Overview of the Best Citi Credit Cards
No matter if you are a student with very little credit history, a consumer with an established credit portfolio, or a small business owner, Citibank (a SmartAsset advertising partner) has a card for you. Plus, Citi credit cards come in many different forms. See More

Best Citi Credit Card for Travel

Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
Benefits
Are you are a frequent traveler, looking for a new credit card? Then look no further than the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard. This card will offer American Airlines flyers a lot of great benefits.
When you sign up, you will receive a 50,000 AAdvantage® mile bonus after spending $2,500 within the first 3 months. You will also receive 2x miles per dollar when you spend at gas stations, restaurants, and when you use your card for eligible American Airlines purchases. Every other purchase will receive 1x points.
In addition to being able to earn AAdvantage® miles on purchases, this card comes with several other useful benefits. You and up to four travel companions will receive your first checked bag for free. You will also receive priority boarding, which will let you board your flight before most other passengers. When you’re flying on an American Airlines flight, you will receive 25% off in-flight food or beverage purchases.
Things to Consider
Just like any other airline credit card, there are limited ways to redeem the miles you earn. You can do so on American Airlines flights or with any other OneWorld alliance member. This card also comes with an annual fee of $99, which is waived the first year.
Verdict
If you frequently fly on American Airlines, then this a great travel credit card for your wallet. It offers an above average signup bonus, and the ability to earn additional miles on American Airlines purchases.
- Earn 50,000 AAdvantage® miles after spending $2,500 within your first 3 months
- Earn 2 miles per dollar at restaurants, gas stations, and on eligible American Airlines flights
- Earn free priority boarding
- Free first checked bag for you and up to 4 companions on the same domestic AA travel reservation
- No foreign transaction fee
- $99 annual fee after the first year
- Limited reward earning potential outside of American Airlines
Benefits
Are you are a frequent traveler, looking for a new credit card? Then look no further than the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard. This card will offer American Airlines flyers a lot of great benefits.
When you sign up, you will receive a 50,000 AAdvantage® mile bonus after spending $2,500 within the first 3 months. You will also receive 2x miles per dollar when you spend at gas stations, restaurants, and when you use your card for eligible American Airlines purchases. Every other purchase will receive 1x points.
In addition to being able to earn AAdvantage® miles on purchases, this card comes with several other useful benefits. You and up to four travel companions will receive your first checked bag for free. You will also receive priority boarding, which will let you board your flight before most other passengers. When you’re flying on an American Airlines flight, you will receive 25% off in-flight food or beverage purchases.
Things to Consider
Just like any other airline credit card, there are limited ways to redeem the miles you earn. You can do so on American Airlines flights or with any other OneWorld alliance member. This card also comes with an annual fee of $99, which is waived the first year.
Verdict
If you frequently fly on American Airlines, then this a great travel credit card for your wallet. It offers an above average signup bonus, and the ability to earn additional miles on American Airlines purchases.
Best Citi Credit Card for Balance Transfers

Citi Diamond Preferred Card
Benefits
Are you looking for a balance transfer credit card with a long introductory 0% APR period? How about a card with no annual fee? Look no further than Citi Diamond Preferred Card. With this credit card you will receive 0% APR for the first 12 months on purchases and 0% for 21 months on balance transfers. Few credit cards can offer the same. Once the introductory period has ended the APR will change to 15.99% - 26.74% Variable.
Things to Consider
If you are planning to transfer an existing balance, then it’s important to know there will be a fee of either $5 or 5%, whichever is greater. Before you complete the transfer make sure you do the math to see if the savings on interest is greater than the cost.
Verdict
For anyone looking to transfer a high interest balance, Citi Diamond Preferred Card doesn’t disappoint. With an introductory APR on balance transfers for a year and a half, no other card can beat it.
- Introductory 0% for 12 months on purchases and 0% for 21 months on balance transfers, 15.99% - 26.74% Variable after that
- No annual fee
- There is no rewards program
- 3% foreign transaction fee
Benefits
Are you looking for a balance transfer credit card with a long introductory 0% APR period? How about a card with no annual fee? Look no further than Citi Diamond Preferred Card. With this credit card you will receive 0% APR for the first 12 months on purchases and 0% for 21 months on balance transfers. Few credit cards can offer the same. Once the introductory period has ended the APR will change to 15.99% - 26.74% Variable.
Things to Consider
If you are planning to transfer an existing balance, then it’s important to know there will be a fee of either $5 or 5%, whichever is greater. Before you complete the transfer make sure you do the math to see if the savings on interest is greater than the cost.
Verdict
For anyone looking to transfer a high interest balance, Citi Diamond Preferred Card doesn’t disappoint. With an introductory APR on balance transfers for a year and a half, no other card can beat it.
Best Citi Credit Card for Poor Credit

Citi Secured Mastercard
Benefits
If you are looking for a new credit card and you have poor credit or no credit at all, then you are likely going to be needing a secured credit card. There are a lot of secured cards to choose from, but one of the best is Citi Secured Mastercard.
Just like most other Secured cards, Citi Secured Mastercard requires approved cardholders to put down a deposit of $200-$2,500. This will act as your credit limit and protect Citi in case you default.
One of the nice things about this card is that it will report to all three credit bureaus. As you continue to make payments on time, your credit score will improve. This will allow you to eventually move into a better unsecured credit card.
Things to Consider
Citi Secured Mastercard comes with no annual fee. There is an issue for some people with poor credit. If you have a pending bankruptcy, too much outstanding debt, or lack of income; you may be declined. This card will also come with a high variable APR of 23.24%.
Verdict
If you have poor credit or no credit at all, then you should have confidence when applying for Citi Secured Mastercard. Not only will the card come with no annual fee, but it’s also issued by one of the largest card issuers.
- You can get approved with little to no credit
- Reports to all three credit bureaus
- No annual fee
- High 23.24% Variable APR
- No opportunities to earn rewards on purchases
Benefits
If you are looking for a new credit card and you have poor credit or no credit at all, then you are likely going to be needing a secured credit card. There are a lot of secured cards to choose from, but one of the best is Citi Secured Mastercard.
Just like most other Secured cards, Citi Secured Mastercard requires approved cardholders to put down a deposit of $200-$2,500. This will act as your credit limit and protect Citi in case you default.
One of the nice things about this card is that it will report to all three credit bureaus. As you continue to make payments on time, your credit score will improve. This will allow you to eventually move into a better unsecured credit card.
Things to Consider
Citi Secured Mastercard comes with no annual fee. There is an issue for some people with poor credit. If you have a pending bankruptcy, too much outstanding debt, or lack of income; you may be declined. This card will also come with a high variable APR of 23.24%.
Verdict
If you have poor credit or no credit at all, then you should have confidence when applying for Citi Secured Mastercard. Not only will the card come with no annual fee, but it’s also issued by one of the largest card issuers.
Best Citi Credit Card for Cash Back

Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi
Benefits
If you are a Costco member, then you have access to one of the best cash back credit cards. Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi offers massive cash back opportunities both inside and outside Costco stores.
When you use your card on eligible gas purchases, including gas at Costco, you’ll receive 4% back (up to $7,000 per year). Plus, any purchases at restaurants and eligible travel will earn 3% back. Then when you use the card to shop at Costco or Costco.com you will receive 2% cash back. Any other purchase will receive 1% back.
To make cash back redemption simple, you will receive a check every February with the entire amount earned the previous year. For some people this might not be ideal, but for anyone that does a lot of shopping at Costco, it isn’t an issue.
Things to Consider
There isn’t an annual fee for Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi, but it does require you to have at least a basic Costco membership. The cost for that is $60, but can easily be paid for if you can take advantage of all the cash back bonus categories.
Verdict
You won’t find another credit card that offers a better reward on gas purchases than this card. If you are not a Costco member, then this alone should make you consider signing up.
- Cash back rates as high as 4%, terms apply
- No annual fee with Costco membership
- Requires excellent credit
- Cash back can only be redeemed once a year
Benefits
If you are a Costco member, then you have access to one of the best cash back credit cards. Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi offers massive cash back opportunities both inside and outside Costco stores.
When you use your card on eligible gas purchases, including gas at Costco, you’ll receive 4% back (up to $7,000 per year). Plus, any purchases at restaurants and eligible travel will earn 3% back. Then when you use the card to shop at Costco or Costco.com you will receive 2% cash back. Any other purchase will receive 1% back.
To make cash back redemption simple, you will receive a check every February with the entire amount earned the previous year. For some people this might not be ideal, but for anyone that does a lot of shopping at Costco, it isn’t an issue.
Things to Consider
There isn’t an annual fee for Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi, but it does require you to have at least a basic Costco membership. The cost for that is $60, but can easily be paid for if you can take advantage of all the cash back bonus categories.
Verdict
You won’t find another credit card that offers a better reward on gas purchases than this card. If you are not a Costco member, then this alone should make you consider signing up.
Methodology SmartAsset has developed a quantitative and independent system for evaluating the relative value of a credit card offer versus other offers in the marketplace. Our system evaluates cards based exclusively on their features, such as their rewards earning rate (if applicable), fees, perks, and rewards program redemption options. The annual rewards values on this page are calculated using annual spending assumptions in various categories such as, but not limited to, gas, restaurants, airfare, and US supermarkets. These spending assumptions are built on research that SmartAsset has conducted on existing cash back credit cardholders. Our promise with our credit card recommendations is that we will always strive to have the most comprehensive, accurate, and objective method of evaluating credit card offers. Any recommendations are solely determined by the result of this research and model, and is never influenced by any fees, commissions, or other forms of compensation that SmartAsset may receive from credit card issuers for leads generated on our website.