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.
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
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.
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Platinum Savings is a tiered interest rate account. Interest is paid on the entire account balance based on the interest rate and APY in effect that day for the balance tier associated with the end-of-day account balance. APYs — Annual Percentage Yields are accurate as of July 1, 2026: 0.25% APY on balances of $0.01 to $4,999.99; 3.75% APY on balances of $5,000.00 or more. Interest Rates for the Platinum Savings account are variable and may change at any time without notice. The minimum to open a Platinum Savings account is $100.
Platinum Savings Boost promotion disclosure
Promo code BOOST50 is required to qualify.
This is a limited time offer available to New and Existing customers who meet the Platinum Savings APY Boost promotion criteria.
Accounts enrolled in the Platinum Savings Annual Percentage Yield (APY) Boost promotion will receive a 0.50% APY boost on the Platinum Savings current standard APY tiers for 6 months following the opening of a new account or when an existing Platinum Savings account is enrolled in the promotion. The Platinum Savings APY boost will be applied on account balances up to $9,999,999.00. Account balances above $9,999,999.00 will earn the standard APY. If the standard-published APY should change during the promotion period, the APY boost will move with it, offering an account APY above the standard rate.
The Promotion begins on September 29, 2026, and ends December 15, 2026. Customers enrolled in the promotion prior to the end date will receive the APY boost for the 6-month period outlined in the terms and conditions.