Consumer complaint received 2022-12-10
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.
State: SC
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Opening an account
Sub-issue: Didn't receive terms that were advertised

Complaint:
In XX/XX/XXXX I received a offer from Citibank on my Citi XXXX XXXX XXXX account page. The offer I received was for a bonus of up to {$2000.00} for opening an online checking account and maintaining a determined amount for a certain length of time, as copied below. 

1. Open a new checking account in an eligible account package from XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX. 
XXXX. XXXX XXXX Funds into your new checking account within 20 days of account opening. The balance on your XXXX day will determine your maximum eligible cash bonus. 
XXXX. Maintain the required Minimum Balance in your eligible account for an additional 60 days from the XXXX day. 

The bonus is based on the following amounts, as copied. 

Simple steps to earn your Cash Bonus EARN {$200.00} MINIMUM DEPOSIT : {$10000.00} EARN {$500.00} MINIMUM DEPOSIT : {$30000.00} EARN {$1000.00} MINIMUM DEPOSIT : {$75000.00} EARN {$1500.00} MINIMUM DEPOSIT : {$200000.00} EARN {$2000.00} MINIMUM DEPOSIT : {$300000.00} I made my deposit on XXXX XXXX, XXXX and maintained the balance as required per the online sample page copied and pasted below. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX DAY XXXX NEW ACCOUNT OPENED The day you opened an account in an eligible account package. 


XXXX XXXX XXXX DAY XXXX FUND YOUR ACCOUNT Deposit New-to-Citibank Funds within 20 days of account opening. The balance on your XXXX day will determine your maximum eligible cash bonus. * XXXX XXXX XXXX DAY XXXX MAINTAIN YOUR BALANCE Maintain the required Minimum Balance in your eligible account for an additional 60 days from the XXXX day. ** After opening and funding the online checking account on XX/XX/XXXX I saw no evidence on my account page of a bonus attached to the account. I called Citibank two times within the first two weeks of opening the account to make sure it was opened correctly and that I would receive the bonus following the maturity date of XXXX XXXX, XXXX. During both conversations with Citibank representatives I was assured that everything looked good and I could expect the bonus within 30 days after the maturity date of XXXX. 

I maintained the required amount to assure the bonus from XX/XX/XXXX through the maturity date of XX/XX/XXXX and then again called Citibank on XX/XX/XXXX to enquire about the bonus and to see if it was okay to transfer some of the ballance into my savings account at that time. I was told that since the required bonus time had passed that I could transfer money out of the checking account with no effect on the bonus, as long as I kept some money in the checking account to keep it active. I was then given a case reference number that I could call and refer to if I had not received the bonus within 30 days following the maturity date. ( Approx. XX/XX/XXXX ) Today on XX/XX/XXXX I received a message attached to my online checking account stating that my checking account was not eligible for the bonus program. I then called Citibank and spoke to a representative. I gave him my account reference number and after putting me on hold for an extended period he returned to tell me that my checking account wasn't eligible for the bonus because the bonus was coded for invitation only. He said if I had a letter of invitation that I could submit for proof of invitation then I would be eligible for the bonus. I explained that I had not gone searching for the bonus, that it was sent to me on my Citi credit card page, and of course I don't have a copy of it. I also told him that I had talked to two seperate representatives shortly after opening the account and was assured that everything was opened correctly to receive the bonus as advertised. I also stated that anyone with half a brain can tell by looking at my checking account, that since only one deposit was made on XX/XX/XXXX and no withdrawals or other activity was conducted until XX/XX/XXXX, it is very obvious that I only opened the checking account to earn the offered bonus money. 
The representative was not helpful, but said he would pass along the information that I gave him about the online offer I received on my credit card page. 
At this point I have little if any hope that Citi will uphold their end of the bonus agreement. I have been a Citi Double Cash credit card user for approximately 8 years, but I will be closing my Citibank checking and savings accounts promptly due to the loss of all confidence and respect for Citibank Corporation.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief