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.
Current business checking comparison
| 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 |
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.