Citibank Mortgage Review 2026

Citibank is part of banking giant Citigroup, Inc and was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York. Now the third largest bank in the U.S., the company has over 650 branches and provides a variety of mortgage options, including the standard suite of conventional, jumbo and government-backed loans (with the exception of USDA loans). Its HomeRun Mortgage program can help you finance a single-family home or condo with only 3% down (or a duplex with 5% down) and no private mortgage insurance (PMI).

Pros and cons of Citibank

Affordability: 4.1 stars

Citi offers closing cost credits and low down payment options, including its HomeRun program, and its mortgage rates are in line with the national average, earning it 4.1 out of 5 stars for affordability. 

• Interest rates: Citibank offers competitive mortgage rates, with APRs comparable to the national average at the time of writing.
• Down payment: Citibank offers VA loans with no down payment, FHA loans with 3.5% down and conventional loans with just 3% down.
• Fees: Citibank’s loan fees, including origination fees, vary by loan type.
• Closing costs: Closing costs vary depending on many factors, but you can expect to pay 25 to 5% of the loan amount in closing costs. Citibank offers a $500 closing cost credit just for applying and a closing cost assistance program for eligible borrowers that provides up to $7,500 in lender credits.

Availability: 5 stars

Citibank earned a perfect score for availability because it offers a wide variety of loans and is available nationwide.

• Home loans offered: Citibank offers conventional, jumbo, FHA and VA purchase and refinance options.
• Footprint: You can get a Citibank mortgage in all U.S. states.
• Where to find: You can apply for a mortgage on the lender's website, over the phone or at a branch location.

Borrower experience: 4.4 stars

Citibank gets high marks for borrower experience due to multiple contact methods and its SureStart preapprovals. However, because you need to contact the lender for a personalized rate quote, it only scores 4.4 out of 5 stars in this category.

• Application and preapproval process: You can start the preapproval and application process with Citibank online, by phone or in person at a branch. Citibank offers a SureStart preapproval, which, unlike most preapprovals, comes with a guarantee to lend. This kind of preapproval can make your offers on homes look more competitive. 
• Transparency: While Citibank lists rates online, you’ll need to speak with a loan officer to get a customized quote so you can compare your options.
• Customer service: The company has multiple customer service channels, including service hours by phone, which are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. 

Citibank is a major banking institution and ranked first for customer satisfaction in J.D. Power’s 2025 mortgage origination satisfaction study. However, the bank isn’t accredited by the Better Business Bureau and currently has a “D-” rating from the organization for failure to respond to or resolve complaints, among other factors. At the time of this review, the bank had 1.1 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot based on more than 900 reviews.

What Bankrate users say about Citibank

On Bankrate, consumer reviews of Citibank are largely positive. Consumers praise the ease of application and the professionalism of the loan professionals. They also express happiness toward the low rates and terms honored by the lender.