What exactly is the CITIBANK* charge on my statement?

The CITIBANK* charge is a transaction descriptor used by Citibank to identify fees, interest, loan payments, or service charges billed directly from Citibank to your account.

Why does the charge say CITIBANK* instead of just Citibank?

The asterisk in CITIBANK* is a standard formatting convention used by Citibank's payment processing systems to denote a direct bank-initiated charge, which is completely normal and expected.

Can I get a refund for a CITIBANK* charge?

Yes — if the CITIBANK* charge was applied in error, such as a duplicate fee or an unauthorized transaction, contact Citibank at 1-800-374-9700 to request a refund or fee waiver.

How do I cancel a Citibank service causing recurring CITIBANK* charges?

Log into your Citibank account at citibank.com, navigate to account services, and cancel the specific product or feature. You can also call Citibank at 1-800-374-9700 to cancel by phone.

How do I stop future CITIBANK* charges from appearing?

To stop recurring CITIBANK* charges, cancel the associated Citibank product or service, pay off any outstanding balances to eliminate interest charges, and confirm the cancellation in writing with Citibank.

Home›Browse Charges›Banking›CITIBANK*

CITIBANK* Charge (What It Is + Is It Legit?)

✓ Legitimate

The "CITIBANK*" charge is from Citibank. Citibank fee or transaction.

🌍 US🕐 8 min read📅 Updated May 22, 2026

Citibank

Citibank fee or transaction.

CITIBANK*

Understanding this descriptor

Citibank uses the truncated descriptor "CITIBANK*" on bank statements because payment processing networks like Visa and Mastercard impose strict character limits on merchant descriptors, typically capping them at 22-25 characters, which means the full institutional name gets shortened with an asterisk to separate the company identifier from any additional transaction details that may follow. The asterisk in "CITIBANK*" acts as a delimiter in Citibank's billing system, allowing variable information such as account type, fee category, or transaction reference to be appended after it depending on the specific charge being processed. If you see this descriptor on your statement, it typically reflects a Citibank-originated fee, such as an annual card fee, service charge, or internal account transaction rather than a third-party merchant purchase.

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Recommended actions

Log into Your Citibank Account

Visit citi.com and sign in to your Citibank account to review your recent transaction history. Look for the CITIBANK* charge and confirm the date and amount match any known Citibank fees, payments, or account activity you authorized.

Identify the Type of Citibank Charge

Determine whether the CITIBANK* charge is a monthly service fee, annual fee, interest charge, or a payment processed through your Citibank account. Citibank may label various account-related fees and transactions under this descriptor, so check your Citibank statements for a detailed breakdown.

Manage or Review Your Citibank Account Settings

If you want to review or cancel any Citibank services tied to the CITIBANK* charge, visit online.citibank.com/account to manage your account preferences, review fee schedules, or make changes to your Citibank products and services.

Contact Citibank Directly for Clarification

If you do not recognize the specific CITIBANK* charge after reviewing your account, call the customer service number listed on the back of your Citibank card or visit citi.com to chat with a Citibank representative who can provide a full explanation of the charge and resolve any concerns.

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Is this charge fraudulent?

No, this is a legitimate charge from Citibank. However, if you did not authorize this charge or cancelled your subscription, you may be eligible for a refund.

Is the CITIBANK* Charge Legitimate or Fraud?

A CITIBANK* charge on your statement is typically a legitimate transaction processed directly by Citibank, one of the largest financial institutions in the world. This descriptor commonly appears for Citibank fees, loan payments, credit card charges, or account services. However, if you don't recognize the specific CITIBANK* charge, it's worth investigating further.

CITIBANK* often appears for annual credit card fees, monthly maintenance fees, or interest charges on Citibank accounts
The asterisk in CITIBANK* is a standard formatting convention used by Citibank's payment processing systems
Citibank may post charges for products like Citi ThankYou Rewards, Citi Flex Loans, or overdraft protection fees
Fraudsters sometimes mimic bank names — verify the exact charge amount matches a known Citibank transaction

How to Verify the CITIBANK* Charge

1
Log into your Citibank account
Visit citibank.com or open the Citi Mobile App and review your recent transaction history to find a matching CITIBANK* charge by date and amount.
2
Search your email for Citibank notices
Search your inbox for emails from Citibank or noreply@citibank.com that may reference a fee notice, statement alert, or billing confirmation matching the CITIBANK* charge.
3
Check if a household member used your account
Ask family members or authorized users on your Citibank account whether they initiated a transaction or signed up for a Citibank service recently.
4
Review your Citibank product subscriptions
Check whether you have active Citibank services such as Citi Identity Theft Solutions, Citi Flex Pay, or any promotional offers that may have converted to a paid CITIBANK* charge.
5
Call Citibank customer service
If you still can't identify the CITIBANK* charge, call Citibank directly at 1-800-374-9700 and ask a representative to explain the specific transaction on your account.

How to Dispute a CITIBANK* Charge

1
Act within 60 days of the statement
Federal law requires you to dispute unauthorized CITIBANK* charges within 60 days of the statement date on which the charge appeared — don't delay if something looks wrong.
2
Contact Citibank directly first
Call Citibank at 1-800-374-9700 or use the Citi Mobile App to flag the CITIBANK* charge as disputed. Citibank will often resolve legitimate billing errors quickly without a formal chargeback.
3
File a formal chargeback if needed
If Citibank does not resolve your dispute, contact the bank that issued the card used to pay the CITIBANK* charge and formally request a chargeback, citing the transaction date and amount.
4
Request a new card number
If you suspect fraud behind the CITIBANK* charge, ask Citibank to cancel your compromised card and issue a new one with a different account number to prevent further unauthorized charges.

Tips for Managing Citibank Charges

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Enable Citi account alerts to get notified instantly whenever a CITIBANK* charge posts to your account.

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Review your Citibank monthly statement in full to catch any unexpected CITIBANK* fees before they go unnoticed.

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Keep your Citibank online login credentials secure and enable two-factor authentication to protect your account.

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Note your Citibank billing cycle dates so you can anticipate recurring CITIBANK* charges like annual fees or interest.

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Enroll in Citibank's fraud protection services to automatically flag suspicious CITIBANK* charges on your account.

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Use WhatIsThisCharge.net to identify related charges that appear alongside CITIBANK* on your bank statement.

ℹ️ Note

In most cases, a CITIBANK* charge is a routine, legitimate fee or transaction posted directly by Citibank — such as an annual card fee, interest charge, or account service cost. If the amount matches your expected Citibank activity, you can generally feel confident it is not fraud.