With online banking becoming such a vital aspect of the Internet, it's only natural that we put ourselves to the task by creating in-depth online banking reviews for our readers to reference. We had to include Citibank (one of the biggest names in the world of finance) in our research, and we immediately appreciated the simple and user-friendly appeal of their website interface. Did this financial giant continue to impress us? Read on for the scoop below.
What's New with Citibank Online Banking?
- Citibank now offers rewards-based checking.
- Online check images now available.
- Open an account online.
Star Reviews Favorite Citibank Feature:
We really like the fact that Citibank's online bill pay services are a lot more comprehensive than those offered by most of the competition. With many online banks you can only use online bill pay to pay creditors and merchants who accept electronic payments. With Citibank, however, you can pay any bill online – even if the person or company receiving the money doesn't accept electronic payments. Citibank will cut a physical check and put it in the mail for you.
About Citibank Online Banking:
Citibank was founded back in 1812, so experience is not a problem when it comes to this company. To put it bluntly, Citibank has the money, knowledge and experience necessary to provide unmatched online banking services. Whether they live up to those abilities, however, is another matter.
Navigating & Using the Citibank Website:
Citibank's website is attractive, if not very easy to navigate. While we did like the way the site looked (we didn't get the immediate "overwhelming" impression with Citibank that we did with some others) actually getting to where we needed to be proved more frustrating than we would have thought at first glance. Again there's proof that first impressions aren't always accurate.
Because navigating the Citibank website isn't exactly a cake walk, we're going to give you a few step-by-step instructions on getting set up with online banking there. First, you need to click on the "Banking" link located at the top of the homepage near the left-hand side. Then, when you're brought to the next page, click on the "Online Banking" link in the navigation menu on the left. Then, if you're not already a customer (and we're assuming you're not) click on the "Not a Customer? Open an Account" link at the top of the next page.
Think you're done? Not yet. Now you have to figure out what type of account to open. Now, don't make the mistake we think some customers will make by clicking the big flashy graphic text link that says "ultimate money account" because that might not be what you need. You need to click the individual links (smaller text links) under that banner to make sure you're getting the online account that's right for you. Once you've done that, the the process gets easier and you can just follow the website's prompts. However, be very clear about the terms and conditions of the account you are signing up for. Citibank doesn't make its fees easy to find and unless you apply for each account and go through every application process, you won't know exactly what they charge for things like overdraft fees, stop payments and other costs.
What Citibank Online Banking Offers:
- Online checking accounts
- Online savings accounts
- Online bill pay
- Email and wireless alerts
- Online bank statements
- Online check images
- Online account transfers
- SafeWeb fraud protection
Citibank's Online Banking Fees:
- Online banking and bill pay is free with Citibank online banking accounts
- $3 monthly maintenance fee for EZ Checking (free with direct deposit)
- $1.50 fee each time you use a non-Citibank ATM
Citibank's Customer Support:
Citibank offers customer support via phone, an online email form and an extensive help database (maybe too extensive). When calling customer support we had to navigate our way through the automated system (which wasn't easy without an account number) but we were transferred to a live rep within an acceptable period of time. The person we spoke with was very cordial, although she was vague in answering some of our questions about checking account fees. Online support was more like a maze than a help section. Just when we thought we were getting somewhere, we were taken to an answer that had nothing to do with the question we had asked. Alas, we recommend emailing support for an efficient response or giving them a call rather than trying to make your way through the "help" pages.
Upside:
Online account application, online check images available, great online bill pay program.
Downside:
Getting to the bottom of fees isn't a joyride.
Summary:
Citibank was a necessary stop in our quest for the best online banking the Net has to offer. They are a financial giant, and we were impressed right off the bat by their intuitive and simple site feel. But, first impressions aren't always accurate, because navigating this site proved to be a small challenge. We noticed how terms and conditions, fees and other fine-print text was not only hard to figure out, it was hard to find! The Help sections also took us to explanations that had nothing to do with the links we clicked on. Not impressive. But, they do have traditional online banking features and a great bill pay program (they'll cut a hard copy of a check to any merchants not offering online bill pay). There is a $3 monthly maintenance fee for EZ Checking (direct deposit sans any fees). Customer support via telephone was pretty prompt in their answer time, but did give us vague answers regarding fees. Overall, this online banking experience was simply 'alright.'