Fee refund · US
How to get a Citi fee refunded
The short answer
Citi says it does not charge Overdraft, Returned Item, or Overdraft Protection Transfer fees. The fees that matter are the Monthly Service Fee ($5 on Access Checking, $15 on Regular Checking, waived with $250+ in qualifying direct deposits), the $2.50 Non-Citi ATM fee and the 3% foreign exchange fee on debit card use abroad.
To ask for a fee back, contact Citi soon after it posts, name the fee, its date and amount, and ask for a one-time courtesy refund. Citi decides — it isn’t guaranteed.
By Meet PandyaChecked Source: Citi Consumer Deposit Account Agreement and checking account page
Citi’s common fees
From Citi’s official fee schedule, in US dollars. Fees below are for Citi Access Checking, Citi Regular Checking.
| Fee | Amount | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Overdraft fee | None - Citi does not charge Overdraft, Returned Item, or Overdraft Protection Transfer fees[1][2] | A merchant or other payee may still charge you a fee if a payment is returned. |
| Returned item (NSF) fee | None - Citi does not charge fees for Returned Items. A fee for a Return Deposit Item (a check you deposited that the paying bank returns) is separate.[1][2] | — |
| Monthly service fee - Access Checking | $5.00[1] | Waived for months the account has $250+ in Direct Deposits or other qualifying transactions, and for account owners age 23 or younger (effective July 18, 2026). Also not charged to Citi Priority, Citigold and Citigold Private Client Relationship Tier customers. |
| Monthly service fee - Regular Checking | $15.00[1][2] | Waived for months the account has $250+ in Direct Deposits or other qualifying transactions; from January 1, 2027, Citi’s published amendment raises that to $1,000. Also not charged to Citi Priority, Citigold and Citigold Private Client Relationship Tier customers. |
| Non-Citi ATM fee | $2.50 when you withdraw money from an ATM outside Citi’s surcharge-free network; the ATM operator or network may also charge a fee[1][2] | Use a Citi ATM or an ATM in the surcharge-free network. Not charged to Citi Priority, Citigold and Citigold Private Client Relationship Tier customers. |
| Foreign exchange fee (debit card and ATM) | 3% of the transaction amount for each international debit card purchase or ATM withdrawal in a currency other than U.S. dollars, when the transaction is conducted outside the 50 United States and its territories[2] | Waived for Citi Priority, Citigold and Citigold Private Client Relationship Tier customers, per the fee chart. |
Citi’s overdraft rules
- Citi states it does not charge Overdraft, Returned Item, or Overdraft Protection Transfer fees, though it may in its sole discretion return or pay a transaction when funds are insufficient, and a merchant or other payee may charge its own fee.
- Access Checking is designed so that transactions that would cause an overdraft will not be authorized; Checking Plus and Safety Check are not available for Access Checking.
- For Regular Checking, Citi offers Checking Plus (a variable-rate line of credit that transfers funds to cover overdrafts) and Safety Check (which transfers available funds from your savings account).
- A Return Deposit Item fee is separate from an overdraft or Returned Item fee: it can apply when checks you deposit are returned by the paying bank for insufficient or uncollected funds.
How to ask for a courtesy refund
General tips — not bank policy. What works is being specific, honest and brief.
- Ask soon after the fee posts, and name it exactly: the fee, its date and the amount.
- Say briefly what happened — a deposit that hadn’t cleared yet, a timing mix-up, a first slip in years. Keep it honest.
- Ask for a one-time courtesy refund of that fee. If you’ve banked there a long time or rarely pay fees, it’s fair to mention it.
- Be polite and brief. If the answer is no, ask whether there’s a way to avoid the fee next time — low-balance alerts, overdraft settings, or a different account.
- Banks decide case by case. A refund once doesn’t mean you’ll get one again, and nothing guarantees one.
How to contact Citi
As listed on Citi’s own website.
- Phone (banking): 1-888-CITIBANK (1-888-248-4226), or the number on the back of your Citibank Banking Card. TTY: Citi accepts 711 or other Relay Service.[2][1]
- Online, app or branch: Citi’s agreement says you can also contact it by signing in to Citi Online, using the Citi Mobile App, or speaking with a banker in a branch.[2]
Wally, your AI money agent
Let Wally ask for you
Wally spots bank fees and can ask your bank’s chat or secure messages for a one-time courtesy refund. Not guaranteed.
Citi decides case by case.
Read-only — Wally never moves your money.
Citi fee FAQ
Does Citi charge overdraft fees?
Citi says it does not charge Overdraft, Returned Item, or Overdraft Protection Transfer fees. A merchant or other payee may still charge you a fee.
How do I avoid the Citi checking monthly service fee?
Access Checking costs $5.00 a month and Regular Checking $15.00. Citi waives the fee for months the account has $250+ in Direct Deposits or other qualifying transactions (for Regular Checking, $1,000 from January 1, 2027, under a published amendment). Access Checking is also waived for account owners age 23 or younger (effective July 18, 2026), and Citi Priority, Citigold and Citigold Private Client Relationship Tier customers do not incur the fee.
How much is the Citi Non-Citi ATM fee?
$2.50 when money is withdrawn from an ATM outside Citi’s surcharge-free network, unless you are in a Citi Priority, Citigold or Citigold Private Client Relationship Tier. The ATM operator or network may charge its own fee as well.
Does Citi charge a foreign transaction fee on its debit card?
Citi’s fee schedule lists a foreign exchange fee of 3% of the transaction amount for international debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals made in a currency other than U.S. dollars outside the 50 United States and its territories; it is shown as waived for the Citi Priority, Citigold and Citigold Private Client tiers.
Sources
- 1.Citi Checking Account page · October 14, 2026
- 2.Citi Consumer Deposit Account Agreement, U.S. Markets (PDF, with amendments last updated October 1, 2026) · November 20, 2025
Other banks
- Bank of America fee refundUSBank of America’s schedule lists a $10 Overdraft Item Fee (no more than 2 overdraft items per day), but no fee on everyday non-recurring debit card purchases or ATM transactions. Advantage Plus Banking has a $12 monthly maintenance fee with several ways to avoid it.See the fees
- Capital One fee refundUSCapital One says it has eliminated all overdraft fees for its consumer banking customers, and 360 Checking has no monthly fee and no minimum balance. The fees its 360 Checking disclosure does list are small: $10 or $20 for a cashier’s check and $30 for an outgoing domestic wire.See the fees
- Chase fee refundUSChase’s fee schedule lists a $34 overdraft fee per transaction (up to 3 per business day), but Chase Overdraft Assist means no overdraft fee if you end the business day overdrawn by $50 or less. Chase Total Checking has a $15 monthly service fee that you can avoid in several ways.See the fees
- PNC fee refundUSPNC Virtual Wallet’s Spend account charges a $36 overdraft item fee (at most 1 per day) and no returned item (NSF) fee. Low Cash Mode gives at least 24 hours of Extra Time to bring the balance to $0 before overdraft fees are charged, and overdraft fees are automatically refunded if you are overdrawn by $5.00 or less at day end.See the fees
- TD Bank fee refundUSTD Bank’s TD Complete Checking lists a $35 overdraft fee (at most 3 per business day) with no fee if you are overdrawn by $50 or less, and a Grace Period that refunds the fee if you cover the overdraft by 11 p.m. ET the next business day. Complete Checking has a $15 monthly maintenance fee with several ways to waive it.See the fees
- U.S. Bank fee refundUSU.S. Bank’s pricing guide lists a $36 Overdraft Paid Fee per item (up to three per day), with no fee if you end the business day overdrawn by $50.00 or less and a program, Overdraft Fee Forgiven, that waives it if you cover the overdraft by 11 p.m. ET. Bank Smartly Checking has a $12 monthly maintenance fee with several ways to waive it.See the fees