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 |
|---|---|
| $3,000+ in Enhanced Direct Deposits | $325 |
| $30,000 | $750 |
| $200,000 | $1,500 |
Hold Period
45 days (from 46th day after deposit)
Qualifying Period
45 days from account opening (for deposit); 90 days (for Enhanced Direct Deposits path)
Payout
Between 30-120 days after completing all required activities
Requirements
- ✓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
- ✓For $750/$1,500: Deposit and maintain balance within 45 days, then maintain for additional 45 days
- ✓Deposit new-to-Citibank funds within 20 days of account opening
- ✓Maintain deposit for 60 days from day 21
- ✓No direct deposit required
- ✓Complete 2+ Enhanced Direct Deposits totaling $3,000 (for $325 tier)
- ✓Deposit new-to-Citibank funds and maintain balance for 45 days after initial 45-day funding period
- ✓Valid tax form (W-9 or W-8BEN)
- Must be 18+ years old
Restrictions
- ⚠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
- ⚠New customers only
- ⚠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
- ⚠One bonus per account type per person
- ⚠Regional availability may vary by ZIP code
- ⚠Offer may not be available in all states
- ⚠Available in select states (NY, CT, MD, VA, DC, CA, NV, NJ, and select markets in FL and IL)
- ⚠New customers only (no checking account at Citi in the past 180 days)
- ⚠Deposits must be new-to-Citibank funds
- Must be at least 18 years old
Fees
- $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
- 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
- Can only participate in one checking offer per account opening
- Account must remain open and in good standing until bonus is paid
- No direct deposit required
- Balance must be maintained during the entire 60-day hold period or bonus for that tier is forfeited
- Offer may be withdrawn prior to enrollment
- Bonus is treated as taxable income
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
Offer expires October 25, 2026
Last updated August 16, 2026
Saved source PDFs
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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 (for deposit); 90 days (for Enhanced Direct Deposits path)
- Payout timeline
- Between 30-120 days after completing all required activities
- Hold period
- 45 days (from 46th day after deposit)
How to qualify
- 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
Common pitfalls
- 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
What makes this offer different
Bonus value versus similar offers
The sign-up bonus is close to the current nearby $1,500 median for comparable offers in this category.
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.
