So today I received this email from citibank. Apparently they are making some changes to the proposed charges? Seems like they are sending a mixed message to their customers, first they say you will not be charged, then tell you how to avoid checking account fees?

Citibank, your ATMS are horrible, for calling yourself state of the art, you would thing you could scan your checks to be deposited right into your account.   Chase, Bank of America offer these services.

The other thing that I have been complaining about for years, is the horrible ATM machines at Citibank bank locations, the one in Hastings Ranch/Pasadena, CA is horrible, you can’t even read the screen if the sun is out, and when it rains you get all wet.  I have mentioned this to the manager and workers there and nothing has been done. They blame it on the property management company. hmm. seems like a bad story.

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Anyway here’s the letter I just received from CitiBank:

Dear Victor Caballero,

First, I want to thank you for banking with Citibank. We greatly appreciate your business.

I also want to write to you directly about recent banking changes that you have likely seen or heard about. These include changes to our checking packages here at Citibank, which will take effect as early as November 2011. We want to be sure you know exactly what the changes mean and exactly what your choices are.

Before we made our changes, we spent a lot of time talking with customers like you about what you want from your bank. Three things were most important:

1. “Don’t charge me fees for using my debit card.”We listened.

   We will not charge a monthly fee for making purchases with your debit card. In addition, we will not charge for online banking or bill payment, visiting a teller, calling us to bank over the phone or something as simple as getting a statement when you use an ATM — all items that many of our competitors charge for today or are testing.

2. “Be clear on my banking choices — including options to waive a monthly service fee.”We listened.

   You have several straightforward ways to avoid a monthly service fee across our checking packages. Here are two of them:

   Basic Banking Package: One way to avoid a fee is by keeping $1,500 in your combined relationship balances. That means a $1,500 combined average monthly balance across your linked savings and checking accounts.

   Or, if you prefer, simply complete two monthly activities with us: one direct deposit (such as a regular paycheck or government check) and one bill payment.

   Citibank® Account Package: Here, the required relationship balance is $15,000 to waive a monthly service fee. This average combined balance includes most of your eligible linked deposits, personal loans, mortgage and investment accounts.

3. “Let me bank where I want, when I want and how I want.”We listened.

   We provide 29,000 fee-free ATMs across the U.S., as well as leading online, phone, mobile and iPad® banking applications.

For additional flexibility, we also offer banking solutions for students, seniors and minors, as well as our Citi® at Work program for employees of select companies.

We hope this clarifies your choices when banking with us. Of course, we’d be happy to talk anytime about your banking needs and the options you have. Call us at 1-877-248-4454, visit a branch or visit us online at www.citibank.com/nodebitfee. We are here to help you.

Thank you again for choosing Citibank.

Sincerely,

Stephen Troutner
Head of Banking Products
U.S. Consumer Banking