Citizens Access Review 2023
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At a glance

CDs
Savings
About Bankrate Score
Overview
Citizens Access is ideal for customers who prefer to bank entirely online.
Highlights
- No Monthly Fees
- High APY
Offers featured here have been sponsored by our partners, which impacts how, where, and in what order the products appear.

APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate Savings rating = 5/5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.

APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate Savings rating = 5/5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.

APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate Savings rating = 4.7/5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
Overall
Citizens Access is an online bank with no branches that offers savings products. It is a division of Citizens Bank. Citizens Access offers a competitive yield on its savings account and its CDs. Its savings account only requires 1 cent to open the account. Its five terms of CDs require a $5,000 minimum deposit.
Pros
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Citizens Access offers a competitive savings APY.
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Customer service is available by phone seven days a week or by using the chat function on the bank’s website.
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The Citizen Access savings account doesn’t have a monthly service fee.
Cons
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Citizens Access has no physical branches or ATM access.
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The bank offers a limited selection of products.
Citizens Access banking products
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account. APY as of 7/12/2023
Citizens Access savings overview
You only need a penny to open a new Citizens Access Savings account. The online bank doesn’t have any fees, according to its website.
The bank does have mobile deposit available on its website. And you don’t have ATM access with this account. You can only have a maximum of two account owners with a Citizens Access savings account.
Pros
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Citizens Access offers a competitive APY.
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The bank does not charge any fees.
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All balances earn a competitive APY.
Cons
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Citizens Access doesn’t provide an ATM card for withdrawals.
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Some banks offer a higher APY.
Offers featured here have been sponsored by our partners, which impacts how, where, and in what order the products appear.

APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate Savings rating = 5/5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
Bank fees
Fee? | Charged | |
---|---|---|
Overdraft fee | None | |
Non-sufficient funds fee | None | |
Account maintenance fees | None | |
Out-of-network ATM fee | N/A | |
Excessive transaction fee | None |
About Citizens Access
Citizens Access is an online-only bank that offers a competitive yield on its savings account and charges no monthly fee. Its products, which also include CDs, are available nationwide. Citizens Access, a division of Citizens Bank, made its debut in July 2018.
Bank experience
Citizens Access customer service representatives are available to answer questions about CDs and savings accounts seven days a week: 6 a.m. to midnight weekdays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday. (All times are Eastern.) The bank also offers a chat option.
Citizens Access customers can use the mobile app to check account balances, move money and more. The app currently has a 3.3 rating in the Google Play store and 2.3 in Apple’s App Store.
How does Citizens Access compare to other banks?
Citizens Access vs. CIT Bank
Citizens Access is a division of Citizens Bank, and CIT Bank is a division of First Citizens Bank.
Citizens Access only offers a savings account and CDs. But CIT Bank offers two savings accounts, a money market account, and a checking account as well as CDs.
Citizens Access only requires a penny to open a savings account. Meanwhile, you’ll need at least $100 to open a CIT Bank savings account.
At Citizens Access you need at least $5,000 to open a CD. But at CIT Bank you only need $1,000.
CIT Bank’s checking account is the main feature that differentiates it from Citizens Access.
Citizens Access FAQs
Review methodology
We assign a score to each type of account and its features, weigh them carefully based on importance to account holders and determine an overall score. Read our full review methodology.