Citi check clearing at a glance
| Standard availability | Next business day; holds: $275 next day, rest 2nd |
|---|---|
| Mobile deposit cutoff | 10:30 p.m. ET |
| New accounts | Most checks: 5th business day |
How long does Citi hold a check?
Citi's general policy is to make funds from any type of check deposit available no later than the first business day after the day of deposit. If Citi applies a longer delay, the first $275 is available the next business day and the rest of a day's checks up to $6,725 on the second business day.
Citi mobile check deposit: cutoff and availability
Cutoff: 10:30 PM Eastern Time (9:30 PM Central Time); mobile check deposits made after that are posted the following business day.
Not published. Check the deposit screen in the app, which usually shows when the money will be available.
Branch and ATM deposits
Teller deposits made before the branch's posted end of business count that day; cash with a teller or at a Proprietary Citibank ATM is generally available immediately the same business day. Checks follow the next-business-day policy, and the same cutoff applies at Proprietary Citibank ATMs and Network (non-Citibank) ATMs.
Cutoff: Branch: end of business day as posted at each branch (varies). Proprietary Citibank ATMs and Network (non-Citibank) ATMs: before 10:30pm Eastern Time (9:30 PM Central Time).
New accounts vs. older accounts at Citi
You count as a new client if you haven't had a Citibank account for at least 30 days before opening. For the first 30 days, wires, direct deposits, cash and government, cashier's and other special checks keep normal availability, but all other check deposits are available on the 5th business day after deposit.
Once an account is more than 30 days old, the standard schedule above applies unless an exception hold is placed.
Longer holds and exceptions
With a longer delay, a day's checks totaling up to $6,725 are available by the second business day (first $275 next day), and any amount over $6,725 on the third business day. Citi may hold the full amount up to 7 business days only for doubt of collectability or emergencies.
How to get your Citi deposit faster
U.S. Treasury, Federal Reserve and Federal Home Loan Bank checks, state/local government checks, postal money orders, cashier's/teller's/certified/travelers checks and checks drawn on a Citibank U.S. branch are available no later than the next business day. Wires, electronic direct deposits and cash are generally available the same business day.
Worth knowing: Citi's longest standard large-deposit delay is the third business day, shorter than the seventh-business-day federal maximum many banks use. Its current agreement lists no longer-delay exceptions for redeposited checks or repeated overdrafts (a 2023-era Citi notice said these were eliminated).
The federal rules behind Citi's policy
Federal Regulation CC sets the outer limits for most check deposits at US banks, including Citi: the first $275 by the next business day, most of the rest by the second business day, and longer “exception holds” only in specific cases. Banks can be faster, and some deposit types (such as mobile deposits at some banks) follow the bank's own schedule. Read our full guide: how long does a check take to clear? Depositing by phone? See how to deposit a check with your phone.
Policies change. This summary is based on Citi's own published documents as read on October 27, 2026 (listed below). Your account agreement, the deposit screen in your app and any hold notice you receive are what count. “Not published” means we didn't find it in Citi's public documents.
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Write your first check free →Frequently asked questions
How long does it take a check to clear at Citi?
Citi's general policy is to make funds from any type of check deposit available no later than the first business day after the day of deposit. If Citi applies a longer delay, the first $275 is available the next business day and the rest of a day's checks up to $6,725 on the second business day.
What is the Citi mobile deposit cutoff time?
10:30 PM Eastern Time (9:30 PM Central Time); mobile check deposits made after that are posted the following business day.
Are check holds longer for a new Citi account?
You count as a new client if you haven't had a Citibank account for at least 30 days before opening. For the first 30 days, wires, direct deposits, cash and government, cashier's and other special checks keep normal availability, but all other check deposits are available on the 5th business day after deposit.
Why is Citi holding my check?
With a longer delay, a day's checks totaling up to $6,725 are available by the second business day (first $275 next day), and any amount over $6,725 on the third business day. Citi may hold the full amount up to 7 business days only for doubt of collectability or emergencies.
How can I get my Citi check deposit faster?
U.S. Treasury, Federal Reserve and Federal Home Loan Bank checks, state/local government checks, postal money orders, cashier's/teller's/certified/travelers checks and checks drawn on a Citibank U.S. branch are available no later than the next business day. Wires, electronic direct deposits and cash are generally available the same business day.
Related guides
- How long does a check take to clear? (federal rules)
- Compare all banks
- How to deposit a check with your phone
Sources
- Citibank Consumer Deposit Account Agreement (effective November 20, 2025), Appendix 2: Funds Availability at Citibank and section 7 Account Transactions · deposit agreement, read Oct 27, 2026
- Citibank Mobile Check Deposit · mobile deposit page, read Oct 27, 2026
Last updated October 27, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or financial advice.
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