relationship team
• Waived or reduced fees on select deposit products and wire transfers

Citigold is a genuine premium banking relationship — but the balance threshold puts it well beyond most consumers.

ATM Access

Citi’s ATM network combines Citi-branded ATMs with the Allpoint network. Confirm the current network size and any daily withdrawal limit directly with Citi, since these figures can change — see the Citi ATM limits guide for the fuller breakdown.

Non-Citi ATM transactions incur a $2.50 Citi fee (per Citi’s Consumer Deposit Account Agreement) plus any surcharge the ATM owner charges. This $2.50 fee is not waivable through deposit activity — only Relationship Tier status waives it (and, at Citigold and above, other banks’ ATM fees are reimbursed as well).

Citibank vs. Other Big Bank Checking Accounts

Confirm current fees at competing banks (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo) directly with those institutions before comparing — fee schedules change.

How to Open Citibank Checking

1. Visit citibank.com or a Citi branch
2. Select “Checking” → choose Regular Checking or Access Checking
3. Enter personal information (SSN, address)
4. Verify identity — typically instant
5. Fund the account — Citi states there is no minimum opening deposit required, though your balance can affect your Relationship Tier status and fees

Tip: If you’re near a Citi branch, opening in person may speed up the process and allow you to ask about promotional offers.

See also: Citi savings account | Citi review | Citi fees | Citi vs. Chase

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.