The 5 Best Citi® Credit Cards: Which One Is Right For You? (2023)

Credit cards/Advice

By Sean Dennis on January 13, 2023
  • Best Citi Maps
  • daily shopping
  • reyes
  • Costco Members
  • balance transfers
  • Refund of money
  • how to choose

The 5 Best Citi® Credit Cards: Which One Is Right For You? (2)

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Citi® is a global bank focused on providing responsible financial products and services to consumers, businesses, governments and institutions. The company offers many interesting credit cards for almost everyone, several of them with generous perks and benefits. Whether you're looking for rewards, travel points, balance transfers, cash back or business rewards, Citi has a card option for you.

The 5 Best Citi Credit Cards

Read on to learn about the latest Citi credit card offers and decide which one is right for you.

(Video) Best Citi Credit Cards: Which One Is Right For You?

Credit cardABRfunctions
– 0% introductory APR for 15 months
– APR after the end of the introductory period
Better for:daily shopping
- No annual costs
– Points for each purchase
- 2x points when shopping at supermarkets and gas stations up to $6,000 in purchases per year
- ABRBetter for:travel rewards
- $99 annual fee after the first 12 months
- Provides airline mileage rewards, travel benefits and more
– Earn one AAdvantage mile for every dollar spent on a purchase
– 2x miles earned on eligible purchases from American Airlines, restaurants and gas stations
- ABRBetter for:Costco Members
- 4% cash back on qualifying gas and EV charging purchases, including Costco gas, for the first $7,000 per year, then 1%
– 3% back on eligible dining and travel purchases
– 2% on purchases at Costco or Costco.com
– 1% on other purchases
– 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases, beginning on account opening date
– 0% introductory APR for 21 months on balance transfers from the date of the first transfer
– APR after the end of the introductory period
Better for:balance transfers
- No annual costs
- Balance transfer fee of 5% or $5, whichever is greater
– Access to tickets, including presale and exclusive events
– 0% introductory APR for 18 months on balance transfer
– APR after the end of the introductory period
Better for:Refund of money
- No annual costs
– Unlimited 1% cash back and another 1% cash back when you pay your bill
- Rebate can be used as a statement credit, direct deposit, check, or when using points

Get credit card benefits

The best credit card for everyday purchases

OfCiti+ Rewardsthe credit card is an excellent option for daily purchases. The card rewards you with at least one point for every purchase, including dining and entertainment. Plus, you can earn double points while shopping at grocery and gas stations with the first $6,000 you spend in those categories each year.

The Rewards+ card hasno annual costsand offers an exclusive benefit where the points you earn are automatically rounded up to the nearest multiple of 10 on every purchase.

Citi is currently offering a bonus offer where you can earn 25,000 bonus points after spending just $1,500 in the first 3 months. Plus, you can enjoy a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, followed by an APR.

The best travel rewards credit card

The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard is a way for frequent travelers to get the most out of their trip. This card offersAirline Miles Rewards, travel benefits and much more.

You can earn one AAdvantage® mile for every dollar you spend on a purchase. Also earn double the eligible milesUS airlinesshopping and in restaurants and gas stations. Note that this card has an annual fee of $99, although it does not apply for the first 12 months.

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(Video) BEST Citi Credit Cards for Max Rewards | Better Than Chase & Amex?!

Citi is currently offering a bonus offer where you can earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in your first 3 months.

The best credit card for Costco members

OfCostco Anywhere Visa®citi rewards cardCostcoMembers with exclusive benefits. You can get 4% cash back on the first $7,000 per year of eligible gas and electric vehicle charging purchases and 1% thereafter. You can also get 3% back on dining and eligible travel purchases.Any purchase at Costcoand at Costco.com get 2% back. Any other purchase with the card earns 1% back.

This card has no annual fees as long as you have an active Costco membership. You can even use your credit card as your Costco membership ID.

If you are considering a Costco membership, you may want toLearn more about membership levels, costs, and benefits.. This card can be a great way to get the most out of your Costco membership.

The best credit card for balance transfers

OfCiti® Diamond Preferred® Credit Cardis the best option for balance transfers due to its low introductory APR.

Get credit card benefits

You can transfer balances from othercredit cards with high ratesand enjoy a 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases, beginning on the date of account opening, and a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 21 months, beginning on the day of the first transfer. An APR will follow after the introductory period.

(Video) BEST Citi Credit Cards 2023 - Which Citibank credit card is #1? Custom Cash? Premier? Double Cash?

Balance transfers incur a fee of $5 or 5% of the transfer, whichever is greater. this maphas no annual fee.

Best credit card for cash back

OfCiti® Double Moneythe credit card is the best option to recover money due to the 2% cash back on purchases. It offers unlimited 1% cash back on every purchase and another 1% cash back when you pay your credit card bill for those purchases. There are no limits or category restrictions with this card, nor is there an annual fee.

Citi currently offers a 0% introductory APR bonus offer for 18 months on balance transfers, after which there will be an APR. Unfortunately, balance transfers don't earnRefund of money.

With consumer debt rising to all-time highs, now might be the right time to considertransfer balancesof your high rate cards to this one.

how to choose

The right credit card for you ultimately depends on your consumer habits. Try to find a card that maximizes the benefits you receive in the categories of purchases where you spend the most money.

Get credit card benefits

If you're a frequent traveler, one of the many travel cards might be a great option. Bulk shoppers at Costco can get significant benefits from the Costco Anywhere Visa.

As you evaluate which card is right for you, consider and compare the different rates, APRs, and features ahead of time.make a final decision.

(Video) The ULTIMATE Citi Credit Card Tier List

Frequently asked questions

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Citi cards.

  • Which Citi card is easier to get?
    • The easiest Citi card to obtain is probably the Citi Secured Mastercard, which is designed for people trying to build their credit. You must not have filed for bankruptcy in the last two years to be eligible for this card.
  • What is the highest credit limit for Citi?
    • Citi does not publicly disclose the credit limits of its cards. Generally, the higher your credit score, the higher the credit limit you qualify for, but banks take other factors into account as well.

cynthia maascontributed to the reporting for this article.

Rates, offers and wishes are subject to change; Unless otherwise stated, rates are updated periodically. All other account information is correct as of January 13, 2023.

Note to editors: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings, or recommendations expressed in this article are solely those of the author and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities mentioned in this article.

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FAQs

Which Citi credit card is best for beginners? ›

The easiest Citi card to get is the Citi® Secured Mastercard®. You don't need any credit history, and the minimum deposit is $200. There's also a $0 annual fee, and the APR can be as high as 27.49% (V).

Which Citi card has the highest limit? ›

The highest credit limit for the Citi Diamond Preferred card can be over $10,000 for most creditworthy borrowers, according to multiple reports from cardholders on online forums. Citibank does not typically disclose the maximum spending limit for any of its unsecured credit cards.

What are the different types of Citi cards? ›

  • Citi Custom CashSM Card. EARN CASH BACK. 4.7. 191 Reviews. ...
  • Citi Double Cash® Credit Card. 4.4. 136 Reviews. Apply Now. ...
  • Citi Simplicity® Credit Card. 4.6. 7145 Reviews. Apply Now. ...
  • Citi Rewards+® Credit Card. LIMITED TIME OFFER. 4.7. 3953 Reviews. ...
  • Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card. 4.3. 4338 Reviews.

Is Citi or Capital One better? ›

Bottom Line: Capital One miles are slightly more valuable than Citi ThankYou Points, thanks to partnerships with British Airways Executive Club and Air Canada Aeroplan. However, Citi can be more useful for booking hotel stays, thanks to a 1:2 transfer partnership with Choice Privileges.

Is Citi a hard credit card to get? ›

It is fairly hard to get a Citibank credit card, as most Citibank cards require good credit or better for approval. Citibank does have options for people with limited credit, though, which means it's not as hard to get a Citibank credit card as it is to get a card from some other issuers.

Is Citi Diamond Preferred Card hard to get? ›

Yes, the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card is hard to get, as it requires at least good credit (a credit score of 700+) for approval. Citi will also consider your payment history, credit utilization, and annual income to help determine if you qualify.

What is the Citi Diamond card limit? ›

The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card credit limit starts at $500 and can range over $10,000 for the most creditworthy borrowers. According to our research, the average credit limit for borrowers with good to excellent credit (a credit score of 661 or higher) ranges from $5,209 to $9,543.

How often does Citi raise your credit limit? ›

Citi periodically grants automatic credit limit increases to eligible cardholders. Similarly, many card issuers tend to operate according to a status quo. In general, card issuers may increase a cardholder's credit limit every six to twelve months either automatically or by request.

Does Citi offer high credit limits? ›

Does Citi Offer High Credit Limits? Like many card issuers, Citi will typically offer a high credit limit to those with an excellent credit score and steady income.

What are the levels of Citibank? ›

Citibank has five tiers of banking packages: Citigold®, Citi Priority, The Citibank Account, Basic Banking and Access Account. Each package provides levels of banking perks and different interest rates and fees.

What type of card is Citi Diamond Preferred? ›

The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card is a no-annual-fee credit card that includes an exceptionally long zero-interest offer on balance transfers, making it one of the top balance transfer credit cards on the market.

Can I switch from one Citi card to another? ›

You have to redeem all balance in your existing card before request to change the card type. Rewards Points, Mileage or Cash Back earning rate/ redemption rate will be followed the new rate that belong to new card type.

Is Citi good or bad? ›

Citi is a good choice for individuals looking for full-service banking and who can meet monthly account requirements to waive monthly fees. It's also a smart choice if you live in an area with access to Citi's high-yield savings account or use ATMs often because of its large fee-free ATM network.

Should I have 3 credit cards? ›

It's generally recommended that you have two to three credit card accounts at a time, in addition to other types of credit. Remember that your total available credit and your debt to credit ratio can impact your credit scores. If you have more than three credit cards, it may be hard to keep track of monthly payments.

What FICO score does Citi use? ›

Your FICO® Score is calculated based on data from Equifax using the FICO® Bankcard Score 8 model and is the same score we use, among other information, to manage your account.

Does Citi have a 5 24 rule? ›

That means all of the major business cards from American Express, Barclays, Chase, and Citi do not add to the Chase 5/24 rule, simply because these cards aren't reported on your personal credit reports. Let's get to the list!

Why won t Citi approve me? ›

If you do not match the salary criteria stipulated by Citibank your application will be rejected. There is also the other scenario where though you have higher income your application might have been rejected. This is because you might have lower disposable income which might not satisfy the bank's criteria.

Does applying for Citi credit card hurt your credit? ›

Does Applying for Credit Cards Hurt Credit? While a credit card company does perform a "hard inquiry" on your credit file, a single inquiry will not do much damage to your score.

What is a 5 24 rule? ›

The Chase 5/24 rule is an unofficial policy that applies to Chase credit card applications. Simply put, if you've opened five or more new credit card accounts with any bank in the past 24 months, you will not likely be approved for a new Chase card.

What is the difference between Citibank credit card Platinum and Titanium? ›

Both titanium and platinum cards tend to have lower rates of interest. Titanium credit cards generally come with additional benefits that include no late payment fees and no transaction charges. While such offers are not usually found on platinum credit cards.

Is Diamond credit card better than Platinum? ›

If you're looking to pay off your debt over an extended period, then the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card will suit you. If you also want to pay off significant purchases over 18 months without interest, the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card is the best option.

What credit card has the highest credit limit? ›

On our list, the card with the highest reported limit is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which some say offers a $100,000 limit. We've also seen an advertised maximum credit limit of $100,000 on the First Tech Odyssey Rewards™ World Elite Mastercard®, a credit union rewards card.

How much credit limit I can get in Citi credit card? ›

The available credit limit is the available credit on your card for spending, after all your earlier spending at that particular time. So on a card that has a total credit limit of Rs 50,000, if you have spent Rs. 15,000 already, then your available credit limit is Rs. 35,000.

How does Citi determine credit limit? ›

How is my credit limit determined? The main factors Citi considers in determining your card's credit limit include your credit score, your income, your employment status and your rent/mortgage payments. In addition, most Citi cards also come with minimum and maximum possible credit limits.

How do I increase my Citi credit limit? ›

You can get a Citibank credit card credit limit increase by requesting it online or over the phone at (800)950-5114. Citibank might also offer you an increase when it reviews your account and considers you're eligible for it. You should only request an increase after 6 months of opening your account.

Does Citi do a hard pull? ›

Citi more than likely will make a hard inquiry upon your credit report when evaluating your application for a credit account. If you remain in good standing with Citi, it will likely help your chances of getting approved for an additional card, but this doesn't guarantee you won't see another hard inquiry.

What triggers a credit limit increase? ›

The second way you may get a credit limit increase is if a credit card company increases your limit without a request from you. This typically occurs after you've demonstrated responsible credit habits such as making on-time payments and paying more than the minimum payment required.

What is an excellent credit limit? ›

A good credit limit is above $30,000, as that is the average credit card limit, according to Experian. To get a credit limit this high, you typically need an excellent credit score, a high income and little to no existing debt.

What credit limit can I get with a 800 credit score? ›

Despite those high balances, it's equally important to note that those with high credit scores also have high credit card limits. For those with 800-plus scores, their average credit card limits are $69,346. That's up from the $58,514 average we found in May 2021.

How much credit limit is excellent? ›

As such, if you have one of these cards, you might consider a $5,000 credit limit to be bad and a limit of $10,000 or more to be good. Overall, any credit limit of five figures or more is broadly accepted as a high credit limit. The main exception to the usual credit limit rules are secured credit cards.

What is the preferred credit card? ›

A preferred credit card is a higher-tier card that's offered to consumers with strong credit reports. These cards typically offer more benefits than basic credit cards, though they sometimes carry higher annual fees.

What is the first 6 Citi card? ›

The first six digits of the card number, inclusive of the MII, are called the IIN (Issuer Identification Number) or BIN (Bank Identification Number). This sequence uniquely identifies the bank that issued the card. In this case, the IIN of 546616 indicates that this card was issued by CITI in United States.

Is Citi Premier card Master or Visa? ›

Is the Citi Premier® Card a Mastercard® or Visa® Credit Card? The Citi Premier® Card is a Mastercard®.

What is Citi Prestige card? ›

The Citi Prestige® Card* is Citi's premium ThankYou Point-earning credit card, targeted toward business and leisure travelers. The card's 5 points per dollar rate on spending at restaurants and on air travel categories is generous, and the $250 annual travel credit partially offsets the hefty annual fee.

Can I combine my two Citi credit cards? ›

Simply go to My Citi Accounts in the My Account section and click on "Combine Selected Accounts" in order to combine your Citi Accounts.

Can you get multiple Citi credit cards? ›

Citi doesn't have a strict limit on how many credit cards you can have with the bank. The major restriction with Citi is regarding how many cards you can apply for in a given timeframe: You can only apply for one Citi card every eight days. You can apply for no more than two Citi cards every 65 days.

What is the starting credit limit for Citi Simplicity? ›

According to Citi, the minimum credit limit for the Citi Simplicity® Card is $500. However, credit limits as high as $10,000 have been self-reported by cardholders.

What is the starting limit for Citi Diamond Preferred Card? ›

The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card credit limit starts at $500 and can range over $10,000 for the most creditworthy borrowers. According to our research, the average credit limit for borrowers with good to excellent credit (a credit score of 661 or higher) ranges from $5,209 to $9,543.

What is the minimum income for Citi card? ›

The minimum salary requirement to get a Citibank credit card is Rs. 20,000 per month.

Can I open Citibank with low credit score? ›

Citi® Secured Mastercard® is an option for customers with little or no credit history and can help you build your credit when used responsibly. Unlike a debit card, Citi® Secured Mastercard® is a real credit card that helps build your credit history with monthly reporting to all 3 major credit bureaus.

What are the disadvantages of Citi Simplicity card? ›

Disadvantages of the Citi Simplicity

The biggest drawback of the Citi Simplicity is that it doesn't earn any rewards or offer a sign-up bonus. So while the card is great for paying down any debt you might have, there isn't much value for using it on your everyday spending in the long run.

Is it hard to get a Citi Simplicity card? ›

Your Citi Simplicity Card approval odds are good if you have a credit score of 700+. That means you need good credit or better to have a shot at getting approved. Your approval odds for the Citi Simplicity Card will also be influenced by your annual income and existing debts.

Does Citi verify income? ›

Yes, Citibank will verify your income when you apply for a personal loan. Citibank requires a minimum annual income of $10,500 to ensure that you can make your monthly payments, and if you don't meet the minimum income requirement, you likely won't get approved.

What FICO score does Citibank use? ›

Your FICO® Score is calculated based on data from Equifax using the FICO® Bankcard Score 8 model and is the same score we use, among other information, to manage your account.

Does Citibank check income? ›

Citibank will ask you for your Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number, address, birth date, and income. It will ask for your consent to perform a hard credit check that can affect your credit score.

Does Citi do a soft credit check? ›

Even though Citibank is checking your credit profile during the preapproval process, there's no hit to your credit score since this is a soft inquiry only. However, if you accept the preapproval, a hard inquiry will be done.

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