CIT Bank Platinum Savings logo
Best for High Balances

CIT Bank Review: High-yield savings backed by a 125-year-old bank.

CIT Bank's Platinum Savings pays one of the highest APYs in the country on balances of $5,000+ — with zero monthly fees and the full backing of First Citizens Bank, one of the largest U.S. family-controlled banks.

PickYourBank Rating

9.5/ 10
Excellent

9.5

Overall

9.8

APY

10.0

Fees

8.8

Mobile app

9.0

Service

4.25%

Up to APY (with boost)

$5K

Min for top rate

$0

Monthly fees

$250K

FDIC coverage

What is CIT Bank?

A century of banking. A modern online experience.

Founded in 1908, CIT has financed American businesses for over a century. In 2022 it became a division of First Citizens Bank — the largest family-controlled bank in the U.S. with $200B+ in assets.

CIT Bank's online-only platform focuses on high-yield savings, money market, CDs, and a no-fee eChecking account — built for savers who want top-of-market APY without branch overhead.

Founded

1908

Parent assets

$200B+

HQ

Pasadena, CA

Charter

FDIC-insured

Bank-grade security

256-bit encryption + 2-factor login

Top-tier APY

Among the highest in the U.S.

Backed by First Citizens

125+ years of banking history

FDIC insured

Up to $250K per depositor

The CIT Bank lineup

High yields across the board.

CIT keeps it focused — a tight set of online accounts designed to maximize your APY.

Featured

Platinum Savings

Top-tier APY for $5K+ balances.

Up to 4.25% APY with a 6-month BOOST50 boost

  • Up to 4.25% APY for 6 months with code BOOST50
  • 4.25% APY on balances ≥ $5,000; 0.75% below during the boost
  • Standard APY: 3.75% on ≥ $5,000; 0.25% below
  • $100 minimum to open
  • $0 monthly maintenance fees
  • 24/7 mobile and online access
See CIT Bank Platinum Savings rates

Term CDs

Lock in a guaranteed fixed rate.

Terms from 6 months to 5 years

  • Competitive fixed APY across all terms
  • $1,000 minimum opening deposit
  • No maintenance fees
  • Automatic renewal at maturity
See CIT Bank Platinum Savings rates

Money Market

Liquid savings with check writing.

Competitive APY · $100 minimum

  • Competitive APY on all balances
  • $100 minimum to open
  • $0 monthly fees
  • Easy ACH and external transfers
See CIT Bank Platinum Savings rates

eChecking

Free online checking with ATM rebates.

Up to $30/month in ATM fee reimbursements

  • $0 monthly maintenance fees
  • Up to $30/month in domestic ATM fee rebates
  • Free Visa® debit card included
  • Mobile check deposit and bill pay
See CIT Bank Platinum Savings rates
The honest verdict

Pros & cons — no spin

What we love

  • One of the highest savings APYs in the U.S. (up to 4.25% on $5K+ with boost)
  • Truly $0 fees — no monthly, transfer, or hidden charges
  • Backed by First Citizens Bank — $200B+ in assets
  • ATM fee reimbursements on the eChecking account
  • FDIC-insured up to $250K per depositor

Worth knowing

  • Top APY requires a $5,000 minimum balance
  • No physical branches — fully online
  • No native debit card on the savings account
  • Mobile app is solid but trails top fintech rivals
Getting started

Open a CIT Bank account in under 5 minutes

Step 1

Apply online

Takes about 5 minutes — no hard credit pull required.

Step 2

Verify identity

Standard ID verification, usually instant.

Step 3

Fund your account

Link your existing bank or transfer in any amount.

Step 4

Hit $5K and earn up to 4.25%

Cross the $5K threshold to unlock the top Platinum APY — boosted for 6 months with BOOST50.

CIT Bank FAQ

Common questions, clear answers

Is CIT Bank safe?

Yes. CIT Bank is a division of First Citizens Bank, N.A., which is FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category. First Citizens has over $200 billion in assets and a 125+ year history.

How do I get the 4.25% APY?

Open or enroll with promo code BOOST50 (Sep 29 – Dec 15, 2026) and keep $5,000 or more in Platinum Savings to earn 4.25% APY for 6 months; balances under $5,000 earn 0.75% during the boost. Afterward the standard 3.75% APY applies on $5,000+. Customers who previously received an APY boost are not eligible. The tier is checked daily based on your balance.

Is there a minimum deposit to open?

Yes — Platinum Savings requires a $100 minimum opening deposit. You can fund the account before hitting the $5K threshold needed to unlock the top APY.

Are there any fees?

No monthly maintenance fees on Platinum Savings, Money Market, or eChecking. CIT operates a true $0-fee online banking model.

How long do transfers take?

Standard ACH transfers between CIT and your linked bank typically settle in 1–3 business days, with no transfer fees.

Top-tier APY without the gimmicks

If you can park $5K+ and want one of the highest savings rates in the country — backed by a century-old bank — CIT Bank is hard to beat.

Advertiser disclosure: PickYourBank.com may receive compensation when you open an account through our links. This can affect placement, order and our assessment score.

Browse financial categories

Your personal finance AI, meet Earny

Earny — your personal finance AI

Earny checks hundreds of bank offers 24/7 & tells you when your money can earn more.

Earny
online
Morning Sarah ☀️ Your Chase savings is still at 0.01% — want me to find better?
Yes please, no fees though 🙏
Got you. Based on your $12k balance, you'd earn +$480/yr switching to Marcus at 4.00% APY ✨