As Americans struggle with rising gas prices, Citizens Bank's new bonus offer could put money back in your pocket every time you pull up to the pump.
Customers who open a new Citizens checking account by Nov. 15, 2026, can earn a cash bonus when they use their Citizens debit card for qualifying fuel purchases.
You can earn up to $50 per month (or $600 a year) if you open a One Deposit Checking from Citizens or Clearly Better Business Checking® account and receive at least $1,000 in qualifying direct deposits. Or get up to $100 a month ($1,200 a year) with a Citizens Quest® or Citizens Private Client® Checking account.
One Deposit Checking from Citizens®
Monthly maintenance fee
$9.99 (can be waived with one deposit each statement period.)
Minimum opening deposit
$0
Minimum balance
None
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.0%
Free ATM network
More than 98,000+ Citizens, MoneyPass and Allpoint® ATMs
ATM fee reimbursement
No
Overdraft fee
$35 overdraft fee per item, limit 5 per day. (No fee if item or overdrawn balance is $5 or less.)
Terms apply.
Pros
- No minimum opening deposit
- $9.99 monthly waived with one deposit
- Can get direct deposits up to two days early
- 1,000+ branches across 14 states and Washington, D.C.
Cons
- Doesn't earn interest
- Out-of-network ATM fees aren’t reimbursed
Your bonus is based on the dollar amount your spend each month, up to the applicable maximum: For example, if you're eligible for the $50 tier and spends $35 on gas in November, you could receive a $35 bonus that month. If you spent $130 on gas, you'd get the maximum $50 bonus.
To qualify, your account must be opened by Nov. 15, 2026. Qualifying deposits include recurring paychecks, Social Security payments, pensions and other regular income. Transfers through Zelle, Venmo, PayPal and other peer-to-peer platforms are not eligible.
Each monthly bonus will be deposited on the last day of the following month.
According to Citizens, qualifying fuel purchases are based on merchant category codes assigned by merchants like Shell, Wawa, Speedway, ExxonMobil, Cumberland Farms and BP, among many others.
Whether a purchase qualifies depends on the code submitted with the transaction, not the item purchased. So, a nonfuel purchase at an eligible merchant may qualify, while a fuel purchase submitted under a different code may not.
Citizens savings account bonus
The Providence-based bank is also offering an offer for customers who open an eligible new savings account and deposit at least $15,000 in new money within 10 business days. (New money is defined as external funds not already deposited in a Citizens or Citizens Access account.)
You can earn $50 per month ($600 per year) by maintaining a balance of $15,000 to $39,999 or $150 per month ($1,800 per year) with a balance of $40,000 or more.
One Deposit Savings from Citizens®
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.01%
Minimum balance
None
Monthly fee
$4.99 (waived for first four months and ongoing with one deposit per statement period, $200 minimum daily balance, or for savers under 25 or 65+)
Maximum transactions
Unlimited
Excessive transactions fee
None
Offers checking account?
Yes
ATM card?
Yes
Terms apply.
Pros
- No opening deposit or balance requirement
- Can get ATM card
- No limit on transactions
Cons
- Negligible APY across all balance tiers.
- $4.99 monthly fee if you don't meet waiver criteria.
- $3 out-of-network ATM fee
Customers who qualify for the highest rewards tiers for both bonuses could earn as much as $3,000 a year in all.
Once you meet the initial offer requirements, your account must remain open and in good standing. Eligibility for either bonus is evaluated each month — if you don't earn a bonus one month, you could still earn it later.
Pros and cons of bank bonuses
Consider the benefits and drawbacks before taking advantage of a new sign-up bonus.
Pros
- Free cash. Even if you have to meet account requirements, the money can help pay down debt or fatten your emergency fund.
- Other perks. Some banks include additional incentives, such as a higher APY on a checking account or cash back on a linked credit card.
Cons
- Eligibility requirements. You may need to deposit a minimum amount, maintain a certain balance or complete qualifying transactions.
- The account offerings may not be great. A hefty bonus may be attached to an account with little or no interest, high fees, a limited ATM network or other drawbacks.
- The Bbonus may be taxable. Bank account bonuses are usually considered taxable income, so a slice of the bonus you earn may have to be given to the IRS.
FAQs
What states does Citizens operate in?
Residents of all 50 U.S. states can open checking and savings accounts with Citizens online, provided they meet the bank's account eligibility requirements. Citizens has approximately 1,000 physical branches, concentrated in 14 states and Washington, D.C.
What qualifies as direct deposits for the Citizens bonus?
According to Citizens, qualifying deposits include recurring income electronically deposited through paychecks, Social Security payments, pensions and other regular income. Transfers through Zelle, Venmo, PayPal and other peer-to-peer platforms do not qualify.
Is it OK to have more than one bank account?
If you are good at staying on top of your finances, having multiple deposit accounts can allow you to take advantage of various benefits. You can use one checking account for bills and another for daily spending, or use separate accounts for business and personal expenses.
Some couples have joint accounts for household expenses, as well as their own private accounts.
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