Innovative Citi Home Loan Program Enables Customers to Pay Off Mortgage Faster and Pay Less Interest
Citi announced today the launch of the Citi Offset Mortgage, a new
program for Citi first mortgage customers allowing them to use their
Citibank Day-to-Day Savings Account balances to earn rewards which are
paid against their mortgage balance. This unique program allows Citi
customers to pay off their loan more quickly while paying less interest
over the life of their mortgage.
“We’re constantly listening to our customers, and we understand that
paying off their loans faster and paying less interest is important.
With Citi Offset Mortgage, our customers also enjoy the peace of mind
that they can access their savings for any need or for emergencies,”
said Sanjiv Das, President and CEO of CitiMortgage. “We recognize that
our customers’ needs are continuously evolving and as an organization,
we are committed to offering financial solutions that help reduce
complexities in their financial lives. This new program is unique in
that it helps our customers optimize their financial portfolio, better
manage their debt and allows their money to work harder while
maintaining complete flexibility.”
Rolled out successfully as a pilot program in 19 Citibank branches last
year, the Citi Offset Mortgage will be offered to Citi customers
interested in refinancing or purchasing a new home in the New York
tri-state area.
“Consumers want their banking relationship to deliver greater rewards
and value,” said Stephen Troutner, Citi’s Head of Branch Network and
Banking Products for U.S. Consumer Banking. “The Offset Mortgage is a
perfect example of how we are helping customers manage their finances by
leveraging a broader relationship with Citibank.”
The deposits in the customer’s Citibank Day-to-Day Savings Account are
used to reduce or “offset” the outstanding mortgage balance. Each month,
an “offset reward” calculated from savings deposits will be paid by Citi
and applied towards mortgage loan principal.
Example: a participating customer with a loan amount of
$500,000 at a 3.75% interest rate (3.802% APR)* and a deposit account
with a $50,000 balance will initially receive a monthly “offset reward”
of nearly $160. This allows them to pay off their mortgage approximately
two years faster, and saves over $32,000 in interest over the term of
their mortgage.
Participants should consult their tax advisors as the offset credit will
result in interest income that will be filed with the IRS. Also, the
maximum savings account balance eligible for offset is 10% of the unpaid
mortgage principal each month. All new mortgage loan amounts are
eligible, however, the Offset Program is limited to certain loan
products and subject to standard credit guidelines and loan approval.
Customers must have a Citibank Day-to-Day Savings Account and an
automatic monthly debit for standard mortgage payment from a Citibank
checking account to participate. Customers can add or withdraw money
from their Citibank Day-to-Day Savings Accounts at any time without
penalty, and the offset reward will be calculated each month after
determining the eligible balance based on the average daily balance of
the Citibank Day-to-Day Savings Account as it appears on the account
statement for the statement period that ends during the prior calendar
month.
*The 3.75% interest rate has an APR of 3.802%; quoted rates are
effective as of November 27, 2012
About Citi
Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer
accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions.
Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with
a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer
banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities
brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.
Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com
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