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Citi Credit Card Benefits for Active-Duty U.S. Military Members [2024]

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How Citi Applies Military Benefits

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You’ll find value in today’s article on Citi military benefits if you’re an active-duty military member holding a Citi credit card or a service member not on active duty who is considering one.

Decades ago, laws were enacted to help alleviate some of the financial burdens our active-duty military members face. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) in 2003 and the Military Lending Act (MLA) in 2006 set the foundation for how financial transactions involving military members should be handled.

We’ll discuss the acts briefly in a moment, but today’s article will focus specifically on how Citi applies the benefits of the laws to its range of credit cards. Plus, we’ll look at how these benefits can create bottom-line value for active-duty military.

The 6 Best Citi Credit Cards With Benefits for Active-Duty Military

• Citi Premier ® Card — Best for Travel
• Citi ® / AAdvantage ® Executive World Elite Mastercard ® — Best Premium Card for American Airlines Flyers
• Citi ® / AAdvantage ® Platinum Select ® World Elite Mastercard ® — Best Mid-Tier Card for American Airlines Flyers
• Citi Custom Cash ® Card — Best for Cash-Back on Your Highest Spend Category
• Citi Double Cash ® Card — Best for Everyday Cash-Back
• Costco Anywhere Visa ® Card by Citi — Best for Costco Loyalists

How Do the SCRA and MLA Work?

The SCRA and MLA , when initially passed, applied to financial transactions such as mortgages, auto loans, other installment loans, rental agreements, and banking in general. In 2017, the laws were amended to include credit cards .

After this addition, credit card issuers instituted policies to ensure credit granted to military members met the laws’ requirements.

Here’s how the laws apply to credit cards:

• Credit cards acquired prior to active-duty military service would have a maximum interest rate of 6% (SCRA).
• Credit cards acquired during active-duty military service would have a maximum interest rate of 36%. This was called the Military Annual Percentage Rate (MAPR) and included all associated credit card fees as well as interest charges.

Citi applies military benefits to those who are on active duty, for credit cards acquired prior to active-duty service and after September 2017. Citi will waive associated credit card fees, including annual fees, along with interest charges, for active-duty service members.

Let’s look at some of the best credit cards issued by Citi and how each one might provide value for the active-duty military member.

If you are not on active duty but considering a Citi credit card, you’ll find significant value in the welcome offers that come with some of the best Citi credit cards. These offers allow you to earn a large number of rewards when meeting minimum spending requirements in a specified period after card approval.

We’ve included the current welcome offers in the following summary for comparison purposes.

Before we look at each key benefit individually, and its potential value for active-duty members, let’s look at a high-level overview of the best Citi credit cards, welcome offers, annual fees, and general benefits.

Now let’s look closer at our featured Citi credit cards and the key benefits you can expect on each card.

Citi Premier ® Card

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.

The Citi Premier ® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!

• 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
• Access to Citi transfer partners
• Annual hotel credit
• No foreign transaction fees
• $95 annual fee
• Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou ® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou ® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
• 60,000 ThankYou ® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.24% - 29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Why We Like the Card for Active-Duty Military Members

• Waiver of annual fee for cards acquired prior to active duty
• Bonus category earnings on everyday purchases
• Earns flexible ThankYou Points that can be transferred to hotel and airline partners
• Annual hotel savings benefit

Read our guide to find more information on the Citi Premier Card benefits for Military Members .

Citi ® / AAdvantage ® Executive World Elite Mastercard ®

Access to Admirals Clubs, tons of added benefits, and a way to spend towards elite status make this a great option for American Airlines loyalists.

The Citi ® /AAdvantage ® Executive World Elite Mastercard ® is a go-to card thanks to its exclusive perks and benefits for people who love to fly American Airlines. With a complimentary Admirals Club membership, free checked bags, inflight discounts, and the ability to earn Loyalty Points for every $1 you spend, there is plenty to love about the card.

• Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage ® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening
• Earn 10 miles per $1 spent on eligible car rentals booked through aa.com/cars
• Earn 10 miles per $1 spent on eligible hotels booked through aa.com/hotels
• Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
• After you spend $150,000 in purchases in a calendar year, earn a total of 5 miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases for the remainder of the year
• Earn 1 per $1 spent on other purchases
• Admirals Club ® membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you
• Earn a 10,000 Loyalty Point bonus after reaching 50,000 Loyalty Points in a status qualification year. Earn another 10,000 Loyalty Point bonus after reaching 90,000 Loyalty Points in the same status qualification year
• Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage ® mile earned from purchases
• First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation
• $595 annual fee
• Doesn’t earn many miles on all other eligible purchases
• Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage ® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
• APR: 21.24% - 29.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees:
• Airline Credit Cards

American Airlines AAdvantage Frequent Flyer Program

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• How To Get American Airlines Elite Status (And Is It Worth It?)
• Waiver of higher annual fee for active-duty military members who acquired the card prior to active duty
• Generous welcome bonus offer
• 4x miles per dollar spent on American Airlines
• Complimentary Admirals Club lounge access for cardholders, immediate family, or 2 guests; authorized users also have lounge access
• First free checked bag for cardholder and traveling companions (up to 8), priority boarding
• Global Entry / TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement, up to a $100 statement credit

Citi ® / AAdvantage ® Platinum Select ® World Elite Mastercard ®

Status lovers will enjoy the variety of benefits that come with this card. From free bags to reduced-price inflight beverages, AA still flies in style.

Blue skies and fair winds make for a good day to fly! Choosing your airline can be difficult, since factors like location, time, and destination all go into whether or not you can fly somewhere.

An easy choice for many people is American Airlines, because they’re the largest airline in the world. If you’re an American, you’ve probably flown American Airlines at least once.

Frequent fliers tend to enjoy the treatment they can get, from boarding privileges to free bags to lounge access. There’s many reasons to fly with AA, and if so then getting a Citi ® / AAdvantage ® Platinum Select ® World Elite Mastercard ® could be for you.

• Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage ® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
• Earn 2 AAdvantage ® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases
• Earn a $125 American Airlines Flight Discount after you spend $20,000 or more in purchases during your card membership year and renew your card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees
• First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation
• Enjoy preferred boarding on American Airlines flights
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 0%

American Airlines AAdvantage Program

• Waiver of the annual fee for active-duty military members who acquired the card prior to active duty
• 2x miles on American Airlines purchases
• Free checked bag for cardholders and up to 4 travel companions, preferred boarding
• Earn a $125 flight credit after spending $20,000 on the card in a card membership year
• 25% statement credit for inflight purchases

Citi Custom Cash ® Card

Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, with no annual fee!

The Citi Custom Cash ® Card is inventive when it comes to cash-back credit cards. Instead of earning a set amount of cash-back on predetermined bonus categories, the Citi Custom Cash card earns 5% cash-back on your highest eligible spend category each billing cycle, without an annual fee.

Thanks to that unique perk, you’ll never need to worry about whether you’re using the right card for the right purchase, as your Citi Custom Cash card will always pay you 5% back on whichever category you end up spending the most on each month.

• 5% cash-back (on up to $500 each billing cycle) from your largest purchase category, including restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment
• No annual fee
• Multiple redemption options
• No redemption minimums
• Your 5% category is limited to $500 in spend ($25 in cash-back) each month
• Not particularly rewarding for any purchases outside of your top 5% cash-back category
• Earn $200 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.
• 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked via the Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.
• No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
• No Annual Fee
• Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash ® Card account per person.
• APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3%
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• No Annual Fee Cards
• Citi Custom Cash Card Launches [Earn 5% Back on Your Top Purchases]
• 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%
• Balance transfer fees waived for active-duty military
• Earn 5% cash-back each billing cycle in your highest spending category, up to $500 in purchases each period, then 1%; categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment

Citi Double Cash ® Card

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

The Citi Double Cash ® Card  has long been one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market, and the card now has the ability to earn Citi ThankYou Points!

This means that cardholders of the Double Cash card will now earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points . This means each billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional ThankYou point for every $1 paid on your purchase balance as long as there is a corresponding balance in your Purchase Tracker.

Citi has turned the Double Cash card into a top choice for those who are looking for an everyday, no-fuss credit card.

• Uncapped 2% for every $1 spent (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay)
• Flexible redemption options
• No bonus categories
• 3% foreign transaction fees
• Lack of premium travel benefits
• Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
• To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
• Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
• If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
• There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
• APR: 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 19.24% - 29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase
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• Citi Transfer Partners
• 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months . After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%
• 2% total cash-back earnings on every purchase (1% when made, 1% when paid)
• Cash-back can be redeemed via the ThankYou Points portal for travel

Costco Anywhere Visa ® Card by Citi

The Costco Anywhere Visa ® Card by Citi is a great Citi’s cash-back rewards card designed specifically for Costco Members.

• Discover one of Citi’s best cash back rewards cards designed exclusively for Costco members
• 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter
• 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases
• 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• No annual fee with your paid Costco membership and enjoy no foreign transaction fees on purchases
• Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico
• APR: 20.49% Variable
• One of the best credit cards for gas station purchases , earning 4% cash-back , including EV charging stations, up to $7,000 in purchases each year, then 1%
• 3% cash-back on dining and travel and 2% cash-back at Costco and Costco.com
• Available with a $0 annual fee to all military members who have a Costco membership

Active-duty military members, including veterans, retired military, spouses, and dependents, may receive a digital Costco gift card when signing up for a Costco membership.

One of the most valuable Citi military benefits for active-duty military members is the waiver of the card’s annual fee . Although not all Citi credit cards charge an annual fee, the best Citi cards, with the most earning potential and benefits, typically do.

Here are examples of the potential savings for Citi credit cards (that charge an annual fee) when the annual fee is waived for active-duty military members:

0% APR for Active-Duty Military Members

Another significant military benefit provided by Citi for active-duty service members is the waiver of interest charges on card balances.

There are 2 ways to take advantage of the lack of interest charges and fees.

If you have Citi credit cards with balances accrued prior to active duty, you’ll want to take advantage of Citi’s 0% APR during your active-duty status to pay down those balances during your service.

If you have credit cards from other financial institutions with high-interest balances, Citi will waive the balance transfer fees during active-duty service. Since balance transfer fees can be 3% to 5% of the total transfer amount, this option can provide significant savings. You can leverage this benefit even further by utilizing Citi credit cards with an introductory 0% APR period for balance transfers .

If your primary goal is to pay off card balances, these Citi credit cards offering an introductory 0% APR rate for balance transfers could be appropriate choices:

• Citi Custom Cash Card — 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%
• Citi Double Cash Card — 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months . After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%
• Citi ® Diamond Preferred ® Card — 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 18.24% - 28.99%
• Citi Simplicity ® Card — 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.99%
• Citi Rewards+ ® Card — 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of first transfer and on purchases from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 18.74% - 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness.

Military members can take advantage of 0% APR periods while on active duty to pay off eligible Citi credit card balances accrued prior to active duty. In addition, Citi will waive balance transfer fees (during active duty) for balances transferred from other credit cards. Utilizing a Citi credit card with a 0% APR period can result in significant savings on transfer fees and interest charges.

Additional Citi Card Benefits and Protections

Citi credit cards will earn flexible rewards such as ThankYou Points, cash-back, or frequent flyer miles.

While both ThankYou Points and cash-back may be redeemed for gift cards, travel, merchandise, statement credits, or charitable donations, the best value is to transfer ThankYou Points to airline or hotel partners .

ThankYou Points earned on the Citi Premier card allow the most flexible redemption options , including transferring to airline and hotel partners to redeem for award flights or free hotel nights.

Take a look at our full guide covering some of the best ways to redeem Citi ThankYou Points .

Co-branded Citi credit cards will earn the affiliated rewards currency . For example, American Airlines’ cards earn AAdvantage miles that can be redeemed with the airline, and Costco-branded cards will earn cash-back that can be redeemed via Costco stores.

While benefits and protections differ by card, here are some you may find on Citi credit cards:

• Citi Merchant Offers — Log in to your online card account and select from retail and service provider offers that provide statement credits for making eligible purchases.
• Purchase Protection — Eligible items purchased can receive coverage for damage and theft for up to 90 days from the purchase date.
• Extended Warranty Protection — The manufacturer’s warranty is extended on eligible purchased items.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees — Citi cards with no foreign transaction fees travel well. These fees are normally 3% of the total transaction.

Earning and redeeming rewards earned on Citi credit cards adds tremendous value to card membership. Plus, if you can use any of the cards’ travel/shopping benefits, you will realize even more value.

Qualification and Applying for Citi Military Benefits

Citi military benefits for active-duty servicemembers can result in serious savings. Let’s look at the qualifications and how to apply for benefits.

You’ll want to check the Citi SCRA website for complete information, but here’s an outline of who qualifies for Citi military benefits:

• Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Space Force, and National Guard full-time active-duty members
• Federal active-duty reservists
• Active-duty National Guard members called to service by the President, Secretary of Defense, or by State orders for a period of 30 or more consecutive days
• Active-duty servicemembers who are absent due to covered illness
• U.S. citizens who are members of an allied nation’s military service
• Commissioned officers of NOAA of the Public Health Service
• Spouses or dependents of the eligible servicemembers listed above

You’ll want to verify that your status is current on the Department of Defense website as this is the source financial institutions will use to verify your status. Visit the MLA website to access your records.

If you acquired your Citi credit card(s) prior to active duty, you’ll want to skip the next step and jump right to applying for benefits.

If you are not on active duty and considering a Citi credit card, here are some tips for applying for a card.

While applying for a Citi card during active duty will not qualify you for military benefits, you can still do so. Plus, if you’re not on active duty, but will be in the future, here are some tips for making the process go smoothly:

• Review Citi’s Card Rules — Each financial institution has specific rules for how often and how many cards for which you can be approved as well as how much credit they’ll extend to you. You’ll want to review Citi’s rules before you apply.
• Review Card Requirements and Know Your Credit Score — The majority of Citi’s credit cards will require a good to excellent credit score to be approved. A good score is generally considered 670 and above but we recommend at least a 700 credit score to apply for the best cards . If your score is below 670, you will still find several Citi cards that you may qualify for.

If you acquired a Citi credit card prior to active-duty service, you’ll want to apply for Citi military benefits. The waiver of credit card fees and interest charges could save you money and help you pay off any debt.

The easiest way to ask questions and apply for benefits is to contact Citi’s Military Response Unit at 877-804-1082.

Additionally, you can fax your request with a cover page that includes your name, Social Security number, branch of service, your active-duty date, plus supporting documentation to 866-533-0503.

Finally, you could mail your request , including the above information, to this address: City Military Response Correspondence Unit, Attention: SCRA Request, P.O. Box 790398, St. Louis, MO, 63179.

Once your request is approved, it can take up to 3 statement periods for the benefits to be applied.

According to Military Money Matters , a popular military finance blog, data points suggest that in the statement period when your annual fee hits, you should have a balance on your card to trigger the fee reimbursement. Evidently, this is due to the balance causing the maximum 36% interest rate (MLA requirement) to kick in.

For active-duty military members who acquired Citi credit cards prior to active duty , you should definitely apply for Citi military benefits. In addition to having your annual fee waived, you could also benefit from a 0% interest rate on previously incurred card debt. The waiver of transfer fees, should you use the balance transfer option on a card with an introductory 0% APR balance transfer offer, could also be a money-saver.

For those military members not on active duty but anticipating it, you may find value in card welcome offers, everyday earning potential, flexible redemption options, and a few shopping benefits.

If travel protections and benefits are a priority to you, as an active-duty military member, you may do better with Chase or American Express-issued travel rewards cards. Our companion articles on the best Chase credit cards for military members , military credit cards and the best American Express credit cards for military members would be worth reading.

The information regarding the Citi ® / AAdvantage ® Platinum Select ® World Elite™ Mastercard ® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Citi Simplicity ® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does citi waive credit card fees for active-duty military.

Yes, Citi will waive fees, including annual fees, for credit cards acquired prior to active duty and after September 2017.

Does Citi waive interest charges on credit cards?

For credit cards acquired prior to active duty, Citi will waive interest charges during the period of active duty. Citi will also waive balance transfer fees during active duty.

Are Citi military credit card benefits worth it?

Yes, Citi military benefits are worth it if you hold Citi credit cards that were acquired prior to active duty. Citi waives fees and interest rates which can result in significant savings.

How can I apply for Citi military benefits?

The best way to learn about Citi’s military benefits and apply is to call Citi’s Military Response Unit at 877-804-1082.

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About Christine Krzyszton

Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.

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Should You Use a Credit Card Travel Portal?

Unlock the details of credit card travel portals and learn how to maximize your benefits.

Using a Credit Card Travel Portal

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Using a credit card portal to book travel could help you save money and help you earn more points or redeem travel credits.

Key Takeaways

• Credit card travel portals search across multiple travel options, giving you the power to compare prices.
• You can use your credit card or rewards to book travel with your credit card issuer's travel portal.
• Some cards may offer travel credits and benefits when you book using the associated travel portal. 

You have many options for booking travel, whether you want to book directly with airlines and hotels, use an online travel agency or book with your credit card's travel portal. Using a credit card travel portal may allow you to take advantage of cardholder benefits and credits and give you additional choices for your booking.

Understand how to use credit card travel portals to save money on your next trip and maybe get some elevated perks along the way – but also recognize when it doesn't make sense.

What Are Credit Card Travel Portals?

Similar to online travel agencies, such as Expedia or Booking.com, credit card travel portals are online travel booking platforms. Cardholders can use credit card travel portals to browse and book travel options, including flights, hotels, rental cars and experiences using your credit card or rewards.

Credit card travel portals include:

• American Express Travel.
• Capital One Travel.
• Chase Travel.
• Citi Travel.

Some credit cards offer cardholder savings or perks when you book travel using the issuer's credit card portal, such as travel credits or cardholder privileges, including free breakfast or late checkout.

How Credit Card Travel Portals Stack Up

When you use a credit card travel portal, the amount and method of payment may be the deciding factors in how you book. Using a credit card travel portal to book travel can save you money, but not always.

We compared a midweek economy flight from Los Angeles to New York and a weeklong stay at a three-star hotel in Manhattan. In some cases, credit card travel portals were competitive, but Expedia had the lowest overall price for flight and hotel costs on this test trip.

Still, this is just one example, and travel prices can fluctuate depending on how you book. It's always a good idea to compare all of your options.

Benefits of Credit Card Travel Portals

Booking your travel with a credit card travel portal can help you earn more points or redeem travel credits. Some examples:

• Cardholders of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card get a $300 annual travel credit for bookings through the Capital One Travel site. When booking on the Capital One Travel site, cardholders earn unlimited 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars and 5 miles per dollar on flights. ( See Rates and Fees )
• With The Platinum Card ® from American Express , cardholders get a $200 annual hotel credit for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel and earn five points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. ( See Rates and Fees )
• Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card holders get a $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit and earn five points per dollar on Chase Travel purchases.

"Using the travel credits is huge," says JT Genter, editor in chief of rewards and travel tracking tool AwardWallet. "Card issuers are leaning more towards those only being accessible through the portal."

Credit card travel portal bookings may help your points go further, too. "Because I have a Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, when I use the (Chase) portal to book travel, my points get an extra 25% bump," says Chip Chinery, personal finance blogger at Chip's Money Tips. For example, you'd only pay 100,000 points for a flight or hotel that would require 125,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book without the points boost.

Helpful features can add up to savings on credit card travel portals. For example, Capital One Travel offers a price match guarantee. Genter used the Capital One Travel price match feature on a flight from Cairo to Marrakech, Morocco. Although he booked with Capital One Travel, an online travel agency had a better price. He was able to price match with Capital One Travel to get a travel credit.

Genter points out that cardholders of The Platinum Card from American Express can take advantage of the International Airline Program for potential savings on international flights in first, business or premium economy.

You may also get benefits for booking with credit card travel portals, particularly when booking hotels. For example:

• Cardholders of The Platinum Card from American Express get elite benefits at participating hotels, including early check-in, room upgrades, breakfast for two, a $100 experience credit, complimentary Wi-Fi and guaranteed 4 p.m. check-out.
• If you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve ® , you can book The Edit properties through Chase Travel and receive benefits, including daily breakfast for two, a $100 on-property credit, room upgrades, early check-in and late check-out and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Drawbacks of Credit Card Travel Portals

Travel credits and on-property perks are compelling reasons to use a credit card travel portal. However, it pays to compare pricing among your card's portal, direct booking or an online travel agency, because the lowest-priced option depends on the trip you're taking. Also, you may forfeit some benefits, as credit card travel portals are third-party bookings.

With a third-party booking, you'll have less flexibility in customer service and cancellation than you would if you booked directly. For example, if you're dealing with a delayed flight and need service from the airline, you may be directed to the travel portal customer service. You may have limited options for cancellation and how you get your money or rewards back.

Another major point to consider with third-party bookings: You generally won't be able to earn points or miles with the airline or hotel, though you can earn points with your card. Additionally, you may not be able to use elite benefits for any status you hold. For example, if you have Hilton Honors status that entitles you to a daily food and beverage credit, you're not likely to get it when you book a stay with your credit card travel portal.

When to Use a Credit Card Travel Portal

Booking travel with a credit card travel portal can make sense in some scenarios. For instance:

• You want to compare your travel options across multiple airlines or hotels in the portal.
• You have a travel credit available that can only be redeemed through the issuer's travel portal.
• You have rewards you want to redeem on the portal, and booking this way offers a good redemption value.
• You want to take advantage of benefits, such as elite hotel perks that you can get when using a credit card travel portal.
• Your booking options on the portal are priced lower compared with other options.
• Booking on the portal earns elevated rewards, and the prices and benefits are comparable to those of other booking options.

"It makes sense if you want to take advantage of the credits but also to earn bonus points," says Genter. "And sometimes, they have promotions such as hyper-targeted offers."

Tags: credit cards

Comparative assessments and other editorial opinions are those of U.S. News and have not been previously reviewed, approved or endorsed by any other entities, such as banks, credit card issuers or travel companies. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired.

Citi to raise Global Entry statement credits to $120 for 2 cards

Applying for Global Entry is getting more expensive, but a major credit card issuer is now boosting its Global Entry benefits for two popular travel cards.

On Thursday, Citi announced it would increase its Global Entry statement credits to $120 every four years for the Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees ) and the Citi Prestige® Card .

The move comes just days after TPG was first to report that the price of applying for a five-year Global Entry membership would rise from $100 to $120 beginning in October. In announcing the fee hike, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which oversees Global Entry, cited rising costs to operate the program.

The information for the Citi Prestige has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Offsetting the higher Global Entry fee

As valuable an option as Global Entry is for travelers, the application fee isn't a drop in the bucket. However, some travel credit cards will reimburse the fee when it comes time to apply.

But many of those cards' benefits include specified credits of up to $100 to cover the existing Global Entry expense. (Exact terms differ from card to card.)

CBP's fee hike planned for later this year opened the door for questions about whether card issuers might adapt their Global Entry benefits to account for the new, higher fee.

Now, Citi has done just that, ensuring Global Entry remains essentially a free perk for travelers who carry two of its high-end cards.

What citi cards are raising their global entry credit?

Starting on Oct. 1, 2024, Citi will raise its Global Entry fee statement credits for two cards: the Citi Prestige Card and the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard .

Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard

Though the Citi/AAdvantage Executive card has a hefty $595 annual fee, it carries strong value for regular American flyers; it's the only card that provides complimentary Admirals Club access.

Cardholders can earn 4 AAdvantage miles for every dollar spent on American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage mile for every dollar spent on other purchases. You'll earn Loyalty Points on everyday purchases, too, which helps you work your way toward AAdvantage elite status .

That's on top of other perks such as Lyft and Grubhub credits, as well as the Global Entry (or TSA PreCheck) statement credit once every four years; that credit will now rise from $100 to $120 for Global Entry applicants to cover the program's hiked fee.

Citi Prestige Card

Meanwhile, cardholders with the Citi Prestige card (no longer available to new applicants) can receive a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry enrollment fee credit every four years. As of October, that credit will likewise cover up to $120 for applications to the latter program.

The card carries a $495 annual fee.

What is Global Entry?

Global Entry provides travelers with an expedited trip through passport control following an international flight. It's available at 77 airports, most of which are in the U.S.; there's also a handful of international preclearance facilities.

The program also gives travelers access to the TSA PreCheck lanes at airport security checkpoints.

Though Global Entry applicants have faced delays in recent years, from long processing times to challenges finding an interview, wait times are improving for the vast majority of travelers, CBP insisted in a recent interview with TPG.

Bottom line

Now, all eyes will be on other credit card issuers to see if they will follow in Citi's footsteps and raise their Global Entry statement credits to account for the program's higher fee. The higher fee takes effect in October.

Because of the changes to make Global Entry more efficient and technologically advanced — not to mention the fact that children of members or applicants can apply for free as of October — it's a great time to consider joining. This is especially the case if the adults in your family can get their application costs reimbursed or offset through an eligible travel credit card.

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Citi, Chase Will Cover Steeper Global Entry Fees for Premium Cardholders

Elizabeth Casolo , Skift

April 16th, 2024 at 2:04 PM EDT

Citi and Chase plan to chase the rising Global Entry fees, allowing cardholders to still access Global Entry.

Elizabeth Casolo

Starting October 1, 2024, Citi and Chase will cover higher Global Entry fees for certain cardholders.

The news comes after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) decided to drive up Global Entry fees by 20% — from $100 from $120 — by October, despite wiping application fees for minors. Global Entry permits pre-approved travelers a speedier entrance into the U.S.

Chase and Citi are among the credit card companies that subsidize Global Entry fees for some clients.

According to spokespeople from the two companies, members with these cards will receive up to $120 every four years to cover Global Entry renewal:

• Citi/AAdvantage Executive
• Citi Prestige
• Chase Sapphire Reserve
• United Explorer
• United Club Visa Infinite
• United Quest
• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
• IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
• Aeroplan Card
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card
• J.P. Morgan Reserve

Chase said cardholders could also use the credit for NEXUS , another CBP program that eases travel between the U.S. and Canada. NEXUS now costs $120, too. 

The higher Global Entry fees have no impact on TSA PreCheck . Still, Chase and Citi Cardholders could apply the credit to this program, as well.

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Tags: airline credit cards , chase , citi , credit , credit cards , customs , global entry , jp morgan chase , nexus , travel credit card , tsa , tsa precheck , u.s. customs and border protection

Photo credit: Some of the Chase Sapphire credit cards used for booking travel and other things. Source: Chase.

Andy Sieg is quickly shaking up Citi's wealth business. At least 11 senior execs have left since his arrival.

• Merrill Lynch veteran Andy Sieg took over Citi's struggling wealth unit in September.
• At least 11 senior executives, even some from its successful Asia business, have left since his arrival.
• More exits are expected as Sieg slashes costs and pushes bankers to earn investment fees.

Citi just finished its first phase of mass layoffs, shedding 7,000 employees in the past quarter. But the leadership of its ailing wealth unit is continuing to undergo major changes under its new boss Andy Sieg.

Citi's wealth unit has seen at least 11 senior execs exit since Merrill Lynch veteran Sieg joined in September. The latest departure is David Bailin, chief investment officer for the global wealth division, who announced his departure on Monday. The 15-year Citi veteran is at least the 11th senior executive to leave Citi's wealth division since Sieg took over in September. Seven of the ex-employees had worked at Citi for at least 15 years.

Bailin wrote in a LinkedIn post that he planned to focus his "entrepreneurial spirit" on investment issues facing family offices. Most of the other departing executives have not disclosed their reasons for leaving, and only one exit was characterized as a retirement. These changes come as Citi has undergone a restructuring that eliminated its number of management levels from 13 to 8.

Sieg's mandate is to turn around the wealth business, which was barely profitable this past quarter.

"Growing wealth is a core pillar of our strategy and will improve our business mix by adding more fee-based revenue and drive improved returns," Fraser said when Sieg's hire was announced in March 2023. "In my conversations with Andy, it is clear to him that our team is on a mission to transform Citi — and he is highly driven and motivated to play a central role in our firm's leadership."

One of Sieg's priorities is to get more clients to let Citi manage their investments. These fees would reduce the division's reliance on revenue from deposits and loans. Bankers who aren't bringing in enough investment assets from clients have to step it up, chief financial officer Mark Mason said on Friday's earnings call.

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"There will be a need for us to continue to invest and replenish low-performing or low-producing bankers and advisors with resources that actually can generate the revenues we expect and take advantage of the client opportunity that's in front of us," he said.

Sieg also plans to expand Citi's already successful wealth business in Asia. He upholds the bank's reputation among rich customers in Asian capitals such as Hong Kong and Singapore as an example for the rest of the division.

Despite this success, Asian executives were not left unscathed. In February, Sieg attended the ribbon cutting for two new wealth hubs in Singapore for clients with at least $1 million in assets. One month later, Shyam Sambamurthy, the Asia South region head whose purview included Singapore, resigned after 36 years at Citi. At least two other senior Asia executives have left.

Sieg installed his former colleague from Merril Lynch, Don Plaus, when the private bank's North American head, Hale Behzadi, retired in March. 

Here is our running list of senior departures from Citi Wealth.

Do you work for Citi? Have a tip or story to share? Reach out to Hayley Cuccinello at [email protected] or 917 740 5340, which works for calls, text, and the encrypted messaging app Signal.

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Welcome to the Citi Training Series website for DoD Travel training! Please find the schedule for upcoming webinar, classroom, and onsite sessions below. These sessions are open to all DoD APCs. Click on the sessions titles for a course description.

To register, simply log into CitiManager® and access the Citi® Learning Center from the Web Tools icon. Click here and navigate to page 7 for detailed instructions.

Citi recommends that APCs take the webinar sessions in the following order: CitiManager, Online Applications and Maintenance (OLA/M) & Bulk Online Applications and Maintenance (BOLA/M), Reporting, and then Visa Intellilink.

For more experienced APCs Citi recommends the CitiManager – New Look and Feel and Visa Intellilink webinars.

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