What makes this bank offer different
This is a bank-bonus fit for users who can satisfy a deposit rule quickly; the key comparison point is whether the required deposit type matches your normal cash flow.
Bank
Citi Checking Bonus — Up to $1,500 + $100
Apply to Citi Checking Bonus and earn up to $1,600 in combined sign-up and referral bonuses.
Bonus Tiers
| Deposit | Bonus |
|---|---|
| $30,000 | $500 |
| $200,000 | $1,500 |
Hold Period
45 days after the 46th day following account opening
Qualifying Period
45 days from account opening
Payout
Between the 90th and 120th calendar day after account opening
Requirements
- ✓Open a new Regular Checking account and enroll in the bonus offer the same day
- ✓Deposit new-to-Citibank funds into the account within 45 days of account opening
- ✓Maintain the required minimum balance ($30,000 or $200,000) for an additional 45 days from the 46th day after account opening
- ✓Account must remain open and in good standing at the time the bonus is paid
- ✓Deposit new-to-Citibank funds within 45 calendar days
- ✓Maintain required minimum balance for additional 45 days
- ✓Keep account open and in good standing
- ✓Open new eligible checking account and enroll same day
- ✓For $325 tier: 2+ Enhanced Direct Deposits totaling $3,000+ within 90 days
- ✓For $750 tier: Deposit $30,000+ New-to-Citibank funds within 45 days
- ✓For $1,500 tier: Deposit $200,000+ New-to-Citibank funds within 45 days
- ✓Maintain required balance for 45 days after initial deposit period
- ✓Account must remain open and in good standing
- ✓Open new eligible Citi checking account
- ✓Enroll in offer from promotion page or with Citi representative
- ✓For $325: 2+ Enhanced Direct Deposits totaling $3,000+ within 90 days
Restrictions
- ⚠New customers only (have not owned a Citi checking account within the last 180 calendar days)
- ⚠Must apply directly from the offer page
- ⚠Private Bank and International Personal Bank customers not eligible
- ⚠Fiduciary, estate, business, and trust accounts not eligible (except living trusts)
- ⚠New customers only
- ⚠Must apply directly from offer page
- ⚠Only Regular Checking account eligible
- ⚠New customers only (no Citi checking account in last 180 days)
- ⚠Must be 18+ years old
- ⚠Regular Checking account required for tiered deposits
- ⚠Only one bonus offer per account opening
- ⚠Cannot receive bonus more than once every 2 years per product category
- ⚠Only one offer per account opening
- ⚠New-to-Citibank checking customers
- ⚠Citi Account Package only
- ⚠New customers only (no Citi checking account in last 365 days)
- ⚠Regular Checking account only
- ⚠Must apply directly from Citi's offer page
- ⚠Must not have owned a Citi checking account within last 365 days
Fees
- $15 monthly service fee (waivable with $250+ monthly direct deposit or other qualifying activities)
- $15 monthly service fee waived with $250+ Enhanced Direct Deposits
- $15 monthly service fee (waived with $250+ in Enhanced Direct Deposits per month)
- $0 monthly service fee if $250+ Enhanced Direct Deposits monthly (for Access Checking)
- $15 monthly service fee (waivable with maintenance requirements)
- $25 monthly fee (waivable with $10,000 combined average monthly balance)
- $15 monthly fee (waived with $250+ Enhanced Direct Deposits or qualifying tier)
- $15 monthly maintenance fee (waivable with $250+ in Enhanced Direct Deposits or $1,500 combined average monthly balance)
- Fee waived for first 3 months after account opening
- $0 monthly fee with $250+ in Enhanced Direct Deposits per month
- $0 account opening fee
- $15 monthly maintenance fee for Regular Checking (varies by package)
- $15 monthly fee (waived with $250+ monthly direct deposits or Relationship Tier status)
- $0 monthly maintenance fee with minimum balance requirements
- Cash deposits, Citi Global Transfers, international ACH transfers, and P2P transfer services (Apple Pay, PayPal, Venmo, Zelle) do not qualify as New-to-Citibank funds
- Bonus requires that the account remain open at the time of payout
- Only new checking customers qualify; current Citi checking account owners are not eligible
- Bonus amount determined by balance on 45th day
- If balance falls below qualifying tier during maintenance period, bonus reduces to lower tier
- Fees may reduce earnings
- Bonus reported to IRS as interest
- Available in select states/markets (NY, CT, NJ, DC, VA, MD, CA, NV, and select IL and FL markets)
- Offer valid April 14, 2026 to October 26, 2026
- Balance on day 45 determines eligible bonus tier
- New-to-Citibank funds required (not existing Citi customer funds)
- Cannot be combined with other Citi checking bonus offers
- Enhanced Direct Deposits include payroll, pension, Social Security, government payments, Zelle transfers
- Account must remain open through bonus payout
- Deposits must be new-to-Citi funds
- Cannot deposit more than $250,000 due to FDIC insurance limits
- Bonus paid between 90-120 days after account opening and completing activities
- Account must remain open and in good standing
- Account must remain open and in good standing through bonus payout
- Only one offer per new checking account opening
- Bonus treated as taxable income
- Only one bonus earned if multiple offers are completed in same month (highest amount wins)
- Account must remain open until bonus posts
- New-to-Citi funds must come from external sources
- Enhanced Direct Deposit includes ACH payroll, pensions, government benefits, Zelle, Venmo, PayPal
- Account must remain open until bonus is paid
- Bonus amount determined by qualifying deposits as of day 90
- Geographic availability varies by state
- Teller deposits, cash deposits, check deposits, wire transfers, transfers between Citibank accounts, ATM transfers, mobile check deposits, debit card funding transfers, and instant transfers do not qualify as Enhanced Direct Deposits
Total potential bonus
$1,600
Additional Referral Bonus (how it works)
$100
Your 50% share of $200 paid directly by the referrer
View Referral Terms →$1,500 (sign-up) + $100 (referral) = $1,600 total
ExpiredOffer expired October 25, 2026
Last updated October 26, 2026
Saved source PDFs
Oct 19, 2026Change detected
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How to evaluate Citi Checking Bonus
Before opening this account, compare the bonus against direct deposit rules, monthly fees, minimum balance requirements, and any clawback period after payout.
Qualification checklist
Timing
- Qualifying period
- 45 days from account opening
- Payout timeline
- Between the 90th and 120th calendar day after account opening
- Hold period
- 45 days after the 46th day following account opening
How to qualify
- Open a new Regular Checking account and enroll in the bonus offer the same day
- Deposit new-to-Citibank funds into the account within 45 days of account opening
- Maintain the required minimum balance ($30,000 or $200,000) for an additional 45 days from the 46th day after account opening
- Account must remain open and in good standing at the time the bonus is paid
Common pitfalls
- New customers only (have not owned a Citi checking account within the last 180 calendar days)
- Must apply directly from the offer page
- Private Bank and International Personal Bank customers not eligible
- Fiduciary, estate, business, and trust accounts not eligible (except living trusts)
What makes this offer different
Bonus value versus similar offers
The sign-up bonus is below the current nearby $2,250 median, so the requirements and any referral or portal stack matter more.
Stacking potential
The tracked value can include $1,500 sign-up bonus, $100 referral share for a total displayed potential of $1,600. Confirm which apply path you use before assuming every component stacks.
Requirement clarity
Credolix has extracted 4 requirements for this offer, so compare the bonus against the actual steps rather than the headline payout alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Citi Checking Bonus expire?
Citi Checking Bonus expires on October 25, 2026.
