Citizens One Reviews
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About Citizens One
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Citizens Bank (NMLS #433960) is a mortgage lender that’s part of Citizens Financial Group, headquartered in Rhode Island. With roots going back to 1828, it is one of the oldest banks in the country. It offers an online application process for borrowers in all states and in-person mortgage services at branches in 14 states and Washington, D.C. Mortgage rates are available on its website.
- Publishes daily rates online
- Calculator for rates, payments and closing costs
- Rate discount for bank customers
- Online application
- Physical branches in only 14 states and D.C.
- Doesn’t provide borrower requirements online
- No USDA loans
Helpful Reviews
Rates
Citizens Bank publishes current rates daily for 15- and 30- year fixed-rate mortgages and seven-year/six-month adjustable-rate mortgages (ARM) on its website. The published rates include the interest rate, annual percentage rate (APR), estimated monthly payment and discount points. You can get a more personalized rate estimate with closing costs if you fill out a quick online form with your income, estimated credit score, state, home cost and down payment.
Citizens Bank gives point discounts for bank members or if you set up automatic loan payments. A rate point is a prepaid or lender-offered reduction of the published rate. You can prepay for a point reduction in your closing costs, which usually costs 1% of your loan price and reduces your rate by 0.25%.
From 2019 to 2021, the average home purchase rate from Citizens Bank was close to the national average, according to data from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act. In 2021, its average rate was 0.12% lower than the national average.
Citizens One average home purchase rate vs. national average
| Year | Difference from national average |
|---|---|
| 2021 | -0.12% |
| 2020 | +0.01% |
| 2019 | +0.01% |
Application process
Citizens Bank offers several ways to apply for a mortgage. You can apply in person at a branch, go online or call. If you do it online, you can complete the entire application, including uploading documents and getting final approval. There is also an online form to get preapproval, which you can provide to sellers when making a home purchase offer.
When you apply for a mortgage with Citizens Bank, you can request a rate lock. This helps if rates are fluctuating and you don’t want to risk an increase. Citizens Bank has a 60-day rate lock.
Citizens One application features
| Features | Availability |
|---|---|
| Online application | |
| Mobile document upload | |
| Physical branches | 14 states |
| Publishes minimum rate on website | |
| Rate lock | 60 days |
| Pre-qualification (no hard credit pull) | |
| Certified approval letter |
Loan types
Citizens Bank offers the most common loan types, including conventional mortgages and government-backed loans (such as FHA and VA loans). The company also has some unique products, like new-construction mortgages and home loans specifically for doctors. Home loans and refinancing are both available with fixed or adjustable rates.
From 2019 to 2021, home purchase loan applications steadily increased at Citizens Bank. In 2021, the lender received 43,170 applications and eventually closed 33,438 home purchase loans. It denied about 13% of the applications.
Loan applications for home purchases only by year
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home purchase applications | 43,170 | 40,504 | 37,481 |
| Home purchase loans closed | 33,438 | 31,388 | 28,827 |
| Home purchase applications denied | 5,550 | 5,061 | 4,922 |
| Home purchase preapprovals denied | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Refinancing
Between 2019 and 2021, Citizens Bank made more refinance loans than home purchase loans. Refinancing is more popular when rates go down, as they did throughout 2020 and 2021. In 2022 rates have been steadily climbing, so there is expected to be less demand among homeowners.
Still, refinancing remains a viable option for some borrowers. Reasons you might consider refinancing include getting a reduced interest rate, switching to a fixed-rate loan or cashing out home equity.
Home purchase vs. refinance loans by year
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home purchase loans | 28.09% | 30.41% | 32.81% |
| Refinance loans | 36.97% | 43.66% | 33.81% |
| Cash-out refinance | 10.71% | 10.00% | 9.98% |
Home equity loans and HELOCs
Citizens Bank offers a home equity line of credit (HELOC) with a 10-year borrowing period and a 15-year repayment period. There are no application fees or closing costs. This type of loan allows you to use the equity in your home to access funds for renovations, paying off debt, paying for education or making large purchases. Citizens doesn’t offer home equity loans as of the publishing date.
Requirements
Citizens doesn’t state specific borrower requirements on the website. Each loan type will have a different set of standards for qualification, which help determine the rate at which you can borrow and how much Citizens will lend. These guidelines include:
- Credit score and history
- Down payment amount
- Debt-to-income(DTI) ratio
The DTI is calculated by taking your monthly debt obligations and dividing them by your gross income. Many lenders look for a DTI ratio no higher than 43%, including your mortgage payment. In most cases, 28% or less of your gross income should be dedicated to a mortgage payment, according to the Citizens website.
Conventional loans typically require a credit score of at least 620, a minimum down payment of 3% and a 45% or lower DTI ratio. Keep in mind that jumbo loans have more stringent requirements.
Government-backed loans, like FHA, VA and USDA loans, typically have less strict requirements than conventional mortgages. For an FHA loan, you can get approved with a credit score as low as 500 (but having a credit score of 580 or above lowers the down payment requirement from 10% to 3.5%). Other government-backed loans, like VA loans, are available with zero down, but they require higher credit scores.
National mortgage requirements by type
| Min. credit score | Min. down payment | Compare with other lenders | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional | Typically 620 | Typically 3% | Mortgage lenders |
| FHA | 500 | 3.5% with 580 credit score | FHA lenders |
| VA | Set by lender (often 580) | 0% | VA lenders |
For information about USDA loans, check out our guide on USDA lenders.
Cost and fees
Citizens Bank doesn’t give a specific breakdown of mortgage loan costs online. You will get a personalized Loan Estimate form detailing your loan terms and closing costs within three business days of submitting your loan application. Closer to the closing date, you will get a Closing Disclosure, which has final loan costs.
Closing costs usually range between 2% and 6% of the loan amount, according to Citizens, and can include the following:
- Origination fee
- Appraisal fee
- Attorney fees
- Discount points
- Escrow funds
- Title fees
The company advertises no application fees or closing costs for HELOCs. There is a $50 annual fee, which Citizens waives the first year.
FAQ
What is Citizens One?
Citizens One is a part of Citizens Financial Group, which is one of the largest financial institutions in the U.S. It offers conventional and government-backed loans for home purchasing and refinancing, as well as HELOCs.
Is Citizens One legit?
Citizens is a legitimate lender and one of the largest banks in the U.S., with $226.7 billion in total assets as of June 30, 2022. In 2021, Citizens closed on over 33,000 home purchase loans throughout the country.
Where is Citizens One available?
Citizens is available for mortgage lending nationwide. The company has branches in 14 states, including Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
Still have questions?
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- 4,888,580 reviews on ConsumerAffairs are verified.
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- We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews.
- Our moderators read all reviews to verify quality and helpfulness.
Sources
- Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, “ HMDA Data Publication .” Accessed Sept. 29, 2022.
Citizens One Company Information
- Company Name:
- Citizens One
- Formerly Named:
- CCO Mortgage
- Website:
- www.citizensone.com




