If you’re thinking of applying for a Citi credit card, you may have heard about ThankYou Points, a robust program that allows you to earn points and redeem them for gift cards, statement credits, travel arrangements, and more. Here’s what you need to know about Citi ThankYou Points to maximize their value.
- What are Citi ThankYou Points?
- How do you earn ThankYou Points?
- Cards that allow you to earn ThankYou Points
- Earn more ThankYou Points by using Citi bank accounts
- How do you redeem ThankYou Points?
- How do ThankYou Points compare to Chase Ultimate Rewards?
- How do ThankYou Points compare to Membership Rewards?
- FAQs
- Who the Citi ThankYou Rewards program is a good fit for
What are Citi ThankYou Points?
Citi ThankYou Points is a rewards program offered by Citi that allows you to earn points through your banking and credit card accounts. While Citi has many different credit cards available, including co-branded options with airlines, only a select number of cards qualify for the ThankYou program.
As you earn ThankYou Points, you can redeem them for gift cards, travel arrangements, cash rewards, or even to make charitable contributions.
How do you earn ThankYou Points?
With the ThankYou Rewards program, you’ll earn points on every purchase you make with your eligible Citi credit card. Depending on the card, you could earn up to 5X points per $1 spent (or more) in select spending categories, such as travel. You could also earn rewards by completing the requirements of a welcome offer.
Cards that allow you to earn ThankYou Points
There are five different cards that are eligible for the ThankYou Rewards program. Having multiple Citi credit cards can be a good idea as you can pool your points together when you redeem them, helping you maximize their value.
|
Citi Custom Cash® Card |
Citi Strata Premier ℠ Card | Citi Double Cash® Card | Citi Rewards+® Card |
---|---|---|---|---|
Annual fee | $0 | $95 | $0 | $0 |
Sign-up bonus | Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 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 | Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com | Earn $200 in 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 | Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com. Plus, as a special offer, earn a total of 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025 |
Reward rate | 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 | 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 | 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25, that can be converted to 2X ThankYou points | 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 |
Redemption rate | One cent per point for gift cards, travel arrangements, and statement credits | One cent per point for gift cards, travel arrangements, and statement credits | One cent per point for gift cards, travel arrangements, and statement credits | One cent per point for gift cards, travel arrangements, and statement credits |
Special benefits | 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months, then 18.74% - 28.74% (Variable) 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months, then 18.74% - 28.74% (Variable) |
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Citi Concierge |
0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 18.74% - 28.74% (Variable) | Get 10% points back for the first 100,000 ThankYou Points you redeem per year
The card rounds up automatically to the nearest 10 points on every purchase |
Points transferable to travel partners | No | Yes | Yes, to JetBlue TrueBlue, Choice Privileges, and Wyndham Rewards | Yes, to JetBlue TrueBlue, Choice Privileges, and Wyndham Rewards |
Citi Custom Cash® Card
The Citi Custom Cash® Card has a $0 annual fee and offers 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.
You can also earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 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.
The card also provides intro APR offers:
On purchases: 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months, then 18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
On balance transfers: 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months, then 18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
The Citi Custom Cash doesn't offer the benefit of being able to transfer your rewards to travel partners.
Citi Strata Premier ℠ Card
With the Citi Strata Premier ℠ Card, you can earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
While this card has a $95 annual fee, it offers generous rewards. You’ll earn 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.
There’s no promotional APR offer, so your rate will be a 20.74% - 28.74% (Variable), depending on your creditworthiness.
Like the Citi Prestige, the Citi Strata Premier allows you to transfer your points to select loyalty programs, like JetBlue TrueBlue or Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, at a 1:1 rate.
As an added perk, you’ll get access to the Citi Concierge. You’ll be able to connect with trained experts 24/7 to help you with travel arrangements or to make dining reservations.
Citi Double Cash® Card
Looking to take your everyday earnings to a new level? The Citi Double Cash® Card is one of the best flat-rate, cashback cards out there and might be exactly what you're looking for. It’s best for those who pay their balances in full every month, and 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, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25. There are no categories to keep track of or enroll in and no caps on the total amount of cash back you can earn. Did I mention it also has a $0 annual fee?
Also, new Double Cash cardmembers can enjoy a lengthy 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After the promotional period, the APR will be 18.74% - 28.74% (variable) based on your creditworthiness.
Earnings with the Citi Double Cash Card can be redeemed for checks, statement credits, or direct deposit. Also, Citi Double Cash cardholders can convert their cash rewards into Citi ThankYou points via a linked ThankYou account, which means an additional way to pool rewards.
Converted ThankYou Points can be redeemed for things like gift cards, shopping, and travel booking, but to transfer points to a travel partner, you’ll still need either the Citi Strata Premier or Citi Prestige cards. JetBlue’s TrueBlue program is the only travel partner converted ThankYou Points can be transferred to without needing one of those higher-tier cards.
Citi Rewards+® Card
If you’re looking for one of the best rewards credit cards with no annual fee, the Citi Rewards+® Card is an excellent choice. As a Rewards+ cardmember, you’ll earn 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.
As an added perk, Citi automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase you make. For example, if you spent $2 on a cup of coffee, you’d get 10 points.
If you’re looking to complete a balance transfer, the card may be a good choice for you. You’ll get an intro APR of 0% for 15 months from the date of your first transfer. Once the promotional period ends, your APR will be 18.24% - 28.24% (variable), depending on your creditworthiness.
Citi Prestige® Card
EDITOR'S NOTE
The Citi Prestige Card is not currently available from the issuer. If you are interested in earning travel rewards, check out our picks for the best travel credit cards.
Even though the Citi Prestige is no longer available, there may be people that still have this card and could use it to earn Citi ThankYou Points. Although the Citi Prestige® Card has a high annual fee of $495, it comes with significant rewards and benefits.
The card also offers some premium benefits, including:
- Complimentary fourth night hotel stay: After booking at least four consecutive nights through ThankYou.com, you’ll get your fourth night free up to two times a year.
- VIP lounge access: Get access to airport lounges through Priority Pass Select.
- $250 travel credit: Use your card to pay for eligible travel purchases and you’ll automatically receive a $250 statement credit.
The card doesn’t have a promotional APR (annual percentage rate) for new purchases or balance transfers. Your APR will be determined depending on your creditworthiness.
The Citi Prestige is one of the few cards in the ThankYou Rewards program that allows you to transfer your points to travel loyalty programs, such as Avianca LifeMiles, JetBlue TrueBlue, and Qatar Privilege Club. In most cases, your points will transfer at a 1:1 rate.
Earn more ThankYou Points by using Citi bank accounts
If you currently have a checking account through Citi, you could be eligible to earn additional ThankYou Points. To start earning points, you have to enroll in the program and complete one qualifying direct deposit and one qualifying bill payment each statement period.
The following bank accounts are eligible for ThankYou Points:
- Citigold
- Citi Priority
- Citi Private Bank Account
- The Citibank Account
You can earn even more points if you have a home equity loan, savings or money market account, personal loan, or mortgage linked to your Citi checking account.
How do you redeem ThankYou Points?
You can quickly and easily redeem your points through the ThankYou.com portal. Points are usually worth one cent each, except in some unique circumstances. There are several different ways to redeem your points:
Citi ThankYou Travel Center
You can use the Citi ThankYou Travel Center to book your travel arrangements with your points. To do so, just visit ThankYou.com. You can redeem your points with no blackout dates or restrictions, and you can book airline tickets, hotel accommodations, car rentals, cruises, vacation packages, and destination activities.
Gift cards
You can also redeem your points for gift cards through ThankYou.com. You can opt to have an electronic gift card sent to your email address right away or a physical gift card mailed to you within one to three weeks.
Gift cards are available from a wide range of retailers and restaurants, including Macy’s, AMC Theatres, Target, and Panera Bread.
Most gift cards are available once you reach at least 2,500 points and are available in $25, $50, or $100 increments.
Cash back
You can redeem your points for cash once you’ve accumulated 5,000 points. Cash rewards are issued via check and are available in increments of $50 and $100.
Statement credit
If you’d rather redeem your points for a statement credit than for cash rewards, there’s an extra step involved. You can visit ThankYou.com and select “Cash rewards and charity” under the “More ways to redeem” menu. Or you can call the service center at 1-800-THANKYOU and request a statement credit.
Once you redeem your points, you’ll see the credit reflected on your statement within 30 to 60 days.
Mortgage payment
You can use your points to make a payment toward your mortgage once you’ve accumulated at least 2,500 points. To request this option, you must call 1-800-THANKYOU. The representative will mail a check to your mortgage lender.
Student loan payment
If you have student loans, you can use your points to make a payment toward your debt. The minimum points needed for this option is 2,500. To redeem your points for a student loan payment, call 1-800-THANKYOU.
Charitable contribution
You can also use your ThankYou Points to donate to American Red Cross Disaster Relief, American Red Cross International Services, or Smile Train. You need at least 2,500 points to donate and can do so in $25, $50, or $100 increments.
Shop with Points
You can use your points to pay for purchases from Amazon, Expedia, PayPal, or Live Nation. Your points can be used to pay for a portion of your order or the full amount.
Utility bills
If you have a Citi checking account, you can use your ThankYou Points to pay some of your utility bills. You can also use a combination of cash and points when making online payments, helping you save money.
Point transfers
The Citi ThankYou Points program has several travel partners. Most have a 1:1 transfer rate, but not all — so make sure you double-check the rate before you transfer your points.
For airline loyalty programs, it can take up to 14 days for your ThankYou Points to post to your loyalty program account.
Occasionally, there are transfer bonuses that can make point transfers more valuable. In the past, airlines have offered bonuses as large as 30%, allowing you to save money on travel.
Travel partner | Transfer rate |
Aeromexico | 1:1 |
Air France Flying Blue | 1:1 |
ALL Accor Live Limitless | 1:0.5 |
Avianca | 1:1 |
Cathay Pacific | 1:1 |
Choice Privileges | 1:2 or 1:1.5, depending on your card |
Emirates | 1:1 |
Etihad | 1:1 |
Eva Air | 1:1 |
Hotel Leaders Club | 5:1 |
JetBlue | 1:1 or 1:0.8, depending on your card |
Qantas | 1:1 |
Qatar Airways | 1:1 |
Singapore Airlines | 1:1 |
Thai Airways | 1:1 |
Turkish Airlines | 1:1 |
Virgin Atlantic | 1:1 |
Wyndham Rewards | 1:1 or 1:0.8, depending on your card |
How do ThankYou Points compare to Chase Ultimate Rewards?
The Chase Ultimate Rewards program is one of the most popular credit card rewards programs available. However, the Citi ThankYou program offers a lot of value, too.
There are more redemption methods available with the ThankYou program. You can redeem your points not just for travel or gift cards but also to make payments on your student loans or mortgage. Your points are nearly always worth one cent each, allowing you to get the most value for your points, regardless of the redemption method.
However, the Chase Ultimate Rewards program has more airline partners. For frequent travelers, signing up for a card that’s eligible for the Chase Ultimate Rewards program might make more sense.
How do ThankYou Points compare to Membership Rewards?
The American Express Membership Rewards program has an expansive list of airline and hotel loyalty programs, making it a great choice for frequent travelers. However, most of the eligible American Express cards have high annual fees, while there are three Citi ThankYou-eligible cards with no annual fee at all.
If you intend to use your rewards for statement credits or gift cards, you may get more value from a Citi credit card.
FAQs
Can I get more than one card in the ThankYou Points program?
You can have more than one card in the ThankYou Points program. However, you aren’t eligible to receive bonus ThankYou Points if you received a new cardmember bonus for one of the eligible cards or if you’ve closed any of these accounts within the previous 24 months.
Do Citi ThankYou Points expire?
Citi ThankYou Points earned with a Prestige, Strata Premier, Rewards+, or AT&T Access card don’t expire.
Points earned with a Citibank checking account will expire three years from December 31 of the year you earned them. For example, if you earned points in June 2023, they would expire on Dec. 31, 2026.
How long do Citi ThankYou Points take to transfer?
How long your points take to transfer depends on how you redeem them.
If you transfer your points to an airline loyalty program, it can take up to 14 days for the ThankYou Points to post to your loyalty program account.
If you decide to transfer your points to the Shop Your Way program — a program that allows you to use your ThankYou Points to make purchases with major retailers like Macy’s and Target — it may take up to five days for the points to show up on your account.
How much are Citi ThankYou Points worth?
Citi ThankYou Points are generally worth one cent each. They could be worth more if you transfer them to travel partners such as Choice Privileges. Keep in mind that only certain Citi cards offer the option to transfer ThankYou Points to the full range of Citi travel partners.
Can I share my Citi ThankYou Points with someone else?
Yes, you can share your ThankYou Points with other ThankYou members. Within a calendar year, you can share up to a total of 100,000 points.
Can you buy Citi ThankYou Points?
If you need additional points, you can buy them. You can purchase increments of 1,000 ThankYou Points for $25. If you call 1-800-THANKYOU, you can purchase up to 100,000 ThankYou Points.
Who the Citi ThankYou Rewards program is a good fit for
The Citi ThankYou Rewards program is perfect for a person who wants more flexibility in how they can use their points, without sacrificing the value of their rewards. Whether you want to get a statement credit or make a charitable contribution, you can get the full value of your points.
If you’ve always been a Chase Ultimate Rewards loyalist, signing up for a Citi ThankYou card may give you more flexibility, allowing you to earn rewards you could use to pay down your bills or even pay off a chunk of your student loan debt.