Getting that KYC phone call from Citi

Someone asked me the other day, “Do you know anyone who has gotten that know your customer call from Citi who DIDN’T get shut down?” I couldn’t think of anyone who survived that. If you don’t know what this is, it’s when you got eyes on your Citi account. A rep then calls you asking you about certain transactions and/or payments. The call ends amicably and you think you’re good to go. However, a few months later, you get that letter in the mail saying you’ve been axed. I don’t think everyone who gets shut down gets this phone call, but I don’t know anyone who got that phone call and didn’t get the axe later. I know I got that phone call.

Anyway, if you get that phone call, what should you do? Well you should expect the worst – a shutdown. Transfer all your points out ASAP. IMMEDIATELY! Then I’d even consider pre-emptively closing all your Citi cards. They can’t axe you if you no longer have a relationship with them. I think the jury is still out if they do silently axe you and you can’t get future cards, but I don’t think anyone has tried to preemptively close their accounts. I know if it was me and I got that call and hearing all the data points over the years, I’d close my accounts. Because Citi’s shutdown memory is LOOONG, unlike Chase.

15 comments on “Getting that KYC phone call from Citi

  1. This comment has nothing to do with KYC calls with Citi, but it is Citi-related.
    Vinh, if there’s a better spot for me to place this comment, please let me know.

    *** ALERT: CITI LOWERING CL DUE TO “UNDER-UTILIZATION” ***

    Just wanted to alert everyone that I received an email on Sat, 2/25/23 from Citi with the subject:
    “We’ve updated your credit limit”

    I then see that my CL has been lowered by 28.6%.

    I call Customer Service and find out that my CL was lowered due to “UNDER-UTILIZATION”.
    He re-instated my original CL which should go into effect within the next 8-10 business days.

    For context, I actively use this card on a monthly basis.
    I typically charge no more than 2% of my CL which I pay off every month.

    Since Citi has done this, I am staying alert on all CCs as well.

  2. Anyone know how Capital one is with the same sort of KYC phone call? I had one a couple months ago, and so far, crickets.

  3. Both me and P2 got shut down. I remember getting the KYC call first and getting shut down over Plastiq mortgage payments that earned 3x. Then P2 got the call 6 months later and then also shut down. Unfortunate because I used to be a Citi employee.

    Does anyone know how long BofA’s memory is?

  4. Does Citi need to explain why they closed your accounts? Other than a letter why? Wondering if legal action can be take

  5. Unfortunately i got axed without the call… it was a bummer as they closed my wife’s personal checking/savings and credit card as well despite her doing no ms or anything abnormal. Seems that they axed everything based on home address/last name.

    1. I got the axe but my wife’s accounts were fine. I was not an AU on any of her stuff and no craziness over there. So I think it depends on if you are linked at all. Or maybe I just got lucky.

      1. I was not an authorized used in any of her ccs, just on her checking acct. It didn’t help we both had significant balances parked in our savings accts. I think we both separately applied and got the barclays’ aviator cards while we had the citi’s aa card and not sure if that triggered anything as i have heard you can not have botj…

  6. Citi doesn’t always call either. One day you log in and see all your accounts are disabled with 0 credit limits. Consider yourself lucky if they even give a courtesy KYC call.

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