Update 9/16/26: $500 in branch offer available from 9/16/26 through 9/19/26
Update 7/11/26: There is a $750 bonus at select branches from 7/10/26 and 7/18/26.
Update 7/10/26: $500 in branch offer has returned here.
Update 5/7/26: $500 in branch offer back from 5/29/26 and 6/6/26
Update 1/16/26: The $500 in branch offer has returned here.
Update 1/2/26: Deal now good through 3/31/26.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $400
- Availability: CT, DE, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, VA, D.C., MD, FL
- Direct deposit required: Yes, $500+
- 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: None
- Monthly fees: $9.99, avoidable
- Early account termination fee: None
- Household limit: None
- Expiration date:
November 26, 2020 10/28/21 4/14/2022 6/9/20221/20/23
The Offer
- Citizens Bank is offering a bonus of up to $400 when you open a new checking account. Bonus is broken down as follows:
- Get $400 when you open your first new personal checking account and make a direct deposit of $1,000 or more within 60 days.
Earn $2 for every debit card purchase you make, up to $100 within the next 60 days.
The Fine Print
- To earn a $300 bonus, open your first new personal checking account between 08/17/20 to 11/26/20 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 earn up to $100: Get paid $2 per qualified debit transaction (up to $100) that post and clear your new checking account within 60 days of account opening.
- Qualifications: Primary signer on the new checking account may not be or have been a signer on any Citizens Bank personal checking account within the previous six months.
- The new account must be open and in good standing on the payout date stated in the table below to qualify for this offer.
- Direct Deposit is recurring income electronically deposited into your Citizens Bank checking account and may include salary, pension, and other regular income.
- Qualified debit card transactions include signature and PIN-based debit transactions in person directly at a merchant location or in app or online merchant sites.
- Only one debit card per checking account eligible for bonus. Online Bill Payments, Zelle® transactions and ATM transactions do not qualify.
- Eligibility: Customer must open their first new checking account via Citizens Bank’s online account opening system accessed by clicking on one of the links on this page.
- Customer should print this screen for their records. Customer will only be paid a one-time bonus for this program.
- Offers may be withdrawn without notice and cannot be combined with any other checking offer.
- Payout: Bonus will be deposited to the new checking account by the date stated in the table below and will be labeled as “Balance Builder Bonus”.
- Bonus will be reported to the IRS for income tax purposes.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Need to sign up for online statements otherwise there is a $3 fee.
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.)
Early Account Termination Fee
As far as we know there is no early account termination fee.
Our Verdict
We’ve seen a $600 bonus in the past, but that required a $15,000 deposit to get the full bonus. This is a better option for those without that extra money sitting around. We will add this to our list of the best bank account bonuses.
Keep in mind they have low transfer limits when transferring out, read the comments for more details.
Hat tip to reader Rob
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
Updated, thanks
New offer link https://www.citizensbank.com/promo/checking/special-offer-2026-semc5.aspx William Charles
Yes. Good luck!
No it hasn’t. Still shows 6 months. https://www.citizensbank.com/promo/checking/special-offer-2026-semc5.aspx
Now Citizens offer valid from 10/1/2026 to 11/15/2026. Can open Online and in-branch. https://www.citizensbank.com/promo/checking/con-move-money-chk-2026.aspx?intcmp=CB_H_Banner_Jolt2026_LearnMore_Consumer_Desk Not a good deal as before.
New In Branch offer coming October 1. https://imgur.com/a/Mm2vPRQ
Wow, thank you. I could not find it for anything. DP: Mine is a bit different. It does appear only on the app. And it does only appear in the checking account view. On mine it isn’t under a “Transfer” button. It is simply listed in the second section of information under the account summary on the screen. It is called “Promotions” underneath that it says “You’re enrolled! Track your progress.”
why
Years ago, Chase used to encourage me to create an online account with their computer before leaving the branch. “No thanks, I’ll do this tonight at home”.
I’m OOS too. I got mine off eBay and the seller blacked out the address. The banker did look at the mailer, and I told her that my friend gave it to me. She tried to tell me that the address had to match, and that marketing wouldn’t pay out even if she attached the promo code… but I told her I was willing to take that risk so she applied the code anyways. I had a similar experience on my previous churn though, so I kinda knew to ignore the banker lol.
Thank you very much mate!
Done, now both codes have been sent
I sent you another email, I originally sent the $1300 code on accident, sent you the $600 one now to use instead
Dealgamer If you still have the $1300 code, do you mind sharing with me? click on my name here for email, if you still got one.
Im oos but ill be near branches beginning of oct, so just to make sure I am reading this right, ur mailer was addressed to a different address then the one u used to open the acct right? Pretty sweet abt the 1300, I assume u just told the banker the promo code when u signed up in branch? Pickle Rick🔗👈🏼
Appreciate it!
Sent. I got confused and said northwest bank in the subject, but the code is indeed for Citizens
Ill try and snag your 600 code if u still have it? Curious if they work for OOS but applying in branch tho. Dealgamer
You posted that this worked on your previous churn. Are you concerned it no longer works?
I didn’t know they could make an online account for you in branch, did you ask or did they offer to set this online banking for you?
is that what YOUR offer says?? We’re all under impression 365 days!
Correction: When I set up online access for P2, I set up a brand new login. That is what Citizens shut down. The account is open and accessable via the original credentials. So, we are back in business!
I opened both checking and savings accounts last Friday, trying to enroll the 250+250 bonus. A new online account was created in the branch and I did have Citizens accounts a few year back. T his morning I see the promotions in the App but then weird thing happened. My new online account was closed and the new checking/savings accounts are now under my old online account or user ID. What’s concerning is that I don’t see the promotion in the App any more…Any suggestions? Thx.
Dealgamer It is likely Tony will just sell it to someone else. Tony tried to sell me one.
You’ll have to give me an email address or something to contact you with, if I post in it plain text it’ll probably get swooped
1300
yeah. as long as you close more than 6 months
Welp tried an ebay code, but looks like they stopped servicing my address for some reason 🙁 I now have one $1300 private client or w/e code, and one $600 code, lmk which one you want
Orlando Orange County Central FL, zip 32827 ‘no service in your area’
It’s on the app only and only appears on the checking account section. Click on the checking account and under the “transfer” button there should be something that says “promotions – you’re enrolled! track your progress” if you just opened the account give it a few days to appear.