Get $325 when you open a new Citi Regular Checking account and complete two direct deposits totaling $3,000+ within 90 days.
You're scrolling through your banking app, frustrated by another month of $12 maintenance fees eating into your balance. Meanwhile, Citibank wants to pay you $325 to switch — if you can move $3,000 in direct deposits within 90 days.
Citi's Regular Checking bonus pays $325 cash when you:
The math: $325 bonus ÷ $3,000 required deposits = 10.8% return on your money.
Citi defines Enhanced Direct Deposits (marketing speak for "qualifying deposits") as ACH transfers from:
Transfers between your own accounts or wire transfers don't count toward the $3,000 requirement.
Regular Checking charges $15/month unless you maintain:
For someone depositing a $2,000 monthly paycheck, you'd easily avoid the fee. Miss the requirement? That's $180/year in fees.
If you're already a Citi customer, pairing this checking account with a rewards card can make sense. Our Citi Custom Cash Deep Dive breaks down how the card's category bonuses work (Citi Custom Cash is closed to new applicants, so this is most useful if you already hold the card).
What the marketing doesn't tell you: The $3,000 deposit requirement for the bonus is separate from the ongoing $250/month needed to waive fees. You could deposit $3,000 in month one for the bonus, then need just $250/month afterward — but many assume they need $3,000 monthly.
Citi's checking bonuses have ranged from $200-$500 over the past three years:
Today's offer requires $3,000 in deposits for $325 — middle of the pack for effort versus reward.
Good fit if you:
Skip if you:
If you're optimizing multiple accounts at once, our best cashback credit cards roundup covers the card side of that same strategy.
This article provides information about bank account bonuses. Banking relationships involve various fees and requirements. Consider your financial situation before opening new accounts.