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GUIDE

From Download to First Deposit: Your 5-Minute Onboarding Guide

A step-by-step walkthrough of signing up for CitizenWealth — from creating your account to making your first deposit and joining a savings club in under five minutes.

CW
CitizenWealth Team
Product
📅 Mar 16, 2026
⏱️ 5 min read
<5 min
Time to first deposit
3
Supported currencies
Free
Account cost
Contents
  • Before you start
  • Step 1: Create your account
  • Step 2: Verify your identity
  • Step 3: Your wallet is ready
  • Step 4: First deposit
  • Step 5: Join a savings club
  • What you can do next
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Before you start

Getting started with CitizenWealth takes less than five minutes. All you need is a smartphone, a valid government-issued ID (passport, national ID card, or driver's licence), and a few minutes of uninterrupted time.

CitizenWealth is available on iOS and Android. The app is free to download, and creating an account costs nothing. There are no monthly fees on the standard plan.

Here is exactly what the process looks like from start to finish.

Step 1: Create your account

Download the CitizenWealth app from the App Store or Google Play. Open it and tap Get Started.

You will be asked for three things:

  • Your name — As it appears on your government ID
  • Your email address — This becomes your login
  • A password — At least 8 characters with a mix of letters and numbers

After entering these details, CitizenWealth sends a verification code to your email. Enter the code in the app, and your account is created.

This step takes about 60 seconds.

Step 2: Verify your identity

CitizenWealth is a regulated financial platform, which means it needs to verify who you are before you can send or receive money. This process is called KYC (Know Your Customer), and CitizenWealth has streamlined it to be as painless as possible.

Here is what happens:

  1. Select your ID type — Choose from passport, national ID card, or driver's licence.
  2. Scan your document — Hold your ID up to the camera. The app captures the front (and back, if applicable) automatically. No need to upload a file or take a manual photo.
  3. Take a selfie — A quick face scan confirms you match the photo on your ID. This uses your phone's front camera and takes a few seconds.
  4. Submit — The app processes your verification. Most verifications complete in under two minutes during business hours.

While you wait for verification, you can explore the app, browse savings clubs, and familiarise yourself with the interface. You will receive a push notification as soon as verification is approved.

In most cases, the entire KYC step takes between one and three minutes.

Step 3: Your wallet is ready

Once verified, CitizenWealth automatically creates your wallet. There is no setup, no seed phrases to write down, and no blockchain configuration. Your wallet is ready to use immediately.

By default, your wallet supports three stable currencies:

  • USDC — US Dollar stablecoin, your primary spending and saving currency
  • GBP — British Pounds, for UK-based transactions and transfers
  • EUR — Euros, for European transactions and transfers

You can view all three balances from your home screen. The wallet also supports USDB (a yield-bearing stablecoin) once you choose to enable yield on your savings.

The wallet is secured by your account credentials and device-level security (Face ID, Touch ID, or PIN). CitizenWealth uses institutional-grade custody through Bridge.xyz, which means your funds are held securely even if you lose your phone.

Step 4: Make your first deposit

Now that your wallet is live, it is time to add funds. CitizenWealth supports several deposit methods depending on your location:

Bank transfer — Link your bank account and transfer funds directly. This is the most common method for users in the UK, EU, and South Africa. Deposits typically arrive within one business day.

Card deposit — Use a debit card for an instant deposit. Card deposits are available in supported regions and usually credit within minutes.

Crypto transfer — If you already hold USDC or other supported stablecoins on an exchange or another wallet, you can send them directly to your CitizenWealth wallet address. These deposits confirm in seconds on Solana or a few minutes on Ethereum.

To make a deposit, tap the Add Money button on your home screen, select your preferred method, and follow the prompts. The minimum deposit varies by method but starts as low as $5 (or equivalent).

Your deposit appears in your wallet balance as soon as it settles. From there, you can send money, convert currencies, earn yield, or contribute to a savings club.

Step 5: Join a savings club

Savings clubs are one of CitizenWealth's most popular features, and joining one is straightforward.

There are two ways to join:

Via invite link — If a friend or family member has already created a club, they can share a link with you. Tap the link, review the club details (name, currency, contribution amount, schedule), and tap Join. You are in.

Browse and join — The app features a directory of open clubs you can browse. Filter by club type (rotating, shared goal, emergency fund, or investment), currency, and contribution amount. When you find one that fits, tap Request to Join. The club admin reviews and approves your request.

Once you are a member, you will see the club's activity feed, contribution schedule, and your next payment date. If the club has auto-pay enabled, you can set up automatic contributions so you never miss a deadline.

Your first contribution can come from the deposit you just made. Tap into your club, tap Contribute, confirm the amount, and you are saving together.

What you can do next

With your account verified, your wallet funded, and a savings club joined, you have unlocked the core CitizenWealth experience. Here are a few things to explore:

  • Enable yield — Move some of your USDC to USDB and start earning up to 2% APY on your individual savings.
  • Set up rate alerts — Get notified when exchange rates hit your target, so you can convert at the best time.
  • Invite family and friends — Share your referral link and build your savings community.
  • Explore Pro — Upgrade to access the AI Wealth Assistant, priority support, and enhanced features.

The entire journey from download to first deposit and club membership takes most users under five minutes. CitizenWealth designed it that way because getting started with better money management should not feel like a chore.


Ready to see how simple it is? Download the app and experience CitizenWealth today.

TagsGetting StartedOnboardingOpen AccountHow To
CW
CitizenWealth Team
PRODUCT
The team making global money management accessible to everyone.
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