Fees are always an important concern when comparing bank accounts. The less you pay in fees, the more of your money you get to keep. Citizens Bank charges certain fees that are common at other banks. The fees you pay can depend on which type of account you open.
Here are the main fees to know at a glance.
Fee Type | Fee |
| Monthly checking account maintenance fee | $0 to $25 |
| Overdraft fee | $35 |
| Extended overdraft fee | $30 |
| Citizens Bank ATM fee | $0 |
| Non-Citizens Bank ATM fee | $3 |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% of the transaction amount |
Citizens Bank Overdraft Fees
Banks can charge overdraft fees when there are insufficient funds in your checking account to cover debit transactions. Citizens Bank charges overdraft fees for checking accounts just like other banks.
Here are the standard and extended overdraft fees at Citizens Bank.
Type | Fee |
| Overdraft fee | $35 per item, up to a maximum of five fees per day |
| Sustained overdraft fee | $30, charged on the 5th, 8th and 11th business day if your account remains overdrawn |
| Overdraft protection fee (transfer from savings) | 0 |
| Overdraft line of credit fee | $12 transfer fee per day $0 on any day all overdrafts are for $5 or less with Overdraft Pass $30 annual fee, plus interest on all outstanding balances |
Will you pay overdraft fees? Not necessarily. Some Citizens Bank checking accounts don’t have overdraft fees at all, while others qualify for overdraft fee rebates through Citizens Peace of Mind.
The Peace of Mind feature notifies you when you’re in danger of triggering an overdraft fee so you have time to make a deposit. If you do so and are charged an overdraft fee, Citizens Bank refunds the fee back to you.
Account Name | Overdraft Fee | Fees on Overdraft Plans |
| One Deposit Checking | Citizens Peace of Mind | N/A |
| Citizens Evervalue Checking | None | None |
| Student Checking | None | None |
| Citizens Quest Checking | Citizens Peace of Mind | None |
| Citizens Private Client Checking | Citizens Peace of Mind | None |
Citizens Bank Checking Account Fees
It’s not uncommon to pay a monthly maintenance fee and other fees for traditional checking accounts. Citizens Bank checking account fees can depend on which account you have, though again, you might be able to waive the fee.
Here’s an overview of Citizens Bank checking account maintenance fees.
Account Name | Monthly Maintenance Fee | How To Avoid |
| One Deposit Checking | $0 or $9.99 | Citizens Bank waives the fee when you make one deposit each statement period. |
| Citizens Evervalue Checking | $5 | The fee cannot be waived for this account. |
| Student Checking | $0 | There is no fee if you’re under age 25. |
| Citizens Quest Checking | $0 or $25 | Citizens Bank waives the fee when you make $5,000 in monthly deposits or maintain a $25,000 combined balance across all eligible accounts. |
| Citizens Private Client Checking | $0 | You must maintain $200,000 in combined balances or investments to qualify. |
Citizens Bank ATM Fees
Citizens Bank offers a network of more than 3,000 ATMs for convenient access to your money. You can also use your ATM or debit card to withdraw money at other banks’ ATMs, though a fee may apply.
Citizens Bank ATM fees can apply to both checking account savings accounts if you have an ATM or debit card.
Fee Type | Fee |
| Transactions at Citizens Bank ATMs | $0 |
| Transactions at non-Citizens Bank ATMs | $3 for each withdrawal, transfer, balance inquiry or mini statement (where available) when using another bank’s ATM. ATM owners may charge you additional fees. |
The non-Citizens’ Bank ATM fee is waived for certain accounts. You can avoid this fee if you have any of the following checking options:
- Citizens Quest Checking
- Citizens Private Client Checking
The fee is also waived for the Citizens Quest Savings account.
Citizens Bank Foreign Transaction Fees
Foreign transaction fees may apply when you complete a transaction in a foreign currency, such as when traveling overseas or sending money abroad.
Here are some of the fees you’ll pay for foreign transactions at Citizens Bank.
Fee Type | Fee |
| Foreign transaction | 3% of the transaction amount |
| Foreign currency exchange | $15 to $35 |
| Foreign wire transfer (incoming) | $10 to $12 |
| Foreign wire transfer (outgoing) | $15 to $40 |
| Foreign check returned fee | $25 |
| Foreign check collection fee | $30 to $50 |
Again, you may be able to avoid these fees if you have a Citizens Quest or Citizens Private Client checking account or a Citizens Quest Savings account.
Citizens Bank vs. Bank of America
If you’re interested in traditional branch banking, Bank of America is another option you might consider.
Compared to Citizens Bank, Bank of America has a significantly larger ATM network. There are also more options for branch banking.
In terms of the range of products and services offered, they’re roughly the same at both banks. The biggest difference is that Citizens Bank is a private student loan lender whereas Bank of America no longer offers student loans.
Sallie Mae vs. Citizens Bank
In addition to student lending, Sallie Mae also offers a handful of banking products. You can open savings accounts, money market accounts or CD accounts here.
Compared to Citizens Bank, Sallie Mae offers higher interest rates on deposit accounts. So if you’re looking for a high-yield savings account option, it’s worth a look.
However, you can’t open a checking account with Sallie Mae and unlike Citizens Bank, there are no branches or ATMs that you can access to manage your money. If you’re curious about how student loan options compare, check out our Citizens Bank student loan review.
Citizens Bank vs. SoFi
SoFi offers checking and savings accounts, along with investment accounts, student loans and home loans all in one place online. Some of the top features of SoFi checking and savings accounts include competitive rates and no monthly maintenance fees.
You won’t get branch banking with SoFi, which may be a drawback if you need to bank in person from time to time. However, if you’re hoping to avoid high banking fees while getting a broad range of benefits and features, SoFi delivers.
