Best Citi credit cards of September 2024
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- Citi Custom Cash® Card: Best for flexibility
- Citi Double Cash® Card: Best for everyday spending
- Citi Strata Premier℠ Card: Best for travel
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Intro offer
$200
Rewards rate
1% - 5%
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Why you'll like this: You'll automatically earn a top rate in one of ten eligible categories every billing cycle, making this card hassle-free.
Intro offer
$200 cash back
Rewards rate
1% - 5%
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Why you'll like this: You’ll simplify your rewards strategy by earning the same flat rate on all purchases.
Intro offer
70,000 bonus points
Rewards rate
1X - 10X
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
21.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Why you'll like this: It earns a remarkable rewards rate for travel purchases made through the issuer’s portal, which could quickly accrue points to fund your next trip.
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Compare Bankrate’s top Citi credit cards
Card Name | Best For | Annual Fee | Rewards Highlights | Bankrate Review Score |
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Flexibility |
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5% cash back in top eligible spending category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent and then 1% |
4.4 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Citi's secure site
|
|
Everyday spending |
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Up to 2% cash back (1% at time of purchase, then 1% at time of payment) on all purchases |
4.1 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Citi's secure site
|
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Travel |
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10X points on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com
3X points on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas and EV charging stations.
|
4.5 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Citi's secure site
|
What to know about Citi credit cards
Citi is one of the largest financial institutions in the world with more than 200 million customers and operations in more than 100 countries. The company offers a variety of financial products, including credit cards with various features, rewards programs and benefits.
You can find highly rated cash back cards, rewards cards, travel cards and co-branded cards with no annual fees and intro APR offers from Citi, making it a strong option for many cardholders. However, choosing the right card for you will depend on your spending habits, debt, future expenses and credit score, so be sure to browse with these factors in mind.
Here’s how a Bankrate expert chose her Citi credit card
Despite her initial reluctance, Bankrate editor Courtney Mihocik has found the Citi Custom Card to be invaluable, allowing her to navigate her credit card journey with ease and flexibility. Its customizable features and rewards structure have enhanced her financial experience.
“I initially considered Citi as an issuer for my first general travel card, but its travel portal and benefits didn't stack up to competing issuers' travel cards. But I think Citi really shines with its cash back credit cards. I got the Citi Custom Cash card in 2022 and have used it solely for my grocery purchases for almost two years, racking up a solid amount of 'basic' Citi ThankYou points. I'm going to keep stockpiling the points until I have a hefty sum to cover a large grocery haul.
One of my favorite aspects of being a Citi cardholder is managing my account on the mobile app. With it, I can track my cash back rewards, easily pay off my balances and even request credit limit increases. And when I found a fraudulent charge on my Citi Custom Cash card in 2022, Citi was quick to cancel the card, refund the amount and send a replacement.”
— Courtney Mihocik, Bankrate editor
Citi customer experience
Citi ranks sixth in customer satisfaction among major credit card issuers, according to J.D. Power’s 2023 customer satisfaction study. It ranks below the average issuer score of 609 at 606, giving it a less-than-deal reputation for customer service.
This statistic is consistent with conversations among current cardholders in public forums, such as Reddit. Citi is one of the more critiqued issuers, often receiving negative feedback* in comments for its poor customer service.
However, everyone’s experience with customer service will vary. Cardholders can reach Citi’s customer service representatives any time of day by dialing the number at the back of their card or using the Citi mobile app, where they can chat or call to speak with representatives.
Pros and cons of Citi credit cards
Pros
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Variety: Citi offers cash back cards, travel cards, student cards, balance transfer cards and more.
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Rewards categories: You can earn rewards on gas, travel, dining, supermarkets and more at both tiered and flat rates depending on the card.
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Sign-up bonuses: Several Citi cards have decent sign-up bonuses, adding short-term value to the card, and there are plenty of options with no annual fee.
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Pairing cards: You can pair cards to maximize value.
Cons
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Credit score requirements: Most options require good credit or better (FICO score above 670).
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Penalty APR: A late payment on many Citi cards can lead to a stiff penalty that lasts indefinitely.
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Limited options for beginners: If you are focused on building credit, you'll have few options with Citi.
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Cardholder protections: Travel and shopping protections are limited compared to competitors.
Our data: Bankrate’s most popular Citi Card
By analyzing our proprietary data, we were able to determine Bankrate's most popular Citi card in 2023.
At least 8 percent of Bankrate readers who looked at credit cards on our Citi page clicked on the Citi Diamond Preferred credit card. Plus, this card had one of the highest approval rates among Bankrate users applying for Citi credit cards as well.
To increase the chances of approval for the Citi Diamond Preferred card, Bankrate users should focus on maintaining a healthy credit history and score. This includes making timely payments, keeping credit utilization low and monitoring credit reports for errors. Users can also consider pre-qualifying tools, such as Bankrate's CardMatch™, to gauge their likelihood of approval for the card without impacting their credit score.
For people with lower approval odds, the Citi® Secured Mastercard® can help you build your credit score.
Overall, researching and comparing different Citi cards based on individual needs and financial habits can help you find the best card that suits your preferences and increases your chances of approval.
Still deciding if a Citi credit card is right for you? Check out our Credit Card Spender Type Tool where you can get personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.
What people say about Citi credit cards
With new credit cards launching and existing cards updating their sign-up bonuses and fees, we wanted to get a sense of what people are saying about Citi credit cards. Most users on the popular subreddit r/CreditCards saw them positively, especially if you prefer cash back to travel rewards:
“They’re pretty good for cash back! If you wanted to have just a Double Cash and a Custom Cash as your setup, that’s already solid in my opinion.”
— Reddit User
Citi cards are also known for their redemption flexibility. One user on myFICO raised a great point in a conversation about Citi cards, commenting, “the main draw is that I can cash out all my cashback to any bank account I choose.” This is a valuable feature in today’s credit card market because it’s important to be able to access your rewards how you please. With most Citi cards you can opt for simplicity and receive cash back hassle-free.
* The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.
Expert advice for Citi Cards
Check out tips from our team of financial experts on how to maximize rewards and features on your Citi card.
Frequently asked questions about Citi credit cards
*The information about the Chase Freedom Flex®, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi and the Citi® Secured Mastercard® has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
How we assess the best Citi credit cards
When evaluating the best credit cards from Citi, we take into account several factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether they offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of cardholders, from earning rewards to scoring a large sign-up bonus to saving on interest.
Our rating database covers over 250 of the most popular credit cards, allowing us to compare the quality of various Citi cards to each other and to cards in the same category from other issuers. We scored each card based on the factors most relevant to its primary category, including its rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, intro APR period, ongoing APR, perks and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup.
Here’s a look at how our card ratings are distributed as of August 2024, as well as some of the key factors that we considered in selecting this month’s best Citi cards.
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5 stars 2%
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4 - 4.9 stars 35%
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3 - 3.9 stars 39%
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2 - 2.9 stars 22%
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1 - 1.9 stars 2%