What Credit Score Will I Need in Order to Get Approved?

When considering credit card applications, Citi uses credit scores as one of the main factors in deciding whether or not to approve the application. Although Citi does not publish the specific credit scores needed to be approved for any of the cards, you should expect to have an excellent credit score to be approved for one of Citi’s top-tier credit cards. Here are the credit scores you will need to get a Citi credit card: 1. Excellent credit (750+) With a credit score above 750, you are eligible for all of Citi's credit cards, assuming that you pass other credit approval requirements. Specifically, this credit score can make you eligible for a rewards card such as Citi Double Cash Card, Citi Rewards+ SM, Costco Anywhere Visa card, and Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard. 2. Good credit (700-749) A good credit score makes you eligible for some of Citi's attractive credit offerings such as Citi Premier Card, Citi Simplicity Card, and even the Citi Double Cash. If you have a good credit score, you can prequalify for any of the Citi cards to see where you stand. 3. Fair credit (640- 699) A fair credit score makes you eligible for one of Citi's store cards that can be used in the participating stores. Examples of these store cards include Best Buy and Staples. 4. Bad credit (below 640) If you have a limited credit history or bad credit, you are eligible for the Citi Secured Mastercard. This credit card is ideal is you are looking to rebuild your credit. However, you will need to make a deposit of $200 to $2500, which will be equal to your credit limit.

How Citi Cash Back Offers Work?

Citi cash back offers allow cardholders to earn cash rewards when they use the card to make cash purchases. Some of the cash back offers earn higher cash rewards on specific purchase categories like gas, restaurant bills, and airline tickets, and a lower reward for all other purchases. If you are using the Citi Double Cash Card, you will get 2% cash back on every purchase made using your card i.e. 1% when you buy a product/service, and 1% after you pay the credit. You must make on-time payment of the credit to get the additional 1% cash back. This model is an alternative to the rotating categories and permanent categories cash back model. For example, The Discover It Cash Back has a 5% cash back on specific categories on up to $1500 in purchases for every quarter, and 1% on all other purchases. A permanent category offers consistent cash back on specific stores. An example of credit card in the permanent category is the Blue Cash Everyday credit card by American Express. When using this credit card to make purchases, you get 3% cash back on up to $6000 spent in US supermarkets, 2% cash back on specific US gas stations, 2% cash back on US departmental stores, and another 1% on other store purchases.

How Citi Points Reward Offers Work?

Credit card reward points are points earned when you make purchases using your credit card. If you are using a Citi Credit card, the reward points are known as ThankYou Points. The Citi ThankYou rewards program is one of the most generous rewards for credit cardholders looking to redeem points for airline tickets, gift cards, shopping, cash rewards, and charity donation. The ThankYou rewards are accessible on Citi’s ThankYou website. The three Citi credit cards that collect points include the Citi Premier Card, Citi Rewards+ SM Card, and Citi Prestige Card. You can earn ThankYou Points on these cards from the sign-up bonuses and by picking a card that offers the highest points in the categories where you spend the most. If you are using the Citi Premier Card, you earn 60,000 ThankYou points when you total purchases for the first three months of account opening hit $4000. This card also earns 3x points for every dollar if you use your card to pay for purchases in gas stations, air travel, and supermarkets. You also get 1x points on all other category purchases. In comparison, the Citi Prestige earns 50,000 if the purchases for the first three months hit $4000. Cardholders also earn 5x points for every dollar spent in restaurants and air travel, 3x points for every dollar spent on hotel and cruise lines, and 1x for all other purchases.

What is the Citi Rewards Program?

Citi offers various rewards to its cardholders including cash back and ThankYou point rewards. This makes Citi reward programs as competitive as other reward programs in the credit card industry such as Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards. If you are looking to get your first Citi credit card, consider a card with these rewards: 1. Citi ThankYou Rewards This rewards program lets banking and credit card customers collect points when they make purchases using a qualifying card. Depending on the card, you may qualify for signup bonuses, and earn 5x to 3x points for every dollar spent on a specific purchase category. These points do not expire, and you can earn as many points as you want. Each ThankYou point is worth 0.8 to 1 cent depending on the redemption option you choose and the Citi credit card you have. You can redeem your ThankYou points for cash rewards, travel rewards, or gift cards from top retailers such as Amazon, eBay, Best Buy, and Live Nation. If you want to redeem your points for airline miles or hotel stays, check the ThankYou Travel center for active offers. Citi also allows you maximize the value of your rewards by transferring them to a participating transfer partner. These partners mostly comprise Airline and hotel, travel partners. You can convert your points at a transfer rate of 1:1, with 1000 point increments. 2. Citi Cash Back Program The Citi cash back program earns a return of 2% of the total amount spent on every qualifying purchase. This cash back includes 1% cash back when you swipe your card at the payment terminal, and another 1% cashback you pay back the credit. This reward program has no cap on the number of cash backs you can earn, and it does not track specific categories. However, you do not earn cash backs on cash advances, balance transfers, or account fees. This reward program appeals to consumers who prefer fixed-rate earnings, and the fact that Citi allows these cash backs to be converted to ThankYou points if you hold the Citi Premier Card or Citi Prestige Card. You can also redeem the cash backs as direct deposits, checks, or a statement credit.

How to Maximize Citi Rewards?

The Citi rewards program is one of the most generous programs for credit cardholders looking for lucrative points that can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, statement credit, or other rewards. If you are looking to get the most value from your credit cards, here are handy tips to help you maximize the cash back offers and ThankYou points: Sign Up Bonus If you are applying for a new Citi credit card, pick the card with the highest sign-up offers. Most of Citi's top-tier credit cards offer a generous sign-up bonus in the first few months of use. For example, if you sign up for a Citi Premier Card, you earn 60,000 points if you incur up to $4000 in purchases in the first three months. Assuming a transfer rate of 1:1, the sign-up bonus is worth about $600. The value may be higher if you transfer the points to one of Citi's participating loyalty programs. Even with an annual fee of $95, the sign-up bonus makes the Citi Premier Card worth it. Pick the Card With the Highest Rewards Citi has a wide range of credit cards that earn cash back offers and ThankYou points. Each card earns different rewards on unique categories. Getting one or two Citi credit cards can help you earn ThankYou points and cash back in different categories and increase your rewards. The Citi Prestige Card earns 5x, 3x and 1x for every dollar spent to pay for purchases across multiple categories such as air travel, hotel stay, cruise lines, and restaurants. In comparison, The Citi Premier Credit Card earns 3x, 2x and 1x for every dollar spent on specific categories such as gas and entertainment. Signing up for these two cards, and using them for everyday purchases can help you collect bonus points in different categories and boost your total rewards. Transfer Points to a Partner Loyalty Program If you want to get the most out of your points, you can transfer them to one of Citi’s transfer partners. This list includes retail and airline partners. Examples of partner airlines that accept ThankYou points include JetBlue, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, Singapore Airlines, Air France. These partners have excellent offers for domestic and international flights to popular destinations such as Hawaii, Europe, and Mexico. Most of the partner airline alliances offer a transfer ratio of 1:1, and each point will give you 1 mile in the program. These rates may vary, and you should get the current rates before transferring your ThankYou points.

What are The Other Benefits of Having a Citi Card?

Whether you are looking to get the highest rewards or manage your spending, you can get the right Citi credit card for your needs. The following are some of the benefits you will get when you enroll for Citi credit cards: Attract introductory APR Citi offers an attractive annual percentage rate (APR) on balance transfers on a select number of Citi credit cards i.e. Citi Double Cash Card and Citi Rewards+ SM. Citi Rewards+ SM has a 0% APR on balance transfers made in the first 15 months. This rate changes to a variable APR rate of 13.49% to 23.49% when the 0% APR offer lapses. If you are looking to consolidate your credit cards, you can use either of these cards to enjoy the 0% introductory rate as you pay the remaining debts. Access to presale tickets Some of the Citi credit cards give you exclusive access to presale tickets or VIP access to eligible concerts, sporting events, theater, and other events. You also get preferred access to entertainment experiences before they are released to the public. If you are a Citi cardholder, you can check these offers on Citi Entertainment to get advance tickets to your band’s upcoming concert. Secure Credit Card Citi offers fraud protection to its cardholders in the form of $0 liability on authorized charges on the cards. If the issuer detects unusual activity on your card, you will receive a fraud alert to help you take quick action. Citi also provides the Citi Quick Lock that lets you lock your card if it is stolen or lost, and unlock it when you find it.

How Many Citi Credit Cards Can I have at One Time?

There are no limits on the number of Citi credit cards you can have at any one time. If you meet the income and credit requirements for a card, you can have several Citi cards in your wallet. However, Citi has various credit card application rules that you should consider: Rule 1/8: Apply for only one credit card application every 8 days. Rule 2/65: Apply for only two credit card applications every 65 days. Rule 1/90: Apply for only business credit card once every 90 days. 24 Month Rule: You only get a sign-up bonus for a Citi credit card once every 24 months.

How Do I Cancel a Citi Credit Card?

You can cancel your Citi credit card by phone or via your Citi online account. If you want to cancel your Citi card by phone, call the bank representative at 800-950-5114. The representative will require you to provide your credit card details to close the card. However, the bank's representative will try to convince you to retain the card, and you may be forwarded to the customer retention department to try and persuade you against the decision. If you prefer to cancel the credit card without calling the bank, log in to your account at citi.com using your assigned credentials. On the dashboard, scroll down and click “contact us” and then go to “chat with Citi”. Once a chat box pops up, ask the live chat support to cancel your credit card.

Credit Cards » Compare Credit Cards » Best Citi Credit Cards (November 2024)

Best Citi Credit Cards (December 2024)

Citi has a pool of different types of credit cards targeting individuals consumers. Here are our select’s picks for Citi credit cards

Article update: November 26, 2024

Article update:November 26, 2024

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Citibank offers a variety of banking product services, with credit cards being one of its top products.

As one of the largest issuers of credit cards, Citi has a pool of different types of credit cards targeting both individuals and small business consumers. These cards also offer multiple perks and benefits such as cash backs, airline miles, and its proprietary rewards program known as ThankYou points. Whether you are looking for cash back credit cards, travel reward points, or to collect miles from your best airline, you are guaranteed to find a Citi credit card for your specific needs.

Here are The Smart Investor Select’s picks for Citi credit cards:

Card	Rewards	Bonus	Annual Fee	Best For
Citi® Double Cash Card	1% – 2% 2% cash back rewards rate – 1% every time you swipe and another 1% upon payment.	N/A $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months	$0	Cashback
Citi Strata Premier℠ Credit Card	1X – 10X 10X per dollar on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com, 3X points on restaurant, supermarket, gas station, and air travel and other hotels purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other purchases	75,000 points 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com	$95	Travel Rewards
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi	1-4% 4% cash back on on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter, 3% cash back on restaurants and most travel purchases, 2% cash back at Costco and Costco.com, 1% cash back on all other purchases	None	$0 ($60 Costco membership fee required)	Shopping
Citi Simplicity® Card	None	None	$0	Balance Transfers
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card	None	None	$0	0% Intro
Citi® Secured Mastercard®	None	None	$0	Bad Credit
Best Buy Credit Card	1-5% 5% back in rewards on shopping at BestBuy, 3% back in rewards on gas purchases, 2% back in rewards on dining, takeout and grocery purchases, 1% back in rewards on everyday purchases	None 10% back in rewards on your first day of purchase	$0	Store
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard	1X – 2X Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.	50,000 Miles 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening	$99 (waived for the first 12 months)	American Airlines Flyers
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card	1-5% 5% cash back on your highest eligible spend category each billing cycle up to the first $500 spent and 1% cash back thereafter	$200 $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening (20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back)	$0	No Annual Fee

Citi® Double Cash Card

Citi® Double Cash Review

Citi® Double Cash Card

Citi® Double Cash Review

Reward Details

Current Offer

Credit Rating

Excellent, Good, Fair

Annual Fee

0% Intro

18 months on balance transfers

APR

18.74% – 28.74% (Variable)

Overview
Features
Pros & Cons
FAQ
Tab Title

If you're looking for a credit card that offers simple, flat-rate cash back rewards on all your purchases with no annual fee, the Citi Double Cash Card is a great choice. You can earn 1% cash back on every purchase, plus another 1% when you make a payment. With flexible redemption options, this card offers great potential for maximizing your rewards.

The card is also great for those who are looking to transfer their balance since it offers a outstanding intro APR of 18 months on balance transfers (18.74% – 28.74% (Variable) after that).

Rewards Plan: 2% cash back rewards rate – 1% every time you swipe and another 1% upon payment.
APR: 18.74% – 28.74% (Variable)
Annual fee: $0
Balance Transfer Fee: $5 or 5%
Foreign Transaction Fee: 3%
Sign Up bonus: $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months
0% APR Introductory Rate period: 18 months on balance transfers

Simple and Generous Rewards System
0% Intro APR
Fee Waiver on First Late Payment
No Annual Fee
Average Cashback Rate
Balance Transfer Fee
Foreign Transaction Fee

Is there a limit to cash back rewards? No limit in place
Can I get car rental insurance with Citi Double Cash? Yes, it offers rental insurance for cars if you pay for the full cost with this credit card and you decline the rental company’s insurance.
What are the income requirements? No out and out income requirements and normally you will not have to provide proof of income.
Does cash back rewards expire? They don’t expire once you keep your account open.
Does card Citi Double Cash Credit Card offer pre approval? Yes, pre-approval is a possibility.
What is the initial credit limit? It will normally be at least $500.
How do I redeem cash back? You will be able to redeem the cashback points through direct deposit, check, or as a statement credit. You can also use them in other ways, such as spending on gift cards, Amazon.com, and on travel.
What purchases don't earn cash back? All purchases earn cashback
Should You Move to Citi Double Cash Card? If you like predictability and want an incentive to meet your payment commitments.
How to maximize rewards on Citi Double Cash ? Make sure that you make your minimum due payments.
Top Reasons NOT to get the Citi Double Cash? If you want a higher cashback rate you may need to look for another card.

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Citi Strata Premier℠ Credit Card

Citi Strata Premier Review

Citi Strata Premier℠ Credit Card

Citi Strata Premier Review

Reward details

Current Offer

Credit Rating

Good – Excellent

Annual Fee

$95

0% Intro

None

APR

21.24% – 29.24% (Variable)

Overview
Card Features
Pros & Cons

With the Citi Strata Premier card, you'll earn unlimited 10X per dollar on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com, 3X points on restaurant, supermarket, gas station, and air travel and other hotels purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other purchases. The points can be redeemed through the Citibank Thankyou Network, which allows for combining points. They also can be used for things other than traveling, such as merchandise and gift cards.

As a sign-up bonus, you'll get 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com. It also has travel insurance that covers canceled or delayed flights and baggage delay insurance, and it doesn't have a foreign transaction fee. These features help give you peace of mind while traveling at home and abroad.

However, the card has an annual fee of $95 – so make sure the benefits you get to cover the card fee.

Rewards Plan: 10X per dollar on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com, 3X points on restaurant, supermarket, gas station, and air travel and other hotels purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other purchases
APR: 21.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
Annual fee: $95
Balance Transfer Fee: $5 or 3%
Foreign Transaction Fee: $0
Sign Up bonus: 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com
0% APR Introductory Rate period: None

Sign-Up Bonus
No Foreign Transaction Fee
Thank you Points + No Limit
Protection & Free Credit Score
$95 Annual Fee
No Intro 0% APR
Balance Transfer Fee
Complicated Rewards Structure and Redemption

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Costco Anywhere Visa® Review

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Costco Anywhere Visa® Review

Reward details

Current Offer

None

Credit Rating

Good – Excellent

Annual Fee

$0 ($60 Costco membership fee required)

0% Intro

N/A

APR

19.99% – 27.99% (Variable)

Overview
Card Features
Pros & Cons
FAQ

This card is an amazing choice for regular Costco shoppers who want to earn a highly competitive cashback rewards, and one of the best shopping cards available. Costco Anywhere Card does not charge any fee on foreign transactions and does not charge any annual fee. The card offers 4% cash back on on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter, 3% cash back on restaurants and most travel purchases, 2% cash back at Costco and Costco.com, 1% cash back on all other purchases.

To enjoy all these benefits, all you need to do is pay your annual Costco membership fee to maintain your card account. Some of the limitations attached to this card usage include; limited cashback redemption option and a cap on gas rewards.

Rewards Plan: 4% cash back on on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter, 3% cash back on restaurants and most travel purchases, 2% cash back at Costco and Costco.com, 1% cash back on all other purchases
APR: 19.99% – 27.99% (Variable)
Annual fee: $0 ($60 Costco membership fee required)
Balance Transfer Fee: 3% or 5$
Foreign Transaction Fee: $0
Sign