Citizens Bank is a regional bank with branches in the Northeast and Midwest, offering checking, savings, loans, and credit cards—but whether it's right for you depends on your location, how you bank, and what fees matter most to you.

Citizens Bank operates roughly 2,700 branches across 11 states, concentrated in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region. If you live outside those areas, you won't have a local branch, which rules out in-person banking. If you do live in their footprint, Citizens offers standard products: checking and savings accounts, personal loans, mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards. The bank is FDIC-insured, meaning deposits up to $250,000 per account type are protected if the bank fails.

Whether Citizens is "good" for you is not a yes-or-no question. It depends on whether you need a physical branch, how much you keep in savings, what you're willing to pay in monthly fees, and whether you can meet their minimum balance requirements. This guide walks through what Citizens offers, what it costs, and what situations it suits well.

Key Takeaways

  • Citizens Bank has branches only in the Northeast and Midwest, so it works only if you live in or frequently visit those states.
  • Monthly maintenance fees on checking accounts typically range from $6 to $15, but can be waived if you maintain a minimum balance or set up direct deposit.
  • Citizens offers competitive rates on some products like savings accounts and CDs, but rates vary by account type and change regularly.
  • The bank has a mixed reputation for customer service, with complaints centered on fees, hold times, and how disputes are handled.
  • Citizens works best for people who value in-person banking and live in their service area, and worst for those who bank primarily online or live elsewhere.

What Citizens Bank charges in monthly fees

Citizens Bank's checking accounts carry a monthly maintenance fee, usually $6 to $15 depending on the account type. You can waive the fee by meeting one of several conditions: maintaining a minimum balance (often $500 to $1,500), setting up direct deposit, or keeping a linked savings account open. Some accounts waive the fee automatically if you're under 25 or over 65.

Savings accounts also charge monthly fees—typically $5—but waive them if you maintain a minimum balance, usually $300 to $500. If you fall below the minimum, the fee hits every month. Citizens also charges for services many banks offer free: overdraft fees ($35 per occurrence), wire transfer fees ($15 to $25 depending on direction), and stop-payment fees ($30). These are not unusual in the industry, but online-only banks often charge less or nothing.

The fee structure matters most if you carry a low balance or make frequent transfers. If you can meet the minimum balance requirement or set up direct deposit, the monthly fee disappears, which makes Citizens competitive with other regional banks.

Interest rates on savings and CDs

Citizens Bank's savings account rates change regularly and vary based on your balance and account type. As of recent checks, their high-yield savings accounts have offered rates in the range of 4% to 5%, though this fluctuates with the Federal Reserve's rate decisions. Their regular savings accounts pay much less—often under 0.5%. The difference is significant: on $10,000, a 4.5% rate earns roughly $450 per year, while 0.05% earns $5.

Certificates of Deposit (CDs) at Citizens typically offer rates slightly higher than their savings accounts for the same term length. A one-year CD might pay 4.5% to 5%, while a five-year CD could pay 4.8% to 5.2%. These rates are competitive with regional banks but often lag behind online-only banks, which can offer 5% or higher because they have no branch costs.

If you're shopping for the highest savings rate, Citizens is not the best choice. If you value having a local branch and are willing to accept slightly lower rates in exchange, Citizens' rates are reasonable.

Checking account features and limits

Citizens' checking accounts come with a debit card, online banking, mobile app, and bill pay. You can deposit checks through the mobile app (mobile deposit), transfer money between Citizens accounts instantly, and set up automatic payments. ATM access includes Citizens' own network plus some partner ATMs, though out-of-network withdrawals typically cost $3.

The bank does not charge per-transaction fees on checking accounts—you can write as many checks or make as many debit card purchases as you want without hitting a limit. However, if you overdraft your account, you'll pay $35 per overdraft occurrence. Citizens offers overdraft protection (linking to a savings account to cover shortfalls), which can prevent overdraft fees but may trigger a transfer fee instead.

Citizens' checking accounts are straightforward and include the tools most people need. The main drawback is the monthly fee if you can't meet the minimum balance or don't have direct deposit.

Customer service and complaint patterns

Citizens Bank receives complaints through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Better Business Bureau (BBB). Common complaints center on unexpected fees, difficulty reaching customer service by phone, and disputes that take weeks to resolve. Some customers report that holds on deposits last longer than advertised, and that the bank is slow to reverse fraudulent charges.

Citizens' customer service is available by phone during business hours and through the mobile app. There is no 24/7 phone support, which is a disadvantage if you need help outside normal hours. The bank does offer online chat during business hours. Response times to complaints vary, but the CFPB data shows Citizens receives fewer complaints per customer than some large national banks, though more than some online-only banks.

If you need immediate help with a problem, Citizens' lack of 24/7 phone support is a real limitation. If you can wait until business hours or handle issues through the app, this is less of a concern.

Who Citizens Bank works well for

Citizens is a good fit if you live in the Northeast or Midwest and value in-person banking. If you need to deposit cash, get a cashier's check, or speak to someone face-to-face, having a local branch matters. Citizens also works if you can maintain the minimum balance to waive monthly fees—the account features are solid, and rates are competitive enough for a regional bank.

Citizens is less suitable if you live outside their service area, prefer online-only banking with no fees, or want the highest possible savings rates. If you move frequently or travel often, the limited branch network is a real problem. If you carry a very low balance and can't set up direct deposit, the monthly fees add up quickly.

How Citizens compares to other banks

Citizens' checking fees ($6 to $15 per month) are higher than most online-only banks (which charge $0) but similar to other regional banks like TD Bank or M&T Bank. Citizens' savings rates are competitive with regional banks but lag behind online-only options like Marcus or Ally, which often pay 4.5% to 5.35% on savings accounts.

If you prioritize branch access and don't mind paying for it, Citizens is comparable to other regional banks in your area. If you prioritize low fees and high rates, an online-only bank will serve you better. If you want both branch access and low fees, you may need to look at credit unions in your area, which sometimes offer both.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Citizens Bank have branches near me?

Citizens operates in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. If you live outside these states, Citizens has no physical branches. You can check their website to see if there's a branch in your specific city.

Can I avoid the monthly checking fee?

Yes. Most Citizens checking accounts waive the monthly fee if you maintain a minimum balance (usually $500 to $1,500), set up direct deposit, or meet other conditions like being under 25. Read the account terms for your specific account type to see which waiver options apply.

What happens if I overdraft my account?

Citizens charges $35 per overdraft. You can link a savings account for overdraft protection, which transfers money automatically to cover the shortfall—though this may trigger a transfer fee. The best approach is to enable alerts so you know when your balance is low.

Is Citizens Bank safe?

Yes. Citizens is FDIC-insured, meaning deposits up to $250,000 per account type are protected if the bank fails. The bank is regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Reserve. Your money is as safe at Citizens as at any other FDIC-insured bank.

How do Citizens' rates compare to online banks?

Citizens' savings rates are usually 0.5% to 1% lower than online-only banks because Citizens operates physical branches, which costs more. If you prioritize the highest rate, online banks pay more. If you value having a local branch, Citizens' rates are acceptable for that trade-off.