The Citi Rewards+® Card, with no annual fee, is a solid option for anyone starting with rewards cards in the U.S.
Managing multiple cards depends on how much a person prefers handling several accounts and how often small purchases are made using credit.
Here’s a simple guide on how to apply and order the Citi Rewards+® Card in the U.S.
Citi Rewards+® Card Highlights
Here's what you need to know about Citi Rewards+ Card Highlights:
- Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 in purchases within the first three months of account opening. Points can be redeemed for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com.
- Special offer: Earn 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com until December 31, 2025.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers (first four months) and purchases. After the intro period, the APR ranges from 18.74% to 28.74%, based on creditworthiness. A 3% balance transfer fee applies for the first four months (minimum $5), and 5% afterward.
- Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 each year, then 1X points. Earn 1X ThankYou® Points on all other purchases.
- Automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase, with no cap.
- No annual fee. Perfect for those in the United States.
Is the Citi Rewards+ Card for You?
The Citi Rewards+ Credit Card is a solid choice, especially for U.S. consumers looking to maximize everyday purchases. It stands out with its unique point-rounding feature and the 10% points-back benefit on redemptions.
Overview Citi Rewards+ Benefits and Disadvantages
The Citi Rewards+® Card rounds up points on purchases to the nearest 10, making it easier to accumulate rewards. U.S. cardholders can redeem points and get 10% back, up to 100,000 points annually. It’s designed to provide strong value with no annual fee, and it rewards key spending categories like supermarkets and gas stations.
Pros:
- No annual fee.
- Points round up to the nearest 10.
- 5x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions via CitiTravel (until Dec. 31, 2025).
- 2x points on supermarkets and gas stations (up to $6,000/year).
- 1x points on all other purchases.
- 10% of redeemed points returned (up to 100,000 points/year).
Cons:
- 3% foreign transaction fee.
- Bonus earnings for supermarkets and gas stations are capped at $6,000/year.
Best For
The Citi Rewards+® Card is ideal for U.S. residents who are new to credit cards or those who are already using Citi's ThankYou Points system.
It’s especially useful for maximizing rewards on everyday purchases like groceries and gas without the burden of an annual fee.
Key Factors to Consider When Getting the Citi Rewards+® Card for U.S. Residents
The Citi Rewards+® Card offers a sign-up bonus of 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 within the first three months of opening the account. These points can be redeemed for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com.
Additionally, until December 31, 2025, you can earn 5 ThankYou® Points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions through CitiTravel.com.
What to consider: While other cards have higher bonus offers, if you’re focusing on earning Citi ThankYou points, this card's zero annual fee makes it a solid option.
Rounded-Up Rewards and 10% Points Back
This card earns 2 ThankYou points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets and gas stations (up to $6,000 annually) and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
The round-up feature increases any point total to the nearest 10 points, which benefits smaller, frequent purchases.
Additionally, you get 10% back on the first 100,000 ThankYou points you redeem annually. For instance, redeeming 15,000 points gets you 1,500 points back.
Varying Redemption Values
You can redeem ThankYou points in several ways:
- Gift Cards: Typically 1 cent per point.
- Amazon Purchases: Around 0.8 cents per point.
- Cash Back/Statement Credit: 0.5 cents per point.
- Shop With Points: Value depends on the retailer.
Transfers to JetBlue yield 800 JetBlue points for every 1,000 ThankYou points. If you have premium Citi cards (e.g., Citi Prestige®), you can transfer your points to more airline partners, giving you more flexibility.
What to consider: Redemption options may not always offer the best value unless you're using premium Citi cards to unlock additional airline or hotel transfers.
Not Suitable for International Travel
This card has a 3% foreign transaction fee, making it unsuitable for use abroad. Other cards offer more favorable terms for international purchases.
What to consider: Look for cards without foreign transaction fees if international travel is a priority.
Citi Rewards+® Card - 0% Introductory Rates
The Citi Rewards+® Card offers a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from the first transfer and on purchases from the date of account opening.
After the intro period, the variable APR ranges between 18.74% and 28.74%, based on creditworthiness.
The card includes a balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer or a $5 minimum within the first 4 months. After that, the fee rises to 5%, with a minimum of $5.
Citi Rewards+® Card - Earning Rewards
Earn 2 ThankYou® Points per dollar on supermarket and gas station purchases, up to $6,000 annually. After reaching the cap, earn 1 point per dollar. For other eligible purchases, earn 1 point per dollar.
Additionally, receive 5 points per dollar on hotel, car rentals, and attractions booked via CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025. Every purchase is rounded up to the nearest 10 points with no limit, and the cardholder gets 10% points back on the first 100,000 points redeemed each year.
The Citi Rewards+® Card also includes a bonus of 20,000 points after spending $1,500 within the first 3 months, redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com.
Redeeming Rewards
Rewards earned on the Citi Rewards+® Card can be redeemed through:
- Gift cards: Points are worth about 1 cent per point when redeemed for gift cards through the ThankYou Center.
- Shop With Points: Points can be used at select retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, CVS, and PayPal, but the redemption value is less than 1 cent per point.
- Travel bookings: 1 point is worth 1 cent when booking through the ThankYou Travel Center.
- Transfer to travel partners: Points can be transferred to programs like Choice Privileges, JetBlue TrueBlue, and Wyndham Rewards, but the value is lower than other redemption options.
- Statement credit: Points are worth half a cent, redeemable at any amount.
- Cash back: Points can be converted into a check with a minimum redemption of $5, valued at half a cent per point.
Rewards Potential
Using a typical U.S. household with an income of $118,438 and $39,337 in annual credit card expenses, here's the rewards breakdown:
- Approximately $7,243 spent on groceries and $3,562 on gas would yield 16,805 points.
- Other spending would earn an additional 28,532 points.
- Total points for the year would be 45,337, not including the 10% points back feature or the first-year bonus of 20,000 points.
Other Benefits:
- Citi Entertainment: Access to presale tickets and exclusive experiences for concerts and sports events.
- 24/7 Customer Service: Access to expert assistance for various needs.
- Points Back: 10% points back on the first 100,000 points redeemed annually.
Interest Rates and Fees:
- Regular APR: 18.74% to 28.74% (Variable).
- Intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.
- Balance transfer fee: 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) after the first 4 months.
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%.
- Annual fee: $0.
Applying and Ordering for the Card
To apply for a Citi Rewards+® Card, you can:
- Visit the URL on your invitation mail
- Enter the invitation number in your mail
- Enter your last name
- Click the button to proceed to the application
- Complete and submit your application
You can also apply for a Citi credit card by phone or in person:
- Phone: Call Citi's consumer line at 1-800-347-4934
- In-person: Visit your nearest Citi branch
Before applying, you'll need to have the following information ready:
- Full legal name
- Phone number
- Street address
- Date of birth
- Annual gross income
- Social Security number
- Monthly housing payment (rent or mortgage)
How the Citi Rewards+ Card Stacks Up
The Citi Rewards+® Card is simpler for U.S. consumers than the Chase Freedom Flex®.
While Chase offers 5% in rotating categories, Citi Rewards+® offers automatic rewards rounding up on every purchase, making it ideal for frequent smaller purchases without needing to manage categories.
Citi Rewards+® Card vs Capital One SavorOne
Capital One SavorOne focuses on dining and entertainment, offering 3% cashback in these categories.
The Citi Rewards+® Card is better for people making everyday purchases, with its 2X points on gas and groceries and automatic rounding up for rewards.
Citi Rewards+® Card vs Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards
The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards offers cashback in select categories.
However, the Citi Rewards+® Card provides simpler rewards for gas, groceries, and smaller purchases without needing to choose or track categories.
Contact for Inquiries
The Citi Rewards+® Card customer service number is 1-800-THANKYOU (1-800-842-6596) for calls within the United States. For international inquiries, call collect at 859-283-8016. TTY services are available using 711 or other relay services.
The bottom line
The Citi Rewards+® Card offers a unique feature where earned points round up to the nearest ten. This is beneficial for shoppers who frequently make small purchases. However, it lacks travel benefits and competitive rewards earning rates.
Other credit cards may provide more rewards despite having no annual fee. For better options, check out the top credit card recommendations in the United States.
The information regarding other cards, like the Citi Prestige® Card, remains independent and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
