- Citibank's Large and Reputable Institution: Citibank, part of Citigroup, is one of the world's largest banks with over $2.4 trillion in assets, though it faces reputation challenges.
- Key Features of Citibank Personal Loans: The loans are fee-free with a low max APR of 19.49%, available nationwide with multiple term options, but require good to excellent credit.
- Pros of Citibank Personal Loans: They include zero fees, low APR ceiling, rate discounts, high customer satisfaction, and same-day funding for existing customers.
- Cons and Limitations: High credit score requirements (~720), loan cap at $30,000 (or $50,000 for some), no co-borrower option, and institutional reputation issues may deter some borrowers.
- Application Process and Suitability: Prequalify with a soft inquiry, then apply online or by phone; best suited for borrowers with strong credit needing up to $30,000, especially existing Citi clients.
- Get a quote with Citibank Personal Loans.
Citibank Personal Loans Overview
Citibank is the consumer banking division of Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C), one of the largest financial institutions in the world. Citigroup was founded in 1812, making it one of the oldest continuously operating banks in the United States. The company reported revenue of $85.2 billion for the full year 2025 and holds over $2.4 trillion in total assets. Citigroup operates in more than 160 countries, has approximately 2,649 branches in 19 countries (including roughly 723 in the U.S.), and employs over 211,000 people. All Citibank deposits are FDIC-insured up to $250,000.
Citibank’s personal loan product is a relatively straightforward unsecured installment loan targeted at borrowers with good to excellent credit. The product stands out for two reasons: zero fees (no origination fee, no late fees, no prepayment penalty) and a low APR ceiling of 19.49%. That maximum rate is roughly 10 to 16 percentage points below the ceiling at most fintech lenders. The trade-off is a high credit score requirement (~720), a $30,000 maximum for most borrowers ($50,000 for existing Citi customers), and a lending operation that comes with the institutional weight (and reputational baggage) of one of the world’s largest banks.
The editorial angle for this review: Citibank personal loans are built for a specific borrower profile: someone with strong credit who wants a predictable, fee-free loan at a capped rate. The product scores exceptionally well on cost (4.5/5.0 in Rates & Fees) and earns the #2 spot in J.D. Power’s 2025 consumer lending satisfaction study. But the loan’s $30,000 cap, limited flexibility (no co-borrower, no secured option, no direct creditor payment), and Citigroup’s troubled BBB/Trustpilot reputation pull the overall score down. This is a product where the loan itself is better than the institution’s broader customer service reputation suggests.
Pros and Cons of Citibank Personal Loans
Pros
- Zero fees: No origination fee, no late fees, no prepayment penalty. Citibank is one of the only lenders in our review series that charges no late fees at all.
- Low APR ceiling: The maximum APR of 19.49% is the lowest in our 15-lender review series. The next closest are Discover (24.99%) and LightStream (25.29%). Borrowers with imperfect credit benefit most from this cap.
- Multiple rate discounts: A 0.50 percentage point discount for autopay enrollment at origination, plus an additional 0.25 percentage point discount for Citigold and Citi Priority banking customers. Combined, these bring the floor to 9.24%.
- J.D. Power #2 for consumer lending: Citibank scored 751 in the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Consumer Lending Satisfaction Study, the second-highest score behind American Express (768), and well above the 704 industry average.
- Same-day funding for Citi customers: Existing Citibank account holders can receive funds the same business day. External bank accounts are funded within 2 business days.
- Available in all 50 states: Citibank personal loans are available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., with no geographic restrictions.
- Five-term options: Terms of 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months provide more flexibility than the two-option structure at Rocket Loans.
Cons
- High credit score requirement: Third-party sources report a minimum credit score of approximately 720. This is among the highest minimums in our review series and excludes fair-credit and near-prime borrowers.
- $30,000 maximum for most borrowers: The standard maximum is $30,000, with $50,000 available only to existing Citi banking or credit card customers. This is well below SoFi ($100K), LightStream ($100K), and Upgrade ($50K).
- No co-borrower or co-signer: Borrowers must qualify on their own creditworthiness and income.
- No secured loan option: Collateral cannot be pledged to improve terms or approval odds.
- Default penalty rate: If a borrower defaults (typically 90+ days late), the APR increases by 2.00%. While the absence of traditional late fees is a plus, this penalty rate provision means missed payments still carry a cost.
- Cannot pay off Citi credit cards: Loan proceeds cannot be used to pay off Citibank-issued credit cards, a limitation for borrowers whose Citi credit card debt is part of their consolidation plan.
- Poor BBB and Trustpilot ratings: Citigroup has a D- rating from the BBB (some sources report F), is not BBB-accredited, and has a 1.1 out of 5 on Trustpilot. These ratings reflect the bank as a whole, not specifically the personal loan product.
Citibank Personal Loans Rates and Fees
Citibank personal loan APRs range from 9.99% to 19.49%. The 9.99% floor includes a 0.50 percentage point autopay discount applied at origination. According to Federal Reserve data, the average interest rate on a 24-month personal loan from commercial banks was approximately 12.35% as of Q4 2024. Citibank’s floor rate of 9.99% is below the commercial bank average, and more importantly, the 19.49% ceiling is far below the 35.99% cap at most fintech lenders and even below the 24.99% to 25.49% range at Discover, American Express, and LightStream.
Citibank charges no origination fee, no late payment fee, and no prepayment penalty. This makes it the only lender in our review series that charges literally zero fees on its personal loan product. The trade-off for missed payments is a penalty rate: if a borrower defaults on the loan, the APR increases by 2.00 percentage points. Lenders typically declare default after 90 or more consecutive days of missed payments. While this is not unusual in bank lending, it is worth noting because the increase is applied to the remaining balance for the life of the loan.
Two rate discounts are available. All borrowers can receive a 0.50 percentage point APR reduction by enrolling in automatic payments at the time of loan origination. Existing Citigold and Citi Priority banking customers receive an additional 0.25 percentage point discount. Combined, these discounts can bring the effective floor to approximately 9.24%. Neither discount requires direct payment to creditors, making them accessible regardless of loan purpose.
Scenario | Monthly Payment | Total Interest | Total Cost |
$15,000 at 12% APR, 36 mo. | $498 | $2,928 | $17,928 |
$15,000 at 12% APR, 60 mo. | $334 | $5,040 | $20,040 |
$15,000 at 16% APR, 36 mo. | $527 | $3,972 | $18,972 |
$15,000 at 16% APR, 60 mo. | $365 | $6,900 | $21,900 |
Note: Figures are approximate. No origination fee is deducted, so the borrower receives the full loan amount.
Citibank Personal Loans: Loan Terms and Options
Citibank offers personal loans from $2,000 to $30,000 for most borrowers. Existing customers who hold a Citi credit card or an eligible Citi checking or savings account may qualify for up to $50,000, subject to standard credit approval. The $30,000 standard cap is lower than most competitors in our review series; SoFi and LightStream offer up to $100,000, and several fintechs offer $50,000 without requiring an existing relationship.
Repayment terms are available in 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60-month increments. This five-option term structure is more flexible than Rocket Loans (36 or 60 months only), comparable to American Express (12 to 60 months), and less flexible than Discover (36 to 84 months) and LightStream (24 to 144 months). All loans carry a fixed interest rate, so the monthly payment remains the same for the life of the loan.
Citibank does not offer co-borrower or co-signer applications, secured loan options, or direct payment to creditors. Loan proceeds cannot be used to pay for post-secondary education expenses, business purposes, or to pay off Citibank-issued credit cards. This last restriction is notable: borrowers who carry balances on a Citi Double Cash, Citi Custom Cash, or other Citi credit card cannot consolidate that specific debt with a Citi personal loan.
Citibank Personal Loans Eligibility and Application
Citibank does not publicly disclose a minimum credit score for personal loan eligibility. Third-party sources and marketplace partners consistently report a minimum of approximately 720, with some sources citing 740. This is among the highest credit score requirements in our review series, effectively limiting the product to borrowers with good to excellent credit. Citibank also evaluates credit history, debt-to-income ratio, income, and employment status.
Existing Citi credit card customers who have been a customer for less than 12 months and do not have a Citi deposit account are not eligible for a personal loan. This restriction means that very new Citi cardholders must wait or open a deposit account before applying. Borrowers must be at least 18 years of age (21 in Puerto Rico), a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and hold a Social Security number.
Prequalification is available online through a soft credit inquiry. Borrowers can check their potential rate, loan amount, term, and monthly payment without affecting their credit score. If the borrower accepts an offer and proceeds with a formal application, Citibank conducts a hard credit inquiry. The application can be completed online or by phone (833-382-0004, ext. 1106). Citibank personal loans are available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Citibank Personal Loans Funding Speed
Citibank offers same-day funding for borrowers who deposit funds into an existing Citibank account. The loan decision is typically delivered within one minute of application submission. For borrowers who direct funds to a non-Citibank bank account, funding takes up to 2 business days, provided the account has not been recently opened. If Citibank rejects the external bank account, the borrower can select a different account or receive a check by mail, which takes approximately 5 business days.
The same-day funding option for existing Citi customers matches the speed of Rocket Loans and LightStream. The 2-business-day timeline for non-Citi accounts is comparable to most bank lenders. The 5-business-day check option is the slowest funding method in our review series and should be considered a last resort.
Citibank Personal Loans Customer Experience
Citibank ranks #2 in J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Consumer Lending Satisfaction Study with a score of 751, behind only American Express (768) and above the 704 industry average. This is a strong showing that specifically reflects the personal loan borrower experience, not Citibank’s broader banking reputation. The study measures satisfaction across dimensions, including whether the loan met borrowing needs, level of trust, ease of business, and quality of digital channels.
The CFPB received 66 personal-loan-related complaints about Citibank in 2024. The most common complaint category was “obtaining the loan.” Citibank provided a timely response to all 66 complaints; 49 were closed with an explanation, 9 with nonmonetary relief, and 7 with monetary relief. The complaint volume is moderate relative to Citibank’s loan portfolio size.
Third-party review platforms tell a different story, but the context matters. Citigroup’s Trustpilot rating is 1.1 out of 5 (based on approximately 1,000 reviews), and its BBB consumer review rating is similarly low. These ratings reflect Citigroup as a whole, not the personal loan product specifically. The vast majority of negative reviews on these platforms relate to credit cards, banking accounts, customer service wait times, and fraud resolution. The Citi Mobile app (which handles personal loan management) is rated approximately 4.8 on the Apple App Store and 4.5 on Google Play. Customer support is available by phone at 833-382-0004 and through the Citi Mobile app.
Citibank Personal Loans: Financial Strength and Reputation
Citigroup is a global systemically important bank (G-SIB) with over $2.4 trillion in total assets and revenue of $85.2 billion in 2025. The company is publicly traded on the NYSE (ticker: C) with a market capitalization of approximately $132 billion. Citibank is FDIC-insured, and all personal loans are made by Citibank, N.A. The bank’s financial strength is not in question; this is one of the largest and most well-capitalized financial institutions in the world.
The reputational picture is more complicated. Citigroup is not accredited by the BBB and holds a D- rating (some sources report F). Two BBB alerts are active: one related to a lawsuit filed by the New York Attorney General in January 2024 alleging that Citibank failed to protect customers from fraud and refused to reimburse victims, and another related to regulatory concerns about risk management practices. In 2020, the federal government fined Citigroup $400 million for risk management failures. These are enterprise-level issues that affect the bank’s reputation broadly; they do not relate specifically to the personal loan product. Nonetheless, they represent institutional risk that borrowers should be aware of.
Who Are Citibank Personal Loans Best For?
Citibank personal loans are a good fit for:
- Good to excellent credit borrowers (720+): The low APR ceiling (19.49%) and zero-fee structure make Citibank one of the most cost-effective options for borrowers who qualify.
- Existing Citibank customers: Same-day funding, the potential for higher loan amounts (up to $50,000), and the additional 0.25% Citi Priority/Citigold rate discount make the product more attractive for borrowers already in the Citi ecosystem.
- Fee-averse borrowers: No origination fee, no late fee, no prepayment penalty. Borrowers who prioritize predictable costs and no surprises will appreciate this structure.
- Borrowers who want a rate ceiling: Even if you don’t qualify for the lowest rate, the 19.49% maximum means your worst-case cost is dramatically lower than at most lenders.
- Small to mid-size loan needs ($2,000 to $30,000): For borrowers who need less than $30,000, the product’s strengths outweigh the loan amount limitation.
Citibank personal loans may not be the best fit for:
- Fair or bad credit borrowers: The ~720 minimum credit score excludes most borrowers below the “good” credit tier. Upstart, Avant, and OneMain Financial are better options for lower credit scores.
- Large-loan borrowers: The $30,000 cap ($50,000 for existing customers) is limiting for major home improvement projects or large debt consolidation. SoFi and LightStream offer up to $100,000.
- Borrowers consolidating Citi credit card debt: Loan proceeds cannot pay off Citi-issued credit cards. Use a different lender for this specific purpose.
- Borrowers who need a co-signer: Citibank does not accept co-borrowers or co-signers. Upgrade, Achieve, and LendingClub offer these options.
How to Apply for Citibank Personal Loans
- Check your rate: Visit citi.com/personal-loans and click “Check Your Rate.” Enter your personal information. Citibank runs a soft credit inquiry with no impact on your credit score.
- Review your offers: If prequalified, Citibank presents loan options showing APR, term, monthly payment, and total cost. Decide whether to enroll in autopay for the 0.50% rate discount.
- Complete the application: Provide documentation to verify identity, address, and income. Citibank conducts a hard credit inquiry at this stage.
- Receive your decision: Citibank typically delivers a loan decision within one minute of application submission.
- Select your funding method: Choose to deposit funds into an existing Citibank account (same-day funding), an external bank account (up to 2 business days), or receive a check by mail (up to 5 business days).
How Citibank Personal Loans Compare
The table below shows how Citibank compares to three bank competitors that also charge no origination fee.
Feature | Citibank | Discover | American Express | LightStream |
APR Range | 9.99–19.49% | 7.99–24.99% | 7.98–25.47% | 6.94–25.29% |
Loan Amounts | $2K–$30K | $2.5K–$40K | $3.5K–$40K | $5K–$100K |
Origination Fee | None | None | None | None |
Min. Credit Score | ~720 | ~660 | Existing only | ~660 |
Terms | 12–60 mo. | 36–84 mo. | 12–60 mo. | 24–144 mo. |
Funding Speed | Same day (Citi acct) | Next biz day | 1–3 biz days | Same day |
Co-borrower | No | No | No | Yes |
Late Fees | None | $39 | Up to $39 | None |
Rate Discounts | Autopay (0.50%), Citi Priority (0.25%) | None | Autopay (0.25%) | Autopay (0.50%) |
Max APR | 19.49% | 24.99% | 25.47% | 25.29% |
Final Verdict
Citibank earns a 3.5 out of 5.0 in our scoring methodology. The personal loan product itself is one of the best-designed in our review series from a pure cost perspective: zero fees across the board, a 19.49% APR ceiling that protects borrowers from worst-case pricing, and dual rate discounts that reward both autopay enrollment and existing banking relationships. The #2 ranking in J.D. Power’s consumer lending satisfaction study confirms that borrowers who use this product are overwhelmingly satisfied.
The limitations are structural. The ~720 credit score floor narrows the eligible borrower pool considerably. The $30,000 maximum excludes larger borrowing needs. The absence of co-borrower, secured, and direct creditor payment options reduces flexibility. And Citigroup’s enterprise-level reputation issues (D- BBB rating, pending NY AG lawsuit, Trustpilot scores near 1.0) create a gap between the quality of the loan product and the perception of the institution. These are legitimate concerns, though they relate primarily to the broader banking operation rather than the personal loan division.
For borrowers with a 720+ credit score who need $30,000 or less and prioritize low cost and zero fees, Citibank belongs on the short list. Start by prequalifying with a soft pull, then compare the APR against offers from Discover, American Express, and LightStream. If you already bank with Citi, the same-day funding and relationship discount make it an even stronger option.
Methodology
This review is part of a 15-lender personal loan review series. Each lender is scored across six weighted categories: Rates & Fees (25%), Loan Terms & Flexibility (20%), Eligibility & Accessibility (20%), Speed & Application Process (15%), Customer Experience (10%), and Transparency & Reputation (10%). The weighted score formula produces a single rating out of 5.0, rounded to the nearest 0.5. Data sources include lender websites, the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database, J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Consumer Lending Satisfaction Study, Federal Reserve interest rate data, BBB and Trustpilot profiles, app store ratings, and TransUnion Credit Industry Insights. For the full methodology, see our Scoring Methodology page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to your questions about Citibank Personal Loans.
Citibank does not publicly disclose a minimum credit score. Third-party sources consistently report approximately 720. The lowest rates require excellent credit.
No. Citibank charges no origination fee, no late payment fee, and no prepayment penalty. However, if you default on the loan, your APR increases by 2.00 percentage points.
Existing Citibank account holders can receive same-day funding. Funds sent to an external bank account arrive within 2 business days. Checks by mail take up to 5 business days.
No. Citibank personal loan proceeds cannot be used to pay off credit cards issued by Citibank. You can use the loan to pay off credit cards from other issuers.
No. Both new and existing customers can apply. However, existing customers benefit from same-day funding and may qualify for loan amounts up to $50,000 (vs. $30,000 for new customers).
Yes. A 0.50 percentage point autopay discount is available at loan origination. Citigold and Citi Priority customers receive an additional 0.25 percentage point discount.
Terms of 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months are available.
No. Citibank does not accept co-borrowers, co-signers, or joint applications for personal loans.
