Banking » Reviews » Citi Accelerate Savings Review
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Citi Accelerate Savings Review

The Citi Accelerate Savings offers one of the highest APYs for traditional banks but is valid in 42 states only and requires Citi bank account
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Writer, Contributor

Experience

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor, which helps consumers make better financial decisions.  Silvermann’s areas of expertise include investing, banking, and credit cards. Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more. Aside from being a finance expert, his background includes working as a business and financial analyst. Above all, he is passionate about teaching people how to manage their money and helping millions on their journey to a better financial future.
Interest Rates Last Update: September 20, 2023
The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Writer, Contributor

Experience

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor, which helps consumers make better financial decisions.  Silvermann’s areas of expertise include investing, banking, and credit cards. Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more. Aside from being a finance expert, his background includes working as a business and financial analyst. Above all, he is passionate about teaching people how to manage their money and helping millions on their journey to a better financial future.
Interest Rates Last Update: September 20, 2023

The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.

Banking » Reviews » Citi Accelerate Savings Review
Advertiser Disclosure This website is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This website does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace. This website may use other proprietary factors to impact card offer listings on the website such as consumer selection or the likelihood of the applicant’s credit approval. This allows us to maintain a full-time, editorial staff and work with finance experts you know and trust. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impacts any of the editorial content on The Smart Investor. While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, The Smart Investor does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof. Learn more about how we review products and read our advertiser disclosure for how we make money. All products are presented without warranty.

Citi Accelerate Savings Review

The Citi Accelerate Savings offers one of the highest APYs for traditional banks but is valid in 42 states only and requires Citi bank account
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Writer, Contributor

Experience

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor, which helps consumers make better financial decisions.  Silvermann’s areas of expertise include investing, banking, and credit cards. Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more. Aside from being a finance expert, his background includes working as a business and financial analyst. Above all, he is passionate about teaching people how to manage their money and helping millions on their journey to a better financial future.
Interest Rates Last Update: September 20, 2023
The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Writer, Contributor

Experience

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor, which helps consumers make better financial decisions.  Silvermann’s areas of expertise include investing, banking, and credit cards. Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more. Aside from being a finance expert, his background includes working as a business and financial analyst. Above all, he is passionate about teaching people how to manage their money and helping millions on their journey to a better financial future.
Interest Rates Last Update: November 1, 2023

The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.

We earn a commission from our partner links on this page. It doesn't affect the integrity of our unbiased, independent editorial staff. Transparency is a core value for us, read our advertiser disclosure and how we make money.

Citi Accelerate Savings

APY Savings

4.25%

Our Rating

4.2
4.2/5

Promotion

$100 – $5,000 Minimum deposit of $10,000 – $1,000,000+ needed. Expired on 07/07/2023

Fees

$4.50/$10 per month Can be waived if you maintain an average combined monthly balance of $500/$1,500 in your eligible accounts, make one enhanced direct deposit or one qualifying bill payment per statement period

Citi Accelerate Savings

APY Savings

4.35%

Our Rating

4.2
4.2/5

Promotion

$100 – $5,000 Minimum deposit of $10,000 – $1,000,000+ needed. Expired on 07/07/2023

Fees

$4.50/$10 per month Can be waived if you maintain an average combined monthly balance of $500/$1,500 in your eligible accounts, make one enhanced direct deposit or one qualifying bill payment per statement period

Citi is the third largest banking institution in the United States and a member of the Big Four banks. Given its large status, it’s no surprise that it offers a variety of deposit accounts to consumers.

One such account is the Citi Accelerate Savings account, a high-yield savings account designed to help people grow their savings over time.

The Citi Accelerate Savings account is a great choice of savings account for many people. It’s designed to be used as part of Citi’s banking packages, which offer a full suite of banking, lending, and investing services. If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution, the Citi Accelerate account might be for you.

Even if you don’t want to go all-in with Citi, the Accelerate Savings account has a competitive rate and relatively low fee waiver requirements, making it worth considering.

Pros
Cons
High interest rate
Monthly fees
No minimum opening deposit
Better rates are available elsewhere
Overdraft protection
Must have Citi checking
All-in-one banking
Automate your savings

What Does The Citi Accelerate Savings Offer?

Citi’s Accelerate Savings Account is designed for savers who want to earn a high interest rate without needing to complicate their lives with CDs or other restrictive accounts. It has no minimum deposit requirement and a simple fee structure.

Some of its main benefits include:

  • High interest rate. This account pays 4.25% interest, which is competitive with other online savings accounts.
  • No minimum opening deposit. You can open this account without having a large opening deposit.
  • Overdraft protection. You can link this account to a Citi checking account to get overdraft protection.
  • All-in-one banking. While not a benefit of the saving account, Citi does offer every financial service you could need, from banking to lending to investing. That makes this account appealing if you want to manage all your money in one spot.
  • Automate your savings. You can set up automated transfers from a linked checking account to make saving easy.

What Are The Main Drawbacks?

Citi’s Accelerate Savings isn’t perfect. You may have to deal with maintenance fees and other annoyances.

  • Monthly fees. With a basic banking package, you’ll pay a monthly fee of $4.50 unless you have an average balance of $500 in the account. 
  • Better rates are available elsewhere. The Citi Accelerate Savings account offers a competitive interest rate. However, if you want the best hysa possible, there are other online banks such as CIT or LendingClub, have higher rates.
  • Must have Citi checking: If you would like to open a savings account with Citi, you should have a Citi checking account.

How to Deposit and Withdraw Money?

Deposit
Withdrawl
Visit an ATM
Visit an ATM
Online transfers
Online transfers
Mobile check deposit
Direct deposit
Mail-in deposit

Making deposits and withdrawals from a Citi Accelerate Savings account is relatively easy. You have a few options.

  • Visit an ATM: Find one of the 65,000+ fee-free ATMs around the US. They’re commonly located at Target, CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid. Insert your debit card, choose the account to withdraw from or deposit to, and use the menu prompts to complete the transaction
  • Direct deposit: Set up direct deposit to have your paycheck go directly to your savings account
  • Mobile check deposit: the steps for mobile check deposit include the following:
    • Sign in to the Citi app on your phone
    • Select mobile deposit
    • Take a photo of your signed check to deposit the balance
  • Online transfer: the steps for online transfer include the following:
    • Sign in to the Citi app on your phone
    • Select the transfer option
    • Choose whether to move money in or out of your account
    • Select the account you’re transferring from or to
    • Wait for the transfer to complete
  • Mail-in deposit: Sign a check and add your account number, then mail it to Citi

Should I Open a Citi Accelerate Savings Account?

If you’re considering a Citi Accelerate Savings Account, you should ask yourself these questions to make sure it’s a good fit.

  • Do I want an all-in-one banking experience? Citi designs its deposit accounts, including the Accelerate Savings account, to be part of a banking package that includes checking and other financial services. If you want to use Citi for checking, lending, and other services as well, you’ll likely appreciate having an Accelerate Savings account.
  • Can I avoid fees? Citi does charge a maintenance fee if you can’t meet certain minimum requirements based on the level of banking package your select. You can avoid Citi fees if you have to maintain a balance of $500, so make sure you have at least that much to dedicate to the account.
  • Can I live without access to a branch? Citi offers accounts in many areas where it does not have any bank branches. You’ll have to decide if you can deal with a purely online banking experience.
  • Is a rate lower than the highest available alright with me? Citi offers a competitive interest rate, but it isn’t the highest available. There are plenty of other reasons to go with this account, such as its all-in-one experience, but if you just want the highest rate, you may want to look elsewhere.
Financial Institution
Savings APY
American Express
4.30%
Marcus
4.40%
Capital One
4.30%
Synchrony Bank
4.75%
Discover Bank
4.35%
Lending Club
4.50%
Ally Bank
4.25%
Upgrade
5.07%

How to Open a Citi Accelerate Savings Account

Opening a Citi Accelerate Savings account is relatively simple, with the bank claiming it takes just ten minutes. As part of the process, you’ll need to choose the banking package you’d like. This will influence the services you have access to and the fees you pay.

To open an account on the Citi website:

  1. Select the banking package you’d like, from Citigold to Citi Access
  2. Choose whether you want to add a linked checking account
  3. Provide some personal info, like your ID and Social Security number
  4. Provide employment and income information
  5. Set up a Citi bank account
  6. Read the account agreements and disclosures
  7. Transfer funds to your account.

FAQs

Yes, Citi offers Individual Retirement Account options. You can open a traditional or Roth IRA. However, you’re limited to opening a money market account or certificate of deposit. You can’t open an Accelerate Savings account in a Citi IRA.

No, you cannot open a health savings account through Citi.

Yes, Citi allows its customers to set up direct deposits to their Accelerate Savings account. This is a great way to automate your savings.

To close any account at Citi, including an Accelerate Savings account, you’ll need to contact your account manager. As part of the process, you’ll need to fill out an account closure form and transfer all funds out of the account.

There is a $100 – $5,000 bonus if you open a Citi savings account and deposit $10,000 – $1,000,000+. This specific promotion expired in $10,000 – $1,000,000+.

Citi does not place any limits on how much you can withdraw from your savings account. However, there is a daily limit on ATM withdrawals. The limit is $2,000 for people with the Citigold or Citi Priority account packages and $1,500 for everyone else.

Yes, Citi allows customers to open joint savings accounts. It offers a fee waiver if one of the account holders is a minor or over 65.

Savings Accounts Reviews

Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor, which helps consumers make better financial decisions.  Silvermann's areas of expertise include investing, banking, and credit cards. Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more. Aside from being a finance expert, his background includes working as a business and financial analyst. Above all, he is passionate about teaching people how to manage their money and helping millions on their journey to a better financial future.