Citi® Credit Cards

Comparing Credit Card Offers from Citi

By: Laura Mohammad

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:

• Citibank's best cards
• Deeper analysis on best cards
• What is Citi?
• Rewards program and redemptions
• Other benefits
• Quick recap

The Best Citi Credit Cards of 2018

• Citi Double Cash Card
• Citi ThankYou Preferred Card
• Citi Simplicity Card
• Citi Diamond Preferred Card
• Citi ThankYou Premier Card
• Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
• Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi
• Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card by Citi
• Citi ThankYou Preferred Card for College Students
• Citi Secured Mastercard

Deeper analysis on Citi's best cards

No matter your credit circumstance, there is a Citi card for you. Whether you are new to credit or ready for a superior rewards card, Citi has it all. Here are the best Citi cards we have to offer:

Citi Double Cash Card

If you don't love the idea of rotating categories and you have a sizeable balance transfer you need to make, the Citi Double Cash Card is the card for you.

This card is best known for 2 things: its 18-month 0% intro APR on balance transfers (then 14.99% - 24.99% variable) and its double cash back. Here's how it works: you get unlimited 1% cash back when you make your purchase, then you get another 1% when you pay for the purchase. Heads up that balance transfers don't earn cash back.

Highlights

• Total of 2% cash back on all purchases (1% cash back when you make your purchase, another 1% upon payment)
• No annual fee
• Generous balance transfer offer

Citi ThankYou Preferred

With a broad definition of restaurants and entertainment, the ThankYou Preferred rewards the good times. Whether you are single or settled, the card's 2x points on restaurants and entertainment is sure to please. Earn 1 point on all other purchases.

There's no sign-up bonus, but there's a superior 0% intro APR of 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers (then 14.99% - 24.99% variable).

Highlights

• Entertainment includes music downloads, movie theaters, on-demand video, concerts and more
• No annual fee
• 15-month 0% intro APR on BT & purchases (then 14.99% - 24.99% variable)

Citi Simplicity Card

Have a big purchase coming up? Need to transfer that monster balance? This card can help with both.

The Citi Simplicity's greatest feature is the 0% intro APR for 18 months on both purchases and balance transfers (then 15.49% - 25.49% variable). Note that there is a balance transfer fee of $5 or 5%, whichever is greater.

Highlights

• No late fees or penalty rate
• No annual fee
• 0% intro APR for 18 months, purchases & BT (then 15.49% - 25.49% variable)

Citi Diamond Preferred Card

Just wow – that's the best way to describe this card's 21-month 0% intro APR on balance transfers. That means no interest paid well into 2020. There's also a purchase 0% intro APR for 12 months. Then 14.49% - 24.49% variable APR will apply on purchases and balance transfers.

Highlights

• 21-month 0% intro APR, balance transfer (then 14.49% - 24.49% variable)
• No annual fee
• $0 liability on unauthorized purchases

Citi ThankYou Premier Card

This worthy rival to the Chase Sapphire Preferred even offers a travel portal boost equal to the Chase Ultimate Rewards. Here's how it works:

The ThankYou Premier offers 50,000 points after a $4,000 spend within the first 3 months of card membership. But that's not all. Those points translate into $625 in airfare when redeemed through the ThankYou Travel Center.

Also, the ThankYou Premier allows you to earn 3X points on travel – including gas stations. The $95 annual fee is waived the first year.

Highlights

• 50,000 miles sign-up after $4,000 spend in first 3 months
• No expiration or limit to points you can earn
• No airline transfer fee and transfers can start at 1,000 points

Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard

If you love American Airlines, you'll love this card more than you know.

Why? Because there are oodles of rewards, both sign-up and ongoing, to help you enjoy airline travel that much more. There's the 50,000 miles sign-up after a $5,000 spend in the first 3 months of card membership and 2X miles on eligible American Airlines spending. There's also 10,000 Elite Qualifying Miles after a $40,000 spend within the year.

And what about the benefits? From access to more than 50 airport lounges worldwide to free first checked bag (on domestic American Airline itineraries), the benefits are bountiful, making the $450 annual fee well worth it.

Highlights

• Admirals Club membership
• Priority check-in, screening and boarding privileges
• First checked bag free

Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi

When Costco switched from American Express to Visa in 2016, that meant the club warehouse also switched which sole network they accepted to Visa.

While you don't have to have this Costco card to shop there, you can max out on gas, restaurants and travel, and Costco spending with some pretty generous rewards with the Costco Anywhere Visa. There's no sign-up bonus with this card, but the ongoing rewards more than make up for it.

To start off, while there's no sign-up bonus, Costco members receive a reward coupon annually which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses.

Earn 4% cash back on eligible gas (worldwide and at Costco) for up to $7,000 for the year; 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel; and 2% cash back on all other Costco and Costco.com purchases. Here's how a year's spending would break down:

Costco Anywhere Visa rewards...

Highlights

• Can be used anywhere that Visa is accepted
• No annual fee
• No foreign transaction fee

Costco Anywhere Business Visa Card by Citi

Imagine the same great rewards of the consumer Costco Visa, but as a business card.

That means 4% cash back on eligible gas worldwide and at Costco; 3% cash back on eligible travel and restaurants; and 2% cash back on all other Costco and Costco.com spending. Also, receive a reward coupon annually which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses.

Highlights

• Can be used anywhere that Visa is accepted
• No annual fee
• No foreign transaction fee

Citi ThankYou Preferred Card for College Students

Just starting out? Out on your own now? The Citi ThankYou Preferred for College Students can point you in the right direction.

Not only can you earn 2,500 points after a $500 spend within the first 3 months of card membership, but you can earn 2X points on restaurants and entertainment. More money for fun!

Those 2,500 points could translate into $25 in gift cards for brands like iTunes or Nike. You can also use your points to shop online at Amazon or Best Buy, or even redeem them for tickets at Live Nation.

Highlights

• Free access to FICO score
• 1X point on all other purchases
• No annual fee

Citi Secured Mastercard

If you're new to credit and have no bankruptcy history for the last 2 years, you may qualify for this secured card. With this card, you put a minimum of $200 down in exchange for a matching credit limit. The down payment is refundable, provided you pay your bill in full.

What is the advantage of the Citi Secured Mastercard? It gives you a chance to build credit on a credit card, something you can't do with a debit or prepaid card.

Highlights

• Citi reports your payment habits to all 3 major credit bureaus
• No annual fee
• Accepted where Mastercard is accepted

What is Citi?

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

Citibank was founded in 1812 as City Bank of New York, with Samuel Osgood as the founding president. One of North America's oldest banks in continuous operation, it is steeped in the United States' banking history.

America's oldest continuous banks...

Wikipedia and creditcards.com research

Services Citi offers

Citibank's services vary by location. For example, in New York, you can qualify for a mortgage, card, bank accounts, and more. Here are some Citi services that are available in New York as an example:

Banking

• Checking
• Savings
• CDs and IRAs

Credit cards

• Low interest
• Rewards
• Travel
• Cash back & savings
• Balance transfer
• Business
• Secured

Lending

• Home equity
• Personal lines
• Mortgages

Investing

• For retirement
• For college
• For life changes
• Protecting your wealth
• Estate planning

Business

• Small business banking
• Commercial

Overview of their rewards program and best redemption options

Citi ThankYou Rewards

It's actually pretty simple – the more business you do with Citi, the more ThankYou points you receive. Have a mortgage with them? That's up to 175 points a month. Checking, bill pay and direct deposit? Up to 650 a month. Here's how it all breaks down.

Monthly points with Citi direct deposit and bill payment...

Citibank

Redeeming

When it comes to redemptions, your options are numerous. Rewards start at 1,000 points, which is rock-bottom compared to other programs, and TPG ranks a ThankYou point at 1.7 cents, which is more than competitive. Here are ways your points can be redeemed. Heads up that there can be gift card and shopping deals, and the ThankYou Travel Center portal is competitive with the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

• Get gift cards from such retailers as Best Buy, Starbucks, Macy's and The Home Depot.
• Choose merchandise from such brands as Apple, Sony and KitchenAid.
• Get tickets to concerts and other events at LiveNation.com. You can link your Live Nation and ThankYou Rewards accounts.
• Online Bill Pay allows you to use ThankYou points you've already earned toward your bill payments.
• If available, you can redeem through the Travel Center, which will give you a flat 1.25 cents through the ThankYou Premier, for example.

Cash back and AAdvantage

The Citi Double Cash allows you to earn cash back twice – once when you make the purchase and again when you pay the bill, bringing the total to 2%. So, a $500 expense becomes $10 back. There are also the Costco Anywhere Visa cards. Redemptions range from statement credits to gift cards.

With the Citi/AAdvantage card, you earn miles you can redeem with American Airlines or American Eagle to more than 250 destinations worldwide. Miles can also be redeemed for car rentals or hotel stays at more than 10,000 locations.

Citi Easy Deals

• 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.

Driver's Edge

This rewards program earns you a 2% rebate when you lease or purchase a new or used car with the Driver's Edge Credit Card.

Other benefits of having Citi cards

Citi card benefits are famous for their generosity, provided you use your card or ThankYou points for the purchase that you want covered. Terms and conditions apply.

Travel

• Worldwide car rental insurance – One excellent aspect of this insurance is that while it's secondary in the U.S., it's primary outside of the U.S., which means it kicks in before all other insurance, even your personal auto insurance.
• Trip cancellation and interruption protection – This protects you up to $5,000 when the traveler becomes sick, dies, is injured or there are weather issues.
• Trip delay protection – If a trip on a common carrier is delayed at least 12 hours, you can be reimbursed up to $500.
• Baggage delay protection – This is handy for buying incidentals because your luggage hasn't arrived within 6 hours. Maximum coverage per trip, per traveler is $100.
• Lost baggage protection – Coverage is $3,000 outside of New York (which is $2,000) for up to $10,000 per trip.
• Roadside assistance dispatch service – You are only charged if you use the service for such things as towing or flat tires.
• Travel & emergency assistance – Get 24/7 assistance for emergency travel arrangements, travel issues, and medical and legal referrals.
• Worldwide travel accident insurance – Maximum coverage is $500,000 per person.

Shopping

• Damage & theft purchase protection – Your product is covered for 120 days from purchase (except New York, which is 90 days) for up to $10,000 per item, $50,000 per year.
• Citi Price Rewind – Specific to Citi, this service searches for a lower price on the registered items you pay for with your card within 60 days of purchase for a maximum of $2,500 per year.
• Extended warranty – This is a generous 24-month warranty tacked on to the existing warranty.
• 90-day return protection – If the merchant won't take it back within 90 days, you can be refunded up to $500 per item, $2,500 a year.

Recap: The Best Credit Cards from Citibank