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Will someone not authorized be able to access my accounts with Direct Access?
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No! Only the signers on an account,
using their Citicard® number and PIN, will be able to access
the account. It's important to remember that your Citicard is valuable and
that you exercise care with it. Never lend your Citicard to anyone and never
accept advice from strangers while you are using it. Also, be sure to keep your
PIN to yourself. This code is an important means of protection for you.
Don't write it on your Citicard, your PC, or any computer materials.
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Will someone not authorized be able to view my accounts and
know more about me than I want them to?
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Absolutely not! Only the signers on an account,
using their Citicard® number and PIN, will be able to view the account
information. It's important to remember that your Citicard is valuable and that
you exercise care with it. Never lend your Citicard to anyone and never accept
advice from strangers while you are using it. Also, be sure to keep your PIN
to yourself. This code is an important means of protection for you. Don't write
it on your Citicard, your PC, or any computer materials.
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Are there any fees associated with using Direct Access?
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No. There are no additional fees for using Direct Access.
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When can I use Direct Access?
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24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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What transactions and services are available through Direct Access?
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With Direct Access you'll be able to:
check account balances, pay bills with available funds, review and print
account activity, verify deposits and withdrawals, confirm that checks
have cleared, receive up to a 90-day transaction history, transfer funds,
send a message to a Citibank representative, review Citibank credit card
activity, get a limited number of real-time stock quotes from Citibank,
and, through Citicorp Investment Services, place orders to buy and sell
securities, and manage your CIS Brokerage Account. All this from your PC
at your home or office!
Citibank Credit Cards are issued by Citibank (South Dakota), N.A.
Securities transactions are through Citicorp Investment Services, member NASD/SIPC, and an affiliate of Citibank. Investment products:
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Are not bank deposits or FDIC insured
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Are not obligations of, or guaranteed by, Citibank or Citicorp Investment Services
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Are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested
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What do I need to use Direct Access?
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To use Direct Access, you'll need a U.S. Citibank
account with a valid Citicard®, and access to the Internet with a 128-bit encrypted browser
or the Direct Access private network software.
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How can I make deposits if there isn't a Citibank branch in my area?
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If there are no Citibank branches in your area,
deposits can be handled in one of two ways. For your paycheck, sign up for direct deposit
through your employer. For other occasional deposits, you can mail them right to Citibank.
Our customers find the mail-in and direct deposit options to be reliable and convenient.
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Will I be charged for ATM use if there isn't a Citibank branch in my area?
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As long as any minimum balance requirements are met,
Citibank will not charge for using non-Citibank ATMs, regardless of where they are.
However, certain financial institutions independently charge non-customers a fee for the
use of their ATMs. Citibank has no control over these charges. Be sure to ask your
local ATM providers about their usage fees.
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Can I still write checks if I have Direct Access?
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Of course! Many customers, however, find that they
prefer paying their bills on their PC using Direct Access.
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Does Direct Access work with Quicken® and other popular personal financial management software?
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Absolutely. Direct Access is compatible
with Quicken and other popular personal financial management software.
It's very easy to import your Citibank account information into your Quicken software.
Please consult the Direct Access User Guide
for more complete instructions.
Remember, if you download your information into a .QIF format file, for import into your
financial management software, you are responsible for preventing other users of your
computer from accessing that file. (Note: .QIF files, which you may choose to download,
exist in a non-encrypted state on your computer's permanent memory until erased.
Take steps to secure or erase such files so that no one else can access them.)
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How long is the average customer session?
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Because each customer's computer configuration and Internet
connection is different, it is difficult to determine the "average" customer's experience using
Direct Access. However, a typical Direct Access session using a Pentium 120 and a 28.8 kbps modem should
take about 10 minutes. This session includes signing into Direct Access, performing a balance inquiry, paying six bills,
and then signing off.
Unlike other banks and financial institutions, Citibank requires Direct Access customers to use a
browser with the strongest form of encryption generally available, 128-bit encryption. All screens and
transactions from the input of the customer's Citicard number and PIN until the customer signs off the
system are encrypted using 128-bit encryption. Unfortunately one side effect of this requirement is that
the customers that are unfamiliar with "strong encryption" will perceive these sessions to be slower
compared to sessions using weaker encryption or no encryption. Based on customer research, Citibank
believes that the security and confidentiality of the information and customer transactions outweigh
the benefits of a faster but less-secure session.
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Why has Citibank changed the User Interface of Direct Access?
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The new Direct Access interface has been designed following
thorough research with both customers and non-customers alike. Research participants found that most
aspects of this new interface are more user-friendly than the interface of Citibank's old
PC Banking Software, Direct Access 4.0. Nevertheless, Citibank will continue to refine the interface
to improve its usability.
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