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Citibank is a global leader in the credit card industry. Among the Citi credit cards we recommend are the Citi Double Cash® Card as a $0-annual-fee cashback card, the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card as a versatile travel card with various benefits, and the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card as a balance transfer card with long intro APR period.
Latest Citi personal card offers
Earn Cash Back Twice
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Current Offer
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel
Earn Valuable Travel Points Even Faster
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Current Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Annual Fee
$95
Rewards Rate
10X Points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com; 3X Points on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations; and 1X Points on all other purchases
Extended 0% Intro APR for Balance Transfers
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Current Offer
Long introductory APR period for balance transfers
Annual Fee
$0
Free checked bags & more
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Current Offer
Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Annual Fee
$99 (waived first year)
Rewards Rate
2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases; and 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
Admirals Club Membership and More
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Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Current Offer
Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening
Annual Fee
$595
Rewards Rate
10X miles on hotels booked through aadvantagehotels.com and eligible car rentals booked through aa.com/cars, 4X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases (after spending $150,000 per calendar year this increases to 5X for the remainder of the calendar year), and 1X miles for every $1 spent on other purchases
Credit Lines up to $2,500
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Citi® Secured Mastercard®
Current Offer
Helps those with little to no credit history build their credit
Annual Fee
$0
Earn American Airlines AAdvantage® miles
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Current Offer
Earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services; 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases; and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
Earn up to 5% cash back
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Current Offer
Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
Earn 5% cash back rewards on gas at Costco and earn 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging purchases for the first $7,000 combined spend per year, and then 1% thereafter; 3% on restaurants and eligible travel purchases; 2% on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com; and 1% on all other purchases
Latest Citi business card offers
Double miles on American Airlines purchases
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Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®
Current Offer
Earn 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 5 months of account opening
Annual Fee
$99 (waived first year)
Rewards Rate
Earn 2X miles per dollar on all eligible American Airlines purchases and on purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and at gas stations; plus 1X miles on other purchases
Great Rewards for Costco Members
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Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi
Current Offer
Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
5% cash back rewards on gas at Costco, 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases (on the first $7,000 per year of these two categories combined, then 1%); 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases; 2% cash back on all purchases from Costco and Costco.com; and 1% cash back on all other purchases
What is Citibank?
Citibank, originally founded as the City Bank of New York in 1812, has grown into one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving about 200 million customers in over 160 countries. Its first international expansion was in 1914 with a branch in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Today, Citibank has branches and ATMs spread across the world. The bank began offering credit cards in the 1960s with its Everything Card, and by 1994, it had become the world's largest card issuer with over 50 million active cards. It processes credit card payments using both Visa and Mastercard, making Citi cards widely used internationally.
Citi also offers a range of other services, including banking, wealth management, investment opportunities, loans, and more.
What are the different types of Citi credit cards?
There are currently more than a dozen Citi credit cards to choose from, split into:
- Citi cash back cards
- Citi travel cards
- No-annual-fee Citi cards
- Citi intro APR cards
- Citi co-branded airline cards
- Citi co-branded airline cards
Citi personal credit cards
Citi offers a wide variety of personal credit cards that can suit your needs. From travel cards to cash back cards, there's a card for a variety of uses.
Citi cash back cards
The best cash back credit cards are best known for offering valuable rewards whenever you use them to make purchases. Redemption options for your rewards vary by card but typically include statement credits or cash deposited directly into an eligible account.
Cash back is earned in the form of Citi ThankYou® Points. These points are flexible and can be redeemed for gift cards, travel redemptions, statement credits, charitable donations, and more.
Citi offers these cash back cards:
| Credit card | Rewards rate | Annual fee |
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5.0
|
2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel | $0 |
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4.7
|
5% cash back in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent, then 1% cash back), plus unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases; plus, as a special travel offer, earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026 | $0 |
Citi travel cards
If you enjoy traveling, applying for one of the best travel credit cards could be a good choice. Citi travel cards offer travel perks and benefits to help enhance your jet-setting experiences. No foreign transaction fees can help stretch your dollar as you're traveling abroad, and earning rewards on travel purchases gives you added value, and perks like car rental insurance could save you money.
Even better, Citi travel cards earn Citi ThankYou Points. Aside from basic redemption options, you can also transfer these points to Citi transfer partners, such as Aeromexico, Emirates, JetBlue, and Virgin Atlantic.
Citi offers these travel cards:
| Credit card | Rewards rate | Annual fee |
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4.9
|
10X Points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com; 3X Points on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations; and 1X Points on all other purchases | $95 |
No-annual-fee Citi cards
If you want simple rewards earning or straightforward benefits, you might consider a Citi no-annual-fee credit card. These cards are easy to understand because they typically come with straightforward terms. There's no annual fee to worry about, which means there are fewer benefits to think about, though that doesn't mean you won't see some valuable benefits with certain cards.
Some of Citi's no-annual-fee cards offer high cashback rewards rates, which can be beneficial if you're looking for an everyday card without an annual cost. Citi also offers some cards with low introductory APR rates that can be ideal for balance transfers.
Citi offers these no-annual-fee cards:
| Credit card | Rewards rate | Balance transfer intro APR |
|
5.0
|
2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel | 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) |
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3.5
|
2X points at supermarkets and gas stations (on the first $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1X points thereafter), and 1X points on all other purchases; Plus, as a special offer, earn 5X points on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025 | 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months, then 17.74% - 27.74% (Variable); balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening |
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4.5
|
None | 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months from date of account opening, then 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable); balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening |
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4.4
|
None | 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months from date of account opening, then 17.24% - 27.99% (Variable); balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening |
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4.4
|
None | None |
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American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
4.0
|
2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services; 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases; and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases | 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of account opening, then 20.24% - 29.24% (Variable); balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening |
Check out our list of the best no-annual-fee credit cards for more options.
Citi intro APR cards
An intro APR credit card provides an introductory APR on purchases and/or balance transfers during an introductory period that usually lasts between 12 to 18 months. This can be beneficial if you need to manage your debt.
Citi credit cards with 0% intro APR offers will typically also be among the best balance transfer cards. These cards allow you to avoid accruing interest on a transferred balance for a certain time period, sometimes longer than you would normally see on credit cards from other companies. While you'll typically pay a balance transfer fee when you transfer a balance, the interest savings is likely to offset that cost over time.
Citi offers these 0% intro APR cards:
| Credit card | Balance transfer intro APR | Annual fee |
|
5.0
|
0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) | $0 |
|
3.5
|
0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months, then 17.74% - 27.74% (Variable); balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening | $0 |
|
4.5
|
0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months from date of account opening, then 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable); balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening | $0 |
|
4.4
|
0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months from date of account opening, then 17.24% - 27.99% (Variable); balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening | $0 |
|
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
4.0
| 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of account opening, then 20.24% - 29.24% (Variable); balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening | $0 |
Citi co-branded airline cards
Citi co-branded airline cards are credit cards that Citi has issued in partnership with specific airlines. Instead of earning Citi ThankYou Points with these cards, you would earn miles or points from the partner airline's loyalty program.
Citi has a partnership with American Airlines. This means your purchases with Citi and American Airlines co-branded cards would earn American Airlines miles in the AAdvantage frequent flyer program. You may also get specific airline benefits, such as free checked bags, preferred boarding, or savings on inflight food and beverage purchases.
Citi offers these co-branded airline cards:
| Credit card | Rewards rate | Annual fee |
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Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
4.3
|
2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases; and 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases | $99 (waived first year) |
|
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
4.0
|
2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services; 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases; and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases | $0 |
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Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
4.8
|
10X miles on hotels booked through aadvantagehotels.com and eligible car rentals booked through aa.com/cars, 4X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases (after spending $150,000 per calendar year this increases to 5X for the remainder of the calendar year), and 1X miles for every $1 spent on other purchases | $595 |
Other co-branded Citi cards
Citi also partners with retailers and companies that don't necessarily fall into the airline category. However, the rewards from some of these cards may be redeemed toward airfare or other forms of travel. Other cards may offer redeemable points or cashback rewards.
Citi offers these other co-branded cards:
| Credit card | Rewards rate | Annual fee |
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Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
4.6
|
Earn 5% cash back rewards on gas at Costco and earn 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging purchases for the first $7,000 combined spend per year, and then 1% thereafter; 3% on restaurants and eligible travel purchases; 2% on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com; and 1% on all other purchases | $0 |
Citi business credit cards
In addition to its selection of personal credit cards, Citi also offers some of the best business credit cards. These cards were designed to help business owners easily manage their finances by keeping business expenses separate from personal expenses. Business credit cards can also offer valuable rewards and benefits.
Citi offers these business credit cards:
| Credit card | Rewards rate | Annual fee |
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Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®
4.6
|
Earn 2X miles per dollar on all eligible American Airlines purchases and on purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and at gas stations; plus 1X miles on other purchases | $99 (waived first year) |
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Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi
4.2
|
5% cash back rewards on gas at Costco, 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases (on the first $7,000 per year of these two categories combined, then 1%); 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases; 2% cash back on all purchases from Costco and Costco.com; and 1% cash back on all other purchases | $0 |
How does Citi compare to other credit card companies?
Citibank has hundreds of years of history in the United States and services millions of customer accounts around the world. Citi credit cards are widely used on an international level, and the company has partnerships with huge corporations such as Costco and American Airlines. But even with the clear levels of success Citi has achieved, it's still compared to other big credit card companies.
So how does Citi match up against Chase, American Express, and Capital One?
Citi vs. Chase
Both Citi and Chase share banking roots, and both offer banking services to this day. They're also both credit card issuers, but not payments networks like Visa or Mastercard. So they issue credit cards but don't process credit card payments.
Overall, both Citi and Chase are very large financial institutions. Citi had about 220,000 employees in 2023, and Chase had more than 250,000 employees. In 2022, Citi's revenue totaled about $75.3 billion, and Chase's totaled about $177.1 billion. Because both companies typically use Visa or Mastercard for their payments networks, their credit cards are generally accepted all over the world.
Citi vs. American Express
Citi and American Express are both credit card companies, but they have a lot of differences. Both Citi and American Express are card issuers, which means they issue credit cards for consumer use. However, American Express is also a payments network, but Citi is not. This means that American Express can process credit card payments on its network, just like Visa and Mastercard.
Citi offers many different types of services, in addition to issuing credit cards. With Citi, you can open an FDIC-insured banking IRA, apply to take out a mortgage loan, and choose from a wide range of investment options. American Express offers only a few services in addition to its credit card products. You can open a savings account or open a certificate of deposit.
Currently, Citi (220,000 employees) is a much larger company than American Express (77,300 employees), and its cards are accepted more widely in countries outside the U.S.
Citi vs. Capital One
Citi and Capital One are more similar than some other credit card companies because they offer similar products. Both companies are credit card issuers and they both offer savings accounts, checking accounts, and loans. Like Citi, Capital One is not a payments network, but partners with networks like Visa and Mastercard. This means cards from both companies are generally accepted everywhere in the world.
Capital One is a much smaller company than Citi, with about 50,800 employees in 2023 compared to Citi's 220,000 employees. With revenue of about $38.4 billion in 2022, Capital One has some catching up to do to reach Citi's $75.3 billion.
Which Citi credit card should you choose?
The right Citi credit card for you depends on your situation and what you need the card for. There are many different types of Citi cards available, which makes it easy to select one that could best your lifestyle and needs.
If you go through the categories listed above, you can get an idea of the type of card you're looking for. For no-nonsense rewards on everyday purchases, the Citi Double Cash provides excellent value with a $0 annual fee. You can earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
For travel rewards and benefits, you might be more interested in the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card. You can use this card to earn rewards from travel purchases, and you can transfer your rewards to over a dozen transfer partners.
If you need help with how to pay off debt, a balance transfer credit card may be useful. Many Citi cards offer balance transfers with 0% introductory APR for a certain period of time. Consider using these intro offers to avoid accruing interest for a set time period while you pay down your debt.
Co-branded Citi cards are great options if you're loyal to a specific airline, company, or brand. You can take advantage of Citi benefits while earning rewards for a favorite loyalty program.
If you have a credit card need, Citi has a card for you. You may want to travel more or earn extra rewards on your daily purchases. Whatever your need is, browse through Citi's extensive list of cards and you'll likely find the right one for your wallet.
Citi credit cards FAQ
What is the best Citibank credit card?
The best Citibank credit card is the one that holds the most value for you. Because everyone has a unique situation, the best card for you might not be the best card for someone else. If you enjoy traveling, you might consider a travel credit card for its travel rewards and benefits. For a card you can use every day, a cash back card that earns rewards on every purchase might make more sense.
What credit score do you need for a Citi credit card?
To qualify for a Citi credit card, you will likely need an excellent credit score. To obtain an excellent rating, you'll need a FICO score of 800 or above. Because this isn't a published rule, the final decision on who may qualify is up to Citi's discretion.
Which Citi credit cards have no annual fee?
These Citi credit cards have no annual fee:
- Citi Double Cash® Card
- Citi Rewards+® Card
- Citi Simplicity® Card
- Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
- Citi® Secured Mastercard®
- American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
Which Citibank credit cards earn rewards?
These Citibank credit cards earn rewards in the form of points, miles, or cash back:
- Citi Double Cash® Card
- Citi Rewards+® Card
- Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
- Citi Prestige Card (no longer accepting applications)
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
- American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
- Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Can you prequalify for a Citi card?
Yes, you can prequalify for a Citi card. Citi will typically offer prequalification tools on its website so you can check to see whether you're prequalified for any Citi cards. You simply have to type in a bit of information and Citi will let you know what offers are available. This tool may not always be available.
Other options are receiving a letter in the mail from Citi with a prequalified offer or going into a Citi branch and asking if there are any offers available. Keep in mind that prequalification doesn't mean you'll automatically qualify for a Citi credit card. Ultimately, it's up to Citi to decide whether you're approved for a Citi credit card.
How can I log into my Citibank credit card?
Use the Citi website or mobile app to log into your Citibank account and check the status of any Citi credit cards you have. If you don't yet have an online account with Citibank, you can also use the Citi website or mobile app to register for online access.
Which Citi credit card is the easiest to get?
The easiest Citi credit card to get would be one of its starter credit cards meant for building your credit. Currently, the Citi® Secured Mastercard® can help you establish or improve your credit. As such, you shouldn't need a higher credit score to qualify for this card and may need little or no credit history. That said, Citi will make the final decision on approvals, depending on your creditworthiness and other factors.
What credit score does Citi require?
Citi typically requires an excellent credit score to qualify for most Citi credit cards. Excellent FICO credit scores are 800 and above. To build your credit, you might consider a Citi card such as the Citi Secured Mastercard. This card may require little or no credit history. At the end of the day, though, Citi has the final say on who it approves for a credit card, regardless of the suggested credit score.
Citi credit cards: bottom line
As you can see, you've got several options if you're interested in applying for a new Citi card. The best credit card for you will depend on your situation, so be sure to carefully consider your financial goals and spending habits when choosing a credit card.
If you already know what type of card you're looking for, use this guide to narrow down the choices and find one that would suit your needs. Take your time as your search through the many different Citi credit cards and find the one that would benefit you most.
Earn Cash Back Twice
Current Offer
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel
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