Citi® Credit Cards

All information about Citi Simplicity® Card, Citi Rewards+^SM Student Card and the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard have been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer. The issuer did not provide the content, nor is it responsible for its accuracy.

Comparing Citi credit card offers

Citi, one of the nation’s largest and oldest banks, offers much more than credit cards. In addition to rewards, business and credit-building cards, Citi serves as a bank for people seeking mortgages, investing services and more.

Here, we delve into what is Citi and what the bank offers:

• Best Citi credit cards
• Compare Citi credit card offers
• What is Citi?
• What are the benefits of a Citi credit card
• Citi’s membership rewards program: overview and best redemption options
• What credit score do you need for a Citi credit card
• Can Citi prequalify you for a credit card
• How we choose the best Citi credit cards

Best Citi credit cards

Citi® Double Cash Card

Why this is the best Citi credit card for cash back

The cash rewards are both simple and generous with this card: Earn 1% as you make a purchase, and another 1% when you pay off your purchase. With no restrictions on purchase categories, the Citi Double Cash has one of the highest earning potentials of all cash back cards.

Pros

• One of the highest unlimited cash back flat rates – up to 2% on all purchases (1% when you buy and 1% as you pay off).
• No annual fee
• The 18-month 0% intro balance transfer APR is impressive for a cash back card. (13.99% – 23.99% variable).

Cons

• No sign-up bonus or introductory 0% purchase APR
• For those who tend to carry a balance, the regular APR of 13.99% – 23.99% (Variable) on purchases means interest payments will quickly outweigh cash back earnings.

Citi Simplicity® Card*

Why this is the best Citi credit card for balance transfer

This card boasts one of the currently best 0% introductory periods of all balance transfer cards: low fees and 18 months of no interest on purchases and on balance transfers made within the first 4 months of account opening. After that the APR is 14.74% – 24.74% (Variable).

Pros

• Lengthy 18-month 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers (14.74% – 24.74% Variable after)
• Fantastic and flexible option to pay down debt – no annual fee, no late fees and no penalty APR.
• Access to Citi Easy Deals discounts and possible Citi Flex Loans

Cons

• No ongoing rewards or sign-up bonus
• There is a standard $5 or 3% balance transfer fee (whichever is greater) and a 3% foreign transaction fee.

Citi Rewards+® Card

Why this is the best Citi credit card for rewards

The unique additional features on top of the ongoing rewards structure are what make this card stand out. In addition to rounding up rewards on each purchase, Citi will also gift you 10% back on redeemed ThankYou points, on up to 100,000 points redeemed annually. This means you can rake in ThankYou Points on everyday expenses – especially if you’re also earning extra points from Citi banking products.

Pros

• For no annual fee, the sign-up bonus is decent and only requires a small minimum spend: 15,000 ThankYou points (redeemable for $150 in gift cards) if you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
• 2X points per $1 at supermarkets and gas stations (on up to $6,000 annually, then 1X point per $1) with 1X point per $1 on all other purchases. Then every purchase rounds up to the nearest 10 points (for example, a $3 sandwich earns 10 points).
• Solid 15-month 0% intro APR on purchases from date of account opening and balance transfers from date of first transfer (then 13.49% – 23.49% Variable)

Cons

• The rewards structure makes it difficult to gauge your rewards earnings ahead of time; some people may prefer a more straightforward flat-rate rewards card.
• The roundup feature isn’t particularly helpful if you only use credit cards for large purchases.

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Why this is the best Citi credit card for long intro APR period

The Citi Diamond Preferred offers practically identical benefits to the Citi Simplicity, including the same zero-interest balance transfers and purchases periods, but without the same protection against late fees and the penalty APR. This makes the Diamond Preferred a solid second 0% intro APR card for Citi cardholders with excellent credit.

Pros

• Competitive 18-month 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers made within the first 4 months (14.74% – 24.74% Variable after)
• No annual fee
• Access to Citi Easy Deals discounts and, potentially, the Citi Flex Loan program

Cons

• The only real difference when compared to the Citi Simplicity is that the Diamond Preferred charges up to a $40 late payment fee and 29.99% variable penalty APR.
• No ongoing rewards or sign-up bonus

American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card

Why this is the best Citi credit card for American Airlines

There are several Citi cards with similar rewards rates for American Airlines flyers, but no annual fee and rewards on everyday spending make the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ card unique as a fantastic airline card for occasional flyers.

Pros

• Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on grocery store purchases and eligible American Airlines purchases, along with 1X miles per dollar on all other purchases.
• No annual fee
• 25% discount on inflight food and beverage purchases with your card

Cons

• Like many no annual fee cards, the sign-up bonus isn’t a standout: 10,000 miles and a $50 statement credit after spending $500 in the first 3 months of account opening.
• There are complicated routing rules and limitations on how you can use your miles, including blackout dates on some awards and a $35 fee for booking awards via phone.

Citi® Secured Mastercard®

Why this is the best Citi credit card for building credit

Unlike many secured cards, this card comes with no annual fee. So, if you’re paying your balance in full each month, you can build credit at no cost to you, making this a good option for those who have a short credit history.

Pros

• Your initial credit limit is equal to your security deposit ($200-$2,500), so you essentially get to choose your own credit limit. If you can afford it, having more available credit can improve your credit utilization – which is 30% of your credit score.
• No annual fee, which is rare for secured cards

Cons

• The high ongoing APR (22.49% Variable) could make other cards a better choice if you plan to carry a balance.
• No ongoing rewards, although that’s normal for secured cards

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Why this is the best Citi credit card for gas

Although the required Costco membership and annual redemption only at Costco are worth weighing for non-members, the 4% cash back on eligible gas purchases (for the first $7,000 annually, 1% thereafter) is one of the highest gas rewards rates available.

Pros

• Stellar unlimited cash back rewards: 4% on eligible gas worldwide including Costco (for the first $7,000 per year, then 1%), 3% on restaurants and eligible travel purchases, 2% back on Costco purchases and 1% on all other purchases.
• No annual fee or foreign transaction fees

Cons

• You must have a paid ($60) Costco membership to qualify for this card.
• You can only redeem rewards once a year – specifically, after your February billing statement closes – for a certificate that is only redeemable at Costco for cash back or merchandise. The certificate also must be redeemed in a single transaction before Dec. 31 each year.

CitiBusiness®/AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®*

Why this is the best Citi credit card for business travel

Business owners who frequently fly American Airlines will enjoy the boarding perks and inflight discounts along with the rewards: 2X AAdvantage® miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and at gas stations. You’ll also pay no foreign transaction fees.

Pros

• Large sign-up bonus for a reasonable minimum spend: 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
• 25% inflight discounts on American Airlines Wi-Fi and food and beverage purchases when using your card
• Make your team’s travel smoother with perks like preferred boarding, free first checked bag for you and up to 4 travel companions and a yearly American Airlines Companion Certificate for domestic travel (after $30,000 in purchases and card membership renewal).

Cons

• Unless you’re an exclusive American Airlines flyer, you can probably find another business credit card with travel rewards that offers higher rewards rates.
• $99 annual fee after your first 12 months

Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

Why this is the best Citi credit card for lounge access

In addition to an up to $100 credit for Global Entry/TSA Precheck every 5 years, you’ll have free Admirals Club access – a huge perk for frequent travelers that’s valued at up to $650.

Pros

• The 2X AAdvantage® miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases will likely be valuable for frequent flyers.
• The sign-up bonus is hefty if you’re able to meet the high minimum spend: 50,000 miles for spending $5,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.

Cons

• It will be hard to make the $450 annual fee worth it if you don’t frequently fly American Airlines.
• The sign-up bonus’ high minimum spend doesn’t fit within the budget of many consumers.

Compare Citibank credit card offers

What is Citi?

Citibank, a division of Citigroup, is a full-service bank that provides mortgages, checking and savings accounts, credit cards, and more.

One of North America’s oldest banks in continuous operation, Citibank is steeped in the United States’ banking history. It was founded in 1812 as City Bank of New York, with Samuel Osgood as the founding president. In 1968, Citibank introduced its first credit card, known as the Everything Card, later partnering with Mastercard. In the 1970s, Citibank was one of the first American banks to introduce automatic teller machines to its customers.

Today, Citibank has 2,649 branches throughout the world, 723 of which are located in the United States. Citibank’s U.S. presence is focused primarily in the metropolitan areas around New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Miami.

America’s oldest continuous banks…

Wikipedia and creditcards.com research

What are the benefits of a Citi credit card?

Besides each card’s respective rates and rewards, many Citi credit cards come with standard travel, shopping and security perks like account monitoring and a free concierge service. Unfortunately, Citi removed several industry staples like car rental insurance, trip cancellation protection and 90-day return protection.

We’ve included a list of other Citi credit card benefits, but the Citi Easy Deals and the Citi Entertainment® programs could be the most interesting.

Citi Easy Deals

Cardholders with either the Citi Simplicity or Citi Diamond Preferred can qualify for discounts on restaurants, merchandise and more through merchandise and more through Citi Easy Deals. Easy Deals operates according to tiers – depending on certain annual spending requirements, users can climb and access more deals. Although most of the discounts aren’t anything you couldn’t get from online coupons, the meatier travel and gift card deals in the upper tiers could be worth your while.

• Base tier – Gives you access upon registration to local offers for restaurants, shops and services.
• Enhanced tier – In addition to Base tier benefits, spend $100 in purchases on your eligible credit card in one calendar year for access to savings on gift cards and magazines.
• Plus tier – In addition to Base and Enhanced benefits, spend $500 in purchases on your eligible credit card in one calendar year for access to savings on merchandise, travel and Daily Deals.

Citi Entertainment

With Citi Entertainment, qualifying cardholders gain access to reserved pre-sale tickets for events in four categories: music, sports, dining and “theater and more.” Users subscribed to Citi Entertainment’s email list can score first dibs on special deals like LiveNation virtual concert tickets and other livestream events. Although other issuers offer similar experience access programs, like Capital One Access and Chase Experiences, Citi Entertainment comes at no added cost and pretty much every Citi card (even select debit cards) is eligible. Cards with Citi Entertainment will have the Visa, Mastercard or American Express logo on them.

Other Citi credit card benefits

Travel and Shopping

• Citi® Concierge
• PayPal and mobile wallet card linking
• Travel notice

Security

• Citi Flex Loan for eligible cardholders
• $0 liability on unauthorized charges
• Virtual account numbers
• Free monthly FICO® Score
• Citi® Quick Lock mobile app account freezing
• Free Citi® Identity Theft Solutions account monitoring
• Customizable account alerts
• Fraud early warning

Citi’s membership rewards program: overview and best redemption options

Although Citi’s rewards cards may look overwhelming since many of them are co-branded with different reward types, we can simplify them to just 3 earning structures: cash back, ThankYou Points and travel rewards.

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Unless you’re a frequent traveler or prefer cash back, ThankYou Point cards might deliver the most versatile and valuable rewards, especially if you also bank with Citi. Rewards start at 1,000 points, which are rock-bottom compared to other programs, but TPG’s 1.7 cents ThankYou point value really shines when you redeem through the ThankYou Travel Center portal. Our ThankYou rewards guide reports your points lose value outside travel, but redeeming for gift cards and paying with points are the next best options. Plus, eligible cardholders can maximize their points with Citi’s limited-time promotion that discounts select Amazon purchases through 9/30/20.

Fortunately, the loads of extra monthly points you could earn using other Citibank accounts can help cardholders stock up for the redemption options below.

Citi banking ThankYou Rewards

Citibank account holders can earn additional points through regular monthly Citi account activities such as direct deposit in a Citi checking account, bill payment scheduling, mortgage payments, automatic savings deposits, and more. Citigold, Citi Priority, and Citi Private Bank Account services could potentially earn an extra 1,600 Thank You Points in the course of a month by using all nine Citi services in the chart below. A basic Citibank account could potentially earn 1,000 points per month.

Citibank’s banking rewards breakdown

Citi ThankYou Point redemption options

• Gift cards
• Booking travel rewards
• Shop with points at online retailers like Amazon.com and PayPal
• Statement credits
• Cash back
• Payment toward mortgage or student loan
• Bill payments through Citibank’s online bill pay feature
• Point transfer to participating loyalty programs
• Point sharing with other ThankYou members
• Charitable contributions

Cash Back Rewards

Straightforward reward-seekers may feel most at home with the flat-rate Double Cash Card – one of Citi’s only rewards cards that doesn’t require categories to maximize. Although you can technically redeem ThankYou Points or AAdvantage® miles for cash back, Citi’s cash back cards are best suited for the job. Likewise, redeeming for cash back is your best value with a cash back card.
Costco cash rewards can only be redeemed as an annual reward certificate (after your February billing statement) for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses.

Cash back redemption options

• Direct deposit
• Check
• Statement credit
• Convert to ThankYou Points

Travel Rewards

For more dedicated flyers, the American Airlines-branded Citi credit cards earn you AAdvantage miles you can redeem for travel to nearly 1,000 destinations worldwide. AAdvantage miles can be used for travel booked with American Airlines and American Eagle, as well as the following carriers:

• Eligible flights
• Eligible vacation packages
• Cabin upgrades on select airways
• Seat reservations
• Admirals Club® membership and renewal
• Five Star Service™ luxury experiences
• Select newspaper subscriptions
• Charitable donations

Expedia Rewards points redemption options

• Eligible flights
• Eligible hotel reservations (points worth double at VIP Access™ hotels)
• Select car rentals
• Attraction and activity discounts
• Flight + Hotel coupon worth $25+
• St. Jude’s Children Research Center donations

What credit score do you need for a Citi credit card?

It’s not a rule set in stone, but most Citi card offers and their best rates will require applicants to have an excellent credit score (a FICO Score of 740-850).
If you’re just starting out in the world of credit, Citi does have a credit-building card for applicants with limited history: the Citi Secured Mastercard. Starting out with a secured card and improving your credit score are the most direct ways to obtain a Citi credit card and other top-tier cards. If you’ve already established a solid credit rating, check if you prequalify for a Citi card.

Can Citi prequalify you for a credit card?

Yes, Citi does preapprove potential cardholders. Getting preapproved by Citi is a fairly simple process, though it doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the card. When a credit card issuer says you’ve prequalified –or been preapproved – for a credit card, that means they’ve made a preliminary review of your credit and think you may qualify. This type of credit prescreening is known as a soft inquiry because, unlike a hard inquiry, it won’t ding your credit score.

Again, this is by no means a guarantee. In order to receive final approval, the issuer must make a more thorough evaluation of your credit. That closer look results in a hard inquiry that can temporarily lower your credit score. Because of this, it’s good to have a sense of your approval odds in advance of applying. Finding card offers that match your credit profile with tools like CardMatch™ can save you time and minimize impact to your score.

You can find out what Citi cards you may prequalify for by visiting a Citibank branch or keeping your eyes peeled for an offer in the mail

How we choose the best Citi credit cards

In order to determine which Citi credit cards are best, we’ve examined Citi’s top offerings in the following key credit card categories.

• Rewards program: We review rewards categories, rates and fees, program partners and other key details to assess overall value.
• Special features: Does the card have unique features or standout advantages over other cards?
• Rates and fees: Are rates and fees associated with the card comparable to the value offered by its rewards program?

Citi may be without some of the bells and whistles other cards offer in the way of perks, but its cash back, ThankYou Points, and travel rewards programs offer a lot of value, particularly if you already bank with Citi. Still having difficulty deciding between card offers? Check out this guide to choosing a credit card.