Updated: July 3, 2024
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
MoneyGeek partners with leading industry experts and advertisers to help you get to your financial happy place. Our content is accurate when posted but offers may change over time. We may receive compensation for partner advertisements, but our editorial team independently reviews and ranks products. Learn more about our editorial policies.
Citibank credit card offerings include reward, business, balance transfer, travel, cashback and student credit cards. Citi also offers co-branded cards with organizations like Costco and American Airlines.
Citibank card benefits range from generous reward programs and cashback rates to lengthy balance transfer periods and perks like access to Citi Entertainment. However, you will need a good to excellent credit score of 670 or higher to be approved for most Citibank credit cards.
Citibank’s credit card portfolio consists of 14 credit card options that include business, rewards, balance transfer, travel, co-branded and cashback credit cards.
| Credit Card | MoneyGeek Rating | Card Summary | Rewards Summary | Annual Fee | Recommended Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One of the longest 0% intro APRs on balance transfers | N/A This card doesn't offer cash back, miles, or points | $0 | 670-850 (Good to Excellent) | ||
| A great no-annual-fee card that offers up to 2% cash back | Earn 1%–5% cash back Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24. | $0 | 670-850 (Good to Excellent) | ||
| 5% cash back on your highest qualifying spend category up to $500 per month | Earn 1%–5% cash back Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. | $0 | 670-850 (Good to Excellent) | ||
| An excellent travel rewards card for international use | Earn 1X – 3X points Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases | $95 | 670-850 (Good to Excellent) | ||
| An excellent no-annual-fee rewards card with a 0% introductory APR offer | Earn 1X – 5X ThankYou® Points Special offer: earn 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025. Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Earn 1X ThankYou® Points on All Other Purchases. | $0 | 670-850 (Good to Excellent) | ||
| Best credit card for building credit with no or limited credit history | N/A | $0 | (No Credit History) |
Citibank’s portfolio also includes these cards:
With cards offering options of no annual fees, 0% introductory fees and varying reward rates, Citibank offers consumers and businesses credit cards to suit different profiles and needs.
If you want to apply for a Citibank credit card, it is important to consider factors such as your credit score. It is also important to understand Citi’s policies on multiple credit card applications, bonuses and approval processes.
For most Citi credit cards you need a good to excellent credit score as defined by FICO. This is a score of at least 670. However, when you apply for a Citibank credit card, you stand a better chance of approval with a credit score of 700 or more.
You can have an unlimited number of Citi cards. Citibank does not limit the number of cards you can have as long as you meet the requirements for approval for each.
Citi follows the 8/65/95 rule meaning that you can only apply for one Citi card within eight days, a maximum of two cards in a 65-day period and only one Citi business card in a 95-day period.
Citi does not limit the number of times or credit cards you can be approved for. However, there are stipulations on how many times within a given period you can apply for a credit card, with a minimum of eight days required between applications for personal credit cards.
Different Citibank cards have different welcome bonus restrictions. Some cards have a 24 month waiting period for welcome bonuses, while others have a 48 month waiting period. Many of these restrictions are based on the "family" of cards, such as American Airlines AAdvantage or ThankYou Points. Which means that you are not eligible for a welcome bonus if you're received a bonus from any card in that family during the exclusion period.
Aside from benefits and fees, it is also important to consider factors such as user experience and customer satisfaction before choosing a Citi credit card.
Feature | Description |
|---|---|
Customer Service & Satisfaction | Citi received a J.D Power customer satisfaction rating of 805, ranking sixth among national issuers in a 2021 survey. Citi bank offers cardholders 24-hour customer service via telephone. You can also manage your credit card account online or using the Citi mobile app. |
Mobile Apps & Online Services | Citi’s mobile app allows users to make bill payments, check transaction history, set up account activity notifications, activate a new card and manage their accounts with just a few taps. It is available for both Apple and Android devices. According to a J.D Power 2021 Mobile Banking App Satisfaction Study, Citi ranks sixth among national issuers with a score of 856 out of 1000. |
Security & Credit Monitoring Services | As a Citi customer, you can automatically use Citi Identity Theft Solutions for free. This identity theft protection provides personal support and cardholders are not held liable for any fraudulent transactions made on their Citi cards. Additionally, the Citi Quick Lock feature accessible through Citi's website and mobile app lets you lock your lost or stolen credit card. |
Loyalty Programs & Other Issuer Perks | Citi’s credit card portfolio includes multiple cards that earn ThankYou Rewards points that can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, travel and hotel accommodation. Citi ThankYou Points can be transferred to 18 airline and hotel loyalty programs at no charge. Citi also offers cards that include cash back rewards based on partnership with airlines and other partners. Select Citi credit cards even come with access to Citi Entertainment, which gives cardholders presale and VIP access to various events. |
Authorized Users | Citi allows the primary cardholder to add anyone as an authorized user on their Citi credit card. Most Citi cards allow you to add authorized users for no additional charge. There is no minimum age requirement for an authorized user, so children can also be added to your Citi credit card. However, Citibank does not allow you to set spending limits for authorized users on most of their cards. Authorized users have access to the same benefits that primary cardholders have depending on the particular Citi credit card. That said, purchases made by authorized users on your card will earn you reward points, but only the primary cardholder can redeem those rewards. |
Purchase Protection | Citi offers cardholders 90-day purchase protection where Citi may refund the purchase price up to $300 per item and $1,000 per year provided the item was paid for in full with your Citi card or ThankYou Points. You also receive extended warranty protection for purchases made with your Citi credit card for a period of up to 24 months. Depending on the particular Citi card, you may also get worldwide travel accident insurance, trip cancellation protection and worldwide car rental Insurance. |
Co-Branding & Partnerships | Citi has co-branded credit cards with several organizations, including
|
Other Products Offered | Apart from credit cards, Citi’s portfolio of products and services also includes personal banking, mortgage, home equity, lending, investment products and wealth management. |
Citibank offers a wide variety of credit cards that may fit the needs and preferences of different consumer profiles. Citi’s reward and cash back credit cards offer competitive rewards that can help users earn rates that might benefit businesses and consumers who are looking for low-cost rewards cards. Citi also offers generous welcome bonuses as well as introductory APRs that are ideal for those looking to pay down debt and save on interest charges.
Citi cards are worth considering if you fit any of the following profiles:
You are paying down debt
The Citi Simplicity card has a 0% introductory APR for 21 months and no annual fees. It is ideal if you want to pay down debt on other credit cards.
You are a small to medium-sized business that frequently uses American Airlines
Citi cards like the CitiBusiness/AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard and the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard allow you to earn rewards on business expenses and receive convenient travel perks.
You are looking for a cash back card with no annual fees
Citi’s Double Cash Credit Card earns a 2% flat-rate cash back reward on all purchases and comes with flexible redemption options. This card has no annual fees meaning you can get maximum value for your rewards.
"Citibank offers a variety of attractive credit cards for both consumer and small business customers. Citi ThankYou Points offer tremendous value when transferred to partners and its co-branded partners can save both money and time with valuable benefits. Small business owners can maximize their rewards by getting both the business and personal versions of their co-branded cards."
- Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com
Citi is one of the top national credit card issuers in the U.S with a solid portfolio of credit card options offering a wide range of benefits and rewards. However, if you are still undecided, you can check out other issuers such as American Express and Chase for more credit card options.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
