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Save Article Icon A bookmarkAffiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate credit cards to write unbiased product reviews.
The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, Citi® Double Cash Card, Citi Custom Cash℠ Card, Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, Citi Rewards+® Card, Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card, Citi Simplicity® Card, Citi® Secured Mastercard®, Citi Prestige® Card, Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi, My Best Buy® Visa® Card. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.
Citi offers a variety of credit cards for different consumers. Most Citi products earn rewards through the valuable Citi ThankYou Rewards program, although the issuer also offers American Airlines and Costco co-branded credit cards.
Our guide to the best Citi credit cards can help you find the right fit for your spending habits and financial goals.
Business Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
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Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection.Perks Earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com. Earn 3X points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations and EV charging stations. Earn 1X point per $1 on all other purchases.
Annual Fee Intro APR Regular APR 21.24% - 29.24% variable Intro Offer 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening Earn 75,000 bonus points Recommended Credit Good to ExcellentInsider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
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Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection.Perks For a limited time, earn 5% cash back on hotel and car rentals booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24. Also earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
Annual Fee Intro APR 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months Regular APR 19.24% - 29.24% Variable Intro Offer$200 cash back, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening
Earn $200 cash back Recommended CreditRecommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
Excellent, Good, FairThe Citi® Double Cash Card doesn't come with a lot of bells and whistles. But earning 2% cash back (1 point per dollar at the time of purchase and 1 point per dollar when you pay your bill) without an annual fee is an excellent deal. It's also one of our picks for the best balance transfer credit cards.
Best for automatically maximizing rewards Citi Custom Cash℠ Card Insider’s RatingBusiness Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
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Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection.Perks 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. Earn 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.
Annual Fee Intro APR 0% intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months Regular APR 19.24% - 29.24% Variable Intro Offer$200 cash back, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening
Earn $200 cash back (fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points) Recommended Credit Excellent, Good, FairThe Citi Custom Cash℠ Card offers a solid welcome bonus and 5% cash back on up to $500 in purchases in your top spending category every billing cycle. There's no annual fee and you won't need to keep track of rotating bonus categories, but keep in mind it only earns 1% back outside of your highest spend category each month.
Best for airline miles Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Insider’s RatingBusiness Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
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Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection.Perks Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 1x mile for every $1 spent on other purchases.
Annual Fee $99, waived for first 12 months Intro APR Regular APR 21.24% - 29.99% variable Intro Offer50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $2,500 in purchases within the first three months of account opening
Earn 50,000 bonus miles Recommended Credit Good to ExcellentThe Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is one of the best credit cards for people who like to fly American Airlines and earn miles in the AAdvantage loyalty program but don't want a card with a high annual fee.
Best for Costco shoppers Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi Insider’s RatingOur editor's ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.
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Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection.Perks Earn 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year (then 1% thereafter). Earn 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases. Earn 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Annual Fee Intro APR Regular APR 20.49% Variable Intro Offer Recommended CreditIf you're a Costco member and you spend a lot of money on gas or EV charging, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi card can a great option. Just remember that your rewards will only become available to you once per year, and that you'll have to visit a brick-and-mortar Costco store to get your cash back or to cash in your rewards for merchandise.
Best for small purchases Citi Rewards+® Card Insider’s Rating A five pointed starA five pointed star
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Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection.Perks Earn 5X ThankYou® points on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal (offer ends December 31, 2025). Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou® Points on All Other Purchases.
Annual Fee Intro APR0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of first transfer and on purchases from date of account opening
Regular APR 18.74% - 28.74% Variable Intro Offer 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 in the first three months of account opening Earn 20,000 bonus points Recommended Credit Good to ExcellentThe Citi Rewards+® Card has a unique earning structure and is worth considering if you're looking for a flexible rewards card with no annual fee. However, if you prefer cash back, there are better options that have the potential to earn higher rewards.
Best for intro 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card Insider’s RatingInsider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
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Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection.Perks 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months (transfers must be completed within four months of account opening) and on purchases for 12 months, then 18.24% - 28.99% Variable APR.
Annual Fee Intro APR0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months (transfers must be completed within four months of account opening) and on purchases for 12 months
Regular APR 18.24% - 28.99% Variable Intro Offer Recommended Credit Good to ExcellentThe Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card's biggest selling point is the intro APR on balance transfers and purchases — among the longest of any card with an intro APR offer. However, it doesn't earn rewards for spending, nor does it usually come with a welcome bonus offer.
Best for introductory 0% APR and no late fees Citi Simplicity® Card Insider’s RatingInsider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
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Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection.Perks 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months (transfers must be completed within four months of account opening) and on purchases for 12 months, then 19.24% - 29.99% Variable APR.
Annual Fee Intro APR0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months (transfers must be completed within four months of account opening) and on purchases for 12 months
Regular APR 19.24% - 29.99% Variable Intro Offer Recommended Credit Good to ExcellentThe Citi Simplicity® Card can be helpful to those carrying big balances on high-interest credit cards. The card can give you a chance to get ahead of crippling monthly interest fees by giving you a long intro APR on balance transfers and purchases.
Best for consumers with low credit scores Citi® Secured Mastercard® Insider’s Rating A five pointed starA five pointed star
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Annual Fee Intro APR Regular APR27.74% Variable APR
Intro Offer Recommended CreditNo Credit to Limited History
The best Citi credit cards offer purchase protections and benefits, as well as bonus rewards on certain spending categories. Business Insider's credit card experts chose the products below as our top picks for 2024 because they offer consumers perks on American Airlines, Costco, everyday expenses, and more.
The Citi Strata Premier℠ is our top Citi credit card for 2024 because it earns generous rewards on several common categories with a low annual fee of just $95 a year, as well as a welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
Citi updated this card in May 2024, renaming it as the Citi Strata Premier℠, while the previous card was simply called the previous Citi Premier. The "new" card added EV charging as a new bonus category for elevated rewards, and cardholders can now earn 10 Citi ThankYou points per dollar spent on most purchases within the Citi travel portal. The updated Citi Strata Premier℠ also includes several generous travel insurance benefits that the previous Citi Premier did not.
Outside the bonus earning rate, you also earn 3x points at restaurants, gas stations (and now EV charging), supermarkets, air travel, and hotels — which makes the card worth considering for everyday expenses, as well as for travel down the road.
The Citi Strata Premier℠ doesn't have any foreign transaction fees, and you can use your rewards for gift cards, statement credits, travel through the Citi portal, and transfers to Citi's airline and hotel partners. You can also shop with points on Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, and at retailers like CVS and Shell gas stations. Most redemption options are for 1 cent per point, but you may get more value when you transfer your rewards to loyalty program partners.
Citi ThankYou points are worth 1.6 cents each, on average, according to Business Insider's points and miles valuations.
The Citi Double Cash Card is the best Citi credit card for cash back. It allows cardholders to effectively earn 2 points per dollar (worth 2% in cash back) on everything they spend — 1 point per dollar when they make a purchase and another 1 point per dollar when they pay it off. That's why it ranks highly in our guide to the best 2% cash back credit cards.
This card doesn't charge an annual fee, and it's currently offering a welcome bonus of $200 cash back, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.
You can redeem Citi ThankYou points as travel, gift cards, and transfers to select partners. But to access transfers to Citi's full list of airline and hotel partners, you'll also need a Citi Strata Premier℠ Card or Citi Prestige® Card
(no longer open to applications).
This card also has a generous 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, followed by a 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR. That makes the Citi Double Cash Card a good option for debt consolidation, although you only earn rewards on purchases, and not on balances you transfer from other credit cards.
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is the best Citi credit card for automatically maximizing rewards earning. It's one of the best 5% cash back credit cards if your spending habits tend to change from month to month. Cardholders earn 5% cash back on up to $500 in purchases in the eligible category they spend the most in each billing cycle (then 1%), and 1% on all other purchases.
The qualifying categories include everyday expenses that should appeal to most folks: restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment.
There's currently a welcome bonus offer of $200 cash back, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. Plus, new cardholders also have the opportunity to make use of a 0% intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months (then a 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR).
Although it's marketed as a cash-back card, the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card actually earns rewards in the form of Citi ThankYou points, which are worth 1 cent apiece for cash back, travel booked through Citi, gift cards, merchandise, and more. And again, if you have the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card or Citi Prestige® Card (no longer available to new applicants), you can pool your rewards and transfer points to airline partners.
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is one-third of the Citi Trifecta — a trio of Citi cards that can supercharge your ThankYou Rewards balance by earning anywhere from 2x to 5x rewards on every single purchase.
The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard is the best Citi credit card for earning airline miles. The card is a winner for frequent flyers who like to fly with American Airlines and partners like British Airways, Alaska Airlines, and Cathay Pacific. Not only can you earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $2,500 in purchases within the first three months of account opening, but you'll earn 2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, restaurant and gas station spending, and 1 mile per dollar for all other purchases you make.
Cardholder benefits include preferred boarding, 25% off inflight food and beverage purchases when you pay with your credit card, and a free checked bag for you and up to four companions on domestic itineraries when you fly American. This card comes with an annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months.
Qualifying for elite status with American Airlines AAdvantage is now based on earning Loyalty Points. Along with earning Loyalty Points from flying and partner spending, you can earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar spent on co-branded American Airlines credit cards, including the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard.
American Airlines miles are worth 1.4 cents each, on average, based on Business Insider's valuations. That means you can get around $1,050 in flights from the welcome bonus offer on the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard.
The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi could is the best Citi card choice if you're a Costco member and you like earning cash back good for more Costco purchases. This card earns 4% back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases on up to $7,000 in spending each year (then 1%), but you'll also earn 3% back on dining and eligible travel. In addition to 1% back on regular purchases, you'll also earn 2% back when you shop in the store at Costco or make purchases on Costco.com.
This card lets you cash in your rewards after your February statement credit each year, and there's no annual fee with a paid Costco membership. You also won't pay any foreign transaction fees.
The no-annual-fee Citi Rewards+® Card is a top Citibank credit card choice if you want to earn flexible Citi ThankYou points and like its unique earning structure. Cardholders earn 5 total ThankYou® Points per dollar spent on hotel and car rentals booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through December 31, 2025, 2 points per dollar at supermarkets and gas stations (on up to $6,000 per year in spending, then 1x), and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
The twist? Citi will round up the number of points you earn for each purchase to the nearest 10 points. That means whether you buy a $1 donut or a $6 latte, you'll earn 10 points; or if you buy $21 in groceries, you'll earn 42 points (2x points at supermarkets) which gets rounded up to 50 points. Because of this feature, it's a great card to use if you make a lot of small purchases.
New cardholders can currently earn an elevated 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 in the first three months of account opening. That's 5,000 points higher than the previous offer. In addition, there's a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of first transfer and on purchases from date of account opening, followed by a 18.74% - 28.74% Variable APR, which can save you money on interest if you have big expenses coming up you want to pay off over a longer period of time.
If you're looking for the best Citi credit card with an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers consider the Diamond Preferred. The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card offers a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months (transfers must be completed within four months of account opening) and on purchases for 12 months (then a 18.24% - 28.99% Variable) — one of the longest of any card on the market right now.
There's no annual fee, but there is a balance transfer fee. While the card doesn't earn rewards, it offers an excellent opportunity to pay off debt without any interest. During this time, every cent you pay on your bill will go directly toward the principal of your balance, which will expedite the process of paying down your debt.
A 0% APR offer is a good way to save on interest, but be sure you have the means and a plan to pay off your balance before the introductory period expires. Here's our guide to the best balance transfer credit cards.
The top Citi card for avoiding late fees is the Citi Simplicity. If you want to consolidate debt and don't want to have to worry about extra fees or penalty rates, the Citi Simplicity® Card is a great choice. It offers a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months (transfers must be completed within four months of account opening) and on purchases for 12 months (then a 19.24% - 29.99% Variable APR). There's an introductory balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater, for balance transfers completed within four months of account opening.
You won't get charged late fees or pay a penalty rate, and there's no annual fee to worry about either. However, you won't earn rewards for your spending — so if debt consolidation isn't your priority, there are better rewards credit cards to consider instead.
If you're new to credit or working on improving your credit, the Citi® Secured Mastercard® is the best Citi card to help you build your credit history with responsible use. The card doesn't offer a welcome bonus or earn rewards, but it could be a great stepping stone for those who want to qualify for better rewards cards down the road.
To be approved for the Citi® Secured Mastercard®, Citi will review your income and debt, but it's possible to qualify with limited history or no credit at all. Citi reports your card activity to all three credit bureaus, so your credit score could improve by using the card responsibly and paying your bills on time.
Because it's a secured card, you'll have to provide an initial security deposit of $200 to $2,500, and the amount of your deposit becomes your credit limit. If you close the card in the future (or after a period showing responsible use), you'll be able to get your deposit back.
Opening one of the best secured credit cards is a good way to build credit if you're starting from scratch or recovering from past credit errors. Be sure to also check out our guide to the best credit cards for bad credit, because there are other options with better features, including some that earn rewards for spending.
What is the top-tier Citi credit card? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Citi's top-tier card is the consumer-targeted Citi Strata Premier Card. With an annual fee of under $100, a lucrative welcome bonus, solid earnings potential, newly added travel insurance benefits and valuable transfer partners, it's one of the best travel rewards credit cards on the market.
Which Citi card is easiest to get? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
The easiest Citi credit card to qualify for is the Citi® Secured Mastercard® because you can be considered for the card with no credit or bad credit. On the downside, because it's a secured credit card, you'll need to put down a cash deposit that will become your credit limit.
Are Citi credit cards hard to get? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
In most cases, Citi credit cards are no harder to get than a credit card issued by a different bank. If you've got at least a good credit score, you should be eligible to apply for most Citi credit cards. That doesn't mean you're guaranteed approval, since Citi will look at factors including the number of other cards you have with them, your overall credit history, and other criteria.
What credit score do I need to apply for Citi credit cards? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Most Citi credit cards (except the Citi® Secured Mastercard®) require a credit score in the good to excellent range, which means a FICO score of at least 670.
Who is eligible for Citi credit cards? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
You are eligible for Citi credit cards as long as you abide by its few quirky application rules. Depending on the card, you might not be eligible if you've earned a welcome bonus, or closed a particular card or one within the same "rewards family" within the past 24 to 48 months. The 24-month timeframe applies to Citi ThankYou Rewards cards like the Citi Strata Premier℠, whereas the 48-month language applies to American Airlines credit cards like the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard.
Do Citi credit cards have car rental insurance or travel protection? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Citi credit cards do not have car rental insurance or travel protection. Citi removed these coverages from most of its credit cards in 2019, including coverage like trip cancellation and interruption insurance, primary rental car insurance, and trip delay insurance. If you're booking travel and want extra protection, it's best to use a card from a different bank, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
Are Citi credit cards Visa or Mastercard? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Almost all major Citibank credit cards, including the Citi Strata Premier℠ and Citi® Double Cash Card, are Mastercards, with a few exceptions. For example, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi
, and My Best Buy® Visa® Card
Business Insider evaluated Citi credit cards currently available to new applicants and considered several factors:
Holly Johnson is a credit card expert, award-winning writer, and mother of two who is obsessed with frugality, budgeting, and travel. In addition to serving as contributing editor for The Simple Dollar and writing for publications such as Bankrate, U.S. News and World Report Travel, and Travel Pulse, Johnson owns Club Thrifty and is the co-author of "Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You’ll Love."
Read more Read lessAngela Fung is the Compliance Manager for Business Insider's Personal Finance division, overseeing a team that ensures content accuracy and editorial independence so readers are always getting up-to-date and objective financial advice. The compliance team's mission is to maintain reader trust by confirming stories are fact-checked and current so that readers can make informed financial decisions. The team also works to minimize risk for partners by maintaining clear, precise language that is compliant with regulatory and partner marketing guidelines that align with the editorial team.
Read more Read less Top Offers From Our PartnersWestern Alliance Bank High-Yield Savings Premier Take advantage of today's rates and earn 5.31% APY on your entire account balance
5.31% annual percentage yield (APY) is accurate as of 7/11/2024 and subject to change at the Bank’s discretion. Minimum deposit required to open an account is $500 and a minimum balance of $0.01 is required to earn the advertised APY.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards.
Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.
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