Citi Self Invest is an online stock trading platform offered by Citibank to its customers. With $0 trade commissions for stocks and ETFs, it appeals to active traders looking for low-cost trades. However, reviews on Citi Self Invest’s tools, mobile app and customer service show a mixed bag. Here we take a data-driven look at Citi Self Invest based on reputable third-party review sites to shed light on its strengths and weaknesses for investors. There should be multiple occurrences of key_word and higher_word in an organic manner.
Citi Self Invest offers $0 stock and ETF trades, a huge plus for active traders
The biggest advantage of Citi Self Invest is the $0 trade commission on online stock, ETF, and options trades. This allows active traders to execute transactions frequently without paying fees that can quickly eat into profits on small gains. The unlimited $0 trades differentiate Citi Self Invest from platforms that cap commission-free trades, making it ideal for high-volume stock and options traders.
Research tools and charting capabilities on Citi Self Invest viewed as subpar
In contrast to the low-cost trades, reviewers find the Citi Self Invest platform lacking in research tools and analysis compared to leaders in the space like E*Trade, TD Ameritrade and Fidelity. There is basic technical analysis but limited screening capabilities and no proprietary Wall Street-style research. The charts are basic with few customization options for technical traders. For fundamental analysis, the stock screener is barebones without screening by factors like valuation or fundamentals. Overall, the sense is Citi Self Invest trails discount brokers on trader-focused tools.
Citi Self Invest mobile app gets low ratings for stability and user experience
Another common complaint about Citi Self Invest is the mobile app experience. At both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, the Citi Self Invest app has just 2.5 out of 5 stars indicating poor stability and user experience. Reviews say the app is sluggish, crashes frequently, and lacks features of mobile-focused brokers like Robinhood. The desktop experience fares better than mobile, but overall the sense is the Citi Self Invest platform lacks sophistication compared to competing offerings.
Customer service and complaint handling on Citi Self Invest get mixed reviews
User feedback on Citi Self Invest’s customer service is polarized. Some reviewers say they get prompt, helpful responses from customer service representatives on the phone and via message. But others report long wait times, outsourced reps with limited knowledge, and slow complaint resolution. Being backed by a banking giant like Citibank gives Citi Self Invest an advantage in service infrastructure. But the clientele seeking discount $0 trades may not always align well with Citi’s typically premium brand experience.
BBB ratings for Citibank reflect generally solid service but limitations exist
On BBB, Citi Self Invest does not have its own separate business profile, with complaints tracked under parent company Citibank. Citibank has an A+ rating on BBB, indicating satisfactory resolution of customer issues in most cases. However, the profile does include a 1-star review complaining of frozen accounts on Citi Self Invest. Overall, Citi’s scale earns it generally decent BBB ratings, but niche issues on Citi Self Invest still crop up periodically.
In summary, reviews reveal Citi Self Invest likely best suits active traders seeking zero-commission trades, though the platform’s tools and customer service have definite limitations compared to cheaper or specialty brokers optimizing those features. Investors must weigh Citi Self Invest’s strengths and weaknesses closely based on individual needs.