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eToroCiti Self Invest Review
Written by Sam Levine, CFA, CMT
Fact-checked by Steven Hatzakis
Edited by Carolyn Kimball
Reviewed by Blain Reinkensmeyer
I opened a Citi Self Invest account and found it easy to use, easy on the eyes, and very convenient for Citi customers. For now, the investment options and tools are sparse. Clients can trade listed stocks, ETFs, and approximately 820 no-load, no-transaction-fee mutual funds. Best of all, there are no account fees or investment minimums.
Citi’s do-it-yourself brokerage is best for clients with limited needs. I like its simplicity, but it could be much stronger with only a few more features. If Citi adds more investment data, stock and fund research, a richer library of educational content, and market commentary, this would be a fine broker for beginning investors.
-
Minimum Deposit:
$0.00 -
Stock Trades:
$0.00 -
Options (Per Contract):
N/A
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Pros & Cons
Pros
- It’s effortless to open an account, even if you’re not a Citi customer.
- Investing is well integrated with banking.
- The mobile app and the website are appealing and easy to navigate.
Cons
- There’s no stock and exchange-traded fund research, no streaming quotes, and the stock charts are as basic as they get.
- The investor education is excellent, but there’s not enough of it.
- Human customer support is there, but it may take a few transfers or calls until someone finally understands that you aren’t asking about a bank account.
Overall summary
| Feature |
Citi Self Invest
|
|---|---|
| Overall |
|
| Investment Options |
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| Research |
|
| Customer Service | N/A |
| Education |
|
| Ease Of Use |
|
Citi Self Invest Trading Platform Screenshots
Website:
Mobile app:
What is a Citi Self Invest brokerage account?
A Citi Self Invest account lets Citi customers buy, sell, and hold stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds. Logging on to the Citi website or mobile app allows you to access your Citi Self Invest account next to your banking.
Is Citi Self Invest good?
Citi Self Invest ranked low in our scoring because it’s missing many features and investment choices that are common at other online brokers. If you’re just looking for $0 commission stock and fund trades, Citi’s mobile app and website are attractively designed and very easy to use.
What is self-directed investing?
Self-directed investing is when you buy and sell investments without the help of a pro. Many people prefer self-directed investing for its convenience, the freedom to make their own investing decisions, and to save money on advice fees and commissions.
What is Citi Private Client?
Citigold Private Client is Citi’s service for high net worth investors. Citigroup customers with an average monthly balance of $1,000,000 get enhanced services such as a dedicated service team, more investing options, and premier banking services.
Can I buy bonds through Citibank?
Citi Self Invest does not have bond trading, but clients of Citi’s advisor-assisted wealth management services are able to buy bonds.
Does Citi Self Invest have a trading platform?
Citi Self Invest doesn’t have a platform designed for active traders. Customers can access their investment accounts via the Citi mobile app and the citi.com website.
Is Citi Self Invest good for beginners?
Citi Self Invest is very easy to use, but is not one of our picks for best trading platforms for beginners. It lacks beginner-friendly features such as paper trading and fractional shares. There’s also little guidance and research. The investor education articles are excellent, but other brokers offer a wider selection.
How much do you need to invest in Citi Self Invest?
Citi Self Invest has no minimum investment, but your account will close if you don’t deposit funds within six months. New accounts may be eligible for a Citi Self Invest bonus of up to $500.
Is Citi a safe company to invest with?
Yes, I view Citi as safe. Like all U.S. brokerage firms, Citi Self Invest is regulated by FINRA, and customer accounts are protected against insolvency by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, or SIPC. These protections do not cover market losses.
Does Citi Self Invest charge account fees?
Citi Self Invest does not charge monthly or annual fees, but there are incidental charges, such as transfers out and closing a retirement account. Citi provides a list of those charges.
About Citi Self Invest
Citi Self Invest is an online brokerage established in July 2021. Self-directed clients can use it to buy mutual funds, stocks, and exchange-traded funds. The service falls under the umbrella of Citigroup’s Citi Personal Wealth Management division.
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As part of our process, all brokers had the annual opportunity to provide updates and key milestones and complete an in-depth data profile, which we hand-checked for accuracy. Brokers also were offered the opportunity to provide executive time for an annual update meeting.
Our rigorous data validation process yields an error rate of less than .001% each year, providing site visitors quality data they can trust. Learn more about how we test or about StockBrokers.com.
Citi Self Invest fees and features data
The data collection efforts at StockBrokers.com are unmatched in the industry. The following tables show a deeper dive into the offerings available at this broker. You can also compare its offerings side-by-side with those of other brokers using our Comparison Tool.
In addition to meticulous annual data collection by our in-house analyst, every broker that participates in our review is afforded the opportunity to complete an in-depth data profile. We then audit each data point to ensure its accuracy.
Trading fees
| Feature |
Citi Self Invest
|
|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | 0 |
| Options (Base Fee) | N/A |
| Options (Per Contract) | N/A |
| Futures (Per Contract) | (Not offered) |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | n/a |
Account fees
| Feature |
Citi Self Invest
|
|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 |
| IRA Closure Fee | $95.00 |
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $95.00 |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $95.00 |
| Options Exercise Fee | N/A |
| Options Assignment Fee | N/A |
Margin rates
| Feature |
Citi Self Invest
|
|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | Not offered |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | Not offered |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | Not offered |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | Not offered |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | Not offered |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | Not offered |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | Not offered |
Investment options
| Feature |
Citi Self Invest
|
|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes |
| Margin Trading | No |
| Fractional Shares | No |
| OTC Stocks | No |
| Options Trading | No |
| Complex Options Max Legs | |
| Futures Trading | No |
| Forex Trading | No |
| Crypto Trading | No |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 |
| Mutual Funds (No Load) | 820 |
| Mutual Funds (Total) | 820 |
| Bonds (US Treasury) | No |
| Bonds (Corporate) | No |
| Bonds (Municipal) | No |
| Advisor Services | No |
| International Countries (Stocks) | 0 |
Order types
| Feature |
Citi Self Invest
|
|---|---|
| Order Type - Market | Yes |
| Order Type - Limit | Yes |
| Order Type - After Hours | No |
| Order Type - Stop | Yes |
| Order Type - Trailing Stop | No |
| Order Type - OCO | No |
| Order Type - OTO | No |
| Order Type - Broker Assisted | No |
Beginners
| Feature |
Citi Self Invest
|
|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | No |
| Education (ETFs) | No |
| Education (Options) | No |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | No |
| Education (Bonds) | No |
| Education (Retirement) | No |
| Retirement Calculator | No |
| Investor Dictionary | No |
| Paper Trading | No |
| Videos | No |
| Webinars | No |
| Webinars (Archived) | No |
| Progress Tracking | Yes |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | Yes |
Stock trading apps
| Feature |
Citi Self Invest
|
|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes |
| Android App | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | No |
| Trading - Stocks | Yes |
| Trading - After-Hours | No |
| Trading - Simple Options | No |
| Trading - Complex Options | No |
| Order Ticket RT Quotes | Yes |
| Order Ticket SRT Quotes | No |
Stock app features
| Feature |
Citi Self Invest
|
|---|---|
| Market Movers (Top Gainers) | Yes |
| Stream Live TV | No |
| Videos on Demand | No |
| Stock Alerts | No |
| Option Chains Viewable | No |
| Watch List (Real-time) | Yes |
| Watch List (Streaming) | No |
| Watch Lists - Create & Manage | Yes |
| Watch Lists - Column Customization | No |
| Watch Lists - Total Fields | 0 |
Stock app charting
| Feature |
Citi Self Invest
|
|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | No |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | No |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 0 |
| Charting - Study Customizations | No |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | No |
Trading platforms overview
| Feature |
Citi Self Invest
|
|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | n/a |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes |
| Paper Trading | No |
| Trade Journal | No |
| Watch Lists - Total Fields | 0 |
Trading platform stock chart features
| Feature |
Citi Self Invest
|
|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No |
| Charting - Historical Trades | No |
| Charting - Corporate Events | No |
| Charting - Custom Date Range | No |
| Charting - Custom Time Bars | No |
| Charting - Automated Analysis | No |
| Charting - Save Profiles | No |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | No |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 0 |
| Charting - Custom Studies | No |
Day trading features
| Feature |
Citi Self Invest
|
|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | No |
| Streaming TV | No |
| Direct Market Routing - Stocks | No |
| Ladder Trading | No |
| Trade Hotkeys | No |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No |
| Short Locator | No |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | No |
Investment research overview
| Feature |
Citi Self Invest
|
|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes |
| Research - Mutual Funds | No |
| Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No |
| Screener - Stocks | No |
| Screener - ETFs | No |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | No |
| Screener - Bonds | No |
| Misc - Portfolio Allocation | Yes |
Stock research features
| Feature |
Citi Self Invest
|
|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 0 |
| Stock Research - Earnings | No |
| Stock Research - Insiders | No |
| Stock Research - Social | No |
| Stock Research - News | Yes |
| Stock Research - ESG | No |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | No |
ETF research features
| Feature |
Citi Self Invest
|
|---|---|
| ETFs - Strategy Overview | Yes |
| ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | No |
| ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes |
| ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets | No |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | No |
| ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | Yes |
| ETFs - Sector Exposure | No |
| ETFs - Risk Analysis | Yes |
| ETFs - Ratings | Yes |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | No |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | No |
Mutual fund research features
| Feature |
Citi Self Invest
|
|---|---|
| Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview | Yes |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | Yes |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | Yes |
| Mutual Funds - Prospectus | No |
| Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | Yes |
| Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | No |
| Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | Yes |
| Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | Yes |
| Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | No |
| Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | No |
| Mutual Funds - StyleMap | No |
Options trading overview
| Feature |
Citi Self Invest
|
|---|---|
| Option Chains - Basic View | No |
| Option Chains - Strategy View | No |
| Option Chains - Streaming | No |
| Option Chains - Total Columns | 0 |
| Option Chains - Greeks | 0 |
| Option Chains - Quick Analysis | No |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | No |
| Option Probability Analysis | No |
| Option Probability Analysis Adv | No |
| Option Positions - Greeks | No |
| Option Positions - Greeks Streaming | No |
| Option Positions - Adv Analysis | No |
| Option Positions - Rolling | No |
| Option Positions - Grouping | No |
Banking features
| Feature |
Citi Self Invest
|
|---|---|
| Bank (Member FDIC) | Yes |
| Checking Accounts | Yes |
| Savings Accounts | Yes |
| Credit Cards | Yes |
| Debit Cards | Yes |
| Mortgage Loans | Yes |
Customer service options
| Feature |
Citi Self Invest
|
|---|---|
| Phone Support (Prospect Customers) | No |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes |
| Email Support | No |
| Live Chat (Prospect Customers) | No |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | No |
| 24/7 Support | Yes |
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About the Editorial Team
Sam Levine has over 30 years of experience in the investing field as a portfolio manager, financial consultant, investment strategist and writer. He also taught investing as an adjunct professor of finance at Wayne State University. Sam holds the Chartered Financial Analyst and the Chartered Market Technician designations and is pursuing a master's in personal financial planning at the College for Financial Planning. Previously, he was a contributing editor at BetterInvesting Magazine and a contributor to The Penny Hoarder and other media outlets.
Steven Hatzakis is the Global Director of Research for ForexBrokers.com. Steven previously served as an Editor for Finance Magnates, where he authored over 1,000 published articles about the online finance industry. Steven is an active fintech and crypto industry researcher and advises blockchain companies at the board level. Over the past 20 years, Steven has held numerous positions within the international forex markets, from writing to consulting to serving as a registered commodity futures representative.
Carolyn Kimball is a former managing editor for StockBrokers.com and investor.com. Carolyn has more than 20 years of writing and editing experience at major media outlets including NerdWallet, the Los Angeles Times and the San Jose Mercury News. She specializes in coverage of personal financial products and services, wielding her editing skills to clarify complex (some might say befuddling) topics to help consumers make informed decisions about their money.
Blain Reinkensmeyer has 20 years of trading experience with over 2,500 trades placed during that time. He heads research for all U.S.-based brokerages on StockBrokers.com and is respected by executives as the leading expert covering the online broker industry. Blain’s insights have been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the Chicago Tribune, among other media outlets.