Citibank:
Citibank is one of the largest banks in the world with services for consumers, small businesses and corporations. Citibank offers banking services, credit cards, investments and insurance, mortgage and student loans. They big competitors are banks like Wells Fargo and Chase Bank. Citibank has 1400 branches and 3800 ATMs in 46 countries and recently they added 5500 Citibank ATMs in 7-Eleven stores. If you sort through your credit cards in your wallet odds are one is from Citi. As a customer, it's always nice to have all your banking needs solved by 1 bank. You can get a checking account, savings account, certificates of deposit (CDs), IRAs, home loans, and credit cards. There is even an e-savings account from Citibank that has a 4.75% APY (as Feb 2007) with no monthly fee, no minimum balance and it's FDIC insured. Should you bank with Citibank? Like most banking institutions, Citibank probably has some competitive offers you should consider and others that you have no interest in.
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Citibank Online Banking:
The biggest change in banks over the last decade or so is that now you can do so much more "online banking" with traditional banks. Citibank is no different from Wells Fargo or Countrywide in that they allow you to manage your finances online with online bill pay, transfers, online bank statements, online check images, email alerts, and the SafeWeb Online Fraud Protection service. For those of you who don't bank online, seriously consider it. You save time and money by being able to pay bills online, balance your checkbook online, and transfer money back and forth between your accounts without having to visit an actual bank. Many of the online checking accounts are free with direct deposit usage or by paying 2 bills online each month. Online banking is safe, fast, and convenient and Citibank is striving to make it personal as well. If you are hesistant to do your banking online, you can always call their 800 # or visit your local branch to take care of your banking needs.
Mortgages - Home Loans:
If you are in the market to buy a new home or just refinance, check out Citimortgage.com where you will find information on buying a home, refinancing a home, compare loan rates, and use their mortgage calculator to determine "how much house you can afford". They have an excellent First Time Homebuyers section that teaches potential homeowners about buying tips, mortgage options, rent vs buy scenarios, etc. If you are one of the lucky individuals who has made lots of paper money with your homes equity over the last few years, Citibank offers an educational rundown on how to use the equity to pay off credit card debt, make home improvements or just take out extra cash. They also go into the benefits of refinancing with calculators showing you how much you could save each month or how you could pay off your loan faster. You can apply online and when you do get your mortgage setup through Citibank, you can monitor your account online.
Visa/Mastercard Services:
Citicards.com is the customized site designed by Citibank that displays all their credit cards. Citibank cards are specialized for college students, small business owners, and professionals to maximize your needs. Each credit card can be tailored to your reward choices like travel, cash back, or savings. The technology is there to protect you from stolen cards or fraudulent use with Identity Monitor from Citi, The Lost Wallet Service, and Fraud Early Warning. These tools allow you to do online shopping without worry and know that Citi is tracking your cards usage to prevent fraud and keep your personal information private. Citibank works with Home Depot, Sears, Macys, Bloomingdales, Hilton, American Express and American Airlines to give you the perfect credit card. There rates (APR's) are very competitive and you can often get initial rates lowered after a year of use on a credit card with a good payment history.
Student Loans:
Citi was smart and they bought the domain name Studentloan.com so that it would be easy for students or parents looking for students loans to find their website. The site is designed to help parents and students figure out what to expect in terms of college expenses and costs and how to finance their education. There are sections for Planning for College, Paying for College, Applying for a Loan, Repaying Student Loans, and Managing Your Account. We found the student loan site to be very "educational" and informative. It goes into Federal Stafford Loans, Parent Federal PLUS Loans, Graduate Federal PLUS Loans, and CitiAssist Loans for students. You can learn about financial aid options like scholarships, grants and school sponsored funding. Many students take out private loans as well as federal loans to pay for college and then realize it might be better to consolidate all their loans into 1 easy monthly payment which Citibank can help with. You can apply right on their website for undergraduate loans, graduate loans, loan consolidation, and loans for parents. The Student Loan Advisor tool is an excellent instrument where you can put in the school of choice and the state along with your year in college. The website will spit out results based on Federal Loan Products available and Alternative Loan Products that Citi offers.
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Website: http://citi-online.com/blog/2010/03/19/citibank-online-banking-2/.
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