Citizens Bank High Yield Savings

Read more about Citizens Bank
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by the companies mentioned. Opinions expressed here are author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the companies.
Ad Disclosure: This article contains references to products from our partners. We may receive compensation if you apply or shop through links in our content. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site. You help support CreditDonkey by using our links. (read more)

Citizens has an online savings account with a competitive APY and no fees. But what's the catch? Continue reading to find out.

5-point scale (the higher, the better)

Pros and Cons

  • High APY
  • No monthly fees
  • No physical branches
  • No cash deposits

Bottom Line

Online savings account with an impressive rate and no fees

Citizens Bank offers a variety of banking products. That includes a high-yield savings account called Citizens Access® Savings through its online-only division, Citizens.

But, it has a catch—it's an online-only savings account. Access to your money may not be as convenient as you'd like.

Read on to learn more about Citizens' high-yield online savings account.

Does Citizens Bank Have High-Yield Savings?

Yes, Citizens Bank offers a high-yield savings account through Citizens—an online-only bank that allows you to earn a competitive rate with minimal fees.

What Is Citizens Access® Savings?

Citizens Access® Savings is an online high-yield savings account by Citizens[1]. It boasts an impressive 3.90% APY with no fees, hidden costs, or balance requirements.

With this APY, you can earn higher than the national average savings rate of 0.43% APY (as of December 2024), speeding up your savings journey. All you need is a minimum opening deposit of $0.01 to get you started.[2]

Would you switch to a new savings account for a higher rate?

How Much Can You Earn?

Here's a calculator you can use to see how much your money can grow with Citizens Access® Savings.

Savings Calculator

Fees to Look Out For

With a Citizens Access® Savings account, you don't ever have to worry about any hidden costs. It has zero fees so you can expect:[3]

  • No account opening fees
  • No maintenance fees
  • No service fees

But it does have a very minimal minimum opening deposit of $0.01. No fees give you more control over your funds, allowing you to save easier and faster.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Competitive rate
  • Low opening deposit
  • No monthly charges
  • Top-rate mobile app
  • FDIC-insured

Cons

  • No physical branches
  • No ATM card
  • No cash deposits

What matters most to you in a high-yield savings account?

How Citizens High Yield Savings Compares

How to Open an Account

If you want to open an account, you can do so through the official website of Citizens. Here are the steps:

  1. Go to the Citizens Access® Savings page and select Open an Account.
  2. Answer the online application form.
  3. Submit and fund your account.

Who is eligible to open an account?
To open a Citizens Access Savings account, you must be a US citizen or a resident alien who is at least 18 years old.

How to Fund Your Account

There are several ways you can fund your account, you can do any of the following:

  • Online bank transfer by linking your external account to Citizens Access®
  • Mail a check to Citizens Access®, PO Box 6801, Carol Stream, IL 60197-6801
  • Mobile check deposit via Citizens Access® mobile app
  • Set up direct deposits

How do I access my money?
Since Citizens is purely online, there are only a few ways for you to access your funds:
  • Transfer money from your Citizens Access Savings account to a linked external account
  • Request a check via mail

Is Citizens Bank High Yield Savings Safe?

Yes because Citizens Savings Accounts are FDIC-insured. This means deposits are protected up to the maximum amount allowed by law. So, in the event of bank closure, you are guaranteed to get your money back.

Citizens Access® and Citizens Bank, N.A. are treated as the same entity under FDIC Certificate #57957. This means your FDIC insurance limit is shared between both entities.

Who Is It Best For?

Citizens Access® Savings is best for those who want to focus on building their wealth. You can make your money work harder through competitive rates and minimal fees.

But, if you prefer using ATMs or going to a physical bank, this might not be the best choice.

Ultimately, this savings account was designed to help you reach your savings goals, not to replace your everyday spending account.

Bottom Line

Citizens online high-yield savings account is a great choice for those who have financial goals they want to meet and don't mind a digital-only experience.

However, if you want your funds within physical reach, you can check out other savings accounts with ATM access or branches.

What's your main worry about online savings accounts?

References

  1. ^ Citizens. High-yield online savings account, Retrieved 12/27/2023
  2. ^ Citizens. FAQS: Is there a minimum deposit needed to open a Citizens Access® Savings account?, Retrieved 12/27/2023
  3. ^ Citizens. FAQS: No fees? Really?, Retrieved 12/27/2023
Bank of America
Member FDIC

Bank of America Advantage Banking - $300 Bonus Offer

Expires 1/31/2025
  • The $300 bonus offer is an online only offer and must be opened through the Bank of America promotional page.
  • The offer is for new checking customers only.
  • Offer expires 01/31/2025.
  • To qualify, open a new eligible Bank of America Advantage Banking account through the promotional page and set up and receive Qualifying Direct Deposits* totaling $2,000 or more into that new eligible account within 90 days of account opening. Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking® for Family Banking accounts are not eligible for this offer.
  • Once all requirements are met, Bank of America will attempt to pay bonus within 60 days.
  • Additional terms and conditions apply. See offer page for more details.
  • *A Qualifying Direct Deposit is a direct deposit of regular monthly income – such as your salary, pension or Social Security benefits, which are made by your employer or other payer – using account and routing numbers that you provide to them.
  • Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC.
Chase
Member FDIC

Chase Total Checking® - $300 Bonus

Expires 1/22/2025
  • New Chase checking customers enjoy a $300 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking® account with qualifying activities
  • With over 4,700 branches, Chase has the largest branch network in the U.S. plus access to more than 15,000 ATMs.
  • Chase Mobile® app - Manage your accounts, deposit checks, transfer money and more -- all from your device.
  • JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
  • Open your account online now
  • Available online nationwide except in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. For branch locations, visit locator.chase.com.
  • Chase Overdraft Assist℠ - no overdraft fees if you're overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day or if you're overdrawn by more than $50 and bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day*
Sallie Mae Bank

14-Month No Penalty CD - 3.95% APY

  • No fees
  • $1 minimum deposit
  • FDIC insured
Discover Bank
Member FDIC

Discover® Online Savings - $200 Cash Bonus

Expires 3/13/2025

To qualify for Bonus: Apply for your first Discover Online Savings Account, enter Offer Code CY924 at application, deposit into your Account a total of at least $15,000 to earn a $150 Bonus or deposit a total of at least $25,000 to earn a $200 Bonus. Qualifying deposit(s) may consist of multiple deposits and must post to Account within 45 days of account open date. Maximum bonus eligibility is $200.

What to know: Offer not valid for existing or prior Discover savings customers, including co-branded, or affinity accounts. Eligibility is based on primary account owner. Account must be open when bonus is credited. Bonus will be credited to the account within 60 days of the account qualifying for the bonus. Bonus is subject to tax reporting. Offer ends 03/13/2025, 11:59 PM ET. Offer may be modified or withdrawn without notice. Due to new customer funding limits, you may wish to initiate fund transfers at your other institution. For information on funding your Account, see FAQs on Discover.com/Bank. See advertiser website for full details.

CIT Bank
Member FDIC

CIT Bank Platinum Savings - 4.55% APY

  • 4.55% APY with a balance of $5,000 or more
  • 0.25% APY with a balance of less than $5,000
  • $100 minimum opening deposit
  • No monthly maintenance fee
  • Member FDIC

Darlene Santos is a research analyst at CreditDonkey, a bank comparison and reviews website. Write to Darlene Santos at darlene.santos@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.

Note: This website is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content. You do not have to use our links, but you help support CreditDonkey if you do.

Subscribe to CreditDonkey: Get updates on the latest deals and keep up with the best money moves.
Your privacy is important to us. Unsubscribe anytime

Compare:

Save money and build wealth. Sign up to get our FREE email newsletter.

About CreditDonkey
CreditDonkey is a bank comparison website. We publish data-driven analysis to help you save money & make savvy decisions.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.

†Advertiser Disclosure: Many of the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which CreditDonkey receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CreditDonkey does not include all companies or all offers that may be available in the marketplace.

*See the card issuer's online application for details about terms and conditions. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However, all information is presented without warranty. When you click on the "Apply Now" button you can review the terms and conditions on the card issuer's website.

CreditDonkey does not know your individual circumstances and provides information for general educational purposes only. CreditDonkey is not a substitute for, and should not be used as, professional legal, credit or financial advice. You should consult your own professional advisors for such advice.

About Us | Reviews | Deals | Tips | Privacy | Do Not Sell My Info | Terms | Contact Us
(888) 483-4925 | 680 East Colorado Blvd, 2nd Floor | Pasadena, CA 91101
© 2024 CreditDonkey Inc. All Rights Reserved.