Citigroup is the third largest bank holding company in the United States, and Citibank is the consumer banking entity owned by this behemoth company. Sometimes, size is an advantage. Citibank’s size allows it to have a massive credit card division, branded as “Citi Cards.” The size helps the bank offer some of the best deals available among credit cards. Whether consumers are looking for a credit card with rewards, travel, balance transfer or overall credit card, Citi has options that should be able to fit most needs and many wants.
Keep in mind that rewards are only worthwhile for what I call “Type B” credit card users; those who pay bills in full and on time every month. If you use credit cards to buy things you can’t pay for right away, you will fall deeper in debt and you will pay for any credit card rewards through interest fees, late fees, and worse, high interest rates, particularly if you default. If you can’t pay the bill in full every month, skip this article now.
Citi offers a broad selection of credit cards. Here is a list of the better offers, and with each is a brief review including strengths and weaknesses. If you have a Citi-branded card that you believe should be added to this list, leave a comment below.
Citi consumer cards
Citi® Dividend Platinum Select® Visa® Card. The Citi Dividend Platinum Select Visa Card offers $100 cash back up front to consumers who spend $500 in the first three months of account opening. This card also offers 5% cash back on select purchases in each quarter that you enroll and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Citi includes a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months, and the Citi® Dividend Platinum Select® Visa® Card has no annual fee.
Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Visa Signature® Card. Frequent visitors of Hilton Hotels will love the Citi Hilton HHonors Visa Signature Card because it offers 40,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first four months. Those points are good for a one-night stay at a category six Hilton hotel or three nights at a category two Hilton hotel. Cardholders earn six points for each dollar spent at participating Hilton properties, three points per dollar spent at supermarkets, drugstores and gas stations, and two points per dollar spent on all other purchases. There is no annual fee for the Citi® Hilton HHonors Visa Signature Card.
Citi Forward® Card. The only card I know of that rewards responsible credit card behavior, the Citi Forward Card allows a maximum 2% APR reduction for consumers who make a purchase, stay within their credit limit and make on-time payments three billing periods in a row. Cardholders can earn 10,000 bonus points after making $650 in purchases and signing up for paperless statements within the first three months of card membership. In addition cardholders can earn 100 bonus points every month for paying on time and staying under the credit limit, subject to maximum limit. Cardholders earn five points per dollar spent at restaurants and on books, music, and movies. There is no annual fee on the Citi Forward Card. Finally, Citi extends users of this card a 0% introductory APR on purchases for seven months and on balance transfers for 12 months.
Citi ThankYou℠ Preferred Card. Citi offers 15,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first three months – good enough for $150 in gift cards. During the first twelve months of ownership, cardholders earn five ThankYou points per dollar spent at the pump, drugstores and supermarkets, and one point on all other purchases. The Citi ThankYou Preferred Card has no annual fee.
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card. Similar to the Platinum Select, the Citi Diamond Preferred Card offers cardholders one of the best balance transfer offers available today: a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 months. The card includes no rewards program or bonus, but it does feature a low interest rate of 11.99% to 21.99% variable, depending on credit history. However they do offer deals and savings for brand name merchandise if you use their Citi Special program and special access to purchase presale tickets or preferred seating at entertainment events through Citi Private Pass. And, just like most other Citi cards, the Citi Diamond Preferred Card does not come with an annual fee.
Updated May 23, 2012 and originally published May 20, 2011. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to the RSS feed or receive daily emails. Follow @flexo on Twitter and visit our Facebook page for more updates.
Points: ♦125,041
Rank: Platinum
About the author
Luke Landes, also known as Flexo, is the founder of Consumerism Commentary. He has been blogging and writing for the internet since 1995 and has been building online communities since 1991. Find out more about him and follow Flexo on Twitter. View all articles by Flexo.
Read related articles from Consumerism Commentary
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow! Citi sure knows how to corner the market. Unfortunately this is not a company I would do business with. They wanted to penelize me for not using the card. I respectfully ask them to close my account.
wow! that’s definitely a lot of cards to choose from. just makes you wonder could this be the reason a consumer is so confused as to what to get to fit their needs? an over-kill by Citi to market such a big array of cards when all we need is an option of points or rebate on a credit/ debit card?
I am very uncomfortable putting my account # in order to get to the Thank You rewards website. I also tried to do the one that you only had to give the last four numbers of your SS #, but that one said that my information did not match. What is going on? It is not worth the effort to get to the rewards because I will not put in my account #.
I have also found Citibank to very very amenable to matching other cards’ offerings regarding interests rates, etc, with a quick phone call.
Seems like Citi is creating cards to fit every niche market out there…
I had the same situation as Lynn–Citi card started out great, but when I stopped using the card they hiked up the interest rate and would only consider lowering it if I used the card more frequently on a 6- month basis then they would look at lowering the rate. I closed that account as well!!!
i have experience with two of these cards and i could not be happier. that said, it seems as if perhaps they simply have too many cards to offer. i understand they are trying to gain customers by finding niches that they are looking for, but i think they may be better served eliminating a few of them.