thank you!!

noon: I just spoke to a Simon who opened the account for me over the phone. This time, they went through a whole bunch of questions to open the account...They even said it might take 3-5 days (even though it usually only takes 1-2 for existing customers) and the booklet packages will be sent out 7-10 days...

From the FAQ section (here)

...please keep the following in mind:

When you view your account online and at ATMs, your e-Savings Account will be listed as a Preferred Money Market Account.

On your monthly bank statement, however, it will be cited as a "Citibank® e-Savings Account."

1pm -- the account showed up!

aa1bb2 said:It would be better if we could convert an existing savings account (like Day-to-Day Savings) to this e-Savings?

That would be nice.
Can it be done? And if yes, then how hassle-free?

Yeah, I know, I know - I should call customer service with such questions. At the moment I just can't call several times hoping to talk to a CSR who knows about this new product...

aegean94305 said:I just called and converted my super yield money market (SYMM) account to an e-savings account, with no problem. They did say that it was a brand new product and they put me on hold several times to ask somebody else. But, it was through at last.

One more thing people might want to know, the CSR explicitly told my that whenever you open an account with citibank, they will put a SOFT inquiry on your credit card report. Hard inquiries for credits, including checking plus, which is a credit line.

how much does a soft inquiry effect your "credit"?

It didn't look like the online web application was setup to deal with existing Citibank checking account customers so I called in to apply. Got transferred 3 times and then the doucheb*g who I ended up with swore up and down that this was a promotional account only available to new Citibank customers. I suggested that maybe I should close all my Citibank accounts and then apply and he said I still wouldnt be eligible (because I was a previous Citibank customers).

After I hung up with him I double-checked the web page ("To open a Citibank e-Savings Account you must have or open a checking account ") and armed with that info I called back (1-800-374-9500), ready to do battle. Got a much friendlier rep this time, she hooked me right up, linked it to my checking account and didnt say anything about me not being eligible. Apparently this is so new not all reps even understand the requirements.

well, maybe you are right. The CSR promised they could convert after obviously asking somebody else. But now I see both accounts online, so maybe they found out later that they actually couldn't do it. I'm not too worried about this part as long as there is no hard inquiry.

Can this be battled?

coolsummer said:Hard inquiry!
Applied this morning and Hard inquiry appears this afternoon!
citi really sucks

somdave2005 said:You guys remember that MMA that was opened instead when we applied for the e-savings account? I just called Citibank today and CSR said that MMA account that was opened back then is actually the e-savings account. I never knew this and therefore didn't fund it. I was also too lazy to have them delete the acccount too, thinking it was just another MMA account; I'm now glad I didn't. Indeed, it shows up as "Preferred Money Market XXXXXXX" in my online account summary.

Opened the account today (already had a checking and high yield money markey account - 0.91%). Was told it would take 3-5 business days to open and be funded.

amdmaxx said:I got some a#$ dude on the line..
He said: we doing inquiry with credit report.. u ok?
me: Hard or soft pull
he: no such thing.. we do INQUIRY..
me: Hard or soft?
he: no such thing
me: go read up on it and get back to me
he (really angry, I could feel it): its an inquiry
me: just answer: soft or hard
he: would u like to proceed with openning account?
me: ok

he did sound angry the rest of the way...
Gave me number to check on the status: 800-745-1534, option 1 to check..

As much as I love ING, that is how much I hate Citi (even though I cashed $150 on their checking account, now opnening 3.0 savings - opening it for convenience only, will be easy to manipulate, citi checking, savings and credit card)..
Citi suxxx though..

maybe the minimum-wage-couldn't-get-a-better-job CSR didn't know what a soft/hard inquiry is and you were the one giving him a hard time instead of the other way around
......but then maybe it's citi's fault for not training him right

Got a call from citijust now saying the welcome packet is sending out today, though it is already active online. Faster than I thought.