Citigold Checking Account Review (2025.7 Update: $1,500 Offer, Some Other Updates)

2025.7 Update: It seems starting from 2019, Citigold added a $200 Subscription Rebate benefit: earn up $200 in statement credits for subscriptions made with: Amazon Prime, Costco, Audible, Hulu, Spotify, TSA PreCheck, Global Entry.

2024.10 Update: The new offer is $1,500 with $200k deposit requirement.

2024.1 Update: The new bonus is $1,500/$2,500 with deposit requirement $200k/$300k. The bonus offer seems nice, but requiring $200,000 in the checking account (not including savings or brokerage account!) is insane in my opinion. Nowadays a simple savings account can give you 5%+ APY, so this bonus is completely not worth it.

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Benefits

1. $1,500 sign-up bonus! Please read below for the requirements to get this bonus.
2. No monthly fee. But In order to be eligible, you must maintain $200,000 in combined average monthly balance in all eligible deposit, retirement, and investment accounts.
3. [New] $200 Subscription Rebate: earn up $200 in statement credits for subscriptions made with: Amazon Prime, Costco, Audible, Hulu, Spotify, TSA PreCheck, Global Entry.
4. Discounted annual fees for some premium credit cards from Citi. The reduced annual fees remain even if you close your Citigold account thereafter.
5. Free access to non-Citi ATM.
6. $0 Early Termination Fee. So you can close your account at any time, or you can downgrade it to the basic version checking account.

Bonus Requirements

1. This bonus is only available for new clients. Those who currently have a Citi checking or savings account, or have closed an account within 180 days are not eligible for this offer. Those with a Citi credit card are not exempt from these rules.
2. Deposit New-to-Citibank Funds into your new checking account within 20 days of account opening. Maintain the required minimum balance in your eligible account for an additional 60 days from the 21st day. See the following table for the relation of bonus and amount of deposit:
   

   Deposit Amount	Bonus
   $30,000	$500
   $200,000	$1,500

3. Note: only the regular savings account counts, the new product “Citi Accelerate Savings” with higher interest rate does not count.

Different Citi Checking Accounts

Here is a comparison and contrast on the official website.

Summary

Citigold used to be available to everyone as long as you are willing to pay the monthly fee. However, after Nov. 2016, Citigold requires a balance of at least $200,000 to maintain the account. Now only rich people can consider this account. The $1,500 bonus offer seems nice, but requiring $200,000 in the checking account (not including savings or brokerage account!) is insane in my opinion. The equivalent APY is about 4.5%+ if the fund is in the account for exactly 60 days, and lower if the funds is stuck there for longer. Nowadays a simple savings account can give you 5%+ APY, so this bonus is completely not worth it.

Application Link

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