Citibank vs. Citizens Access™
Citibank edges out Citizens Access™ slightly at 3.20% vs 3.15% APY. On a $10,000 balance, the difference is just $5 per year—so other factors may matter more.
The Bottom Line
The Citibank and Citizens Access™ savings accounts are very similar. Choose Citibank if you want Zelle for quick transfers, or choose Citizens Access™ if BBB rating matters to you.
Important Considerations
Citibank's Accelerate Savings is only available in select states where Citi has no branch presence. Check eligibility before applying.
| Metric | CitibankCiti Accelerate Savings Feb 21, 2026 | Citizens Access™Citizens Access® Savings Feb 20, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.20% | 3.15% |
Est. Earnings | $5,000+$160 $10,000+$320 $25,000+$800 | $5,000+$158 $10,000+$315 $25,000+$788 |
Min Deposit | $0 | $0.01 |
Snapshot view. Rates subject to change. | ||
Terms | Eligibility restricted to select states. | - |
| Features | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppZelle® SupportedDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often |
Market Reality Check
Both of these banks offer rates below the current top tier. The best rates we track are currently above 4.15% APY.
Comparison Analysis
Comparing Citibank vs. Citizens Access™
Executive Summary
Citibank offers the Citi Accelerate Savings account with a competitive APY of 3.20%, making it the highest-yielding option between the two banks. This account is online-only and is available to customers in select states, with no minimum deposit required and a maintenance fee of $4.50, which can be waived by maintaining an average monthly balance over $500. In comparison, Citizens Access™ provides the Citizens Access® Savings account with an APY of 3.15%, also online-only, with no maintenance fees and a minimum deposit of $0.01. Both accounts do not require direct deposit, but Citibank's offering has a slightly higher APY.
The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records
* This content is provided for informational purposes only; always verify details with the provider.
Why Citibank?
- ✓Physical branch access (U.S. branches are concentrated in six metropolitan areas, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Miami.)
- ✓Fast transfers via Zelle® (up to $2,500 a day)
Why Citizens Access™?
- ✓Available Nationwide
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period, Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings pays $5 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Citizens Access™'s Citizens Access® Savings.
*This calculation assumes current rates remain consistent for 1 year and does not include temporary bonuses.
Non-sponsored link to official site
Non-sponsored link to official site
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Citibank vs. Citizens Access™ Savings Calculator
You earn $5 more with Citibank than Citizens Access™ on a $10,000 initial deposit for 1 year*.
*This calculation assumes that APYs remain unchanged for 1 year, and takes into account known promo rate periods, but does not factor in bonuses. You can see how often these banks have changed their rates in the Compare Savings Rates Over Time section below.
Citibank
Citi Accelerate Savings
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$320.00(3.1%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,320.00
Citizens Access™
Citizens Access® Savings
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$315.00(3.1%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,315.00
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Still banking with Chase, Bank of America, or Wells Fargo?
On a $10,000 balance, you're missing out on at least $314 per year in interest.
Both Citibank and Citizens Access™ dramatically outperform the typical 0.01% APY at traditional big banks.
| Feature | Citibank | Citizens Access™ |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.20% Verified: 2/21/2026 ↘︎ 0.10%90d Change | 3.15% Verified: 2/20/2026 ↘︎ 0.20%90d Change |
| Product Name | Citi Accelerate Savings | Citizens Access® Savings |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0.01 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $0.01 | $0.01 |
| Monthly Fee | $4.50. Waived for average monthly balances > $500 | $0 |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily |
| Branch Access | None | None |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online Only |
| Physical Branches | U.S. branches are concentrated in six metropolitan areas, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Miami. | N/A |
| Direct Deposit Req. | None | None |
| Checking Bundle | No | No |
| Mobile Apps | ||
| FDIC Insured | YesVerify FDIC | YesVerify FDIC |
| Zelle® Support | Available Limit: $2,500/dayTiered limits based on account status (Citigold higher). | Not Supported |
| BBB Rating | D- | A+ |
| Important Notes | Eligibility restricted to select states. | - |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteVerify at Citibank Non-sponsored link to official site | Visit SiteVerify at Citizens Access™ Non-sponsored link to official site |
📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Citibank | Citizens Access™ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citi® Savings Account | Citi Accelerate Savings | Citizens Access® Savings | |
Current APY | 0.03% | 3.20% | 3.15% |
Trend | Stable | Stable | Stable |
Velocity (bps/mo) | -0.0 | -4.7 | -5.6 |
Days Since Change | 364 | 24 | 72 |
12-Month High | 0.03% | 3.80% | 3.70% |
12-Month Low | 0.03% | 3.20% | 3.15% |
Adjustments / Mo | 0.00 | 0.58 | 0.25 |
Volatility Score | 0.000 | 0.049 | 0.061 |
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)
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More Comparisons
Compare Citibank's APY of 3.20% with other banks
Compare Citizens Access™'s APY of 3.15% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Citizens Access™ vs Ally Bank | 3.20% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs American Express | 3.30% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Axos Bank | 4.21% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Bank of America | 0.01% | $100 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Barclays | 3.85% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Capital One | 3.30% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Chase Bank | 0.01% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Chime | 3.00% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs CIT Bank | 3.75% | $100 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Discover Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs EverBank | 3.90% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.65% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Newtek Bank | 4.20% | $0.01 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Openbank | 4.09% | $500 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Pibank | 4.60% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs SoFi Bank | 4.00% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Synchrony Bank | 3.50% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Varo Bank | 5.00% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Wealthfront | 3.95% | $0 |
| Citizens Access™ vs Wells Fargo | 0.05% | $25 |