Citizens at a glance
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic firms looking for a traditional relationship-bank model.
Clearly Better Business Checking
$0 published monthly fee under the current review data.
3 current tiers
Compare the full fee, waiver, transaction and cash-deposit structure below.
Regional bank
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic firms looking for a traditional relationship-bank model.
Current business checking lineup
Citizens currently has 3 business-checking tiers represented in our current review data. The table below is the fastest way to see whether the entry tier is sufficient or whether transaction, cash-deposit or relationship needs justify moving up.
| Account | Monthly fee | How the fee can be avoided | Operating allowance / notable feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearly Better Business Checking | $0 | No waiver needed | First 200 check transactions per statement period at no charge; $0.50 each additional |
| Business Advisor Checking | $25 or $0 | $10,000 average daily balance or $35,000 qualifying combined balance | First 500 check transactions per statement period at no charge; $0.30 each additional |
| Cash Flow Essentials (add-on) | $49/month | Separate service, not a checking-fee waiver | ACH origination, wire origination and cash-flow tools; transaction limits/fees can apply |
Where Citizens fits
Citizens is particularly relevant to small businesses in its branch footprint that want a straightforward $0-maintenance operating account without committing to a large balance. Businesses with higher activity can move to Advisor, while companies needing more advanced payment workflows can add Citizens cash-management services.
Checking structure
Citizens offers an unusually simple entry proposition: Clearly Better Business Checking has no monthly maintenance fee and includes a useful transaction allowance. Business Advisor Checking adds a relationship model for companies with greater activity and enough balances to waive its monthly fee.
Transactions and cash deposits
Clearly Better includes up to 200 check transactions per statement period at no charge, then $0.50 per additional item. Business Advisor increases the included allowance to 500 check transactions, with additional items currently priced at $0.30. Citizens also offers online/mobile banking, mobile deposit, bill pay and optional invoicing/accounting tools.
Relationship economics
Business Advisor carries a $25 monthly maintenance fee, waived with either a $10,000 average daily balance or $35,000 in qualifying combined balances. Citizens also sells Cash Flow Essentials as a separate payment/cash-management package, so growing firms should compare bundled service costs rather than the checking fee alone.
Who should compare Citizens closely
Small branch-using businesses that want no-maintenance-fee checking with a meaningful included transaction allowance, plus relationship customers able to waive Advisor’s fee.
What to verify before opening Citizens
| Decision point | Bank-specific check |
|---|---|
| Entry-tier economics | Confirm whether Clearly Better Business Checking at $0 fits your normal balances and activity, not just the promotional or opening period. |
| Transactions and cash | Model your real monthly volume against the published allowance: First 200 check transactions per statement period at no charge; $0.50 each additional |
| Upgrade threshold | Compare the incremental cost and allowances of Cash Flow Essentials (add-on) before your activity forces an unplanned tier change. |
| Service model | Verify branch coverage, support access, user permissions, ACH/wire controls and merchant/treasury tools needed by your team. |
| Geographic/product availability | Confirm that the exact product and service set is available to your entity type and operating market. |
Primary sources
- Citizens business checking overview
- Citizens Clearly Better Business Checking
- Citizens Business Advisor Checking
- Citizens Cash Flow Essentials
One of the cleaner traditional-bank entry accounts in its footprint, with an easy progression into higher-activity checking and cash-management services.
Small branch-using businesses that want no-maintenance-fee checking with a meaningful included transaction allowance, plus relationship customers able to waive Advisor’s fee.