Online Banking & Bill Pay (FAQs)

Have a question? Chances are, you’ll find the answer here.

Popular Questions

It's easy to enroll in Online Banking. If you have your account information or Social Security number, you can sign up online right now.

To help our customers manage more of their finances online — in one place — Online Banking offers access to your investment accounts with Citizens Investment Services®. These accounts include:

  1. Accounts serviced by Citizens Wealth Management
  2. Investment accounts you manage

Online Banking also provides convenient access to the Wealthscape InvestorSM website, where you can execute transactions and obtain more detailed information on your investment accounts with Citizens Investment Services.

Citizens uses the highest level of encryption available today in order to keep your information safe. Encryption is the process by which information is translated into undecryptable code and then back to recognized information.

We use a risk-based approach to every login attempt. As part of this approach, a one-time password will be requested for you to confirm should we find it necessary to further verify your identity.

Please note that best-in-class security standards change over time. As such, we are no longer asking for security questions from you, since information used for those questions is often able to be found easily.

Your security is our top priority.

Online Banking gives you the power to access and manage nearly all your Citizens accounts — from one place. You can review account history and current transactions, transfer funds between accounts (inside and outside the bank), place stop payments, request copies of statements, send customer service requests via secured email, pay bills, view images of cleared checks, access your checking, savings, and loan account statements online and much more.

Personal Online Banking users can access their deposit accounts, loans and lines of credit, investment accounts with Citizens Investment Services, credit cards and mortgages. Business users have access to deposit accounts, overdraft lines of credit, some loans and lines of credit. Business customers may request that other business or personal accounts on which they have an eligible account ownership status be linked to their online profile.

To make it easier and more convenient to access important account documents, such as statements, check images, electronic notices (eNotices), and 1099-INT and other tax forms, we put them all in one place: the Online Banking Document Center. To access the Document Center, log in to Online Banking and click the "DOCUMENT CENTER" tab.

You can transfer from any checking, money market, savings or line of credit account you have linked to your profile. You can transfer money to any checking, money market, savings, line of credit account, personal credit card, and most loan accounts. (In cases where account types are IRAs or other restricted products, transfers may not be permitted.) All accounts must be eligible for Online Banking under your account profile.

You can also transfer from your checking, money market, or savings account to the checking, money market, or savings account of another customer. (Requires set up of the "Transfer Between Citizens Accounts" of another customer)

In addition, you can transfer between your checking, money market, or savings account and the checking and savings accounts you own at other financial institutions. (Requires set up of the "Transfer Between My Other Bank Accounts")

No, there is no separate sign up for Bill Pay. Once you are signed up for Online Banking, you can use the Bill Pay service immediately. Simply click on the "Pay Bills" tab to begin. For business customers, it may take up to 24 hours to enroll in Online Bill Pay.

Contact Online Banking Customer Service at 1-800-656-6561 (or, for business customers, 1-877-229-6428).

Signing up for Online Banking

It's easy to enroll in Online Banking. If you have your account information or Social Security number, you can sign up online right now.

To help our customers manage more of their finances online — in one place — Online Banking offers access to your investment accounts with Citizens Investment Services®. These accounts include:

  1. Accounts serviced by Citizens Wealth Management
  2. Investment accounts you manage

Online Banking also provides convenient access to the Wealthscape InvestorSM website, where you can execute transactions and obtain more detailed information on your investment accounts with Citizens Investment Services.

If you have a Citizens Bank Checking account, you can request your ATM/Debit Card by calling 1-800-656-6561 or visiting your local branch. Business customers should call 1-877-229-6428.

You can activate your debit card in a few different ways:

  • Use the Citizens Mobile App*. Go to "Manage Cards" in the menu and it will bring you to where you can activate your debit card in the app*.
  • Complete a purchase. Make an in-store purchase with your debit card using your PIN.
  • Visit an ATM. Complete a transaction at any Citizens ATM with your debit card with your current PIN.
  • By phone. Call 1-800-527-1800 and have your card and PIN handy to activate.

It is Citizens Bank's mission to ensure we always provide you with the best experience possible. While most browsers will allow you to access Online Banking, older versions may limit your ability to access some of the functions available. To ensure you get the most of your Online Banking experience, we recommend that use browsers with 128-bit encryption.

Please see our Site Requirements for complete details and links to recommended browsers.

With most browsers, you can determine the version by selecting the name of the browser from the navigation menu and clicking on "About (browser name)."

You can begin using Online Banking immediately after you enroll.

Online Banking Security

Citizens uses the highest level of encryption available today in order to keep your information safe. Encryption is the process by which information is translated into undecryptable code and then back to recognized information.

We use a risk-based approach to every login attempt. As part of this approach, a one-time password will be requested for you to confirm should we find it necessary to further verify your identity.

Please note that best-in-class security standards change over time. As such, we are no longer asking for security questions from you, since information used for those questions is often able to be found easily.

Your security is our top priority.

Yes. Please see the Citizens Online Guarantee page for complete details.

You are the first line of defense for your Online Banking account security.

Here are some helpful tips to protect yourself:

  • Keep your password a secret — even from us!
  • Click on Log Out when you're done banking with us, whether online or in the mobile app.*
  • Create a unique password.
  • Don't reuse passwords.
  • If you must write down a password, hide it where others won't find it.

If you are worried about a site being fraudulent, check the URL for the following:

  • Short URLs: If the link is too short, don't use it. Scammers love to use links from shortening sites (e.g., bit.ly) because it bypasses security filters easily.
  • Hijacked URLs: Review the link for any characters that do not belong. Scammers will take existing URLs and sneakily add characters that you may miss at first glance.
  • Unknown URLs: If you don't recognize a URL, don't click on it.
  • Misspelled URLs: If the URL has typos in it, stay clear.

If you need help, let's start a chat.

Please start by retyping your password. If that doesn't work, here's how to create a new one:

  • Go to citizensbank.com
  • Click Log in
  • Click Trouble logging in?
  • Select I forgot my password
  • Enter some info to verify your identity
  • Create your new (easy-to-remember-but-hard-to-guess) password!

By default, Online Banking has a timeout feature. If the system is idle for 10 minutes, the user is automatically disconnected after a 60-second countdown.

Citizens uses a Secure Socket Layer (SSL), also known as Transport Layer Security (TLS), to allow web browsers and servers to safely communicate online.

Simply put, they're an extra way to help you protect your sensitive data.

SSL certificates are used to establish and maintain a secure connection and encrypt the data passing between your browser and our systems. It's designed to prevent anyone from intercepting or viewing your personal and account information.

An EV certificate is the highest level of all SSL certificates. It's strict authentication process gives you the confidence to know that you're on the real Citizens website.

To determine whether EV-SSL is working, look at the address bar of your browser. You should see a closed padlock icon.

The security of your confidential and sensitive data (e.g., login info, social security, etc.) is a top priority and a key feature of our Online Banking.

We use latest technology on the market, such as Secure Socket Layer (SSL), to make sure the information you provide is kept between us.

After you enroll in Online Banking, we won't prompt you to change your password unless you forget it or get locked out of your account.

However, as a best practice, we recommend that you change your password every 3 months.

You should call Online Banking Customer Service at 1-800-656-6561. Business customers should call 1-877-229-6428.

General Features of Online Banking

Online Banking gives you the power to access and manage nearly all your Citizens accounts — from one place. You can review account history and current transactions, transfer funds between accounts (inside and outside the bank), place stop payments, request copies of statements, send customer service requests via secured email, pay bills, view images of cleared checks, access your checking, savings, and loan account statements online and much more.

Personal Online Banking users can access their deposit accounts, loans and lines of credit, investment accounts with Citizens Investment Services, credit cards and mortgages. Business users have access to deposit accounts, overdraft lines of credit, some loans and lines of credit. Business customers may request that other business or personal accounts on which they have an eligible account ownership status be linked to their online profile.

To make it easier and more convenient to access important account documents, such as statements, check images, electronic notices (eNotices), and 1099-INT and other tax forms, we put them all in one place: the Online Banking Document Center. To access the Document Center, log in to Online Banking and click the "DOCUMENT CENTER" tab.

You can submit requests to change your physical address (primary street address) associated with your account from the convenience of Online Banking. You can also add separate mailing addresses for each of your accounts if you do not wish to have your account documents and cards mailed to your physical address. To submit an address change, click the Personal Information" link on the "Profile & Settings" page. Then scroll down to "Mailing Addresses" to make a change or addition. (Retail customers only)

Yes. You can choose to have your account documents mailed to your physical address or add a separate mailing address for each account.

Yes. Many types of account statements, including those for most deposit, line of credit, and loan accounts, are available in Online Banking under the "DOCUMENT CENTER" tab.

In addition to account statements, in the Online Banking Document Center, you can easily locate check images, 1099-INT and other tax forms, and certain types of notices, including CD Maturity Notices and Overdraft/Insufficient Funds Notices.

Yes. You can transfer from any eligible checking, money market, savings, or personal line of credit account you have linked to your profile. You can transfer money to any checking, money market, savings, personal line of credit, and most personal loan accounts. (In cases where account types are IRAs or other restricted products, transfers may not be permitted.) Please see the "Transfer Information & Capabilities" section of FAQs for more information.

You can view up to 18 months of transaction history. (12 months of statement activity for personal credit cards)

When you withdraw funds from an ATM or make a purchase with your debit card, the funds will be immediately removed from your available balance. Some networks update transactions real time while others do not. In general, ATM/Debit Card transactions will be reflected on the Online Banking Transaction History by the next business day.

The running balance on your "Transaction History" page is similar to your check register: it indicates the balance in your account each time you have a deposit or withdrawal activity.

Please note that the balance does not reflect holds, outstanding checks, and other transactions, which could cause the balance to be different from the bank's balance on any given day. The bank does not use this balance as your available balance, and you should not, either.

Accounts on which you have an ownership code that (generally) allows you withdrawal rights, may be included in your online profile. Accounts may or may not appear in your profile based on whether they have been designated as business or personal. Business owners may request eligible personal accounts be linked to their business profile by visiting a Citizens branch or calling us at 1-877-229-6428. If you don't see an account you expect to see, call us toll free at 1-800-656-6561 for personal accounts. For business accounts, call 1-877-229-6428.

Up to 18 months of your statements are available online and can be retrieved immediately in Online Banking under the "DOCUMENT CENTER" tab. Simply use the Filter to select the account and timeframe for the statement you are requesting. Statements can be saved or downloaded any time for longer storage needs. If you wish to order a statement older than 18 months, simply click on the "Contact Us" link.

Yes. You can click on the check number entry on your Transaction History and if an image is available for that check, it will appear on screen. If a check image is not available, you may order a copy by clicking "Contact Us" under "Help", and either call or contact a chat representative. Fees may apply for check copy requests.

Yes. You can download transactions from your account by clicking on the account. Then use the "Export" button and select your download criteria and format you need.

You can add email addresses and mobile numbers to your alerts contacts list by visiting your "Personal Information" page located under "Profile & Settings". Just be sure to go back to the "Alert Preferences" page when you want to apply your newly added contact information to the alerts.

There is no monthly maintenance fee for Online Banking. There may be incidental charges and fees associated with Online Banking, such as those set out below, including, but not limited to, Account fees and charges you initiate by requesting stop payments, check copies, transfers outside the bank, or similar services.

Online Banking displays your account information in real time based on transactions processed throughout the day, unless stated otherwise.

Online Banking is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The only exceptions are when system maintenance is being performed.

Yes. Simply click on the "Site & Display Preferences" link under "Profile & Settings" and from there you can edit your account nickname, then click to "Save Changes".

In the rare event that the Online Banking system and all of our back-up systems were to go down, you can be comfortable that any transaction for which you have received a confirmation number has been completed. If you were in the middle of processing a payment when the technical difficulty occurred and had not yet received your confirmation number, you should review your "Pending Payments and Transfers" when the system comes back up. If the payment/transfer does not appear, then you should re-enter the transaction.

Yes. Macintosh users have full access to Online Banking provided they are using up-to-date versions of Safari, Firefox, or Google Chrome.

Absolutely. Just click the "DOCUMENT CENTER" tab while logged in to Online Banking to access available tax forms for each of your accounts. Available tax forms may include a 1098, 1099-C, 1099-INT, 1099-Q, 1099-R, 5498 and 5498-ESA. Please note, the Document Center only displays tax forms for Online Banking accounts, though other accounts may appear on a particular form. To ensure you have the right tax forms for each of your accounts, please check your mail.

To access your tax forms, click on the "DOCUMENT CENTER" tab while logged in to Online Banking. From the "All Types" filter, select "Tax Forms." Using the "All Accounts" filter, select the account from which you wish to receive the document. Then, using the "Timeframe" filter, select the time period for which you would like to view available documents.

All tax forms are accessible for seven years from their year of origination. 1099-INT tax forms are available dating back to Tax Year 2016. All other tax forms are available dating back to Tax Year 2018.

Here are some guidelines that can help you determine which tax form(s) you should expect to receive, if any. If a tax form is issued for your account, it will be posted to the Document Center by the date indicated — and mailed to you, if that's what your paperless preferences indicate.

If your account does not meet any of the below criteria, no tax form will be issued or added to Document Center.

If You... You'll Get This Tax Form Mailed/Posted By
Paid $600 or more in interest or points on a mortgage 1098 January 31
Had $600 or more in debt canceled or forgiven 1099-C January 31
Received distributions from a Coverdell education savings account or 529 plan 1099-Q January 31
Earned interest income of $10 or more (not including IRAs) 1099-INT January 31
Received distributions from pensions, annuities, profit-sharing plans, retirement plans, IRAs or insurance contracts 1099-R January 31
Contributed to an IRA (traditional, Roth, SEP, SIMPLE or deemed) 5498 May 31
Maintained or contributed to a Coverdell education savings account 5498-ESA April 30

Keep in mind, Citizens Bank, N.A. doesn't provide tax advice. You are solely responsible for any taxes that may be owed. Please consult your tax advisor.

Transfer Information & Capabilities

The type of account you have with Citizens may limit the number of transfers allowed. Checking accounts have no limits to the number of transfers allowed. Savings and money market accounts are limited by federal regulations regarding savings products. Check the Terms and Conditions page or your deposit account disclosure for more detail.

You can transfer from any checking, money market, savings or line of credit account you have linked to your profile. You can transfer money to any checking, money market, savings, line of credit account, personal credit card, and most loan accounts. (In cases where account types are IRAs or other restricted products, transfers may not be permitted.) All accounts must be eligible for Online Banking under your account profile.

You can also transfer from your checking, money market, or savings account to the checking, money market, or savings account of another customer. (Requires set up of the "Transfer Between Citizens Accounts" of another customer)

In addition, you can transfer between your checking, money market, or savings account and the checking and savings accounts you own at other financial institutions. (Requires set up of the "Transfer Between My Other Bank Accounts")

For eligible deposit accounts (excluding Transfers Between Other Bank Accounts and Transfers to Other Citizens Customers), the maximum available for transfer is equal to the available balance in your "from" account. This includes any balance linked to the account for overdraft plan transfers.

Standard Transfers Between Other Bank Accounts are subject to the following dollar limits:

Type of Limit Amount
Incoming
Business Day
Monthly

$5,000
$10,000
Outgoing
Business Day
Monthly

$5,000
$10,000

There is a $3.00 per transaction fee for Outgoing Transfers Outside the Bank

Transfers Between Citizens Accounts to other customers are subject to the following dollar limits:

Limit per transaction $2,000

Yes. You can select either a future date or choose the "Frequency" option from the Transfer page you first selected.

Weekly Transfers occur every seven days beginning with the first transfer date specified.
Biweekly Transfers occur every 14 days, or every other week, beginning with the first transfer date specified.
Semimonthly Transfers occur on the first transfer date specified and then again every 15 days after the first transfer date.
Monthly Transfers occur on the same calendar day of every month, beginning with the first transfer date specified.
Every four weeks Transfers occur every 28 days beginning with the first transfer date specified.
Bimonthly Transfers occur on the same calendar date every other month beginning with the first transfer date specified.
Quarterly Transfers occur on the same calendar date every three months beginning with the first transfer date specified.
Semiannual Transfers occur on the same calendar date every six months beginning with the first transfer date specified.
Annual Transfers occur on the same calendar date every year beginning with the first transfer date specified.

Note: If the recurring transfer is scheduled on a Sunday or bank holiday, the transfer will be processed on the following business day.

Yes, From your Deposit Account to certain deposit accounts of other customers with the bank "Transfers Between Citizens Accounts."

  • You will need to set up and verify each of the accounts that you wish to use to make these transfers to.
  • There is no fee for transferring funds inside the bank to another customer, and the dollar limit for "Transfers Between Citizens Accounts" to other customers is $2,000 per transaction.

Select the "TRANSFER MONEY" tab from the navigation bar and then both Pending and Completed transfers will be displayed on the Transfer History Page. From here you can edit or delete transfers that have not yet been processed.

The cutoff time for deposit accounts generally is 11:30 p.m. EST for a transfer to be considered on a particular business day. The cutoff time for transfer to a Personal Credit Card is 5:00 p.m. EST. The cut off time for Small Business Loans or Lines of Credit is 7:50 p.m. EST. For "Transfers Between Other Bank Accounts" the cut off time is 3:00 p.m. EST.

Yes. Within Online Banking you may sign up for the option of transferring funds between your linked deposit accounts with the bank and certain deposit or investment accounts at other financial institutions (international transfers are not supported). You will need to set up and verify each of your non-Citizens accounts that you wish to use for these transfers. You agree that you will only attempt to set up and verify accounts for which you have the authority to transfer funds.

All accounts that are eligible for account transfer display in the account pull down menu. Currently, there is no means to disable an account for transfer other than hiding it in the "Site & Display Preferences" page under the "Profile & Settings" menu.

Zelle® is a way to send money directly to almost any bank account in the U.S. - typically within minutes. With an email address or U.S. mobile phone number, you can now quickly, safely, and easily send money to people you trust, regardless of where they bank.1

Who can I send money to with Zelle®?

You can send money to friends, family and people you know and trust. Since money is sent directly from your bank account to another person's bank account within minutes1, it's important to only send money to people you trust, and always ensure you've used the correct email address or U.S. mobile number. Zelle® should only be used to send money to friends, family or others you trust.

If you don't know the person, or aren't sure you will get what you paid for (for example, items bought from an on-line bidding or sales site), we recommend you do not use Zelle® for these types of transactions. These transactions are potentially high risk, neither Citizens nor Zelle® offers purchase protection for payments made with Zelle® - for example, if you make a purchase using Zelle® but you do not receive the item or the item is not as described or as you expected.

How do I use Zelle®?

You can send, request or receive money with Zelle®. To get started, log into Citizens online banking or mobile app and click "Send Money with Zelle®". Review and accept the Terms & Conditions and required disclosures, follow the enrollment steps and you're on your way.

To send money using Zelle®, simply select someone from your mobile device's contacts (or add a trusted recipient's email address or U.S. mobile number), add the amount you'd like to send and an optional note, review, then hit "Send." The recipient will receive an email or text message notification via the method they used to enroll with Zelle®. Money is available to your recipient in minutes if they are already enrolled with Zelle®.

To request money using Zelle®, choose "Request," select the individual from whom you'd like to request money, enter the amount you'd like, include an optional note, review and hit "Request." If the person you are requesting money from is not yet enrolled with Zelle®, you must use their email address to request money. If the person has enrolled their U.S. mobile number, then you can send the request using their mobile number.

To receive money, just share your enrolled email address or U.S. mobile number with a friend and ask them to send you money with Zelle®. If you have already enrolled with Zelle®, you do not need to take any further action. The money will be sent directly into your Citizens account, typically within minutes.

If someone sent you money with Zelle® and you have not yet enrolled with Zelle®, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the link provided in the payment notification you received via email or text message.
  2. Select your Citizens account.
  3. Follow the instructions provided on the page to enroll and receive your payment. Pay attention to the email address or U.S. mobile number where you received the payment notification - you should enroll with Zelle® using that email address or U.S. mobile number to ensure you receive your money.

Are there any fees to send money using Zelle®?

Citizens does not charge any fees to use Zelle®.

Citizens account and/or any wireless/data fees may apply.*

How do I get started?

It's easy — Zelle® is already available within Citizens mobile app* and online banking! Check our app or sign-in online and follow a few simple steps to enroll with Zelle® today.

You can find a full list of participating banks and credit unions live with Zelle® here.

If your recipient's bank isn't on the list, don't worry! The list of participating financial institutions is always growing, and your recipient can still use Zelle® by downloading the Zelle® app for Android and iOS.

To enroll with the Zelle® app, your recipient will enter their basic contact information, an email address and U.S. mobile number, and a Visa® or Mastercard® debit card with a U.S. based account (does not include U.S. territories). Zelle® does not accept debit cards associated with international deposit accounts or any credit cards.

Can I use Zelle® internationally?

In order to use Zelle®, the sender and recipient's bank accounts must be based in the U.S.

Can I cancel a payment?

You can only cancel a payment if the person you sent money to hasn't yet enrolled with Zelle®. To check whether the payment is still pending because the recipient hasn't yet enrolled, you can go to your activity page, choose the payment you want to cancel, and then select "Cancel This Payment."

If the person you sent money to has already enrolled with Zelle®, the money is sent directly to their bank account and cannot be canceled. This is why it's important to only send money to people you know and trust, and always ensure you've used the correct email address or U.S. mobile number when sending money.

If you sent money to the wrong person, we recommend contacting the recipient and requesting the money back. If you aren't able to get your money back, please call us at 1-800-656-6561 so we can help you.

How long does it take to receive money with Zelle®?

Money sent with Zelle® is typically available to an enrolled person within minutes. If you send money to someone who isn't enrolled with Zelle®, they will receive a notification prompting them to enroll. After enrollment, the money will move directly to your recipient's account.

If your payment has been pending and has not sent, we recommend confirming that the person you sent money to has enrolled with Zelle® and that you entered the correct email address or U.S. mobile phone number. If you're waiting to receive money, you should check to see if you've received a payment notification via email or text message. If you haven't received a payment notification, we recommend following up with the sender to confirm they entered the correct email address or U.S. mobile phone number.

Still having trouble? Please call the Citizens customer support team toll-free at 1-800-656-6561 for assistance.

Will the person I send money to be notified?

Yes! They will receive a notification via email or text message.

Is my information secure?

Keeping your money and information safe is a top priority for Citizens, and when you use Zelle® within the Citizens' mobile app* or online banking, your information is protected with the same technology we use to keep your bank account safe.

A Transfer between my Other Bank Accounts allows you to move funds from your Citizens account(s) into and out of your accounts held at other banks or financial institutions. All transactions are processed via the Automated Clearing House (ACH) secure network — the same network used by the Federal Reserve to clear checks between financial institutions. And the procedure used is very similar to the process employers use to create direct deposit of payroll and that financial institutions use to carry out automated payments for loans or mortgages.

Bill Pay Information & Capabilities

No, there is no separate sign up for Bill Pay. Once you are signed up for Online Banking, you can use the Bill Pay service immediately. Simply click on the "Pay Bills" tab to begin. For business customers, it may take up to 24 hours to enroll in Online Bill Pay.

You can set up payments for a future date. For fixed payment amounts on a specific day, you can set up repeating payments.

Automatic payments provide a means for automatically scheduling payments in "Pay Bills" based on the options you select. You can set up two different types of automatic payments:

  • Automatic Payments for Electronic Bills - If you receive electronic bills, some billers let you set up options for paying them automatically. You can decide whether to always pay the amount due or to set a limit on the amount for automatically paying the bill. You can also decide whether to make the payment on the due date or on the earliest date available after you receive the bill.
  • Automatic Payment Schedules - You can set up an automatic payment schedule to pay bills of a set amount at regular intervals. For example, you can schedule a payment at the first of each month to pay your mortgage or rent. This type of automatic payment is always available to you, regardless of whether you receive electronic bills from the biller or whether the biller lets you pay your electronic bills automatically.

Some billers let you set up options for paying your electronic bills automatically. To set up these options, use your preferred web browser and click on the "Pay Bills" tab. Then, from the "Payment Center," click on the "eBills" link. Please note, this can currently only be set up via Online Banking through your web browser, not the mobile app.

Business customers are able to include invoice details with payments. With each payment you have the option to include the invoice number, amount, discount amount, invoice description, and discount description.

Payment history is in Smart View in the third section titled "paid/pending", and the amount of past payments viewed can be updated using the filter.

You can pay almost anyone in the United States: national bank card companies, mortgage or auto loan companies, department stores, your health club, the paperboy. Any company or individual to whom you could send a check for payment is eligible for payment through Online Bill Payment. Please note that individuals or businesses residing outside the United States are not eligible for bill payment. In addition, bill payments for tax payments or court-ordered payments are prohibited.

Once you are signed up for Online Banking, you can set up a payee at any time. Setting up a new payee takes only a few clicks and payments to the new payee can be made immediately.

If your biller accepts electronic payments, in most cases, the payment is made the next business day. If the biller accepts only paper checks, payment can take up to 7 business days to be received. When you enter an amount, Bill Pay automatically displays the earliest date you can select for the company or person to receive the payment in the "Pay Date" box. You can either accept this date or change it to a later one.

Bill Pay automatically displays the earliest date you can select for the company or person to receive the payment in the "Pay Date" box. Most payments are sent electronically to your billers. In the case of electronic payments, the payments begin processing one business day prior to the Pay Date and the funds are withdrawn from your account on the Pay Date. If a paper check is required, a check payment is mailed prior to the Pay Date in order for your payment to be received by the Pay Date. Select the date you want the payment to arrive by. When a biller does not accept electronic payments, the payment will be mailed as a paper check that could arrive before the Pay Date. Please be sure to have sufficient funds in your account a few days prior to the Pay Date in case the payment arrives early.

We attempt to make all payments by electronic means, but some companies and individuals still require paper checks. For small business customers, any payment that requires additional invoice information will be sent as a paper check generated by Citizens.

Yes. You can enter any future date you choose - up to 365 days in advance.

You can view your past payments on the "Activity" page to determine if they have been processed or contact the companies directly to verify receipt of payment.

If there is no overdraft protection to cover funds, receive a payment failure notification and should re-schedule their payment once funds are added.

The Payment Due Date should be the date that your bill is actually due.

Payments will be withdrawn the night before they're due. For example, if you schedule a payment for October 8, then the funds will be withdrawn from your account on the evening of October 7 and delivered to the biller on October 8.

The "Activity" screen status field indicates the current state of your bill payment request. "Pending" indicates the payment has not processed yet. "Paid" indicates the payment was successfully processed and delivered to the payee. "Unpaid" indicates the e-bill has not yet been paid.

After you enter a bill payment request, you can review the payment in the "Payment Center" screen. You may cancel or edit a payment up to (3) business days or more prior to the Pay Date by following directions within the "HELP" section of the Bill Payment Service. There is no charge for cancelling or editing a Pending Payment. Once the payment moves from the "Pending Payments" screen to the "Payment History" screen, it indicates that the payment is in process or has already been processed and the payment cannot be cancelled or edited. Contact Online Banking Customer Service toll free at 1-800-656-6561 for further assistance. Business customers should call 1-877-229-6428.

Please find below the various payment frequencies that can be scheduled.

Weekly Every week on (or near) the same day of the week you scheduled the first payment.
Every 2 weeks Every other week on (or near) the same day of the week you scheduled the first payment.
Every 4 weeks Every 28 days from the previous payment date, starting with the first payment date.
Monthly Every month on (or near) the same date you scheduled the first payment.
Twice a month Every month on (or near) the same date you scheduled the first payment. The second payment is scheduled 15 days after the first payment date.
Every 2 months Every two months on (or near) the same date you scheduled the first payment.
Every 3 months Every three months on (or near) the same date you scheduled the first payment.
Every 6 months Every six months on (or near) the same date you scheduled the first payment.
Annually Every 12 months on (or near) the same date you scheduled the first payment.

Note: The dates may be adjusted to ensure that payments are sent on a business day within the selected time period. The dates are always rolled back to the previous business day. For example: If you select a Monthly frequency and schedule the payment on the first of every month, and if the first of the month falls on a non-business day, the payment would roll back to the previous business day.

Online Bill Payment is currently offered at no charge. You will be notified if this changes in the future.

Yes. Any overdraft plan on your account is honored when using the online service.

Yes. Bill Pay simply allows you a method to write checks and manage your money via electronic means. Your paper checks are still valid and will appear on your "Transaction History" as each check clears your account.

Yes. You can enter any one of your Citizens loan or line of credit payments into Online Bill Payment. However, for faster payments to your Citizens loan or line of credit, you can transfer funds from your checking or savings account. Select the "TRANSFER MONEY" tab and choose the "to" and "from" accounts.

The type of account you have with Citizens may limit the number of payments allowed. Checking accounts have no limits to the number of transfers allowed. Savings and money market accounts are limited by federal regulations regarding savings products. Check the Terms and Conditions page or your deposit account disclosure for more detail.

The "Memo" field can be used to enter additional information specific to a one-time or recurring payment. This information will only be noted on payments issued as paper drafts. Electronic payments (wire, ACH, etc.) will not include any memo information you supply.

For each bill payment or transfer you complete using the system, you receive a unique reference number to confirm your transaction. Keep note of the number in case you need to research a particular transaction.

Your upcoming and historical payments can be viewed both in Online Banking and in the Mobile App.*

Online Banking Option 1: Click into Pay Bills > Payment Activity tab in Bill Center > select filter option update the date range and apply filters > scroll down to view Paid/Pending and view up to 6 months of your historical payments.

Online Banking Option 2: Click into Pay Bills > Manage Billers tab in Bill Center > choose a payee, select the three dots, then select view activity, to view up to 6 months of your historical payments.

Mobile App: Open the Mobile App*, select Pay Bills > scroll down to see Mailed Payments and Completed Payments, up to 60 days.

For electronic payments, funds are withdrawn one day before the payment due date. This ensures that the payment can be processed on time and that sufficient funds are available in your account. For paper check payments, funds are withdrawn whenever the recipient cashes the check.

Electronic payments

Electronic payments are payments that are remitted to the biller via the ACH network and are delivered electronically. No paper checks are required.

You do not necessarily need to enroll in eBills in order for your payments to be remitted electronically.

Please note that not all payees accept electronic payments. You can determine if your payee accepts electronic payments or not by hovering your mouse over the bottom left icon in the biller view on the Pay Bills tab in online banking.

 eBills

eBills are an optional functionality within bill pay that give you the ability to receive upcoming bill due reminders as well as PDF's with the official biller logo and information.

You do not need to enroll in eBills for your bills to be paid electronically. This is optional.

Not all payees offer eBills. You will know if your payee offers eBill enrollment by viewing the "Link eBill" blue tile above the biller name.

Please note that each payee has a different mechanism for eBill enrollment. In order to ensure this enrollment is as smooth as possible, please come prepared with your full payee information and credentials to connect it successfully.

Investment Accounts

Online Banking gives you the power to access and manage nearly all your Citizens accounts — from one place. You can review account history and current transactions, transfer funds between accounts (inside and outside the bank), place stop payments, request copies of statements, send customer service requests via secured email, pay bills, view images of cleared checks, access your checking, savings, and loan account statements online and much more.

Personal Online Banking users can access their deposit accounts, loans and lines of credit, investment accounts with Citizens Investment Services, credit cards and mortgages. Business users have access to deposit accounts, overdraft lines of credit, some loans and lines of credit. Business customers may request that other business or personal accounts on which they have an eligible account ownership status be linked to their online profile.

To help our customers manage more of their finances online — in one place — Online Banking offers access to your investment accounts with Citizens Investment Services®. These accounts include:

  1. Accounts serviced by Citizens Wealth Management
  2. Investment accounts you manage

Online Banking also provides convenient access to the Wealthscape InvestorSM website, where you can execute transactions and obtain more detailed information on your investment accounts with Citizens Investment Services.

Citizens Wealth Management offers a range of products and services. To learn more, visit Investing and Wealth Management.

No. The accounts displayed in the "Investment Accounts" section of Online Banking —

  • are not FDIC insured
  • are not bank guaranteed
  • may lose value
  • are not deposit products
  • are not insured by any federal government agency

Banking products are offered through Citizens. Deposit accounts held at Citizens, N.A., are separately insured, Member FDIC.

Citizens Securities Inc., otherwise referred to as Citizens Wealth Management, offers Securities, Insurance and Investment Advisory Services. Please be aware that the security products offered are different from those offered by a bank and are subject to investment risk, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

Citizens and Citizens Securities, Inc., are wholly owned subsidiaries of Citizens Financial Group.

Not at this time.

The investment balances shown in Online Banking are based on market prices, with up to a 15-minute delay from the time the webpage was last refreshed. Information relating to accounts not held at Citizens Securities, Inc. (CSI), is presented as an accommodation, and while drawn from sources believed to be reliable, is not guaranteed for accuracy or completeness. Such information should be independently confirmed by the account owner(s).

Information relating to accounts not held or custodied by National Financial Services (NFS) (Assets Held Away), CSI's clearing broker dealer, was provided to NFS by outside parties and is included for informational purposes only. These positions are not part of your brokerage account carried by NFS and therefore, any SIPC account protection afforded your account through NFS does not cover these assets or prices reported. Neither NFS, CSI nor Citizens are responsible for the Assets Held Away information provided, and do not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the positions or prices reported. Prices shown do not necessarily reflect the actual current market prices. You can obtain additional information regarding these prices by contacting CSI.

Linking your bank accounts to third-party financial apps and tools

There are two parties involved whenever you share data regarding your Citizens accounts. The first is a finance tool. These tools ask for your account info so they can offer their full services.

The second party is an aggregator that gathers your data on behalf of the first party. They act as the intermediary between your Citizens account and your account with the finance tool.

We take data security very seriously. If you are ever asked to share your account info with another company, know that we've put in the work to make the process completely safe and secure on our end. Any data permissions you grant are good for 12 months. After that, you'll be asked to renew them. Other companies' use of your data is determined by your agreement with them and not by Citizens.

After you share your data with a finance tool, you can stop sharing by logging in to the service and unlinking your Citizens account.

Never. We have worked meticulously to make sure your account information is only shared when you give express consent.

Citizens doesn't control how your info is displayed in a finance tool after you've granted them access. If something looks off on their end, please contact their customer service directly.

  • General account details including deposits, payment history, credit reports, credit/debit card usage, loan payments, investment portfolio, brokerage info, transfers and/or any other financial account info managed through Citizens
  • All transactions, current and past balances, payment/bill due dates, current rates and similar data
  • Personal info such as name, address, phone number, dates of account opening and the like, unless prohibited
  • Citizens will never share your user ID, password or use of funds or investments in any way

No data will be shared without your consent. Typically, you are asked upfront to grant access to all your account info at once when linking an external software.

Finance tools like budgeting and money transfer apps offer a convenient way to manage your money. However, the ways in which some of these companies store sensitive data like your transaction history could put your personal info at risk. Please review the privacy policies of any tool you're considering linking your account to so you can make an informed decision about your data.

No, access to your bank account information will continue until 12 months after you first gave consent, unless you revoke it earlier.

You can revoke access at any time. We'll also ask you to renew your permissions every 12 months.

Online banking help

You can create a new Password and regain access to Online Banking & Bill Pay by clicking the "Trouble Logging In?" link located on the login page. Simply provide some personal information, and we will reset your Password online.

​To retrieve your User ID, go to citizensbank.com, click Login, then select "Trouble logging in?".

Next, select "I forgot my user ID", and then follow prompts to verify your identity.

​You can act immediately by freezing your ATM/Debit card on the iOS or Android mobile app*. This functionality is located in the Manage Cards menu option within the app.

Also, please contact us on 1-800-922-9999 as soon as possible so that we can help protect you against fraud.

This is the best way to minimize any disruption in your account. You are not responsible for fraudulent card transactions that are reported promptly. Swift reporting of a lost or stolen card demonstrates that you have exercised reasonable care in safeguarding your card from the risk of loss or theft.

Your Online User ID is a unique combination of letters and numbers between 5-20 characters that is required for accessing Online Banking. It should be easy for you to remember and hard for others to guess. Your Online User ID is NOT case sensitive and cannot be already taken by another Online Banking customer.

Yes. Valid Passwords are case sensitive, between 8 and 15 characters in length, and contain only letters and numbers. Your Password must include at least one letter and at least one number and be different from your Online User ID.

You will be able to change your password and User ID in Online Banking very soon. Until then, you can change your password by selecting "Trouble Logging In?" within the Login option on CitizensBank.com.

Forgot your User ID? You can retrieve your User ID through the same "Trouble Logging In?" flow.

Contact Online Banking Customer Service at 1-800-656-6561 (or, for business customers, 1-877-229-6428).

© Citizens Financial Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Citizens Bank, N.A. Member FDIC

All accounts and services are subject to individual approval.

Securities, Insurance Products and Investment Advisory Services offered through Citizens Wealth Management.

Citizens Wealth Management: Citizens Wealth Management (in certain instances DBA Citizens Private Wealth) is a division of Citizens Bank, N.A. ("Citizens"). Securities, insurance, brokerage services, and investment advisory services offered by Citizens Securities, Inc. ("CSI"), a registered broker-dealer and SEC registered investment adviser - Member FINRA / SIPC. Investment advisory services may also be offered by Clarfeld Financial Advisors, LLC ("CFA"), an SEC registered investment adviser, or by unaffiliated members of FINRA and SIPC providing brokerage and custody services to CFA clients (see Form ADV for details). Insurance products may also be offered by Estate Preservation Services, LLC ("EPS") or an unaffiliated party. CSI, CFA and EPS are affiliates of Citizens. Banking products and trust services offered by Citizens.

Please be aware that securities, insurance products, and investment advisory services offered by Citizens Securities, Inc. and Clarfeld Financial Advisors, LLC (both affiliates of Citizens Bank, N.A.) are different from those offered by the bank and are subject to investment risk, including possible loss of principal amount invested.

1 U.S. checking or savings account required to use Zelle®. Transactions between enrolled users typically occur in minutes. Transactions at Citizens do not incur transaction fees.

* Wireless carrier fees may apply. Banking fees may apply.

Citizens Mobile Banking App: You may download the Citizens Mobile App allowing access to many of the same services and features available with your online banking service. You can view balances and activity for eligible credit and deposit accounts included in your online service. You may perform previously set up transfers between your Citizens accounts or your existing external accounts. e-statements, transfer set-up and self-initiated services like stop payments are not available using your Citizens Mobile Banking App.

Mobile Deposit account eligibility requirements, deposit limits and other restrictions may apply. Data use fees may apply.

Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.

Visa is a registered trademark of Visa International Service Association.

Zelle® and Zelle® related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.

To send or receive money with Zelle®, both parties must have an eligible checking or savings account. Transactions between enrolled users typically occur in minutes. Don't use Zelle® to send money to people you don't know. Data charges may apply.

Apple, the Apple logo, and Touch ID® are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

Android is a trademark of Google Inc.

Google Play is a trademark of Google Inc.

SECURITIES, INVESTMENTS AND INSURANCE PRODUCTS ARE SUBJECT TO RISK, INCLUDING PRINCIPAL AMOUNT INVESTED, AND ARE:
· NOT FDIC INSURED · NOT BANK GUARANTEED · NOT A DEPOSIT · NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY · MAY LOSE VALUE