Citizens Bank Reviews
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About Citizens Bank
Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens Bank is one of the largest financial institutions in the United States, offering checking and savings accounts, credit cards, loans and mortgages. It has physical branches in 14 states and Washington DC, and an online banking platform that allows customers to manage accounts from anywhere.
- Branch locations in 14 states and DC
- Easy ways to waive monthly fees
- Free financial checkups for customers
- Expensive overdrafts
- Below-average interest rates
- Limited service area
Citizens Bank Reviews
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Reviewed Nov. 28, 2025
We applied for a no interest loan through Citizens Pay for a Trek bike. This is the company Trek uses for financing. We were approved for the loan. We asked several times if this is the no interest loan. We were told if you pay it off in 12 months, it is interest free, but the minimum payment is spread out 24 months. Everything is done over the phone and the paperwork we saw did say 12 months interest free. We noticed on our last statement we were being charged interest. My husband called Citizens Pay. We were told that the 12 month interest was offered, but not guaranteed. It is based on creditworthiness. Our credit scores are in the 800s and we were approved for $25,000 line of credit. And we were told several times, that the loan was no interest if paid off in 12 months.
Reviewed Oct. 27, 2025
I have been with Citizens for many years and up till now a satisfied customer but the recent "upgraded" online bill pay for payment option DOES NOT WORK!!! So now I am TOTALLY UNSATISFIED!!!! I run my home and business finances through "make payments" option and now I am unable to track pending payments. This a SERIOUS issue that has gone on for well over a month!! This was not a problem until the system was "upgraded". And to contacting anyone to fix my issue is almost impossible.
This "upgrade" is a monumental problem for me and most probably others. When I finally got to speak to a human after up to an hour on hold and disconnect transfers issues I spent well over an hour with no permanent resolution. Seriously, this is understandably unacceptable and leaves me and perhaps other customers with no choice but to move on to a bank that consistently delivers a quality product and total consistent customer satisfaction. I have never experienced such extremely poor customer relations/service until this "upgrade" by Citizens Bank. This the first review I have ever written and it is sad that after well over 20 years with Citizens they are the first.... SERIOUS PROBLEM!!!!
Reviewed Oct. 19, 2025
We have been with Citizens for years and were always happy. In the past year things have really changed. Customer service has declined while they really seem to be pushing products at the branch. A while ago I had a question and called the Bedford branch. I spoke with the manager, Ms. **, who seemed bored and annoyed and was unprofessional. She told me she would call me back and never did. I called back several times and each time she was either not available or said she was working on it. I finally gave up on her and called customer service. I was on hold for at least 40 minutes and then was passed on to 5 different people until my call was dropped. I called back the next day and by pure luck finally reached a representative, Ms. * *who was helpful. She was caring, knowledgeable and was able to resolve my issue. While I was thankful she was able to help, I will be closing my accounts and taking my money elsewhere.
Reviewed Oct. 17, 2025
Our experience with Citizens Bank’s VA loan assumption process has been incredibly disappointing and stressful. My wife is a public school teacher, I’m a disabled veteran, and we’re simply trying to buy a home for our family — yet this process has been mishandled from the very beginning. There’s never been a dedicated representative assigned to our case, and every time we call we’re forced to start over with someone new. We’ve been given different answers by every person we speak to, showing a serious lack of internal communication. Even worse, our credit was pulled unnecessarily because the loan officer didn’t understand the process — something that has now negatively impacted our credit score through no fault of our own.
Citizens also told us they would mail us a packet to complete and that it could take up to 45 days just to review it — all while continuing to report negatively to the credit agencies. That delay is completely unreasonable and feels punitive, especially when we’re following every step they ask. This entire experience has been slow, confusing, and indifferent. We expected a professional, knowledgeable, and supportive approach — especially for veterans and families — but Citizens Bank has fallen far short of that standard. I strongly urge others to think twice before using Citizens for a VA loan assumption.
Reviewed Oct. 9, 2025
My mortgage was sold to this bank. 10 out of 10 do not recommend. They miscalculated my taxes so I am now pay an extra $450 a month. After dealing with multiple costly home repairs and a blown engine. I called the bank to inform them I was struggling and asked what we can do. All I really needed was one month to catch up. They essentially disregarded my struggle and told me to figure it out. That was in July. I filed for mortgage assistance with them the first week of September. We are now in October. I have missed a payment and they continue to draw out the process by stating they need me to resign paperwork that has already been signed or asking for marriage licenses and divorce decrees. I've never been married. The customer service is horrible! Stay away if you can.
Reviewed Oct. 8, 2025
Holy crap avoid!!! The “new upgraded app” is a complete dumpster fire!!! Won’t recognize bill pay addressees, can’t transfer funds, deleted ebills - COMPLETE DISASTER - AVOID AT ALL COST AND JOIN A CREDIT UNION!!!
Reviewed Oct. 6, 2025
The worst banking experience I've had in my life - and I'm 67 years old. Examples: (1) I was told there was fraud on my account and that, to fix it, I needed to show up personally at a bank branch - but the nearest branch to me was a 3+ hour drive away! Didn't matter. Calling back, I was told the first agent was wrong, there was no fraud on my account and I could unfreeze my funds by text verification (which the first agent said I couldn't do).
(2) Citizens Bank rejected my $450K wire transfer because there wasn't an extra $35 in the account for the wire transfer fee. I had specifically asked a prior agent this and she had told me this wouldn't be an issue. I was then told the $35 fee could not be waived so the wire could go through, though a different agent credited me the $35 fee "for my troubles" a few days later!? (3) Online information is terrible with no breakdown of principal/interest on payments, unlike every other bank has, (4) I was told I wouldn't be charged to close out my loan; I was then charged; I was then told the fee would be waived; however upon calling a few days later, told the waiver had to be approved and it wasn't.

Reviewed Oct. 3, 2025
If I could give them a zero I would 100% do it. Terrible customers service. No one calls you back when you request it and don’t get me started on how sloppy their system is when we follow up. Both of my parents had been long standing customers with Citizens for their mortgage...I’m talking about 20 plus years. Unfortunately my parents had passed away within months apart and my siblings and I had been trying to contact Citizens to settle their mortgage. We were told we cannot get any information on the mortgage because we were not named in it. We told Citizens that my sister was in the process of becoming executor of the estate with our lawyer. They “made a note” of the situation and assured us we will not receive any letters from them.. Not even a week later we got our first late notice. We call again to try and pay for it but they will not allow it “because we are not named in the mortgage”.
After my sister became executor and many threatening foreclosure letters later we call again and they said to send proof of executor via mail and only mail. We sent it 3 times via certified mail and each time they said it was not showing in their system. After the third time a rep insisted we “can always send it through fax”. WASTE OF MY TIME.
The minute we sold the house sent the remainder mortgage payment. I promised to make sure everyone knew how terrible this has been. I couldn’t even mourn my parents because of this headache and I will never forget it. They are completely ridiculous, unprofessional, waste of my time, and I truly wish nothing but the worst for this piece of shit bank.
Reviewed Sept. 24, 2025
I have never experienced such horrible customer service. I asked for a manager and was put on hold by Allen then transferred to fraud dept. Then when I stated there was no fraud I was transferred back to Maria. She too put me on hold and never came back to the line. I then was just disconnected. Not once did I get a call back from Alan or Maria who were supposed to be supervisors. The service has definitely gone downhill. I will be closing my accounts after having it with them for so many years. Then, the new bill pay system is horrible. It erased my information. Then when I created the payees again, the payment is pulling from wrong account. I was trying to get assistance, but apparently they either don't know what to do or how to fix it. Because neither supervisor was able to help me instead, just place me on hold and then disconnected me. Very unprofessional.
Reviewed Sept. 20, 2025
New online bill paying is a nightmare! The first that I paid was debited to the secondary account and had to transfer funds to the secondary account for this transaction. Thought the new online payees would be the same as in the past but now all my payees are listed to be paid from the secondary account. Called Customer Service four times about the problem and the only solution is for me to manually change each of my payees. Supervisors only offered an apology but I wanted to have a credit issued to my account for my time to correct a Citizens Bank problem. Supervisors could not care less if one closes their account and move on to a different bank. Also, calls can be routed to any one above a supervisor in their totem pole.
Reviewed Sept. 11, 2025
I have been with Citizens forever and ever and have used their electronic bill service since its very, very beginning. This new "upgrade" in September 2025 is taking the ease of the bill paying experience back into the dark ages. It is awful! Before -- I could see pending and paid bills very easily to the right of the page. Now the bills cannot be seen in a single glance and it requires more clicks and it's not simple to review. I really don't know what to do....Stay with you or find another bank???? What were you thinking?
Reviewed Sept. 10, 2025
I have a couple hundred thousand dollars worth of student loans with Citizens for my two daughters. My youngest daughter entered this semester needing only one class, for a total of about $1500. I submitted the loan application. After a month, I called the school to find out why they hadn't approved the loan and was told that Citizens' policy is that they have to be a full-time student, and since she is only taking three credit hours, they cannot approve it. I then called Citizens and was told the same thing. She has been a full-time student for five years and would be taking more classes if she needed them. I will be refinancing my current loans through Citizens with another company and will never do business with Citizens again.
Reviewed Sept. 9, 2025
Firstly, bill pay was down for 7 days, when it returned last night ALL my payees were gone. This was not only very inconvenient, but now I have to build my payees back. Not happy!! How an institution gets away with this is beyond me.
Reviewed Sept. 2, 2025
Worst bank I have ever dealt with. Closed business account without notice stating. Finally received a letter stating unable to verify info on application. Being that the branch did this how is that my fault? Customer service is horrible no knowledge of anything. It's like jumping through hoops to pay my bill now. And they took my 82, 000 reward points.
Reviewed Sept. 2, 2025
I will never recommend Citizens Bank to anyone. They ran a promotion in April that if I transferred $25000 to my savings account, I would receive $500. This was told to me by the manager at Citizens Bank in Levittown. Now they say it didn't qualify because it wasn't a savings but a money market account. Even though the branch manager confirmed that I would receive this promo, now they say it didn't qualify. I receive a rate of .02% on my money market account. Why would anyone have a money market with Citizens Bank since they paying almost nothing. I will NEVER tell anyone to use Citizens Bank.
Reviewed Aug. 4, 2025
Absolute disgrace of a bank. Customer-service is a joke and do not care about the customers, especially since we are keeping you in business. For the time being at least. Holding money only for them to gain more interest.
Reviewed July 29, 2025
My husband and I went to the branch in Fort Lauderdale to close a small savings account. In the middle of the transaction the computer “froze” and they were unable to give us the amount in the account. This was after trying on line and on the phone with no success. We drove a total of 5 hours as there was not a branch close to our home. I found them to be inadequate and totally unprofessional and was told by a manager “she couldn’t help how far we had to drive.” Never have I witnessed anything like it.
Reviewed July 19, 2025
Citizens bank is one of the worst banks, Zelle transactions take unexpectedly longer than normal checks take extra to get cleared. Customer service never solve any problem you may have. My overall experience with this bank is negative.
Reviewed July 18, 2025
No stars if I could. Doing business with them for 35 years. Tried to purchase airline tickets with my debit card. The purchase would not go through because they said it was fraud. I called the bank, was told click on the link in the email I was sent to verify it was me. Clicked the link and they froze the card. I went to the bank. Explained everything. Cannot unfreeze a card. Issued me a new card and I had to change every payment saved online. I then retry to purchase the airline tickets, Once again sending me to fraud as this is the second time I made an attempt to purchase them, even though I went to the bank and was told I was all set. Then they say they need to text me a code, except they say they do not have my phone number even though I verified my phone number when I was at the bank.
Called the branch I was at 10 minutes earlier, they got on the phone with fraud and then decided it was not the bank but the airline. I then decided it would be a lot easier to just use another card. I spent from 1:15 - 4:00 trying to purchase tickets. I am now going to the bank on Monday and closing my account. I understand they worry about fraud, but they should have more knowledgeable employees to tell you what you need to do so the transaction will go through. In the fraud email I was sent it stated "Verify this transaction.... click here here." Not accept the charge, or deny the charge. Just "here here." Citizens need to do a lot better.
Reviewed July 11, 2025
I transferred thousands of dollars online from my Citizens checking account to my Citizens credit card account on 07/03/2025. Right before transaction was made, my credit card statement showed that I had $270 in available credit. Today is 07/11/2025. Both statements show that the payment was processed and approved. However, my available credit is still only $270. This is outrageous. There is no reasonable explanations why electronic transactions work that slow.

Reviewed June 26, 2025
I am deeply dissatisfied with the way Citizens Bank has handled my recent experience as a customer On June 13th, I used their mobile app to deposit my payroll check, expecting a smooth and secure transaction. To my surprise, the very next day, my online banking access was abruptly restricted—without any warning or explanation.
For nearly two weeks, I found myself locked out of my account, unable to view my balance, make transfers, or manage my finances in any way. This lack of access led to several returned payments and late fees from other financial institutions, causing real financial hardship and unnecessary stress. Despite reaching out to customer service multiple times and escalating my concerns, I received no clear answers or meaningful support. In a last attempt to resolve the issue, I spoke directly with Kimberly A. **, Director of the Office of the Customer, who assured me that her team was actively working on a solution. Shockingly, just one day later, I was informed that my account would be closed—again, with no explanation or offer to compensate me for the fees and inconvenience I had endured.
Throughout my time as a banking customer, I have never encountered such unresponsive, opaque, and unfair treatment from any other institution. If you are looking for a bank that values transparency, accountability, and reliable customer service, I strongly urge you to consider alternatives to Citizens Bank. My experience has been nothing short of disappointing, and I hope sharing it will help others avoid similar difficulties.
Reviewed June 13, 2025
The worst and extremely horrible bank ever. Once transferred a large sum of money to citizens, after the money reached Ccitizens, they claimed they had not verified my account information in the transferring bank and put my money on hold, and then actually moved the money to an external account in Fiserv (who knows what it is, I found it out very late, up to day I still do not know what it does).
When called citizens asking about where the money is, I was pushed between different departments, or blamed the transferring bank for not sending out the money, or claimed the money had been returned- all lies. The woman called Brittany in the Office of Customer in Pittsburgh center who was so-called investigating my case never answered my calls or returned my voice messages. I had to file complaints with the federal bank regulator and FBI. It took me so much time on endless calls and visiting the local branch numerous times. No one really knew how or was willing to help me. It was such an ordeal. The money, which disappeared for 1.5 months, was then secretly posted back on my account. What a terrible bank it is? I recommend everyone stay away from this bank.
Reviewed May 13, 2025
After being a customer of Citizens Bank for over 20 years, my accounts (all always in good standing, even receiving emails to upgrade my accounts as recently as three weeks ago) were all frozen. This of course happened on a Friday when I was expecting two direct deposits to go through. Those have been bounced out and my funds are being held because of this freeze on my account.
I was not notified about the freeze occurring, nor do I have any information on why. I have spent three hours on the phone and one hour in my local branch, and all managers and representatives refuse to tell me why the freeze was put into place. One manager told me they had mailed out a letter informing me of the freeze - but they had no record of the letter, could not confirm the mailing address it was sent to, the date it was sent, nor the contents of said letter. I guess it just disappears once it's been sent, even in this digital age?
So here I am, my checking account completely frozen for no reason that anyone can explain, my funds unavailable, my direct deposits in limbo, with absolutely no answers or end in sight. No one will give me a timeframe of when this will be solved, and I just keep getting told there's a freeze, they can't tell me why, and I won't know until they reach out how I can get access to my money. After 20 years of having my accounts with them in good standing, I have been treated horribly, wasted a ton of time, and received no answers or timeline of resolution. Just don't use Citizens.
Reviewed May 9, 2025
The Web Site malfunctioned and executed the same transaction twice for a scheduled transfer. This overdrew the account so they took from my Line of Credit. I called and reported the problem and they told me they could not do anything about it and I was subject to the 22% interest.
Reviewed Jan. 19, 2025
They are a rotten group of people. They don't get a lot of business so they steal from their customers, they are involved in illegal banking practices and fraud. If you have equity in your house they will steal it as fast as possible.
Reviewed Jan. 18, 2025
I was bullied by the manager Edwin ** at the Citizen Bank branch Culver Ridge Plaza Rochester NY for opening the glass office door since the other office was busy. I asked the agent seated in the office if she was free to intend my Business, wow the manager came yelling at me for opening the door because she was busy. I said, "Why don’t you put a sign don’t….treating me poorly!" That manager has no sense of business, etiquette.. He should be a bouncer
Reviewed Jan. 10, 2025
After several years, documents, phone calls, and overnight mail fees to establish access to an IRA account of my late husband held by Citizen's Wealth Mgt. Fund; Citizen's said all accounting was in progress and I was assured the funds would be made available to me as the beneficiary. I was sent Docusigns a few weeks ago to complete by Citizens, and subsequent letters with the account information. I was also told several times, everything was fine. Yesterday, a very rude individual I had never spoken to called and treated me disrespectfully acting as if I were trying to jailbreak an account.
I was told for the first time I was not a beneficiary, they had no records, did not know why I was calling, and denied any explanation and did not offer any follow up or phone numbers to assist in looking into how this account was so mishandled. A last call back was met with disdain and refusal to supply any reason why this all transpired after an exhausting process and assertions by an attorney. I provided Citizens Bank with the email from the attorney who had written to the bank over 2 years ago. I have attached supporting documents that show more than one individual believed the process was routine, and the beneficiary clearly designated. I have even submitted a letter from Citizens Bank notifying the Executors of his estate who the beneficiary was with Citizens Bank letterhead. Smoking gun demonstrating incompetence.
Please forward this information to a higher up department, because an apology should have been offered if all of this was a major mistake, and if everybody was lied to and poor handling on Citizen's end. I also do not want to get robbed by a bank. If the individual who sent me a link yesterday to upload my documentation is wrong; she should be reprimanded for being rude. Estate matters are a serious matter and should be handled with respect which she lacked to the core. I never asked for this fiasco.
Reviewed Jan. 3, 2025
Made a payment of $800 on my vehicle. It was put in as $89 a typo on their part and then turned it to the collection dept. They were sent copies of deposited check with their endorsement on back and they still refuse to help clear it up by juggling me around to this person and that person as none of them have a clue as to how to fix the issue or flat refuse to! This bank/loan servicing is nothing more than a scam! I have made a payment of $800 a month since day one of purchasing the vehicle and have sent them copies of every single payment but yet they are stating my account is past due of a significant amount. Steer clear and look at all the horrible reviews they have.
Reviewed Jan. 2, 2025
The staff at the bank were very nice but not very sophisticated. The loan processors in some central office somewhere? A total waste of time. Before we applied for a HELOC, we showed them our tax returns because as self employed individuals, our income stream is complicated. We didn't want to ruin our credit score with unnecessary hard credit pulls. Showed it to the bank manager, she said it was no problem. It then became a very big problem. One application was lost, requiring a second. 3 credit pulls later, their loan processors not only did not understand what they were looking at in terms of income but didn't bother to ask us for clarification. They just summarily declined us and it took three tries for them to adequately explain why we were declined. They couldn't interpret our tax returns sufficiently to understand our income. Emailed the branch manager for assistance; she never bothered to respond. Don't bother with this bank.
Reviewed Dec. 30, 2024
This involves Citizens Bank NA. A deposit of $9,000 was made via cashier's check in-branch on 12/26, and I was informed that only $225 would be immediately available, which it was not, followed by the remaining $8,775 to be available today, 12/30, which it is not. Additionally, it will be another week before it's available. I was told the credit union would not verify the fund availability, even though it is a bank check. This has happened several times to me with this bank now with bank checks. If these were personal checks, I would understand, but the purpose of a bank check is to avoid this issue. I feel as if I do not matter and, honestly, as if I am being treated disrespectfully. Furthermore, I am tired of being treated as someone who could be scamming the bank or as a fraud. I will be closing this account as soon as my money, which should be available now, is made available.
Citizens Bank Company Information
- Company Name:
- Citizens Bank
- Company Type:
- Private
- City:
- Providence
- State/Province:
- RI
- Country:
- United States
- Website:
- www.citizensbank.com
