- High rewards rates for hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
- Transferable rewards points.
- Large 70,000 point welcome bonus after spending $4,000 in the first three months.
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Citi is one of a handful of credit card issuers in the U.S. offering multiple credit cards to fit just about any lifestyle. This is a good thing, but it makes choosing the best Citi credit card for your situation a challenge. Weโve sifted the options so you donโt have to. Below are seven top Citi credit cards that should satisfy a variety of different types of cardholders.
The Citi Strata Premierโ Card earns flexible rewards, which can be redeemed for cash or transferred to airline and hotel loyalty programs for free travel. The card also offers one of the all-around best collections of bonus categories.
Youโll earn three points per dollar with restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, other hotel purchases, and air travel (and one point per dollar for everything else).This easily covers the majority of spending for many budgets. Also note that the card is currently offering 10 points per dollar for hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked through the Citi Travel Portal.
The card incurs a $95 annual fee, which will eat into your yearly profit from swiping. Nevertheless, the value in travel that you can squeeze from the cardโs points can be well worth it.
The Citi Custom Cashยฎ Card takes all the brainpower out of maximizing your cash back credit card. It tracks your spending for you, identifies the eligible bonus category youโve used the most each billing cycle, and awards you 5% cash back for those purchases (up to $500 per month, then 1% thereafter). Eligible categories include grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, drugstores, live entertainment, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and select streaming services, travel, and transit.
Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travelโ portal through 6/30/2025.
The card_name offers balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration and intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration. This is one of the largest 0% intro annual percentage rate (APR) windows of any credit card on the market, making it a top choice for those looking for an extended respite from the high interest charged by other credit cards. A balance_transfer_duration_months breather will help you pay off your balances faster, potentially saving you thousands of dollars, depending on the amount of debt you have.
Unfortunately, the card doesnโt come with any other notable benefits. It also doesnโt earn any rewards for your spending. Still, with annual_fees annual fee, itโs worth keeping year after year simply to bolster your length of credit history (which accounts for 15% of your overall FICO credit score). Just make sure to use it once every six months or so to avoid closure due to inactivity.
American Airlines flyers will appreciate the lengthy travel benefits of the card_name. It comes with the first checked bag free for you and up to eight companions on the same domestic travel reservation; priority boarding, check-in, and screening; and American Airlines Admirals Club airport lounge membership (with Admirals Club access for authorized users). These perks can make your travel experience much more enjoyable.
Hereโs the caveat: Youโll pay a annual_feesannual fee for the privilege of holding the card. This is higher than the average credit card fee, but when you consider that a yearly Admirals Club membership costs up to $850, the cardโs value is clear. In short, if youโd otherwise purchase an Admirals Club membership, this card is a no-brainer.
Citi Double Cashยฎ Card is one of the best credit cards for everyday spending. It earns 2% on all purchases (1% back when you make a purchase and 1% back when you pay off that purchase). The ability to receive a minimum of 2% back is excellent, particularly for those with sporadic spending habits that donโt often fall into common credit card bonus categories.
This is another rewards credit card open to people with โfair" credit. If youโre a studentโor non-studentโwith a credit score that still needs some work, the Citi Double Cashยฎ Card could be a good fit.
Whether you have a messy credit history or none at all, the Citiยฎ Secured Mastercardยฎ Credit Card is a good way to build your credit profile. Itโs a secured credit card, which means that youโll have to submit a refundable security deposit to Citi (between 2,500) before you can open one. Your credit line will equal the amount of money you choose to submit.
The card doesnโt earn rewards for your spending or offer any benefits with real value. Still, if you need to build your credit, this card is worth a look. After exhibiting responsible payment habits, your credit score should improve, and then you should be able to open a more lucrative card.
Despite its name, card_name is useful for far more than just Costco purchases. Most notably youโll earn 4% cash back on eligible gas and electric vehicle charging stations (for up to $7,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1%). Youโll also receive 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel, including Costco Travel. Youโll receive 2% back with Costco online and in the store and 1% back for everything else.
The card comes with two annoying restrictions.. First, only Costco members can open one. Second, you can only redeem your rewards once per year (specifically, in February) for either a lump sum of cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses.
Card name | Bonus rewards | Annual fees | Credit score needed |
---|---|---|---|
bonus_miles_full | annual_fees | credit_score_needed | |
bonus_miles_full | credit_score_needed | ||
bonus_miles_full | annual_fees | Excellent, Good | |
bonus_miles | annual_fees | credit_score_needed | |
bonus_miles_full | annual_fees | credit_score_needed | |
N/A | $0 | Fair, Good | |
bonus_miles | annual_fees
(Rates & Fees) | credit_score_needed |
When selecting the best Citi credit cards, we examined characteristics such as return rate, welcome bonus, intro APR, and accessibility. We considered several different lifestyle situations, such as students, travelers, and those new to credit, to distill Citiโs large list of cards down to the most valuable options.
card_name vs. Citi Double Cashยฎ Card
card_name vs. Citi Strata Premierโ Card
The first step you should take before researching Citi credit cards is to check your credit score. Many Citi credit cards require that you have โgoodโ credit to qualify, while a select few accept applicants with โfairโ credit or a limited credit history. If your score hampers your eligibility, itโs good to know early.
Citi credit cards come with a wide variety of bonus categories; others provide a flat return rate for all spending. Still others trade the ability to earn rewards for a low APR offer.
If youโre looking for a rewards credit card, find one that best compensates you for your everyday spending. For example, if you regularly travel by car, youโll likely want a credit card that offers bonus rewards for gas station and restaurant spending.
If a Citi credit card charges an annual fee, donโt get it unless it provides more value to you than youโre paying each year. Any credit card that doesnโt save you more than its price tag is not cost effective.
Credit card rewards typically fall into two categories: cash back and travel rewards. If youโve got travel aspirations, stick to Citi credit cards that earn airline miles or transferable points. If you simply want a rebate for your everyday spending, go for a cash back credit card.
More about Citi credit cards
Applying for a Citi credit card is no different than applying for any other card. You must provide personal details such as your address, income, and Social Security number. You also may need to input your housing situation and debts.
Citi often approves or declines applications immediately. However, if it needs to verify information, the process may take several days.
Citi credit cards tend to offer variable interest rates somewhere between 18% and 30%. This is a common range across all card issuers. However, Citi is notable for its 0% intro APR offers, providing multiple credit cards with up to 21 interest-free months.
The credit limit you receive from a Citi credit card is entirely dependent on your credit profile. You may receive as little as $500 if your credit score isnโt exceedingly high, while data points suggest that itโs possible that the most creditworthy applicants can receive as high as $50,000 or more.
Citiโs proprietary rewards currency is called โCiti ThankYou Points.โ Many Citi credit cards collect ThankYou Points, even those that are marketed as cash back cards.
Again, you can redeem Citi ThankYou Points for either cash back, at a rate of one cent per point, or airline miles and hotel points, which can bring a much higher return. Cards with no annual fee that earn points can transfer them to the following partners at varying ratios:
Many banks provide the ability to check a specific credit card to see if you prequalify. Citi is one of the few major issuers that doesnโt offer this feature. However, you may receive targeted flyers in the mail suggesting that youโve been preapproved for a specific credit card. This is because Citi periodically checks for you and sends you offers for which it thinks youโve got a good shot at approval.
You can combine points If you have two or more of the following Citi credit cards:
In fact, by transferring any of these points to the Citi Strata Premierโ Card, you can then turn the rewards you have earned with any of these cards into airline miles and hotel points.
If your Citi application is denied, you can reach out to Citiโs reconsideration line at (800) 695-5171. These agents may be able to explain the reason for the declined application. In some cases you may be able to alleviate any concerns with a quick explanation. Citi may decline your application for many reasons and calling the reconsideration line is far from a surefire approval tactic, but it certainly doesnโt hurt to try.
Whether youโre interested in free airfare and hotel stays, cash back, or a 0% intro APR, Citi issues a credit card thatโs up your alley. And most of its credit cards incur no annual fee, so you can keep them year after year without paying for membership.
The easiest Citi credit card to qualify for is the Citi Secured Mastercard. This is because itโs a secured card, which demands a refundable security deposit upon account opening. The card is meant for those with bad credit or a limited credit history.
If youโre just beginning your credit journey, you should open the Citi Secured Mastercard first, because you donโt need a credit history for approval. If your credit is more established, the Citi Double Cash is a popular choice.
Citi cards are no harder to get than those issued by other banks. In fact, two of Citiโs best credit cardsโthe Citi Double Cash and Citi Custom Cashโapprove applicants with โfairโ credit (FICO credit scores between 580 and 669), which is below average.
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