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Citi Accelerate Savings

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Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
Up to

4.35%

Fee
$4.50 per month
(can be waived)
Minimum deposit to open
$0

Our verdict

Get an impressive 4.35% APY in-branch or online, but only if you have a banking package.

The Citi Accelerate savings account is a great option if you seek a high-yield savings account, even if you don’t live near a branch. The current rate of 4.35% APY is competitive compared to other high-yield savings accounts in the market. But depending on where you live, you may not be eligible to open the account. You also must enroll in a Citi banking package and meet the requirements to qualify for the account.

Best for: Those seeking a high-yield savings option and willing to maintain a Citi banking package to avoid fees.

Pros

  • High 4.35% APY (varies on location)
  • Online and in-branch service
  • Digital banking and auto-save features

Cons

  • Requires Citi banking package
  • Limited availability
  • Monthly fee applies if balance requirements aren’t met

In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Your reviews
  • Ask a question

Who is the Citi Accelerate savings account best for?

If you want a competitive high-yield savings account and are comfortable with opening a Citi banking package, the Citi Accelerate savings account is a great pick for you. By having a banking package, you can avoid the fees and reap the rewards of the higher interest yieldings.

Citi is a solid choice if you prefer to do all your banking in one place and join the relationship program. There are three tiers: Citibank Account Package, Citi Priority and Citigold packages. Each offers extra rewards.

If you’re in the Citi Relationship Tier, you can get the $4.50 monthly fee waived for the first three months after opening, or you can hold a $500 monthly average balance to waive the fee.

What we like about the Citi Accelerate savings account

There’s a lot to love about the Citi Accelerate savings account, namely its competitive rate of 4.35% APY (rate varies by location), which is much higher than traditional savings accounts. There is also no initial deposit requirement to open the account.

And naturally, you’ll have FDIC Insurance of Up to $250,000 per depositor on the Accelerate savings account.

Large and trusted bank

Citibank is considered one of the Big Four banks in the United States. Because it is a big bank, it is also a leader in its banking products, including its robust and innovative online platform.

The online platform allows for seamless integration with your other Citi checking accounts for quick transfers. Online, you will also find features like Auto Save, which allow you to set up recurring transfers.

Vast ATM network and global presence

Since you will need a banking package to waive fees on the Accelerate savings account, you will find convenience in the fact that Citi offers broad access to over 65,000 ATMs through the Allpoint and MoneyPass networks.

There are over 600 branches in the US. Citi also has a massive global presence in over 90 countries, a notable perk for frequent travelers.

Where it falls short

Amongst the biggest drawbacks is that you must have a banking package (like the Access account package) to waive the $4.50 monthly fee. These packages may come with their own perks, like the opportunity to earn rewards, but may also have their own pitfalls, like the fact that it isn’t free. If you don’t qualify for the Accelerate savings product, Citi’s regular savings account only pays 0.03% APY at the bottom tier.

Aside from the banking package, you could maintain a balance of $500 to avoid the Accelerate fee, which means this account isn’t technically free. Citi also offers relationship tiers that can cater to the fees and your earning potential, making it a bit confusing for those who prefer simple banking solutions.

Additionally, while there’s no “balance” or opening deposit requirement, accounts with a zero balance for ninety days are subject to closure.

Limited availability

The Accelerate savings account is also limited to certain markets or areas. It is currently unavailable in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Virginia.

Compare Citi Accelerate Savings to other top savings accounts

Narrow down top savings accounts by APYs, fees and features. Select Compare on up to four accounts for a side-by-side comparison.

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1 - 6 of 22
Product Finder Score Account type Annual Percentage Yield (APY) FDIC or NCUA insured amount Minimum balance to earn interest Minimum deposit to open Bonus offer Estimated total balance
Finder score
Savings app
Up to

4.40%

Up to $2.5 million
$1
$0
$1,044
Finder score
Traditional savings,Checking
Up to

3.80%

Up to $250,000
$0
$0
Get up to $300 cash bonus with qualifying direct deposit. Terms apply. This offer is available until January 31, 2026.
$1,038
Finder score
Traditional savings

3.70%

Up to $250,000
$0
$0
$1,037
Live Oak Personal Savings
Live Oak Bank logo
Finder score
Traditional savings

4.20%

Up to $250,000
$0.01
$0
$1,042
Wealthfront logo
Finder score
Cash management account

4.00%

Up to $8M FDIC insurance
$1
$1
$1,040
Barclays Tiered Savings
Barclays logo
Finder score
Traditional savings
Up to

4.10%

Up to $250,000
$0
$0
$1,041
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What is the Finder Score?

The Finder Score crunches over 250 savings accounts from hundreds of financial institutions. It takes into account the product's interest rate, fees, opening deposit and features - this gives you a simple score out of 10.

To provide a Score, Finder’s banking experts analyze hundreds of savings accounts against FDIC-reported national averages as a baseline. Accounts with rates well over the national average are scored the highest, while accounts with rates well below are scored low.

Read the full Finder Score breakdown

How to open the Citi Accelerate savings

To open an account, you will have to do it either online or by phone.

For the online route:

Go to Citi’s site and follow the steps to apply.

  1. Navigate to Savings from the Banking tab.
  2. Scroll to Accelerate Savings and select Open an Account.
  3. Enter your personal information and select Next.
  4. Continue through the steps of verifying your details, entering your income information, and funding your account. Then, submit your application.

Customer reviews and ratings

BBB accreditedNo
BBB ratingD-
BBB customer reviews1.05 out of 5 stars, based on 945 customer reviews
Trustpilot score1.1 out of 5 stars, based on 764 customer reviews
Apple App Store Score4.9 out of 5 stars, based on 3,900,000 customer reviews
Google Play Score4.9 out of 5 stars, based on 1,230,000 customer reviews
Customer reviews verified as of04 April 2025
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) grades Citibank with a D- due to the failure to respond to numerous complaints filed against the business. Citi is not BBB-accredited, and despite being such a large bank, it has a small number of overall reviews.

Citi has a couple of different unclaimed profiles on Trustpilot, but the one with the most reviews is for “Citibank” with an abysmal 1.1 out of 5 stars with 764 total reviews. The primary complaint is about customer service and response times.

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