They are not the same company, and mixing them up can cause payment delays or send money to the wrong bank
Citizens Bank and First Citizens Bank are two entirely separate financial institutions with different ownership, different branch networks, and different payment systems. Citizens Bank is owned by Royal Bank of Canada and operates primarily in the Northeast and Midwest United States. First Citizens Bank is a North Carolina–based company owned by First Citizens BancShares and operates across a wider geographic footprint, including the Southeast, Midwest, and West.
The confusion happens because both use "Citizens" in their name, and both offer checking accounts, savings accounts, loans, and payment services. But when you send a payment, deposit a check, or set up automatic transfers, the routing number and account number matter far more than the name on the sign. Sending money to the wrong bank means your payment arrives in someone else's account, or gets rejected entirely, and you may not notice for days.
If you have accounts at both banks or are setting up a payment to one of them, you need to verify which one you are actually dealing with before you move money.
Key Takeaways
- Citizens Bank (owned by Royal Bank of Canada) and First Citizens Bank (owned by First Citizens BancShares) are legally separate companies with different routing numbers and account systems.
- Payments sent to the wrong bank will not automatically redirect; they either fail or land in the wrong account, and recovery can take weeks.
- The routing number on your check or in your online banking portal tells you which bank you actually use, not the name alone.
- When setting up bill pay or transfers, always confirm the bank's full legal name and routing number before submitting the transaction.
How to tell which bank you actually use
The fastest way is to look at a check from your account. The routing number printed at the bottom left of the check identifies your bank. Citizens Bank's routing numbers begin with 011, while First Citizens Bank's routing numbers vary by state but are different from Citizens Bank's. You can also log into your online banking portal and look for the bank's legal name and routing number in the account details or settings section.
If you have a debit card, the back of the card usually lists the bank's customer service number. Call that number and ask which bank issued your account. Do not rely on the branch location or the name on your statement alone—both banks have branches in overlapping regions, and the statement header may not be clear enough to distinguish them.
For bill pay or external transfers, your online banking platform will show you the routing number you are sending to. Write it down and verify it against the bank's official website before you confirm the payment.
What happens when a payment goes to the wrong bank
If you send money to Citizens Bank when you meant to send it to First Citizens Bank (or vice versa), one of three things occurs. The payment may be rejected outright if the account number does not exist at that bank, and the money returns to your account after three to five business days. The payment may be accepted into a different person's account if the account number happens to exist at the wrong bank, and that person now has your money. Or the payment may sit in a suspense account at the receiving bank while they try to figure out where it belongs.
In all three cases, you will not know immediately. Automatic bill payments can take two to three business days to post, so you might not notice the error until your bill is marked late. If the money landed in someone else's account, recovery requires the receiving bank to trace the transaction, contact the account holder, and reverse the transfer—a process that can take two to four weeks and is not may provide to succeed.
The best protection is verification before you send. Once money leaves your account, the bank's fraud protection does not cover mistakes you made yourself.
Routing numbers and account setup
When you open an account at either bank, you receive a routing number specific to that bank and often specific to the branch or region where you opened it. Citizens Bank and First Citizens Bank do not share routing numbers. If you are setting up direct deposit, automatic bill pay, or a transfer to another bank, you must use the correct routing number for the bank where your account actually is.
Many employers and billers ask you to provide your routing number and account number together. If you provide the right account number but the wrong routing number, the transaction will fail or go to the wrong place. Double-check both numbers before you submit them, especially if you have recently switched banks or have accounts at multiple institutions.
Transfers between Citizens Bank and First Citizens Bank
If you have accounts at both banks and want to move money between them, you have two main options. You can set up an external transfer through your online banking portal at one of the banks, which requires you to provide the other bank's routing number and your account number there. This transfer typically takes one to three business days and may have a small fee depending on your account type.
Alternatively, you can visit a branch of either bank in person and ask a teller to process the transfer. In-person transfers are sometimes faster and give you a receipt, but they are not available at all branches and may still take one to two business days to post to the receiving account.
Do not assume that because both banks have the word "Citizens" in their name, the transfer will be instant or free. Each bank treats the other as an external institution, just like any other bank.
Checking account features and payment methods
Both Citizens Bank and First Citizens Bank offer checking accounts, debit cards, online bill pay, and mobile apps. But the features, fees, and payment processing times differ between them. Citizens Bank may offer different overdraft policies, minimum balance requirements, or bill pay cutoff times than First Citizens Bank does. If you use bill pay through one bank to pay a bill held by the other bank, the payment still takes the standard two to three business days to clear, even though both are banks.
When you set up a payment through either bank's bill pay system, the system will ask you to confirm the payee's bank information. This is where mistakes happen most often. If you are paying a bill to First Citizens Bank but you bank at Citizens Bank, make sure you enter First Citizens Bank's correct routing number in the bill pay setup, not your own bank's routing number.
What to do if you sent money to the wrong bank
If you realize you sent a payment to the wrong bank, act immediately. Contact your bank's customer service line and explain the error. Provide the transaction date, the amount, and the routing number you used. Ask them to attempt to recall or reverse the transaction. Some banks can stop a payment before it clears, but this window is usually only a few hours.
If the payment has already cleared, your bank can file a trace request with the receiving bank. This asks the other bank to locate the transaction and attempt recovery. Provide your bank with as much detail as possible: the account number you sent it to, the name on that account (if you know it), and the exact date and amount. The receiving bank is not required to reverse the transaction if the money landed in a legitimate account holder's account, but they will investigate.
Keep records of all communication with your bank about the error. If the money is not recovered within 30 days, ask your bank whether you have recourse through their error resolution process or whether you need to pursue the matter through small claims court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a Citizens Bank ATM if I bank at First Citizens Bank?
No. Each bank's ATM network is separate. If you use an out-of-network ATM, you will typically pay a fee from both your bank and the ATM operator. Both Citizens Bank and First Citizens Bank participate in larger ATM networks (such as Allpoint or MoneyPass), so you may be able to find a participating ATM near you, but you should check your account terms for which networks your bank belongs to.
If I have a Citizens Bank credit card, can I pay it with a First Citizens Bank account?
Yes, you can set up a payment from your First Citizens Bank account to your Citizens Bank credit card through either bank's bill pay system or by providing your First Citizens Bank routing and account number to Citizens Bank's payment portal. Just make sure you use the correct routing number for First Citizens Bank when you set it up.
Do Citizens Bank and First Citizens Bank share customer information?
No. They are separate companies and do not share customer data, accounts, or transaction history. If you have an account at each bank, each bank sees only your activity with them, not your activity at the other bank.
What if I wrote a check to Citizens Bank but I meant First Citizens Bank?
If the check has not been deposited yet, contact the recipient and ask them to return it so you can write a new one to the correct bank. If the check has already been deposited to the wrong bank, the receiving bank will attempt to process it. If the account number on the check does not match any account at that bank, the check will be returned to you marked "account not found" or similar. This can take one to two weeks.
Are Citizens Bank and First Citizens Bank merging?
As of now, they remain separate companies. If a merger were announced, it would be major news and would take months or years to complete. Until then, treat them as two distinct banks with separate systems and routing numbers.