Citibank and Chase are two of the five largest banks in the United States and offer similar services. So how do you choose?
October 22, 2026
Citibank and Chase are two of the five largest banks in the United States and offer similar services. So how do you choose? First, consider how you bank and where you bank.
According to 2025 YouGov data, 61% of U.S. adults used a bank's mobile app in the past year, 54% used an ATM, and 51% visited a branch. Here's where these two megabanks stand in terms of coverage:
Chase operates roughly 5,000 branches across 48 states and about 14,000 ATMs. Citibank has over 2,300 ATMs across about 650 branches, but its real edge is the 65,000+ fee-free machines available through retail partners like Target and CVS. Those partner ATMs only handle withdrawals, balance inquiries, and transfers; depositing cash or a check still requires a Citibank-owned machine or branch. Chase's ATMs accept deposits; there are just fewer of them.
Both banks rate near the top on Apple and Google, so the real difference comes down to how you get to your cash.
If you're weighing these two banks, here's what you need to know.
Citibank is the consumer banking arm of Citigroup, one of the largest financial institutions in the world, with a global footprint that extends well beyond the U.S. If ATM access matters to you, Citibank may be the better option between the two, given that it offers 65,000+ fee-free ATMs at Citibank branches, select retail locations and MoneyPass® network ATMs, meaning you can get cash when you shop.
Citibank is also active overseas, with a Citibank ATM network in over 20 countries. If you travel for business or fun, that overseas network gives you access to Citi's machines abroad. Citi charges a 3% foreign exchange fee on international ATM withdrawals and debit purchases, waived for customers in the Citi Priority tier and above.
If you keep larger balances with Citi, its relationship tiers can save you money. With a combined average monthly balance of $30,000 or more across eligible Citi deposit and investment accounts, you qualify for Citi Priority, which waives fees at non-Citi ATMs as well as the 3% foreign exchange fee. Citi credit cards still earn ThankYou Rewards points, but Citi checking and savings accounts no longer do.
Chase is the consumer and commercial banking arm of JPMorgan Chase and operates the largest branch network in the U.S., reaching across all lower 48 states and the District of Columbia. While its ATM count (14,000) is considerably lower than Citi's retail partner-related reach, Chase announced in early 2026 that it's expanding, with plans to open more than 160 new branches across over 30 states.
Chase also operates globally, but it charges $5 per withdrawal at non-Chase ATMs outside the U.S., plus a 3% foreign exchange fee on non-USD transactions, which can get pricey when you're traveling on a tight budget. Some premium Chase accounts waive these fees.
Chase's banking perk works differently from Citi's. Chase Offers, built into the app, gives debit and credit cardholders cashback at participating merchants for purchases they were making anyway. Its card rewards program, Ultimate Rewards, is tied to Chase credit cards rather than banking activity. The same is true at Citi, where ThankYou points come from Citi credit cards, not checking or savings accounts.
Beyond checking and savings accounts, CDs, digital tools, and ATM access, both banks offer mortgages, auto loans, large credit card portfolios, and wealth management, allowing customers to use one institution for all their financial needs.
Feature | Citibank | Chase |
|---|---|---|
Branches | About 650, concentrated in major metro areas | About 5,000 across 48 states, expanding in 2026 |
ATM network | 65,000+ fee-free ATMs (including partner networks) | About 14,000 ATMs |
Standout feature | Relationship tier fee waivers (non-Citi ATM and foreign exchange fees) and a No Penalty CD | Chase Offers cashback deals embedded in the app |
Best for | Customers who want a huge fee-free ATM network domestically and internationally, without needing a branch nearby | Customers who want the broadest nationwide branch access |
Each bank offers a consumer-friendly option. Here's how they compare side-by-side:
Feature | Citi Access Checking | Chase Secure Banking |
|---|---|---|
Monthly service fee | $5 | $4.95 |
How to waive | $250 or more in direct deposits or qualifying transactions, or an account owner age 23 or younger | $250 or more in qualifying electronic deposits, or an account owner age 17 to 24 |
Overdraft | Transactions that would overdraw are not authorized | No overdraft fees; transactions declined or returned instead |
Citibank offers five types of checking accounts:
Access Checking
Regular Checking
Citi Priority
Citigold
Citigold Private Client
No Citibank checking account requires a minimum opening deposit, and there are no overdraft fees on any Citibank account.
Chase offers a variety of consumer checking accounts:
Chase Total Checking
Chase Secure Banking
Chase Premier Plus Checking
Chase Sapphire Checking
Chase Private Client Checking
Chase First Checking
Chase High School Checking
The last two are designed for students, teens, and children.
Both banks periodically offer new-account bonuses on checking and savings, which could net you a few hundred dollars. Terms vary, so check each bank's site for current offers.
Feature | Citibank | Chase |
|---|---|---|
Savings rate | 4.25% (Citi Accelerate Savings, select markets only); rates vary by ZIP code | Rates vary by ZIP code |
Monthly fee | $4.50 (Savings) | $5 (Savings); $25 (Premier Savings) |
Fee-waiver balance | $500 average monthly balance | $300 daily balance (Savings); $15,000 daily balance or a linked qualifying Chase checking account (Premier Savings) |
Minimum to open | None | Not specified |
CD types offered | Fixed Rate, Step Up, No Penalty | Standard |
CD term range | 3 months to 5 years | 1 month to 10 years |
Minimum CD deposit | $500 | $1,000 |
Early withdrawal penalty | No Penalty CD: none after 6 days; Fixed Rate: 90 days' interest (terms of 1 year or less) or 180 days' interest (terms over 1 year); Step Up: 180 days' simple interest | 90 days of interest (under 6 months), 180 days (6–24 months), or 365 days (24+ months); may be deducted from principal, capped at the total interest earned during the current term |
Citi Savings' $4.50 fee is waived with a $500 average monthly balance or by also owning a Citi checking account. There's no minimum to open, though an account left at a zero balance for 90 days is subject to closure. Citi Accelerate Savings, the higher-rate option, is only available in certain states.
Chase Savings' $5 fee can also be waived through several other paths: $25 or more in repeating automatic transfers from a Chase checking account, linking to a qualifying checking account, linking to a Chase College account, a checking account enrolled in overdraft protection, or an account owner under 25.
Citibank offers three CD types: Fixed Rate, Step Up, and No Penalty, all with a $500 minimum deposit, making it a solid option for smaller savers. The No Penalty CD lets you withdraw your full balance and interest without a fee after the first 6 days, though it doesn't allow partial withdrawals. Step Up CDs raise the rate at set intervals over a 30-month term and carry an early withdrawal penalty of 180 days' simple interest.
Chase offers a wider overall range of terms, giving it the edge for a saver planning around a longer, more specific timeline. But you have to deposit at least $1,000, twice the minimum CD deposit at Citibank.
Feature | Citibank | Chase |
|---|---|---|
Google Play rating | 4.8 stars (1.3M+ reviews) | 4.8 stars (2.1M+ reviews) |
Apple App Store rating | 4.9 stars (4.1M ratings) | 4.8 stars (9.5M ratings) |
Mobile check deposit | Yes | Yes |
Zelle transfers | Yes | Yes |
Credit-monitoring tools | Yes | Yes |
Rewards tracking in-app | ThankYou Rewards for Citi credit cards only; checking and savings don't earn points | Chase Offers and rewards tracking |
Like most banks, if you prefer to handle your finances from your phone or laptop, each bank offers mobile check deposit, Zelle transfers, and built-in credit-monitoring tools. Both apps rate near the top overall, tied at 4.8 stars on Google Play, with Citibank edging out Chase slightly on the Apple App Store, 4.9 stars versus 4.8.
If you also carry a Citi credit card, you can manage it alongside your bank accounts in the Citi app. Just keep in mind that ThankYou points come from card spending; Citi checking and savings accounts no longer earn them.
Feature | Citibank | Chase |
|---|---|---|
Phone support | 24/7 | 24/7 |
Email support | No, for security and privacy reasons | No, for security and privacy reasons |
Chat support | Yes, in-app | Yes, in-app |
In-person support | About 650 branches, concentrated in metro areas | About 5,000 branches nationwide |
Social media support | Yes (Facebook, Instagram, X) | Yes, via @ChaseSupport on X, Facebook, and Instagram; weekdays 7am–11pm ET, weekends 10am–7pm ET |
Citibank and Chase both offer 24/7 phone support and in-app chat, so availability on those fronts is essentially a wash. Neither bank offers general email support, since standard email isn't secure enough for sharing personal or financial account details.
If you prefer to bank in person, Chase wins on branch access. Outside major metro areas, Citibank customers will mostly bank digitally or rely on the partner ATM network.
For a customer who lives in or near one of Citibank's major metro markets, the branch gap won't matter much day to day. Outside those markets, Chase's nationwide footprint is the more dependable option for anyone who wants the reassurance of a nearby branch, even if they rarely end up using it.
Someone who lives in a major metro area where Citibank has a branch, and values its large fee-free ATM network elsewhere.
Someone who keeps $30,000 or more across Citi deposit and investment accounts and qualifies for a relationship tier, where foreign exchange and non-Citi ATM fees are waived.
A saver who wants a no-penalty CD option and a lower minimum deposit.
Someone who wants the largest possible branch network in 48 states and the District of Columbia.
A saver who wants a wider range of CD terms for longer or more specific timelines.
If you want to open bank accounts for a child or teen.
A Chase credit card holder who wants to consolidate banking and Chase Offers cashback deals under one roof.
Citibank
[INSERT CITIBANK DISCLAIMER PLACEHOLDER]
Chase
Offer valid 06/24/2026 - 1/21/2027
¹Barlow Research Associates, Inc. Analyst’s Journal article, “Chase Continues to Hold the Number One Primary Bank Market Share Position in Small Business” by Sandy Hanson, published January 8, 2026. Findings reflect primary bank market share among small businesses (annual revenues $100K–<$10mm) 10 using barlow research survey data from 1q2024–4q2025; top bank set determined by two-year primary market share.
²Chase Business Complete Checking® (“Complete Checking”): There is a $15 Monthly Service Fee (MSF) that we’ll waive if you meet any of these qualifying activities for each Complete Checking account in a monthly statement period: (A) Maintain a linked personal Chase Private Client CheckingSM, JPMorgan Classic Checking or Private Client Checking Plus account (the linked personal account owner must be a signer and direct business owner listed on the Complete Checking account), (B) Meet Chase Military Banking requirements or (C) Fulfill at least $2,000 in one Qualifying Activity shown below.
Qualifying Activities: (1) $2,000 Minimum Daily Ending Balance for Complete Checking each business day during the monthly statement period (excluding the last business day); (2) $2,000 Chase Payment Solutions® deposits into Complete Checking (net of chargebacks, refunds, or other adjustments) at least one day before the end of the Complete Checking monthly statement period, using one or more of the following: Chase QuickAccept®, InstaMed® Patient Payments and InstaMed Patient Portal and/or other eligible Chase Payment Solutions products. Eligible deposits must be made from a Chase Payment Solutions account associated with the same business as your Complete Checking account. The cutoff time for eligible deposits is 11:59 p.m. ET one day prior to the last day of your Complete Checking monthly statement period. Deposits are subject to limits, verification, fraud monitoring, and other restrictions; or (3) $2,000 Chase Ink® and/or Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business® card eligible purchases in the most recent monthly card billing cycle, which may be different than your Complete Checking monthly statement period. Eligible purchases must be made using card(s) associated with the same business as your Complete Checking account, and must be eligible to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points.
Additional fees for certain transactions and cash deposits may apply. For full Complete Checking product details and fees, please review the Additional Banking Services and Fees for Business Accounts at chase.com/business/disclosures or visit a Chase branch. This information is subject to change. QuickAccept is not available in U.S. territories or outside the U.S. QuickAccept usage subject to eligibility, terms of service, monitoring and further review. QuickAccept is not available to all businesses. Message and data rates may apply from your service provider.
³Eligibility: Offer not available to existing Chase business checking customers, government entities, political action committees, or those with campaign or other political accounts or accounts closed within 90 days of opening or accounts closed with a negative balance within 3 years from account opening. Signers can receive one business checking offer every two years from last offer enrollment date. One offer per account. Employees of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and affiliates are not eligible.
How to qualify:
1. Open a new Chase Business Complete Checking® account online or at a branch. For Chase Performance Business Checking®, Chase Performance Business Checking® with Interest, Chase Platinum Business CheckingSM, or Not For Profit accounts, visit a branch to open an account. Accounts subject to approval.
2. Deposit the minimum amount shown below in new money (cannot be existing deposits at Chase or affiliates) into your new qualifying checking account within 30 days of offer enrollment and maintain that balance for 60 days from offer enrollment. If your balance falls below the required minimum deposit amount shown below at any time during the 60 days, your offer amount may be reduced or may no longer qualify.
| Business checking offer amount | Required minimum new money deposit amount |
|---|---|
| $400 | $2,000 |
| $500 | $10,000 |
Maya Dollarhide is a writer specializing in personal finance, with a special focus on student loans and debt consolidation and management. She has written for Yahoo Finance, Investopedia, Student Loan Hero, Bankrate, and other publications.
