Citi $325 Checking Account Bonus (2026) - Review & Requirements
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What Counts as Direct Deposit
Based on community data points and bank terms. Employer payroll is always the safest method. "Mixed" means some users report success but it is not guaranteed.
Overview
Citi is currently offering a $325 checking bonus. The core requirement is $3,000 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days. The account has a $15 monthly fee; review the waiver terms before applying.
Who This Checking Bonus Is Best For
Applicants who can safely route $3,000 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days without disrupting higher-value offers, and who meet every geographic and prior-customer restriction.
How to Maximize This Bonus
Receive $3,000+ in direct deposits within 90 days. Allow approximately 92 days for the bonus to post after qualification.
Pros
Cons
How This Compares to Other Bonuses
Citi's $325 offer is closest in headline value to PSECU's $300 checking bonus. Compare the direct-deposit requirement, geographic eligibility, fees, approval sensitivity, and payout timing, not only the advertised amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current Citi checking bonus?
Citi currently advertises $325. The principal requirement is $3,000 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days.
Does the Citi bonus require direct deposit?
Yes. The catalog currently records $3,000 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days. Confirm the bank's exact definition before applying.
When should the Citi bonus post?
The tracked estimate is about 92 days after you satisfy the requirements.
Related Bonus Reviews
Full Requirements
Enrol by applying from the offer page, then make at least two Enhanced Direct Deposits into the new checking account within 90 calendar days of opening, totalling $3,000 or more for the $325. An Enhanced Direct Deposit is an ACH deposit of payroll, pension, Social Security, other government benefit or investment income. Teller deposits, cash, check deposits, wires, transfers between Citi accounts, ATM deposits, mobile check deposits and person to person payments made with a debit card do not count. Some readers report that an ACH push from a service like Venmo or PayPal codes as an Enhanced Direct Deposit, but Citi's own terms do not promise that, so plan around a real payroll ACH. Higher rungs exist on the same family of links: $6,000 or more pays $425, and there is a separate $475 version that asks for a $5,000 deposit alongside the two direct deposits. Expect the bonus around week 14. Keep the account open and keep at least $250 a month of Enhanced Direct Deposits flowing until the $325 posts, which both satisfies Citi and keeps the $15 monthly service fee waived. Citi allows itself until week 18, but recent customers are usually paid around days 90 to 93. Once the payment lands you can close if you want to; there is no holding period afterwards and no early closure fee.
Fees
Citi Regular Checking, the account this offer opens, carries a $15 monthly service fee. Citi waives it for any month the account receives $250 or more in Enhanced Direct Deposits or other qualifying transactions, and it is re-tested every month rather than settled once. Citi Priority, Citigold and Citigold Private Client customers pay no checking service fee while they hold that relationship tier. The bonus itself only asks for two Enhanced Direct Deposits inside 90 days, so if you move your payroll away as soon as the bonus qualifies, expect the $15 to start again for the cycles between the 90-day window closing and the bonus landing around day 92. Keeping $250 a month flowing in until you are paid avoids it entirely.
ChexSystems & Credit Pull
Wire transfers, cash, checks, and Citi-to-Citi transfers do not count as Enhanced Direct Deposits. Person-to-person payments made with a debit card do not count either. Readers report that an ACH push from Venmo or PayPal can code as an Enhanced Direct Deposit, but the offer's own terms do not promise it, so plan around a real payroll ACH.
Eligibility
New Citi checking customers only. Must be US citizen or resident alien, 18+, with US physical address.
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Sources (3)
We last checked this against the bank's page on August 14, 2026.
Historical Promotions
The current $325 is the highest we've tracked since January 2024.
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What actually counts as a direct deposit at 53 banks. Fidelity, Schwab, ACH pushes, all in one printable table, verified.
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Fat Stacks Academy may earn a commission when you open an account through links on this page, at no additional cost to you. Commissions do not influence our reviews — we verify offer terms directly with each bank before publishing and do not accept paid placement in our rankings. Bonus offers, requirements, and fees are determined by each financial institution and may change at any time. Always verify the current terms directly with the bank before applying. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.