Nationwide Citibank $300 Checking Bonus with $15,000 Initial Deposit

Offer at a glance

  • Maximum bonus amount: $300
  • Availability: Nationwide (can be done online)
  • Direct deposit required: Yes, for two consecutive months
  • Additional requirements: Deposit $15,000 for 60 days
  • Hard/soft pull: Soft pull
  • ChexSystems: Yes
  • Credit card funding: None
  • Monthly fees: $25, avoidable
  • Early account termination fee: None
  • Household limit:
  • Expiration date: June 30th, 2017 September 30th, 2017

The Offer

Direct link to offer

Receive a sign up bonus of $300 when you open a new The Citibank Account Package and complete the following requirements within 30 days of account opening:

  • Make a qualifying deposit of $15,000 or more in new-to-Citibank funds into the new checking account or a new or existing Citibank Savings Plus Account or Citi Savings Account, and maintain a minimum balance of $15,000 for sixty (60) consecutive calendar days following the date when you made the qualifying deposit.
  • Within thirty (30) days, 1 qualifying Direct Deposit must post to the new checking Account each month for 2 consecutive calendar months after opening the new checking account

The Fine Print

  • New-to-Citibank funds are funds not currently held at Citibank or its affiliates.
  • Qualifying Direct Deposits are Automated Clearing House (ACH) credits, which may include payroll, pension or government payments (such as Social Security) by your employer, or an outside agency.
  • Existing customers with a checking account are not eligible.
  • To qualify for this promotion, you must enroll in the promotion, meet the terms and conditions of this offer and perform the required qualifying activities contained in this offer. To be eligible for this offer, you must not currently have a consumer checking account with Citibank or have been a signer on or owner of a Citibank consumer checking account in the last 60 days.
  • The new checking account in The Citibank Account Package must be open and in good standing at the time the cash bonus is credited to the Account. If the qualifying deposit is made into a Citibank Savings Plus Account or Citi Savings Account, these accounts must also be in good standing at the time the cash bonus is credited to the new checking account.
  • All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

Monthly Fee

This bonus is available on the Citibank Account Package.

  • The Citibank Account Package needs $10,000 in combined average monthly balances to remain fee free. Otherwise, there is a $25 monthly fee.

Early Termination Fee

In the past, Citi has not charged any ETF, and none is mentioned for this offer.

Our Verdict

Previous deal did not require a direct deposit, and only required the $15,000 to be deposited for 30 days. This makes this new offer significantly worse. The other downside about this offer and Citi in general is they often don’t automatically post the bonus, meaning you need to manually follow up. This offer is still worth doing (especially as you can effectively churn it), it’s just nowhere nearly as good as it’s previously been. We will be updating our best checking bonus rankings in light of this.

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
    William Charles
  • On April 17, 2017, 11:00

View Comments (61)

  • Just called them as $300 not deposited after they got my 15K and two DDs. She said it takes 90 days after meeting requirements to get bonus.

  • Chase ACH and Ally ACH are not counted as DD. But HSA deposit is counted, even the initial $0.04 for deposit verification. I'm lucky to have this $0.04 deposited in the first 30 day.

  • Hi guys,

    Citi denied my account request 3 months back. I did not have a relationship with citi back then.
    Currently i have the citi aa advantage credit card. Do you think i have a better chance of getting an account with them? Also i live in GA so no branch in my state.

    Thanks

    • Seems like most banks consider credit cards separate from banking operations. Citi is an odd duck though, so no telling. I churned this bonus twice and had no issue opening. I have been a CC customer of this since 2007… so maybe it had an impact? Did they state a reason for denial? Citi does use Chex, so I would get a copy and clear anything up if needed.

      • After i got denied, I requested a copy of my chex.. couldn't find anything wrong in there.
        This year 2 banks have denied my application, one citi and the second one first Tennessee bank.
        Both were listed on my chex report.
        I couldn't figure out any issues with the report

        • I got denied today as well. My Chex report should be clean as I do not have any baddy there ever. Have asked a copy though. Whats the recourse for this?
          Thanks

  • I'm seeing a $500 bonus if depositing $50k and keeping for 60 days, plus a direct deposit each month for two months in addition to the $300 bonus.

  • Looks like I messed this one up. I didn't catch the next line after requirement #2, hidden in the small print. DD within 30 days!? You have to be right on top of that one. Opened account Sunday 5/7 and first direct deposit was on 6/15 due to employer delay. About 9 days too late. Hmmmm, strategy - attempt to get a CSR to verify requirements are met...

    Terms (cut from direct link)
    2. 1 qualifying Direct Deposit* must post to the new checking Account each month for 2 consecutive months after opening the new checking account.

    The first Qualifying Direct Deposit must post to the Eligible Checking Account within thirty (30) calendar days of the opening of the Eligible Checking Account.

    • Maybe I panicked. Without mentions the application date and DD date the CSR stated I qualify for the bonus. Some BS about waiting 90 days and it should post by 11/7/2017. Captured screenshots and text logs for the possible upcoming tug-of-war on this bonus but at least not flat out denied.
      A buffer built-in between application date and account opening date I forgot/unaware about?

  • Ridiculous bank, each time I'm trying to add an external bank account, it will ask me 6 security questions pulled from maybe ChexSystems. Totally waste of time.

  • Not Worth In, IMO, unless you have lots of time to play the run around game with Citi on their bonus promotions.

    With Citibank and HSBC, you really have to ask yourself how much your time is worth. If you are unemployed, might be a good use of your time.

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