Citi Premier Card Review: 60,000 Bonus Points Plus 3x Points on Everyday Spending Categories

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Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

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Rates & Fees

• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
• APR20.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$95
• Sign Up Bonus 75,000Citi ThankYou® Points More Info

  Limited Time Offer: Earn 75,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com. Dollar Equivalent: $1,350 (75,000 Citi ThankYou® Points * 0.018 base)

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, from our partner Citi, is worth considering if you’re looking for accelerated travel rewards but don’t want to pay a huge annual fee. It’s easy to quickly rack up lots of points on this card. While you can redeem ThankYou Points for gift cards, you’ll get more value when you redeem points for flights and hotels, and potentially even better value when you transfer points to travel partners.

A Strong Rewards Card for Everyday Purchases

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, from our partner, Citi, is a flexible travel rewards credit card that offers plenty of benefits to people who frequently travel and dine out. The card has an attractive rewards system that lets cardholders earn multiple points on travel (including gas stations), dining, and grocery store purchases. This makes it a great choice for people who spend a lot in these areas. The card also has a generous sign-up bonus, an annual hotel savings benefit, and no foreign transaction fees, which make it even more appealing to people who travel often. If you have a lifestyle that fits with these spending categories and you value flexible travel rewards, the Citi Premier card could be a great choice for you.

Card Highlights

• The card offers 3x points on travel, gas stations, restaurants and supermarkets, and 1x points on all other purchases.
• Earn 75,000 ThankYou Points after spending $4,000 with your new card during the first three months of opening an account.
• Cardholders can receive a hotel savings benefit on eligible hotel stays booked through the Citi Travel℠ Center.
• No foreign transaction fees, making it a good option for international travel.
• Annual fee is $95.
• The card earns 10x points on hotel and car rental bookings through the Citi Travel portal thorugh June 30, 2024.

Sign-Up Bonus

Citi Premier has an enticing sign-up bonus for anyone considering opening a new card:

• New cardholders can earn 75,000 ThankYou Points after they make $4,000 worth of purchases during the first three months of account opening.

The Citi Premier card makes every day more rewarding by giving you three months to reach the $4,000 spending requirement and earn those 75,000 ThankYou Points. Once you earn the sign-up bonus, your Citi ThankYou Rewards could go toward funding a trip to Hawaii with the family or shopping for some new clothes at any of Citi's retail partners.

You can transfer Citi ThankYou Points to any of the program's multiple transfer partners.

Earning Rewards

With the Citi Premier card, you can earn rewards faster for those simple, everyday purchases at the supermarket or ordering takeout at your favorite restaurant. If you’re a daily commuter, you’ll get rewarded for what you already do on a regular basis as well.

With the Citi Premier card, you’ll earn:

• 3x ThankYou Points for every dollar you spend at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, and hotels
• 1X per dollar spent on all other qualifying purchases

Suppose you have a gas guzzler and spend at least $60 on gas every time you fill the tank. Spending on gas will get you three times closer to your point goal. These points can eventually help you prepare for your next road trip with family and friends, or they can help you shop for wishlist items with the gift cards you can redeem them for.

Earn More Rewards on Travel

For a limited time, cardholders earn a remarkable 10x ThankYou Points per dollar spent on hotels, rental cars, or attractions booked using the Citi Travel portal through June 30, 2024.

For frequent travelers, this is an excellent way to rack up rewards quickly, as it offers significantly more points per dollar spent than the other rewards categories. Even compared to similar cards, this offer is incredibly strong. However, air travel is excluded from the promotion, which is a little disappointing.

Pooling ThankYou Points

If you also carry other Citi credit cards, such as the Citi® Double Cash Card or Citi Custom Cash® Card, you can transfer rewards to your Citi Premier account to pool ThankYou Points for future travel.

In addition to the Citi Premier card, several Citi products also earn ThankYou Points, including:

• Citi® Double Cash Card
• Citi Rewards+® Card
• Citi Custom Cash® Card
• Citi Prestige® Card

While these credit cards all earn Citi ThankYou Rewards, the rewards rates vary depending on the card and the purchase category.

Furthermore, you'll only earn points for eligible spending. You will not earn them when using the Citi Flex Plan to pay down your account balances over time or to tap your credit line for cash.

Redeeming Rewards

The more you spend, the more ThankYou Points you earn toward travel, gift cards or other purchases from qualifying online merchants directly through thankyou.com. Your ThankYou Points cover three main categories: purchases, statement credits and gas purchases. However, to get the most from your Citi Premier card, consider transferring points to Citi's multiple airline partners.

Transferring Points

In many cases, the transfer ratio between travel partners is a 1:1 ratio. Depending on the airline partner, your points may transfer instantly or take upwards of 14 days.

Citi ThankYou hotel transfer partners are:

• Choice Privileges
• Wyndham Rewards
• ALL-Accor Live Limitless

Citi ThankYou airline transfer partners include:

• AeroMexico ClubPremier
• Air France KLM Flying Blue
• Avianca LifeMiles
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
• Emirates Skywards
• Etihad Guest
• EVA Air Infinity MileageLands
• JetBlue
• Jet Airways Inter Miles
• Qantas Frequent Flyer
• Qatar Privilege Club
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
• Virgin Atlantic FlyingClub

Gift Cards and Shopping

ThankYou Points earned with your card can be redeemed in a variety of ways:

• Online purchases: Use your points on Amazon purchases or apply your points when you shop with Paypal.
• In-store purchases: Your ThankYou Points can be redeemed at CVS, Walmart and other qualifying merchants in stores when you pay with your card.
• Gift cards: The points you’ve collected from past purchases can go toward redeeming gift cards for popular brands like Maggiano’s and Sephora.
• Gas purchases: You can also redeem your ThankYou Points at participating gas stations, such as BP, Amco, and Shell.
• Statement credits: Use your points to cover past purchases when you opt for a statement credit.

To shop with your points online, select from Citi’s participating online-partners list and link your ThankYou account. Then, browse through the partner websites and start shopping. According to Citi, you can specify the number of ThankYou Points you want to use for your purchase upon checkout.

Card Benefits and Perks

In addition to 3x ThankYou Points per dollar spent on travel, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, the Citi Premier card also offers cardholders ongoing benefits.

Annual Hotel Savings Benefit

Citi is giving customers the chance to save on hotels with a new offer of $100 in annual hotel savings. Just book a hotel stay of $500 or more through thankyou.com or 1-800-THANKYOU to earn the discount. According to Citi, this deal will be available once per calendar year.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

Planning an international trip? You won’t have to deal with the hassle of any foreign transaction fees if you tend to splurge on gifts for loved ones back home during international travels.

Easy Point Transfer to Airline Partners

Fortunately, Citi also makes it easy to transfer the points to other airline loyalty programs, like JetBlue TrueBlue, Virgin Atlantic, Flying Club and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer with no fee attached.

Citi Entertainment

You can get special access to tickets, including presale tickets and unique experiences, for concerts, sporting events, dining out, and more through Citi Entertainment. Anytime you want to attend an event that is likely to sell out quickly, this can be a huge advantage.

Drawbacks

While the Citi Premier card offers a lot of value, it does have a few drawbacks that you should know about before making any commitments.

• Annual fee: The card comes with a $95 annual fee, which could offset some of the rewards you earn, particularly if you're not a heavy spender in its bonus categories.
• High interest rates: Like many rewards cards, the Citi Premier has a relatively high APR. If you tend to carry a balance from month to month, the interest charges could outweigh the benefits of the rewards you earn.
• Limited transfer partners: While Citi does have several airline and hotel transfer partners, they may not include all carriers you frequently fly with. This might restrict your redemption options.
• Rewards structure may be complex: The card’s rewards structure may be a bit complex for people who prefer a straightforward program or a flat-rate cash-back card. Keeping track of earning rates for categories can be a bit of a hassle.
• Lack of some travel perks: Compared to some other travel rewards cards, the Citi Premier card lacks certain premium travel perks, like airport lounge access or travel insurance, such as trip cancellation, car rental insurance, lost baggage protection and travel accident insurance.

When deciding if the Citi Premier card is right for you, think about how much you spend, how often you travel, and how much debt you have or plan to have.

Annual Fee

The Citi Premier card has a $95 annual fee, which you can easily offset if you frequently spend in the bonus categories and earn enough rewards to compensate for that fee.

Other Fees

In addition to its annual cost, the card comes with a variety of fees for certain types of account activities. These include:

• Late Payment Fee
• Returned Payment Fee
• Balance Transfer Fee
• Cash Advance Fee

It's important to remember that you can avoid many of these charges by making on-time payments, not carrying a balance, and avoiding cash advances.

Recommended Credit Score

Citi doesn't publicly disclose the exact credit score you need to get approved for the Citi Premier card. But it's advised to have a good to excellent credit score, which is typically a minimum FICO® Score between 670 and 700. 

Keep in mind that credit card issuers consider more than just your credit score when reviewing your application; they also look at factors like your income and your debt-to-income ratio. While a higher score doesn't guarantee approval, it certainly improves your chances.

How the Citi Premier Card Compares

If you're looking for a low-cost travel rewards credit card, there are alternatives to the Citi Premier that you may find more suitable.

Citi Premier Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

The Citi Premier card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® are competing travel rewards cards that both have a $95 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, making both a good choice for international travelers. But there are some differences between the two.

People who frequently spend money in a variety of categories, such as gas stations, airfare, hotels, restaurants and supermarkets, should consider getting the Citi Premier Card. It provides generous bonus points in these categories, making it a great option for people who prioritize these expenses. It offers a great deal of flexibility in how you can use earned rewards thanks to its extensive list of transfer partners and numerous flexible redemption options.

On the other hand, those who are just beginning their pursuit of travel rewards will do well with the Chase Sapphire Preferred®. It offers a sizable welcome bonus, generous dining and travel rewards, and points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel. There are also robust options when transferring points to airline and hotel partners. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is a good choice for travelers who can maximize rewards that are redeemed through Chase's travel portal.

Citi Premier Card vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Both the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Citi Premier card are great options for travel rewards, but they each have particular advantages and features. For instance, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a flat 2x miles per dollar on all purchases, which may be more appealing to those who prefer a straightforward rewards structure.

When it comes time to redeem those rewards, the value of ThankYou Points and Capital One Miles are fairly evenly matched. We've valued each card's rewards at 1.8 cents apiece.

But it's the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card's travel benefits that really stand out. Cardholders get two free passes to Capital One Lounges or Plaza Premium Lounges each year through the Partner Lounge Network. Every four years, you'll also get a credit of up to $100 for TSA PreCheck^® or Global Entry.

The Citi Premier card allows you to transfer points to various airline loyalty programs or redeem them for travel through the Citi ThankYou Travel Center. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card also lets you transfer miles to multiple travel partners but offers the unique ability to use miles to "erase" travel purchases from your statement.

Both cards are well-suited for international travelers, as neither charges foreign transaction fees.

Chase Sapphire Preferred®

• $95 Annual Fee
• $1,320 Editor's
  Bonus Estimate More Info

  Learn more about how we evaluate points and miles in our monthly evaluation guide.

• Sign Up Bonus 60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points More Info

  Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,320 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.022 base)

• 20.99% - 27.99% (Variable) APR

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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

• $95 Annual Fee
• $1,600 Editor's
  Bonus Estimate More Info

  Learn more about how we evaluate points and miles in our monthly evaluation guide.

• Sign Up Bonus 75,000Capital One Rewards Miles More Info

  Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel Dollar Equivalent: $1,350 (75,000 Capital One Rewards Miles * 0.018 base)

• 19.99% - 29.49% (Variable) APR

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Rates & Fees

Who Is the Citi Premier Card Good for?

For those who travel frequently, whether for business or pleasure, the Citi Premier card is a good option. If you frequently spend on gas, airfare, and hotels, you can benefit from the card's 3x points rewards on travel. The fact that this card offers 3x points at restaurants also makes it handy for people who frequently dine out. 

Similarly, the card is useful for people who do a lot of grocery shopping, as extra points are available on supermarket purchases. It will also appeal to those seeking a sizable sign-up bonus and an annual hotel credit. So if this sounds like you, the Citi Premier card may be just what you're looking for.

However, if you prefer cash-back rewards or simple, flat-rate rewards cards, the Citi Premier may not be a good fit. Furthermore, if you don't want to pay an annual fee or plan to carry a balance from month to month, there are better credit cards on the market.

Before selecting the best credit card for your needs, make sure to compare several options from different banks.

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Rates & Fees

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is the Citi Premier card hard to get?

  The Citi Premier card isn't too hard to get for most people. The biggest hurdle to getting a Citi Premier is meeting the credit score requirement. Many cardholders report needing good to excellent credit for approval, which usually means a minimum credit score between 670 and 700. However, credit scores are not the only factor that card issuers consider. They also look at your income, your debt-to-income ratio, and your overall financial health. As a result, even if you have a high credit score, approval is not guaranteed. Therefore, while the Citi Premier card isn't necessarily hard to get for those with strong credit profiles, it may be challenging for individuals with lower credit scores or other financial issues.

• Can I have two Citi Premier cards?

  Adding a family member as an authorized user is the best way to get two Citi Premier cards because it usually gives them access to their own card, so they don't have to use yours. Other than that, Citi does have rules restricting multiple credit card applications. If you've opened or closed a card within the last 24 months, Citi typically won't let you sign up for it again and receive the bonus. But rules can change, and the bank will likely decide each application on a case-by-case basis.

• Does the Citi Premier have a minimum credit limit?

  Citi does not publicly disclose a specific minimum credit limit for the Citi Premier card. However, it's common for premium rewards credit cards like the Citi Premier to start with a minimum credit limit of around $5,000. The credit limit you're ultimately given will depend on various factors, including your creditworthiness, income, and monthly debt.

• Is the Citi Premier card a Mastercard or Visa credit card?

  The Citi Premier is a Mastercard. According to its website, Mastercard is accepted at over 60 million retailers in more than 210 countries. While there are some differences between Mastercard and Visa, for the most part, both are electronic payment solutions that provide a similar selection of basic features.

• How do I use Citi ThankYou Points?

  You can use Citi ThankYou Points by redeeming them for gift cards, cash back or statement credits, travel, shopping with retail partners, and making donations to charitable organizations. You can also transfer your ThankYou Points to any of Citi's multiple travel partners and then redeem them for flights and hotel stays. ThankYou Points are generally considered flexible and allow cardholders a variety of redemption options.

• Does the Citi Premier card have foreign transaction fees?

  There are no foreign transaction fees with the Citi Premier card. This means that you will not be charged an additional currency conversion fee when you use your card to make purchases outside of the U.S. You will be able to use your card without worry at over 60 million authorized retailers in any of the 210 countries that accept the Mastercard payment platform.