Comments on: Citibank Offers Citi Forward Credit Card, Rewarding Users for Good Habits

By: E in MD

E in MD — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:17:07 +0000

These comments are right. TYN only gives 100% as retail gift cards. But the cashback citation, while correct, is too low since if it the rebate is applied to the card’s monthly bill it pays $175 for 25,000 points (3.5%), a good complement to 5% grocery-pharma-gas cards and 2% across-the-board cards, for anyone with significant restaurant, cinema, book, music expenses.

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:23:19 +0000

Leave it to NCN to suck the joy out of CCs! :P

But the devaluation of TY points really puts this “initiative” to waste. Pass.

By: NCN

NCN — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:11:53 +0000

Honest to goodness, this might be the silliest thing I’ve heard of in my life. Seriously, are we at a point, in our society, where we need to base our purchases on whether we will or will not be “rewarded” by a credit card company. And, who decides which categories are “good” and which are “bad”? They do? Ridiculous. Live on a budget, but what you need, have a little fun, pay your bills, save for the future, and work hard. Ignore this fluff.
Luddites rule! :)

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:57:42 +0000

Sounds like a card I should get belonging to Citibank and being good with my credit card. Like you mention the points are basically meaningless because their value is so low. I agree that they should reward by paying in full, or the points should be worth more.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:35:19 +0000

I agree with Steve, I just signed up for an AMEX Blue Cash card because Citi completely nerfed their reward system. No rewards on gas and groceries anymore.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:42:59 +0000

“Responsible” categories is such a joke. They don’t even include the standard bonus categories, which actually would be responsible – gas stations, grocery stores, and drug stores. This is nothing but a gimmick. The problem is that responsible behavior has its own reward (in the form of less debt, less interest, less spending on frivolous music & restaurant purchases), and as such, it is unprofitable for the cc companies. So they can’t really afford to offer a product that truly rewards such behavior.

By: Squawkfox

Squawkfox — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:36:59 +0000

I think the 29.99% interest rate says it all there – OUCH!

By: tom

tom — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:01:17 +0000

The Thank You Network used to be much better. Points and cents used to be one-to-one, they used to have a fixed price flight option – 20,000 points for a ticket up to a $400 value.

They got rid of the fixed price flight option, and you have to spend point on a $100-$500 gift card in order to get the one-to-one relationship.