Citibank Check Cashing FAQ (+ Where Else to Cash a Citibank Check)

Citibank Check Cashing

If you have an account at Citibank, you can cash payroll checks, government checks, tax checks, personal checks, money orders, cashier’s checks, and some third-party checks, though the bank reserves the right to refuse third-party check cashing.^[1] If you are unable to cash your third-party check at Citibank, check out our list of places that cash third-party checks.

To cash a check, you will have to present a valid ID. Accepted IDs must have a photo and can be any of the following: a U.S. driver’s license, U.S. passport or passport card, learner’s permit, U.S. armed forces ID, foreign passport with an immigrant visa with I-551 validation and Alien Registration Number, or a foreign driver’s license.^[2] At its discretion, a branch may also ask you to present a Citibank bank card and PIN as additional verification. If you don’t have a card and PIN to present, you can present a second qualifying photo ID.

Fees and Limits

There are no fees for account holders to cash checks, and there are no check amount limits when the check is drawn on Citibank.^[1] When cashing a check that is not drawn on Citibank, the check cashing limit is the amount of funds you currently have available in your Citibank account. This is a way Citibank ensures that it won’t lose money cashing bad checks — if the check bounces, it can deduct the funds from your account (since it already gave you the cash). There is no limit for checks drawn on Citibank because for such checks, Citibank knows immediately whether the check is good.

Non-Account Holders

Citibank allows non-customers to cash checks drawn on Citibank with no fees; however, the maximum check amount is $5,000.^[1] (If you have a check over $5,000 and need to cash it rather than deposit it to a bank account, see our related article on where to cash large checks.) You’ll have to present one of the accepted photo IDs, and some branches may ask for a second form of identification.

For non-customers who want to cash a non-Citibank check, the check amount limit is $500, and the Citibank branch has the discretion to refuse to cash the check for whatever reasons it chooses.^[1] If you run into any problems, you can visit one of these check cashing places near you.

Citibank Check Deposit

Citibank account holders have several options when it comes to depositing checks. Checks can be deposited in person at any branch office during normal business hours, which are generally 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Citibank’s hours may vary by location, and branch offices are closed on federal holidays. Check your local branch hours before visiting.

You can also deposit checks 24 hours a day at any Citibank ATM, or by using the Citi mobile app for Android or Apple, which allows you to deposit checks by photographing both sides of an endorsed check for no extra charge.^[3]

Fund Availability

The timing of your deposit availability will depend on the time of deposit, the amount of the check, and what bank issued the check. The deposit cut-off time for Citibank is 2 p.m. — any checks deposited after 2 p.m. may not be processed until the next business day, causing a slight delay in fund availability.^[1]

If the check you deposit is drawn on Citibank, the funds will be available immediately when the check is processed. This is because Citibank can tell immediately whether the check is good. For all other types of deposits with Citibank, up to $200 of the funds are typically available immediately. The remaining funds generally take two to three days to become available to your account. Amounts over $5,000 may take up to four business days to clear.^[1]

Where Else to Cash a Citibank Check

There are a number of other places you can cash checks drawn on Citibank. If you have an account at another bank, you will usually be able to cash a Citibank check there, as long as your checking account has sufficient funds to cover the check amount in case the check you’re trying to cash is returned. Most banks have similar policies for account holders when it comes to cashing checks drawn on other banks. You can receive cash in amounts up to the funds in your bank account, and then deposit the remaining amount and wait for the check to clear.

If you have a personal check from a Citibank account, there are some banks, retail, grocery, and check cashing stores that may be able to cash your check. Of all kinds of checks, personal checks are the riskiest for businesses to cash, so many businesses don’t cash them. For more information, see our list of places that cash personal checks.

For payroll checks drawn on Citibank, you may be able to cash the check at another bank, a convenience store, grocery store, or check cashing store, typically for a fee. Here’s our list of places you can cash payroll checks.