citi government travel card number

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Por favor, tenga en cuenta que las comunicaciones verbales y escritas de Citi podrían estar únicamente en inglés, ya que, tal vez, no podamos proporcionar comunicaciones relacionadas con los servicios en todos los idiomas. Estas comunicaciones podrían incluir, entre otras, contratos, divulgaciones y estados de cuenta, cambios en los términos o en los cargos, así como cualquier documento de mantenimiento de su cuenta.

Please be advised that verbal and written communications from Citi may be in English as we may not be able to provide servicing related communications in all languages. These communications may include, but are not limited to, account agreements, statements and disclosures, change in terms or fees; or any servicing of your account. If you need assistance in a language other than English, please contact us as we have language services that may be of assistance to you.

CITI TRAVEL with Booking.com

Introducing citi travel℠: your first stop to your next destination.

Earn ThankYou ® Points when you pay for part, or all, of your trip with your eligible Citi Card through the Citi Travel portal. Plus, you can redeem your points towards even more adventures through the Citi Travel portal. With customizable options and booking right from your Citi Mobile ® App for eligible cardholders, the way to go is now way easier.

Earn More ThankYou ® Points on Select Bookings Through the Citi Travel portal

10x the fun with citi premier ®.

Earn a total of 10x ThankYou ® Points on hotels and car rentals when you book on the Citi Travel portal. Offer expires June 30, 2024. 1

5X the Fun with Rewards+ ®

Earn a total of 5x ThankYou ® Points on hotels and car rentals when you book on the Citi Travel portal. Offer expires December 31, 2025. 2

More Points, More Fun with Double Cash ®

Earn a total of 5 ThankYou ® Points per $1 spent on hotels and car rentals when you book on the Citi Travel portal. Offers expires December 31, 2024. 3

Offer provides 3 additional points on top of the 1 point per dollar on purchases and 1 point per dollar for payments on purchases

Earn More Points with Custom Cash ®

Earn an unlimited additional 4 ThankYou ® Points per $1 spent on hotels and car rentals when you book on the Citi Travel portal. Offers expires June 30, 2025. 4

Additional Citi Travel Portal Benefits

The citi travel portal offers perks to make your travel booking experience easier and more convenient., access to over 1.4 million hotel and resort options, competitive prices when booking flights, hotels, cars and attractions, 24/7 customer service support for your booking needs.

ThankYou ® Cards Make Every Day More Rewarding

It's easy to earn ThankYou ® Points with Citi credit cards. Find the one that helps you earn the most on your daily spending.

Citi Travel: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the citi travel portal.

Citi Travel is a travel booking portal that gives eligible Citi card members access to book flights, hotels, rental cars, and attractions at competitive prices, along with 24/7 customer support. Additionally, when you book through the Citi Travel portal using ThankYou ® rewards cards, you can earn ThankYou ® points on your travel spending which can then be redeemed to be used on your next journey.

How do I book through the Citi Travel portal?

To book through the Citi Travel portal:

• Login into your Citi Mobile App or directly into the Citi Travel portal using your Citi Online User ID and password.
• After that, search for the flights, hotels, car rentals or attractions you want to book and enter the necessary information (such as number of guests or passengers, travel dates, etc.)
• Confirm your booking and choose whether you want to pay with card, points, or a combination of these purchase options.ns.

Can I use any Citi ® card to book through Citi Travel?

All Citi ThankYou ® Rewards Credit Cards

Citi Travel℠ is powered by Rocket Travel Inc., part of the Booking Holdings Inc. group of companies together with Booking.com.

1 Earn a total of 10 ThankYou ® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rental and attractions excluding air travel when booked through the Citi Travel℠ portal on cititravel.com or by calling 1-833-737-1288 (TTY: 711). Offer is valid through 11:59 PM 06/30/2024. You earn 3 ThankYou ® Points per $1 spent on the Citi Travel portal bookings. You will earn an additional 7 bonus ThankYou ® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rental and attractions excluding air travel when booked through the Citi Travel portal or by calling 1-833-737-1288 (TTY: 711) through 11:59 PM 06/30/2024. The booking must post to your account during the promotional period to qualify. This offer may overlap with other special offers in which you are currently enrolled. You must use your Citi Premier ® Card registered at the Citi Travel portal to earn the bonus points. For bookings made with a combination of points and your Citi Premier ® Card, only the portion paid with your card will earn points. Bonus points will take up to 3 billing cycles to post to your account. To qualify for this offer, this account must be open and current. Points will not be earned on canceled bookings. If your account is closed for any reason, including if you convert to another card product, you will no longer be eligible for this offer. Citi Travel is powered by Rocket Travel Inc., part of the Booking Holdings Inc. group of companies together with Booking.com.

2 Earn a total of 5 ThankYou ® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rental and attractions excluding air travel when booked through the Citi Travel℠ portal on cititravel.com or by calling 1-833-737-1288 and saying "Travel". Offer is valid through 11:59 PM 12/31/2025. You earn 1 ThankYou ® Point per $1 spent on the Citi Travel portal bookings. You will earn an additional 4 bonus ThankYou ® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rental and attractions excluding air travel when booked through the Citi Travel portal or by calling 1-833-737-1288 through 11:59 PM 12/31/2025. The booking must post to your account during the promotional period to qualify. This offer may overlap with other special offers in which you are currently enrolled. You must use your Citi Rewards+ ® Card registered at the Citi Travel portal to earn the bonus points . For bookings made with a combination of points and your Citi Rewards+ ® Card, only the portion paid with your card will earn points. Bonus points will take up to 3 billing cycles to post to your account. To qualify for this offer, this account must be open and current. Points will not be earned on canceled bookings. If your account is closed for any reason, including if you convert to another card product, you will no longer be eligible for this offer. Citi Travel is powered by Rocket Travel Inc., part of the Booking Holdings Inc. group of companies together with booking.com.

3 Earn a total of 5 ThankYou Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rental, and attractions excluding air travel when booked through the Citi Travel℠ portal on cititravel.com or by calling 1-833-737-1288 and saying "Travel". Offer is valid through 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) 12/31/2024. You earn 1 ThankYou Point per $1 spent on the Citi Travel portal bookings and an additional 1 ThankYou Point per $1 paid on Eligible Payments (as defined in the Citi ThankYou ® Rewards Terms and Conditions for Citi Double Cash ® Card Accounts) made to your Citi Double Cash card account. You will earn an additional 3 bonus ThankYou Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rental, and attractions excluding air travel when booked through the Citi Travel portal or by calling 1-833-737-1288 through 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) 12/31/2024. The booking must post to your account during the promotional period to qualify. This offer may overlap with other special offers in which you are currently enrolled. You must use your Citi Double Cash Card registered at the Citi Travel portal to earn the bonus points . For bookings made with a combination of points and your eligible Citi Double Cash card, only the portion paid with your card will earn the additional points. Bonus points may take one or two billing cycles to post to your account. To qualify for this offer, this account must be open and current. Points will not be earned on canceled bookings. If your account is closed for any reason, including if you convert to another card product, you will no longer be eligible for this offer. Citi Travel is powered by Rocket Travel Inc., part of the Booking Holdings Inc. group of companies together with booking.com.

4 Earn an additional 4 Thank You Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rental, and attractions excluding air travel through the Citi Travel℠ portal or by calling 1-833-737-1288 (TTY: 711). Offer is valid through 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) 6/30/2025. The booking must post to your account during the promotional period to qualify. This offer may overlap with other special offers in which you are currently enrolled. You must use your Citi Custom Cash ® Card registered at the Citi Travel portal to earn the bonus points . For bookings made with a combination of points and your eligible Citi card, only the portion paid with your card will earn the additional points. Bonus points may take one or two billing cycles to post to your account. To qualify for this offer, this account must be open and current. Points will not be earned on canceled bookings. If your account is closed for any reason, including if you convert to another card product, you will no longer be eligible for this offer. Citi Travel is powered by Rocket Travel Inc., part of the Booking Holdings Inc. group of companies together with booking.com.

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Por favor, tenga en cuenta que las comunicaciones verbales y escritas de Citi podrían estar únicamente en inglés, ya que, tal vez, no podamos proporcionar comunicaciones relacionadas con los servicios en todos los idiomas. Estas comunicaciones podrían incluir, entre otras, contratos, divulgaciones y estados de cuenta, cambios en los términos o en los cargos, así como cualquier documento de mantenimiento de su cuenta. Si necesita ayuda en un idioma distinto al inglés, por favor, comuníquese con nosotros, ya que tenemos servicios de idiomas que podrían serle útiles.

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Analysis-Dutch Set to Comply With U.S. Demands on China Exports

FILE PHOTO: The logo of chip equipment maker ASML is seen at its booth during Semicon China, a trade fair for the semiconductor industry, in Shanghai, China June 29, 2023. REUTERS/Nicoco Chan//File Photo

By Toby Sterling

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - U.S. demands that chipmaking giant ASML stop servicing some equipment it has sold to Chinese customers are a diplomatic and business headache for the Dutch government, but signs are it will continue to align with Washington on export restrictions.

Although Prime Minister Mark Rutte's government is reluctant to make a blanket decision, its public statements and national security interests suggest it will be slow to approve Chinese maintenance requests in future and quick to deny them.

That would be a setback for China's attempts to build up its domestic chip industry, because ASML gear is almost impossible to replace and will break down over time if not maintained.

But it could also complicate efforts by Rutte's government to stop ASML Holdings NV, the Netherlands' biggest company, from moving operations abroad.

One emerging factor is Dutch security priorities, particularly support for Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Rutte, who is favoured to become the next NATO secretary general, discussed ASML with Chinese President Xi Jinping when they met in Beijing last week.

He said afterwards that China's support for Russia was a serious problem at a time when the Netherlands is arming Ukraine with F-16s.

"It is incredibly important that China understand any victory for Russia (in Ukraine) would pose an immediate threat" to both the Netherlands and Europe, Rutte said.

He declined to answer directly whether his government will deny licences for ASML's Chinese customers.

Xi told Chinese state media he had warned Rutte against "decoupling and breaking links" with China.

STARTING POINT

While Beijing says it is neutral on the Ukraine conflict, Xi has a strategic alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Netherlands holds Russia responsible for the 2014 downing of Malaysia Flight 17 (MH17) over eastern Ukraine, which killed 198 Dutch citizens. It also houses and supports the Hague-based International Criminal Court which has issued a warrant for Putin's arrest on war crimes charges.

Rutte called on China to do more to keep Russia from obtaining "dual-use goods" with both civilian and military applications - such as ASML's machines and the chips they are used to make.

While his comments do not translate to a policy of presumptive denial for Chinese customers seeking ASML gear that falls under licensing rules, as U.S. policy does, they do indicate the Dutch government's likely starting point.

ASML declined to comment. It has previously said it complies with all export regulations.

European Parliament lawmaker Bart Groothuis said the Netherlands should determine export policy in concert with larger allies.

"It is much better for us to do that, regulate ASML, together with the U.S., or in the future it may be Europe, and I would say that is the best way forward," he said.

U.S. President Joe Biden's export policy chief Alan Estevez is expected to raise the servicing contracts at a meeting on Monday with Dutch government officials and executives from ASML.

The Dutch government must weigh its response given fears of weakening U.S. support for its security priorities, including Ukraine, especially if Donald Trump wins November's presidential election.

CASE BY CASE

"If the U.S. role in NATO decreases, then probably also the leverage that the U.S. has ... with regard to technology transfers to China will decrease," said Frans-Paul van der Putten of the Clingendael Institute, a Dutch think tank.

He said the Dutch see China as "the only country that has at least some kind of influence on Russia potentially".

The Dutch Foreign Ministry, which oversees exports, said on Thursday it will judge Chinese licensing requests the same way it does others: on a "case by case" basis, weighing the risks they might end up having undesired military uses.

But that will be difficult for Dutch officials to determine from afar, especially given Xi's civil-military fusion policies.

For ASML, the damage from an uncertain number of licence denials will be gradual and limited - maintenance is about 20% of its revenue and China is its third-biggest market after Taiwan and South Korea.

It has sold 10 billion euros ($11 billion) of equipment to chipmakers in China over the past three years, much of which does not fall under any export restrictions. Some has also gone to plants in China with Western-allied owners, such as SK Hynix and TSMC.

Individual Chinese chipmakers or plants that are denied a licence could be badly hurt, as ASML machines are essential for making chips and hard to replace.

Experts say, however, that Chinese chipmakers have shown surprising resilience to U.S.-led sanctions so far and will continue to find ways to engineer around them in the future.

"The cutting-off of servicing is going to inexorably degrade the capabilities of that equipment. And so the manufacturer will be fighting a sort of rearguard action to keep those machines going as long as possible," said Paul Triolo, a U.S. expert on China and semiconductors.

"The question is in the long term, what other workarounds are possible here?"

($1 = 0.9232 euros)

(Editing by Catherine Evans)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

Tags: European Union , Europe , Netherlands

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How to use the Citi trifecta to maximize your rewards

Allie Johnson

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Robin Saks Frankel

Updated 11:04 a.m. UTC April 1, 2024

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Citi is a Blueprint partner.

Good things come in threes: movie trilogies, the Triple Crown, three wishes from a genie — and this maxim even applies to credit card rewards. You can combine the best of three cards from the same issuer to maximize your earnings and amass rewards at a faster rate. Such is the case with the Citi trifecta.

The Citi trifecta involves using three Citi credit cards — but not just any three cards. By using cards with complementary earning structures and benefits, you can maximize your earnings while paying less than $100 total in annual fees. With this strategy, you’ll earn at least 2% cash back on all purchases and get access to the full range of redemption options from Citi.

Here’s how the Citi trifecta works, and why it may be your best strategy for earning lots of cash back or Citi ThankYou® Points at a quick pace.

What is the Citi trifecta?

The Citi trifecta involves three Citi credit cards — the Citi Premier® Card * The information for the Citi Premier® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , the Citi Custom Cash® Card and the Citi Double Cash® Card — all working together as a team. With these three cards in your wallet, you can use the right one for each purchase to maximize your earnings and enjoy the broadest range of Citi’s credit card benefits. Even better, you can pool all your earnings in the form of ThankYou Points and access all Citi options for the best redemption value.

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Blueprint receives compensation from our partners for featured offers, which impacts how and where the placement is displayed.

Citi Double Cash® Card

Welcome Bonus

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.

Regular APR

Credit score.

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Editor’s Take

• No annual fees.
• Introductory APR period on balance transfers.
• Excellent cash-back rewards.
• Charges foreign transaction fees.
• There’s a balance transfer fee.
• Few additional benefits.

Card Details

• 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.
• 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. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
• 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).

How does the Citi trifecta work?

The Citi trifecta works by combining the best elements of each card: the adapting nature of the Citi Custom Cash, the everyday earning power of the Citi Double Cash and the premium perks of the Citi Premier Card. These include access to a litany of points transfer partners, solid categories for triple points and additional cardholder protections.

Let’s look at each card in turn to see what it brings to the trifecta. 

Citi Double Cash

This is the easiest card of the bunch to understand. It has no annual fee, and you’ll earn 2% cash back on purchases — 1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off, plus, for a limited time, 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24. Even though it’s marketed as a cash-back card, you’ll actually earn ThankYou Points; you can redeem these as cash back or gift cards at 1 cent each, book travel in Citi’s portal or access three transfer partners: Choice Privileges, JetBlue TrueBlue or Wyndham Rewards. However, these transfers happen at poorer rates than with the Citi Premier, which is why that card can unlock more options.

Citi Custom Cash

With the Citi Custom Cash, you’ll also pay no annual fee and will earn 5% cash back on purchases in a top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent each month and 1% cash back on all other purchases. 

Eligible bonus categories you’ll want to consider for this card include select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs and live entertainment. There are other categories, but you should focus your spending for this card on categories not covered by the Citi Premier to ensure maximum earnings. And like the Double Cash, this card actually earns ThankYou Points.

Citi Premier

The Citi Premier is the only card in the trifecta with an annual fee, which is $95. It’s also the only one that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, so this is the card to use for all purchases outside the U.S. With the Citi Premier, you’ll earn 3 ThankYou® points per $1 at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. Plus, through June 30, 2024, earn 10 ThankYou points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel portal.

Intrigued by the high points potential on bookings made with Citi? Here’s everything you need to know about Citi’s ThankYou portal .

The Citi Premier also offers many other perks. You’ll get $100 off a single hotel booking of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) once per calendar year through thankyou.com, plus two valuable safeguards: extended warranty and purchase protection.

Lastly, there are the redemption benefits. The Citi Premier Card will provide access to all 19 of Citi’s transfer partners. Moreover, you get a 1-to-1 transfer ratio for most programs — better than the 10-to-8 ratio available with the Double Cash’s three partners.

How to maximize your rewards with the Citi trifecta

To maximize your rewards, use the Citi Premier for all international spending and also use it to buy expensive items that may need extended warranty or purchase protection coverage.

Beyond these considerations, use each card as follows:

• Citi Premier: Air travel, hotels, Citi Travel bookings, restaurants, gas stations and supermarkets.
• Citi Custom Cash: The category you’ll spend the most in during that billing cycle, out of these options: select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs or live entertainment. 
• Citi Double Cash: All remaining purchases that won’t qualify for the elevated rewards rates on the other cards.

Employing this strategy, you’ll earn a minimum of 2% cash back on purchases — 1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off, plus, for a limited time, 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24, thanks to the Double Cash. With the Citi Premier, you’ll earn 3 ThankYou® points per $1 at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. Plus, through June 30, 2024, earn 10 ThankYou points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel portal. Lastly, you’ll earn 5% cash back on purchases in a top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent each month and 1% cash back on all other purchases with the Citi Custom Cash.

And you can connect all of these accounts to pool your earnings for potentially better redemption value than just the 1 cent per point that you’d get with statement credits or gift cards. That’s because, by combining your points, you can access all travel partners and their boosted redemption potential. 

Ready to add a new Citi card to your wallet? Read our guide on how to pre-qualify for a Citi credit card .

What are the benefits of having multiple Citi cards?

There can be downsides to the Citi trifecta, which we shouldn’t overlook. Balancing multiple credit cards requires more organization and effort than just having one card that earns a decent rate, such as the Double Cash Card. Additionally, applying for multiple credit cards leads to multiple hard inquiries on your credit report, which can have a slight negative effect on your credit for about a year. Lastly, having more credit cards can lead to increased capacity to overspend if you have the tendency to do so.

However, there are benefits for those who use credit responsibly. We’ve already highlighted the increased rewards earning capacity, and you also can gain welcome bonuses on all three cards. Lastly, having more cards can actually help your credit in the long run, assuming you pay your bills in full and on time. That’s because you will have more available credit and more accounts reflecting positive behavior on your credit report. This can lower your utilization rate and boost your credit score .

How many credit cards should I have? Consider these elements to help you decide.

Citi trifecta vs. Amex trifecta vs. Chase trifecta: Is one better than the other?

It’s possible to employ the trifecta strategy with American Express and Chase as well. Here’s an overview of how you could earn with these other rewards programs.

The Amex trifecta

With the Amex trifecta , you’ll use these three cards: The Platinum Card® from American Express (terms apply, rates & fees , $695 annual fee), the American Express® Gold Card (terms apply, rates & fees , $250 annual fee) and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express * The information for the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply, $0 annual fee). You’ll pay far more in annual fees with this strategy than the Citi trifecta, however: a total of $945 versus $95. You’ll also need to qualify for a small business card.

All information about The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.

With the Amex trifecta, you can earn Membership Rewards® points as follows:

• Use the Amex Platinum Card to earn 5 Membership Rewards® points per $1 for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year, 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1 point per $1 on other purchases.
• Use the Amex Gold Card to earn 4 Membership Rewards points per $1 at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 4 points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point), 3 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express travel and 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases.
• Use the Blue Business Plus to earn 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 on everyday business purchases up to the first $50,000 spent per year, then 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. 

You’ll notice that all of these elevated earning rates have annual maximums. Thus, the Amex trifecta won’t work for everyone.

While Amex has more transfer partners than Citi, opening more options for your points redemptions, and there are hundreds of dollars in annual statement credits available on these cards, you’ll spend a lot more in annual fees with this strategy.

The Chase trifecta

It’s also possible to employ a trifecta of Chase credit cards, and there are even two variations of the Chase trifecta. You’ll use the Chase Freedom Flex℠ * The information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , Chase Freedom Unlimited® and either the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® .

• Use the no-annual-fee Freedom Unlimited for all purchases that don’t fall into bonus categories on the other cards, earning 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstore purchases and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. 
• Use the Freedom Flex, to earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases. The rotating categories can include merchants like wholesale clubs, Amazon, gas stations, PayPal and more.
• If you choose the Sapphire Preferred, you’ll pay a $95 annual fee and earn 5 points per $1 on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per $1 on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per $1 on all other travel purchases and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
• If you choose the Sapphire Reserve, you’ll get a $300 annual travel credit and lounge access to justify the $550 annual fee, plus increased earning rates of 5 points per $1 on flights and 10 points per $1 on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠ after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per $1 on other travel and dining and 1 point per $1 on other purchases.

Like Citi, your cash back and Ultimate Rewards® points can be combined to access Chase’s list of transfer partners through the Sapphire cards, and you’ll pay either $550 or $95, depending on which Sapphire card you choose.

Which of these trifectas best — Amex, Chase or Citi? That depends on which option best matches your spending habits, tolerance for annual fees, benefits you want along the way and redemption partners that work with your travel goals. And it’s not uncommon to find points-and-miles fans who have all three of these trifectas in their wallet — this author included.

How to choose the best Citi credit cards

Citi offers more credit cards than just those mentioned in the Citi trifecta. These three are the most complementary for earning extra rewards, but they aren’t your only choices.

Citi credit cards include options with 0% introductory APR offers on purchases and balance transfers, and Citi even issues the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi * The information for the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. .

Another solid option is the Citi Rewards+® Card * The information for the Citi Rewards+® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , which automatically rounds up every purchase to the nearest 10 points and also awards 10% of your redeemed points back each year — up to the first 100,000 points redeemed per year. Citi also issues co-branded credit cards for American Airlines . These cards earn AAdvantage miles and include cards offering no annual fee, a modest annual fee for modest perks or a high annual fee with a lounge membership included.

The key to choosing the best Citi credit card is to compare the perks offered by the cards and look at how those stack up against the annual fee to see if it’s worth it. You also should evaluate the rewards earning rates: look at which card will provide extra rewards where you tend to spend the most, whether that’s restaurants, supermarkets, streaming or something else.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Card trifectas are worth it if you can manage them responsibly, understand how the cards work together and manage juggling multiple credit cards. It’s also worth it if you can get more out of the cards than the annual fees you’re paying and can remember which card to use for which purchase. However, if you aren’t using the cards’ benefits and often use the wrong card, you might fare better with a simpler rewards strategy.

If you’re new to credit or new to Citi credit cards, you may lack the credit history or banking relationship Citi wants before approving you for its more premium credit cards. For most people, the right card to start with is the Citi Double Cash. This way, you’re earning 2% cash back on purchases — 1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off, plus, for a limited time, 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24, while biding time until you apply for your next Citi card.

A trifecta credit cards strategy is best for someone who wants to accelerate their earnings by using multiple credit cards to maximize rewards on every purchase. It may work well for you if you’re organized enough to juggle cards, will remember which card to use at which merchant and have the ability to track your spending and bills across cards to avoid harm to your credit.

For rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page .

For rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card please visit this page .

*The information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠, Citi Premier® Card, Citi Rewards+® Card, Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Ryan grew up in Ohio but has lived in half a dozen states and multiple continents before recently returning to the U.S. and settling in southern California. After someone at his hostel in China said, “I flew here for free using points,” Ryan was hooked. In December of 2023, he completed his goal of visiting every country in the world. Ryan has been around points and miles for several years and has published content at Miles to Memories, AwardWallet, The Points Guy and Forbes Advisor. He also holds Brazilian citizenship and speaks fluent Portuguese. His wife joins him on many of his trips, and they enjoy snowboarding, scuba diving, seeing animals in the wild and hunting for vegan tiramisu. When not traveling, Ryan is probably answering questions from his family about how he travels so much and whether this points and miles stuff is illegal.

Allie is a journalist with a passion for money tips and advice. She's been writing about personal finance since the Great Recession for online publications such as Bankrate, CreditCards.com, MyWalletJoy and ValuePenguin. She's also written personal finance content for Discover, First Horizon Bank, The Hartford, Travelers and Synovus.

Robin Saks Frankel is a credit cards lead editor at USA TODAY Blueprint. Previously, she was a credit cards and personal finance deputy editor for Forbes Advisor. She has also covered credit cards and related content for other national web publications including NerdWallet, Bankrate and HerMoney. She's been featured as a personal finance expert in outlets including CNBC, Business Insider, CBS Marketplace, NASDAQ's Trade Talks and has appeared on or contributed to The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NPR, International Business Times and NBC, ABC and CBS TV affiliates nationwide. She holds an M.S. in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University. Follow her on Twitter at @robinsaks.

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Get ready for sneaky new credit card fees

Your bank is looking for new ways to screw you over.

Good news! Some of those annoying fees on your credit card may soon be getting smaller. Bad news! Banks and credit-card companies are almost certainly trying to figure out where else they squeeze money out of you.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced last month that it had finalized a rule capping credit-card late fees at $8 for the first violation, cutting them down from the typical $32. Later that month, Mastercard and Visa reached a $30 billion settlement with US merchants agreeing to cap credit-card interchange fees — fees charged to retailers every time you swipe your card at their stores — for a handful of years.

Much of the industry's reaction to the late-fees limit has been of the sky-is-falling variety, with the Bank Policy Institute, an advocacy group, declaring that such charges are "essential to efficient functioning of the market." The response to the interchange-fee settlement has been a bit more muted: The Electronic Payments Coalition, which represents Visa, Mastercard, and other credit-card companies, said it was OK with the swipe-fees cap. This sanguine approach, however, is likely in no small part because the agreement is much less aggressive than legislation floating around in Congress . Taken together, it's clear that many companies in the credit-card business would rather not be dealing with this situation.

For consumers, the changes could be a decent deal. By the CFPB's calculation, late fees cost American families $14 billion a year, and it says the rule will save people some $10 billion annually. The swipe-fee cap will save merchants some money for a while, which could, in theory, be passed on to their customers, though it's unclear how much that will happen in practice.

Banks will always be able to find other places to recoup revenue for things like this

But there's good reason to think that, in the long run, these changes may not be an unambiguous win for credit-card customers : Financial firms are very good at getting money out of people. There are all sorts of levers card issuers can and will pull to try to recuperate any lost revenue streams elsewhere. Where one door closes, a window opens — one many consumers may be surprised to see on their next credit-card statement.

"Banks will always be able to find other places to recoup revenue for things like this," Matt Schulz, the chief credit analyst at LendingTree, told me. "I would imagine that we will see other fees increase over the next little while."

In the wake of the Visa/Mastercard settlement, analysts at UBS wrote in a note to investors that lost revenue due to caps on credit-card late fees and swipe fees, as well as impending changes to lower debit-card swipe fees, would send companies such as JPMorgan Chase, American Express, and Synchrony Financial looking for offsets elsewhere. There are a number of areas financial-services firms can turn to so they can make that money back, they said, including charging more interest and layering in various additional fees on items such as getting printed statements. They also said they thought there would be more fee-based card products, as in cards with annual fees.

"As the economics evolve, we would not expect the banks/card issuers to sit idle," the analysts wrote.

Mark Elliot, the chief customer officer at LendingClub and a banking-industry veteran, noted that annual interest rates for credit-card debt are extra high right now, which could make it harder for companies to ratchet them up even further, though not impossible.

"We've seen a lot of research that most customers are not even as aware of what the rate is on their card as they probably should be, so the card companies could increase that," he said.

Companies could look to downgrade credit-card rewards , which would save them money by not having to pay them out, though everyone is a little hesitant to alienate rewards customers. There are other places where banks and credit-card companies can look to pay for rewards like hotel points, miles, and cash back, such as upping foreign transaction fees or transfer fees or drawing from elsewhere. The Visa/Mastercard settlement allows retailers to add a surcharge for people with fancier rewards cards, which often come with higher swipe fees, but it's not clear how many merchants will do that. They don't want to drive away customers, especially more affluent, higher spenders, which rewards-card holders tend to be.

"Most merchants don't want to put themselves in the position of being the bad-guy tax collector on Visa and Mastercard's behalf," Doug Kantor, the general counsel at the National Association of Convenience Stores, said.

According to the Merchants Payments Coalition, Mastercard is now planning to increase different credit card fees soon, it's "network assessment" fee.

Banks and credit-card issuers have already been discussing in earnings calls their plans for what to do on fee clampdowns. With regard to the late-fee cap, Citi's chief financial officer, Mark Mason, said in its January call that the bank was planning to make up the lost revenue with various "offsets and mitigants," though he didn't specify what those were. The same month, Capital One CEO Rich Fairbank said the CFPB rule, once implemented, would have a "significant impact" on its profits and losses in the near term but that the company could deploy "mitigating actions" to eventually counteract it.

We've seen a lot of research that most customers are not even as aware of what the rate is on their card as they probably should be, so the card companies could increase that

Of course, things do not have to be this way. Banks have financial incentives to make a public fuss whenever any revenue stream is threatened, though it's not clear how big of a threat this actually is to their business or just what magnitude of changes they would need to make up the revenue. Whatever the reality, if they yell loud enough that some regulatory or legislative change will destroy their business, it ups the chances that said change will be reversed or never go through in the first place. And, on a fundamental level, many financial firms don't need such high profits to stay afloat in the first place, as much as their shareholders may demand them.

How many levers companies like JPMorgan Chase and Capital One can pull may also depend on competitive factors, Ira Rheingold, the executive director of the National Association of Consumer Advocates, said. Companies do have to contend with one another in terms of what types of annual fees they can get away with or interest rates they can charge. "I think there are some fundamental incentives that will keep them from going too crazy," he said.

The scenario does appear to be somewhat of a whack-a-mole situation — one fee is axed here, another fee appears over there. Amanda Jackson, the director of consumer campaigns at Americans for Financial Reform, said the only way to actually end this frustrating fee game was for the government to step in, as it's attempting to do with the late-fees limit, and set rules that apply to a wider swath of charges.

"We need regulations with true reforms that allow for billions to be saved," she said.

So next time your credit-card bill lands at your door, you may want to take a closer look at it to see whether any surprise extra charges wound up in there — and to see what your interest rate is.

Emily Stewart is a senior correspondent at Business Insider, writing about business and the economy.

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Best citi credit cards of 2024.

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Citi is one of a handful of credit card issuers in the U.S. offering multiple credit cards to fit just about any lifestyle. This is a good thing, but it makes choosing the best Citi credit card for your situation a challenge. We’ve sifted the options so you don’t have to. Below are seven top Citi credit cards that should satisfy a variety of different types of cardholders.

Best Citi credit cards: Summary

Best for balance transfers: card_name, best for rewards: citi premier® card, best for cash back: citi custom cash® card, best for travel: card_name, best for students: citi double cash® card, best for building credit: citi® secured mastercard® credit card, best for wholesale club shoppers: card_name, our recommendations, citi® diamond preferred® card.

The card_name offers balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration and intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration . This is one of the largest 0% intro annual percentage rate (APR) windows of any credit card on the market , making it a top choice for those looking for an extended respite from the high interest charged by other credit cards. A balance_transfer_duration_months breather will help you pay off your balances faster, potentially saving you thousands of dollars, depending on the amount of debt you have.

Unfortunately, the card doesn’t come with any other notable benefits. It also doesn’t earn any rewards for your spending. Still, with annual_fees annual fee, it’s worth keeping year after year simply to bolster your length of credit history (which accounts for 15% of your overall FICO credit score ). Just make sure to use it once every six months or so to avoid closure due to inactivity.

Citi Premier® Card

(Rates & Fees)

The Citi Premier® Card earns flexible rewards, called “ Citi ThankYou points ,” which can be redeemed for cash or transferred to airline and hotel loyalty programs for free travel. The card also offers one of the all-around best collections of bonus categories.

You’ll earn three points per dollar with restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, hotels, and air travel (and one point per dollar for everything else).This easily covers the majority of spending for many budgets. Also note that the card is currently offering 10 points per dollar for hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked through the Citi Travel Portal through June 30, 2024.

The card incurs a $95 annual fee, which will eat into your yearly profit from swiping. Nevertheless, the value in travel that you can squeeze from the card’s points can be well worth it.

Citi Custom Cash® Card

The Citi Custom Cash® Card takes all the brainpower out of maximizing your cash back credit card . It tracks your spending for you, identifies the eligible bonus category you’ve used the most each billing cycle, and awards you 5% cash back for those purchases (up to $500 per month, then 1%). Eligible categories include grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, drugstores, live entertainment, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and select streaming services, travel, and transit.

What’s more, it’s one of the few rewards credit cards that approve those with “fair" credit (defined by FICO as credit scores between 580 and 669).

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

American Airlines flyers will appreciate the lengthy travel benefits of the card_name . It comes with the first checked bag free for you and up to eight companions on the same domestic travel reservation; priority boarding, check-in, and screening; and American Airlines Admirals Club airport lounge membership (with Admirals Club access for authorized users). These perks can make your travel experience much more enjoyable.

Here’s the caveat: You’ll pay a annual_fees annual fee for the privilege of holding the card. This is higher than the average credit card fee, but when you consider that a yearly Admirals Club membership costs up to $850, the card’s value is clear. In short, if you’d otherwise purchase an Admirals Club membership, this card is a no-brainer.

Citi Double Cash® Card

‌ Citi Double Cash® Card is one of the best credit cards for everyday spending. It earns 2% on all purchases (1% back when you make a purchase and 1% back when you pay off that purchase). The ability to receive a minimum of 2% back is excellent, particularly for those with sporadic spending habits that don’t often fall into common credit card bonus categories.

This is another rewards credit card open to people with “fair" credit. If you’re a student—or non-student—with a credit score that still needs some work, the Citi Double Cash® Card could be a good fit.

Citi® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card

Whether you have a messy credit history or none at all, the Citi® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card is a good way to build your credit profile. It’s a secured credit card , which means that you’ll have to submit a refundable security deposit to Citi (between $200 and $2,500) before you can open one. Your credit line will equal the amount of money you choose to submit.

The card doesn’t earn rewards for your spending or offer any benefits with real value. Still, if you need to build your credit, this card is worth a look. After exhibiting responsible payment habits, your credit score should improve , and then you should be able to open a more lucrative card.

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Despite its name, card_name is useful for far more than just Costco purchases. Most notably you’ll earn 4% cash back on eligible gas and electric vehicle charging stations (for up to $7,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1%). You’ll also receive 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel, including Costco Travel. You’ll receive 2% back with Costco online and in the store and 1% back for everything else.

The card comes with two annoying restrictions.. First, only Costco members can open one. Second, you can only redeem your rewards once per year (specifically, in February) for either a lump sum of cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses.

Best Citi credit cards compared

Methodology.

When selecting the best Citi credit cards, we examined characteristics such as return rate, welcome bonus, intro APR, and accessibility. We considered several different lifestyle situations, such as students, travelers, and those new to credit, to distill Citi’s large list of cards down to the most valuable options.

How to choose the best Citi card for your needs

Determine your eligibility.

The first step you should take before researching Citi credit cards is to check your credit score. Many Citi credit cards require that you have “good” credit to qualify, while a select few accept applicants with “fair” credit or a limited credit history. If your score hampers your eligibility, it’s good to know early.

Find bonus categories that complement your spending

Citi credit cards come with a wide variety of bonus categories; others provide a flat return rate for all spending. Still others trade the ability to earn rewards for a low APR offer.

If you’re looking for a rewards credit card, find one that best compensates you for your everyday spending. For example, if you regularly travel by car, you’ll likely want a credit card that offers bonus rewards for gas station and restaurant spending.

Weigh ongoing benefits with annual fees

If a Citi credit card charges an annual fee, don’t get it unless it provides more value to you than you’re paying each year. Any credit card that doesn’t save you more than its price tag is not cost effective.

Choose rewards that fit your goals

Credit card rewards typically fall into two categories: cash back and travel rewards. If you’ve got travel aspirations, stick to Citi credit cards that earn airline miles or transferable points. If you simply want a rebate for your everyday spending, go for a cash back credit card.

Alternatives to Citi credit cards

More about Citi credit cards

How to apply for a Citi credit card

Applying for a Citi credit card is no different than applying for any other card. You must provide personal details such as your address, income, and Social Security number. You also may need to input your housing situation and debts.

Citi often approves or declines applications immediately. However, if it needs to verify information, the process may take several days.

What are the interest rates on Citi credit cards?

Citi credit cards tend to offer variable interest rates somewhere between 18% and 30%. This is a common range across all card issuers. However, Citi is notable for its 0% intro APR offers, providing multiple credit cards with up to 21 interest-free months.

What credit limit can I get with a Citi credit card?

The credit limit you receive from a Citi credit card is entirely dependent on your credit profile. You may receive as little as $500 if your credit score isn’t exceedingly high, while data points suggest that it’s possible that the most creditworthy applicants can receive as high as $50,000 or more.

Citi ThankYou Points

Citi’s proprietary rewards currency is called “Citi ThankYou Points.” Many Citi credit cards collect ThankYou Points, even those that are marketed as cash back cards.

Again, you can redeem Citi ThankYou Points for either cash back, at a rate of one cent per point, or airline miles and hotel points, which can bring a much higher return. Cards with no annual fee that earn points can transfer them to the following partners at varying ratios:

• Choice Privileges (2 to 3)
• JetBlue (5 to 4)
• Wyndham (5 to 4)

However, if you hold the Citi Premier card, you can transfer your rewards to a much healthier list of travel partners:

• AeroMexico (1 to 1).
• Flying Blue (Air France and KLM) (1 to 1).
• Accor (2 to 1).
• Avianca (1 to 1).
• Cathay Pacific (1 to 1).
• Choice Privileges (1 to 2).
• Emirates (1 to 1).
• Etihad (1 to 1).
• EVA Air (1 to 1)
• JetBlue ((1 to 1).
• Leading Hotels of the World (one to two).
• Qantas (1 to 1).
• Qatar (1 to 1).
• Singapore Airlines (1 to 1)
• Thai Air (1 to 1).
• Turkish Airlines (1 to 1).
• Wyndham (1 to 1).
• Virgin Atlantic (1 to 1).

Does Citi have a preapproval process for its credit cards?

Many banks provide the ability to check a specific credit card to see if you prequalify. Citi is one of the few major issuers that doesn’t offer this feature. However, you may receive targeted flyers in the mail suggesting that you’ve been preapproved for a specific credit card. This is because Citi periodically checks for you and sends you offers for which it thinks you’ve got a good shot at approval.

Can you combine points on Citi credit cards?

You can combine points If you have two or more of the following Citi credit cards:

• Citi Premier.
• Citi Double Cash.
• Citi Custom Cash.
• Citi Rewards+®.
• CIti AT&T Points Plus®.

In fact, by transferring any of these points to the Citi Premier card, you can then turn the rewards you have earned with any of these cards into airline miles and hotel points.

What to do if my application is denied

If your Citi application is denied, you can reach out to Citi’s reconsideration line at (800) 695-5171. These agents may be able to explain the reason for the declined application. In some cases you may be able to alleviate any concerns with a quick explanation. Citi may decline your application for many reasons and calling the reconsideration line is far from a surefire approval tactic, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to try.

TIME Stamp: Citi credit cards offer top options for most financial situations

Whether you’re interested in free airfare and hotel stays, cash back, or a 0% intro APR, Citi issues a credit card that’s up your alley. And most of its credit cards incur no annual fee, so you can keep them year after year without paying for membership.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is the easiest citi card to qualify for.

The easiest Citi credit card to qualify for is the Citi Secured Mastercard. This is because it’s a secured card, which demands a refundable security deposit upon account opening. The card is meant for those with bad credit or a limited credit history.

Which Citi card should you get first?

If you’re just beginning your credit journey, you should open the Citi Secured Mastercard first, because you don’t need a credit history for approval. If your credit is more established, the Citi Double Cash is a popular choice.

Are Citi cards hard to get?

Citi cards are no harder to get than those issued by other banks. In fact, two of Citi’s best credit cards—the Citi Double Cash and Citi Custom Cash—approve applicants with “fair” credit (FICO credit scores between 580 and 669), which is below average.

The information presented here is created independently from the TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About page.