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If you just want to do the checking bonus, do this bigger $450 bonus instead. I think this is the better option for most people.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $500
- Availability: CT, DE, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT
- Direct deposit required: Yes, $500+ or $1,000+
- Additional requirements: See below
- Hard/soft pull: Soft pull as long as you opt out of over draft protecton.
- ChexSystems: Mixed data points
- Credit card funding: Up to $1,000, Visa & MasterCard only
- Monthly fees: $25, avoidable
- Early account termination fee: None listed
- Household limit: None listed
- Expiration date: January 24th, 2019
The Offer
- Citizens Bank is offering bonuses of up to $500 when you open checking/savings accounts.
- Receive a $200 bonus when you open a One Deposit Checking from Citizens Bank and make a single direct deposit of $500 or more within 60 days of account opening
- Receive an additional $100 bonus when you open a new green savings account with a minimum of $2,500 not on deposit with citizens bank. This must remain deposited until a set time (based on your account opening date)
- Receive a $400 bonus when you open a Citizens Bank Platinum Checking account and make a single direct deposit of $1,000 or more within 60 days of account opening
- Receive an additional $100 bonus when you open a new platinum savings account with a minimum of $10,000 not on deposit with citizens bank. This must remain deposited until a set time (based on your account opening date)
- Receive a $200 bonus when you open a One Deposit Checking from Citizens Bank and make a single direct deposit of $500 or more within 60 days of account opening
Bonus Table
The Fine Print
- To qualify for the $400 new checking bonus you must open your first new Platinum Checking account between 10/11/18 and 1/24/19 and have at least one single direct deposit of $1,000 or more post to your new checking account within 60 days of account opening.
- To qualify for the $100 new savings bonus you must open your first new Platinum Savings account between 10/11/18 and 1/24/19 with a minimum of $10,000 not on deposit with Citizens Bank that remains on deposit until the date stated in the table below.
- To qualify for the $200 new checking bonus you must open your first new personal checking account , excluding Student Checking, 10/11/18 and 1/24/19 and have at least one single direct deposit of $500 or more post to your new checking account within 60 days of account opening.
- To qualify for the $100 new savings bonus you must open your first new Green Savings account between 10/11/18 and 1/24/19 with a minimum of $2,500 not on deposit with Citizens Bank that remains on deposit until the date stated in the table below.
- To qualify for the new savings account bonus you must also open a new checking account at the same time.
- Direct Deposit is recurring income electronically deposited into your Citizens Bank checking account and may include salary, pension, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and other regular monthly income.
- For both offers: Primary signer on the new accounts may not be or have been a primary or secondary signer on any Citizens Bank personal checking or savings accounts within the previous six months, and must appear in the same order on both accounts.
- The new account(s) must be open and in good standing to qualify for this offer.
- Offer may be withdrawn without notice and cannot be combined with any other offer.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
Citizens Bank One Deposit Checking Account $9.99 Monthly Fee
The One Deposit checking account comes with a $9.99 monthly fee. Fee is waived by making one deposit each statement period. (According to this comment they really do count any deposit – even a transfer from another Citizens Bank account will trigger this.)
Green Savings $4.99 Monthly Fee
The $4.99 monthly fee on this account is waived with a minimum daily balance of $200+
Citizens Bank Platinum Checking Account $25 Monthly Fee
Citizens Bank Platinum Checking: $25 fee is waived with $25,000 in combined deposits
Platinum Savings
This account has no monthly fee to worry about.
Early Account Termination Fee
As far as we know there is no early account termination fee.
Our Verdict
Update: Another option would be to do the $400 deal without the savings account. Looks like you can get the bonus without worrying about the balance requirement. That would be the better deal vs the $200/$300 bonus.
We’ve seen both the $200 bonus and $400 bonus before, but without the extra $100 for opening the savings account. At minimum you’ll need the funds deposited for three months (if you open on the last day of a month) and the account will need to be open for four months, I’d recommend planning on four/five to be on the conservative side. To get the full $500 bonus you’d need to keep $25,000 deposited for five months, if that was in a 2.25% account you’d earn ~$234. For a lot of people doing the $300 bonus will be a lot simpler as you only need to do a direct deposit and have $2,500 invested. The bonus is $200 less but it’s much easier to complete and frees up liquid funds for other uses/bonuses. I do think the $300 bonus is definitely worth doing if you live in an eligible area. Because of that I’ve added it to the best checking bonuses.
Big thanks to reader, Dan – Legal Bank Robber who let us know. Learn how to find bonuses and contribute to the site here.
Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
- A Beginners Guide To Bank Account Bonuses
- Bank Account Quick Reference Table (Spreadsheet) (very useful for sorting bonuses by different parameters)
- PSA: Don’t Call The Bank
- Introduction To ChexSystems
- Banks & Credit Unions That Are ChexSystems Inquiry Sensitive
- What Banks & Credit Unions Do/Don’t Pull ChexSystems?
- How To Use Our Direct Deposit Page For Bank Bonuses Page
- Common Bank Bonus Misconceptions + Why You Should Give Them A Go
- How Many Bank Accounts Can I Safely Open Within A Year For Bank Bonus Purposes?
- Affiliate Links & Bank Bonuses – We Won’t Be Using Them
- Complete List Of Ways To Close Bank Accounts At Each Bank
- Banks That Allow/Don’t Allow Out Of State Checking Applications
- Bank Bonus Posting Times
Offer appears to be dead.
I opened up an account at November for me and my wife. I reached out to the bank after 90 days regarding my account and they sent an email to the Marketing department and they got back to me a day later saying the bonus will be issued within two days.Two days later I had $400 in my bank account. I wife’s account after 90 days I also contacted the bank and they reached out to the marking apartment a day later they got back to me and said that they never found the offer code for the bonus. I reached back out to the bank stating that I could refer them to the link for the November bonus and I happened to know that there are many people reporting the same issue that citizens is not seeing their offer codes as well. They are escalating the case to the research department and promised a phone call back in the next three business days….
Same as us, except they never found the offer code for the bonus for both of us…, they asked us to wait till the end of April
I was one of the November openers. I seriously escalated my case but they could never find any evidence that I applied through the promotion link or had an offer applied. Closing and moving on with life. Next time I will take screenshots, which I usually do but hadn’t in this case.
Anyone get the bonus without contacting the bank? I opened my account and made DD in December 2018. Called and was told to wait 90 days. After 90 days, I called and was transferred to the bonus management. I was told to wait until 4/30/2019.
Yes. Started 28 December. $400 showed up 17 April.
It’s a Platinum Checking. I don’t want to leave $25,000 with these guys. How do I avoid the monthly fee (which still has not hit yet)?
Opened in November 2018.
$1000 from Fidelity brokerage on November 9.
No bonus as of 3/12, so yes, I contacted the bank because I assumed I was not getting the bonus anyway, so why not. The CSR told me that it appeared as if I met all the terms, so he sent my account to Promotions for review.
Nothing by 3/18, so I called again. Rep was very helpful and even refunded the $25 monthly fee from February. He also promised a call back from Promotions within 24 hours.
Later that day, I received a voicemail from a Promotions rep who told me the bonus would post by 3/22.
$400 bonus posted on 3/21.
This is a great DP. Anyone that has ever been harassed on here after calling the bank should send your comment to the “haters”.
On contrary, this is a horrible DP “long term.”
Drawing “eyes” to your account and pointing out that “simulated” DD counted for bonus.
Perhaps, when Mims goes for the bonus next year, Fidelity might not count after all.
Opened 1/8
1K ACH from Chase posted 1/18
Bonus Posted 3/21
Opened Dec. 18, 2018
1/3/19 DD coded as Direct deposit Td Bank Na P2p
No bonus.
Called customer service and they said to allow 90 days from direct deposit to receive which will be April 3rd.
Wonder if I’ll ever receive the bonus??
My SO called up to close account before getting the second $25 low balance charge.
CS rep noticed that we had the $1000 DD…no mention of promo code…maybe complaints are starting to add up…they reversed the $25 charge and said they would get back to us in a few days with the verdict of their investigation…still hope?…not counting on it…will keep all posted
Finally got this one on 3/21 …even ended up getting a second $25 low balance fee reversed along the way. Glad we waited this one out! (o:
What did you write in the SM to get it reversed a 2nd time?
Did not have to. CS rep did it on their own. Very surprised at this!
I opened a ticket today and they asked me the promo code I entered in November, how could I know that?
Opened 11/21 online. DD of $1,000 12/05. No bonus as of today. November people got screwed. I LOST $25 on this bonus. Citizens can kiss both sides of my a**.