Citibank is a part of Citigroup that was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York. The bank has got over 2500 branches in almost 19 countries across the globe. Citibank offers a range of financial products and services to both corporate and personal banking customers.
The credit cards offered by Citibank are some of their more well known financial products. Citibank offers credit cards to a wide range of clients. For instance, Citibank’s credit cards are aimed at individuals looking to build up their credit from scratch or to rebuild their credit score. There are also credit cards that are offered exclusively to clients who are looking to make the most out of the cashback rewards. Then some cards are most suited for frequent travelers.
The cards offered by Citibank are so numerous that for an average person, it becomes difficult to decide which card to go for. Usually, there are multiple cards within each category, and this can make the process of choosing the best card out of the available lot quite difficult.
In this article, therefore, we will look at some of the best Citibank credit cards that are on offer.
When it comes to credit cards, there are a few things that you need to know before deciding which card to take. Banks like Citigroup and American Express have many credit cards to offer, and the range that they have almost always confuses the average client.
Therefore before going out to get a card made for yourself. Ask yourself, why do you need the credit card? If you only need the card to pay for groceries and gas, you should go for a card with high rewards and cashback offers on groceries and other daily purchases. These cards will be best suited for your everyday needs.
If, however, you are a frequent flier, then a card with cashback on groceries and gas will not be of much use for you. Travelers should go for cards with rewards in the form of air miles. These cards can be in the premium category, but the rewards they have to offer can be quite good, especially if you have to fly frequently.
Similarly, there are dedicated cards for credit building and balance transfers. Whenever you have to take out a new credit card, make sure that you check the features available with that card. Go for the card that suits your individual needs.
Citibank offers a wide range of cards that cater to a very broad spectrum of the market. For easy comparison, Citibank cards can be divided into the following categories.
● Rewards: Ideal for people looking for high rewards in the form of redeemable points.
● Cashback: Ideal for people looking for discounts on groceries and fuel.
● Credit builder: Ideal for those starting with their credit history or those looking to rebuild their credit score.
● Balance transfer: Ideal for people who already have a card with high-interest debt.
● Travel: Ideal for frequent travelers.
● Business Card: Ideal for entrepreneurs and frequent fliers.
The rewards cards carry thank you points for shopping and purchases from designated locations.
| Pros | Cons |
| ● No annual fee
● 10% reward on the first 100,000 points ● Introductory APR offer ● Automatic point earning boost |
● Low point earning rate ● Complicated terms and conditions |
The card rewards 2 points on every dollar spent for the first $6000 spent on groceries and gas purchases. There is also this perk that the card rounds up the points to the nearest 10 points. This, in addition to the no annual fee, makes it a very rewarding card to have.
Citibank is also offering 15000 bonus points for $1000 worth of purchases in the first three months of activating the card. The APR is variable, but there is no APR for the first 15 months. This is a very competitive offer, giving the other cards such as those offered by American Express a run for their money. After the first 15 months, the APR will be variable between 13.49% and 23.49%, depending on the cardholder’s creditworthiness.
| Pros | Cons |
| ● No annual fee
● High rewards earning rate ● 0% introductory APR |
● Purchases must be paid off in full before cash back can be earned.
● Not a lot of additional perks. |
This card does not have any categories for purchases such as groceries and fuel, which gives the cardholders the freedom to spend their money as they want. No annual fee and zero introductory APR make this a very competitive credit card offered by Citibank.
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Good for build up credit history
● Good for improving bad credit ● No annual fee ● Free FICO score tracking |
● No cash back rewards
● Needs a bank account |
As it is aimed at individuals on the lower end of the credit score spectrum, even individuals with poor credit scores are eligible for this card. There is no annual fee on this card, which makes it affordable and convenient. The APR is 22.49%, which is variable and therefore depends on the creditworthiness of the individual. Most of the cardholders with poor credit scores may end up paying a high APR at first, but over time, as their credit score improves, then they can get lower rates as well.
As an individual’s creditworthiness improves, the card can also be upgraded to an unsecured credit card with the full features carried by an unsecured credit card. Since this is a secured card, it requires a safety deposit of about $200, but clients who want a higher credit limit on the card can pay a security deposit up to $2500. This amount is refundable. In addition to this, the cardholders get free access to their FICO scores to track their credit scores and take preventive and remedial measures to improve the score.
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Best 0% APR transfer deal in the market
● 0% APR on purchases ● No annual fee |
● Balance transfer charges reduces savings on interest. |
The APR is variable, which means that the APR applicable to the cardholders will depend on the creditworthiness. This card is particularly attractive for individuals who have debt on other cards and are paying high interest. The debt can be transferred to this card with a 0% introductory APR for the first 18 months. By doing so, cardholders can save up on interest costs. However, the slight downside is that each transfer will be charged at 3% of the transfer amount or $5, whichever is higher.
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Suitable for travellers
● Very high reward rate ● High bonus rate ● Multiple ways to redeem points |
● No introductory APR promotion
● Annual fee ● Limited airline partners |
The Citi Premier Card is an ideal card for frequent travelers. The card comes with an annual fee and a very generous signup bonus in the form of 60,000 points. The cardholders can earn 3 points on each dollar spent, for spending $4000 in the first three months of activating the card. After the first three months are over, the cardholders will continue to earn 3 points for each dollar spent on purchases made on gas, restaurants, and supermarkets. For purchases relating to other categories, the cardholders will earn 1 point for every dollar spent. What this means is that the cardholders can earn points on every purchase made through this card or, as Citibank says, “You can earn a point here, there and everywhere with this card.“
The rewards can be redeemed in multiple ways. The first 60,000 points that come as a thank you bonus can, for instance, be redeemed in the form of a $600 gift card from thankyou.com. Points can also be transferred into loyalty programs of a few selected airlines.
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Suitable for business persons
● Very high reward rate ● High bonus rate ● Multiple ways to red ● eem points |
● No introductory APR promotion
● Annual fee ● Limited airline partners |
The card also carries 65000 American airlines bonus miles if the cardholder spends $4000 in the first four months of the card activation. Air miles are offered as rewards on this card, which can benefit business owners who travel frequently. Although the annual fee is almost a hundred dollars, it is waived off for the first year of usage and only applicable in the subsequent years.
The card can also be used in stores that use a retail POS system.
Credit Season is not a lender nor does it guarantee the granting and approval of personal credit applications. We only try to summarize basic information on the websites of the entities that offer financing services through online loans or express loans and thus, generally provide our visitors with relevant information that allows them to choose the best option. We have been designed to connect lenders to borrowers, while saving time and efforts. It is important to mention that this service is free and does not charge any type of fees for the service provided. We are not part of the lending or funding process. It is the responsibility of the user to accept and agree with the lender before getting funded. This means that the user will have to make sure the entity is trustworthy and clear on its financing proposal.
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