Citibank First to Offer Reward Program to Account Holders

Citibank has become the first major U.S. bank to offer its customers a rewards program for being account holders, the bank said.

The recognition program, ThankYou, enables customers who hold a Citibank checking account in the U.S. or Puerto Rico to receive points every month for having checking and savings accounts, loans and lines of credit, CDs, mortgages, online bill payments, direct deposit, and debit and credit card purchases.

The program builds on the strength of the bank’s ThankYou Network, which launched in June 2004 with the ThankYou credit card loyalty program. Banking and credit card customers can now combine ThankYou points.

“The most valuable asset any business can have is a satisfied and loyal customer, and we want to reward our customers for their loyalty,” said Marge Magner, chairman and CEO of Citigroup’s Global Consumer Group in a statement.

Points can be redeemed for a host of rewards—many from brand-name merchants such as Foot Locker, Red Lobster, Best Buy and Macy’s—including gift certificates, concert tickets, golf passes, dining, travel getaways, movie tickets, electronics and other special offers.