Citi offers two standard checking accounts (Regular Checking and Access Checking) and a savings account, plus three fee-free relationship tiers for customers who maintain higher combined balances. Monthly fees and minimum balance requirements can vary by location — Citi states that products and pricing are based on your home address.
Note: Fees and minimums shown here reflect Citi’s published terms as of July 2026. Amounts may vary by state or market. Confirm current terms at citibank.com or at your local branch before opening an account.
Citi Account Fees and Minimums at a Glance
| Account / Tier | Monthly Fee | How to Avoid the Fee | Balance Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Checking | $15 | $250+ in direct deposits or qualifying transactions | Everyday (under $30,000) |
| Access Checking | $5 | $250+ in direct deposits or qualifying transactions; or owner age 23 or younger (from July 18, 2026) | Everyday (under $30,000) |
| Savings | $4.50 | $500 average monthly balance; Relationship Tier; or owning a Citi checking account | Everyday |
| Citi Priority | No fee | Maintain $30,000–$199,999.99 combined average monthly balance | Relationship Tier |
| Citigold | No fee | Maintain $180,000–$999,999.99 combined average monthly balance | Relationship Tier |
| Citigold Private Client | No fee | Maintain $800,000+ combined average monthly balance | Relationship Tier |
How Citi Calculates Your Balance
Citi uses combined average monthly balance for its relationship tier thresholds. Your daily closing balances across all linked Citi accounts are summed and divided by the number of days in the statement period. A temporary dip below the threshold on a few days does not automatically result in a fee as long as the average stays at or above the required level.
Regular Checking
Monthly fee: $15
The Regular Checking fee is waived each month the account receives $250 or more in direct deposits or other qualifying transactions.
Qualifying sources include payroll direct deposit, government benefit payments, and other eligible electronic credits. Citi’s account disclosures define what counts as a qualifying transaction — confirm the full list at citibank.com or in your Consumer Deposit Account Agreement.
Access Checking
Monthly fee: $5
Access Checking is Citi’s lower-cost checking option. The $5 fee is waived each month with either of the following:
- $250 or more in direct deposits or other qualifying transactions
- An account owner age 23 or younger (effective July 18, 2026 — see the Consumer Deposit Account Agreement for full terms)
Citi Savings Account
Monthly fee: $4.50
The Citi Savings fee is waived in any of the following situations:
- $500 average monthly balance per savings account
- The account is in a Citi Relationship Tier (Citi Priority, Citigold, or Citigold Private Client)
- The savings account owner also owns a Citi checking account
Current savings rates (as of July 2026): Citi offers a promotional interest rate of 3.75% for up to 3 months when you deposit $25,000 or more in new-to-Citibank funds. The standard APY is 0.98%–1.05%.
Citi Relationship Tiers
Customers who maintain higher combined average monthly balances across all linked Citi accounts (checking, savings, CDs, IRAs, and qualifying investment accounts) move into a relationship tier. All three tiers carry no monthly service fee on checking or savings accounts.
Citi Priority
- Combined Average Monthly Balance: $30,000 to $199,999.99
- Monthly fee: No fee
- Benefits include: Waived Citi fees for non-Citi ATMs, money orders, and stop payments; increased limits for Zelle payments, debit card purchases, and daily ATM withdrawals; waived fees for incoming domestic and international wire transfers
Citigold
- To get started: $200,000 to $999,999.99 combined average monthly balance
- To maintain tier: $180,000 to $999,999.99 combined average monthly balance
- Monthly fee: No fee
- Benefits include: All Citi Priority benefits, plus unlimited reimbursement of non-Citi ATM fees globally; access to Citi Personal Wealth Management team; increased limits for ATM withdrawals, purchases, and Citibank Global Transfers
Citigold Private Client
- To get started: $1,000,000+ combined average monthly balance
- To maintain tier: $800,000+ combined average monthly balance
- Monthly fee: No fee
- Benefits include: All Citigold benefits, plus higher limits for mobile check deposits and ATM cash withdrawals; advanced wealth planning through Citi Personal Wealth Management; waived transfer fees for all incoming and outgoing wire transfers
To remain in any Relationship Tier, your combined average monthly balance must not drop below the tier’s minimum balance range for 3 consecutive calendar months.
How to Avoid Citi Monthly Fees
For Regular Checking and Access Checking: Setting up payroll direct deposit or a recurring government payment of $250 or more per month is the most reliable way to waive the fee without maintaining any minimum balance.
For Savings: Linking your savings account to a Citi checking account is the simplest zero-effort waiver — you do not need to maintain a minimum balance in the savings account if you hold any Citi checking account.
For Relationship Tier benefits: Combining your checking, savings, CDs, and any qualifying Citi investment accounts toward the $30,000 threshold for Citi Priority can eliminate the checking fee and add meaningful perks like waived wire transfer fees.
For a full breakdown of all Citi charges including ATM fees and wire transfer costs, see the Citi fees guide.
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