Grab the brand-new Citi Premier Card and take advantage of its enticing cashback promotion: $600 cashback when you apply by May 31, 2023, spend $2,000 on eligible purchases using Apple-approved transactions within 90 days of acceptance, and enjoy the card’s other great benefits. Earn up to 2 Citi reward points for every dollar spent on approved purchases. Other benefits include a variety of free insurance coverages, access to lounges, and other Citi privileges. Applying T&Cs.
You can earn 3x ThankYou® points with the Citi Premier credit card and 1x points on all other purchases when you use it to make purchases at restaurants, petrol stations, hotels, airlines, and supermarkets. When you redeem slightly over 7,851 ThankYou points, which have a value of around 0.0121 each when used to book travel through Citi’s ThankYou Rewards Portal, you may be able to justify the $95 annual cost.
Key Features
- Your Cashback By using their Citi Clear Card to make purchases from their preferred brands, cardholders can automatically receive monthly cashback through Citi’s hassle-free rewards program called My Cashback.
- Connect: For personal account access, the Citi Premier credit card syncs with Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and the Citi Mobile® App.
- Service & Support: If your card is lost or stolen, Citi’s customer service team is available around-the-clock to help. They also offer fraud protection.
- Free international travel insurance for up to six months, as well as guaranteed pricing on all qualifying purchases, mobile phone insurance, transit accident insurance, purchase cover insurance, and extended warranty insurance.
- You can use the Citi PayAll function to set up recurring payments for things like rent, tuition, child care, taxes, and other bills. The Citi PayAll cost will be decreased to 0% for all payments set up between 1 April 2021 and 31 October 2023, and there won’t be any further fees during that time. The regular Citi PayAll fee of 2% of the Citi PayAll payment amount will be applied to any recurring Citi PayAll payments set up beyond the term. Applying T&Cs.
- Access amazing experiences all over the world with Mastercard Priceless Cities.
- Your assistant is available around-the-clock to assist with everything from booking travel to making reservations at restaurants.
Pros
- When you apply for a Citi Premier Card by May 31st 2023 and make $2,000 in eligible transactions with Apple Pay within 90 days of acceptance, you’ll receive $600 back.
- For qualifying international and/or online transactions, earn two points for every dollar spent; for all other eligible domestic purchases, earn one point.
- A $150 yearly fee is waived the first year and each year after that if you had $48,000 in cash advances or other qualified purchases the year before.
- For six months, balance transfers have 0% p.a. interest and no balance transfer fee; after that, the rate for cash advances applies.
- With My Money offers, you may receive monthly money on purchases from your favorite merchants.
- If you pay the entire debt by the due date, you can receive up to 55 days of interest-free use on purchases.
- Up to four (4) more cardholders without charging extra fees.
- Every year, two (2) free lounge passes are provided.
- Free extended warranty insurance, international travel insurance, purchase protection, and mobile phone insurance. Applying T&Cs.
- Compatible with both Samsung Pay and Apple Pay.
Cons
- If you have a balance transfer, interest-free days won’t be applicable for retail purchases.
- High rates of 22.24% p.a. for cash advances and 21.49% p.a. for purchases currently.
Benefits
- You will receive a $100 credit once per calendar year for single-stay hotel reservations made through the Citi travel portal that total $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees).
- A manufacturer’s warranty is extended by 24 months with extended warranty protection.
- Protection against damage and theft: Replaces or repairs a damaged or stolen item within 90 days of purchase (up to $10,000 per occurrence and $50,000 annually).
- Benefits of the World Elite Mastercard: Although users may not be aware of it, Citi Premier offers several travel-related benefits as a World Elite Mastercard. These include access to the Mastercard premium hotels and resorts portfolio for on-property amenities like complimentary breakfast and room upgrades upon availability, as well as a $5 monthly Lyft credit after taking three rides in a calendar month. You can also benefit from extras like smartphone protection and Global Emergency Services through the World Elite Mastercard program.
- Before the general public, cardholders have exclusive access to buy tickets to hundreds of events, including sporting events, concerts, exclusive dining opportunities, and movie screenings. This service is called Citi Entertainment.
- Absence of foreign transaction fees The Citi Premier gives you the freedom to travel without being charged for overseas purchases like any decent travel card should.
Who is the card best for?
People who frequently spend money on dining out, shopping, gas stations, and other travel-related expenses are the greatest candidates for the Citi Premier credit card.
Since gas station transactions earn the 3x points given to the travel category, even commuters can profit from this card. The average American household spends $2,148 on petrol yearly, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This entitles you to 6,444 points in a calendar year.
When you spend money on hotels, restaurants, and airlines, you can accrue extra points. It’s really simple to accumulate points quickly if you travel regularly. Additionally, leisure pursuits like going to the cinema and museums might earn you 1x points.
Your points are worth more if you lead this kind of lifestyle and are prepared to use Citi’s portal to redeem them for air travel. Furthermore, this card works well for consumers who are more interested in earning discounts and bargains and less interested in allegiance to a specific airline or hotel program because there are no restrictions on airlines and hotels through the ThankYou Travel Center.
Overall Rating
With the Citi Premier Card, you may earn rewards points at a respectable pace while receiving cashback for your transactions. It also includes a ton of free travel benefits in addition to other fantastic special Citi advantages.
Although there is a high annual charge, you can obtain a reduction if you use your card for a certain amount of purchases each year.
Conclusion
The Citi Premier credit card can make a lot of sense for those who travel regularly and plan to spend the majority of their rewards on gift cards or travel. It provides enticing incentives for gas, dining out, and grocery store purchases.
A card like the Blue Cash Preferred by American Express, which offers its maximum earning potential on groceries and streaming services, can make more sense if you tend to spend more on regular purchases.
Additionally, the Capital One VentureOne card may be a smart option if you want to consistently earn travel points without paying an annual fee. Additionally, it offers 0% APR on purchases.
In the end, the Citi Premier credit card can be a smart decision if you know you’ll use it frequently and redeem your points for travel, especially if you’re not tied to any specific travel reward schemes.