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Best Citi Credit Cards

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by Sean Bryant | Updated Feb. 28, 2023

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. You will find cash back cards, travel reward cards, cards that offer an introductory 0% APR, and even cards that have are meant to solely improve your credit score. In addition to all of this, Citibank credit cards are also available on the Visa, MasterCard, and American Express networks. We have gone through and analyzed all the available Citibank cards, and found these to be the best cards currently available. See More



Best Citi Credit Card for Travel

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  • If you spend $2,500 on purchases in the first 3 months of card membership you will earn 50,000 bonus miles
  • Earn 2 miles per dollar that you spend at restaurants, gas stations, and eligible purchases with American Airlines
  • For every 1 eligible mile earned from purchase, earn 1 loyalty point
  • If you spend $20,000 or more in purchases in the first year and renew your card, you will earn a $125 American Airlines Discount
  • No foreign transaction fees on purchases overseas
  • Check the first bag free for you and up to 4 companions traveling on the same reservation on domestic American Airlines itineraries
  • As a cardholder, enjoy preferred boarding on American Airlines flights
  • Standard APR when taking part in the Citi Flex Plan is a variable 16.74% - 25.74% depending on creditworthiness. Flex Plan offers are made at Citibank’s discretion.

Annual Fee

$99, waived for the first 12 months

Purchase Intro APR

N/A

Balance Transfer Intro APR

N/A

Regular APR

16.74% - 25.74% Variable

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

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  • 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from the first date of transfer. If you plan on completing a balance transfer, you must do it in the first 4 months of card membership. After your intro period has ended, the APR will be a variable 15.99%-26.74% depending on your credit.
  • 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening. After your intro period has ended, the APR will be a variable 15.99%-26.74% depending on your credit.
  • If you choose to transfer a balance, a fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, will apply
  • Receive free access to your FICO® Score, so you can monitor your credit score
  • Gain access to purchase tickets to thousands of events such as concerts, sporting events, dining, and more through Citi Entertainment.
  • Receive dependable shopping protection benefits with the Diamond Preferred Card, including $0 Liability on Unauthorized Purchases and Citi Identity Theft Solutions.

Annual Fee

$0

Purchase Intro APR

0% for 12 Months

Balance Transfer Intro APR

0% for 21 Months (for balance transfers completed within first 4 months)

Regular APR

15.99% - 26.74% Variable

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

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  • When used responsibly, the Citi Secured Mastercard can help you build a credit history - all with no annual fee
  • Unlike debit cards, your monthly credit activity with the Citi Secured Card is reported to the three major credit bureaus, which can help build credit history with responsible card use. Plus, get access to your FICO score for free
  • The Citi Secured Card is a Mastercard with worldwide acceptance
  • A security deposit is required for this account, a minimum of $200. Once you are approved, your credit limit will be equal to the amount you put down as a deposit
  • Set up account alerts and set up automatic bill pay to make sure you stay on top of your account
  • Flexibility to choose your own due date at the beginning, middle, or end of the month to work best with your bill payment schedule
  • Get access to your account from anywhere 24/7 by phone, online, or with the mobile app
  • Standard variable APR when taking part in the Citi Flex Plan (made available at Citi's discretion) is a variable 23.24% depending on creditworthiness

Annual Fee

$0

Purchase Intro APR

N/A

Balance Transfer Intro APR

N/A

Regular APR

23.24% Variable

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

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  • Cash Back Rewards Exclusively for Costco Members
  • Earn 4% cash back on eligible gas purchases worldwide, including at Costco, for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter
  • Earn 3% cash back on eligible restaurant and travel purchases
  • Earn 2% cash back on all other purchases you make from Costco and on Costco.com; 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • Your credit card doubles as your Costco member ID, and there is no annual fee with your paid Costco membership. If you travel abroad, enjoy no foreign transaction fees on purchases
  • Once a year you will receive a credit card reward certificate which can be used for cash or merchandise at Costco warehouses in the U.S., including Puerto Rico

Annual Fee

$0*

Purchase Intro APR

N/A

Balance Transfer Intro APR

N/A

Regular APR

16.74% Variable

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.

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