Travel

Citi Premier bank card overview — The Points Guy

March 25, 2023

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Editor’s observe: This put up has been up to date with new data and affords. Citi is a TPG promoting accomplice.

Citi Premier® Card overview

The Citi Premier® Card is an under-the-radar gem with an outstanding vary of bonus classes. While the cardboard isn’t as robust on the redemption facet as related choices from Chase or Amex, the power to earn 3 factors per greenback on air journey, inns, fuel stations, supermarkets and eating places (together with takeout) for simply $95 a yr remains to be a fairly nice deal. Card score*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

* Card score relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.

This card is among the finest earners on on a regular basis spending. It accrues 3 factors per greenback on air journey, inns, fuel stations, eating places and supermarkets. Not unhealthy for a card with a $95 annual charge.

Not solely that, however the factors you earn with the Citi Premier are among the many most versatile rewards currencies and are price 1.8 cents every by TPG valuations. That’s as a result of Citi has improved the ThankYou Rewards program considerably through the years to compete with American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Here’s what else you need to find out about this card — and why you may need to apply now.

Related: The finest Citi bank cards

Citi Premier welcome provide

The Citi Premier is at the moment providing 60,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases inside the first three months of account opening. Citi makes use of a somewhat fascinating rule to find out bonus eligibility, although.

You received’t be capable of earn the bonus on the Citi Premier when you’ve opened or closed the Citi Rewards+® Card, Citi ThankYou® Preferred*, Citi Premier or Citi Prestige® Card*within the final 24 months. Most issuers rely that point solely primarily based on once you opened a card or obtained a bonus, however with Citi, your clock additionally resets when you shut a card, so it’s all within the timing.

*The Citi ThankYou Preferred and Citi Prestige are not obtainable for brand new candidates. The data for the Citi Prestige has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

There’s a $95 annual charge on the Citi Premier.

Earning factors with the Citi Premier

The Citi Premier’s incomes construction is one side the place the cardboard shines. Cardholders earn 3 factors per greenback on purchases within the following classes, with no caps or annual limits:

The card additionally earns 1 level per greenback on all different purchases.

These incomes charges are among the many most spectacular of any journey rewards card, particularly contemplating the Citi Premier’s reasonably priced annual charge.

However, to coincide with the launch of Citi Travel with Booking.com, Premier cardholders can earn 10 factors per greenback on bookings for inns, rental automobiles and eligible sights when reserving via the portal via June 30, 2024.

Citi Premier advantages

The Citi Premier can also be a best choice for vacationers, due to its participation within the ThankYou Rewards program, which at the moment has 14 airline switch companions and two lodge companions.

While you’ll discover that most of the frequent-flyer packages are these of worldwide airways, there are nonetheless some high-value (and simply redeemable) awards to be booked via them.

For occasion, you’ll be able to leverage Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles for first rate business-class award availability on these airways and their SkyTeam companions, get some phenomenal offers on Star Alliance awards utilizing Avianca LifeMiles and offset paid fares with JetBlue TrueBlue.

You also can redeem your ThankYou Points for journey immediately via the Citi portal at a charge of 1 cent every, however that’s properly beneath TPG’s valuation of ThankYou factors at 1.8 cents every, a quantity derived partially from Citi’s in depth listing of switch companions.

CITI PREMIER BENEFITS

Much of the Citi Premier’s worth proposition comes from its skill to earn bonus factors in a slew of classes with out charging a hefty annual charge. As such, you shouldn’t anticipate an amazing variety of perks, however there are a number of advantages of this card that may show you how to recoup your annual charge:

$100 annual lodge credit score: You’ll get pleasure from a $100 credit score as soon as per calendar yr for single-stay lodge bookings of $500 or extra (excluding taxes and costs) made via the Citi journey portal.
Extended guarantee safety: Adds 24 months to a producer’s guarantee.
Damage and theft safety: Repairs or replaces an merchandise broken or stolen inside 90 days of buy (as much as $10,000 per incident and $50,000 per yr).
World Elite Mastercard advantages: As a World Elite Mastercard, the Citi Premier confers a number of travel-related perks that customers may not find out about. These embrace a $5 month-to-month Lyft credit score after taking three rides in a calendar month and entry to the Mastercard luxurious inns and resorts portfolio for on-property perks like complimentary breakfast and room upgrades upon availability. Through the World Elite Mastercard program, you’ll additionally get pleasure from perks like cellphone safety and Global Emergency Services.
Citi® Entertainment: This program provides cardholders particular entry to buy tickets to 1000’s of occasions — from live shows and sporting occasions to distinctive eating experiences and film screenings — earlier than most of the people can purchase them.
No international transaction charges: Like any good journey card, the Citi Premier lets you journey freely with out incurring a charge on worldwide spending.

Which playing cards compete with the Citi Premier?

As an reasonably priced journey rewards card, the Citi Premier has a couple of direct opponents that is perhaps a greater match for you:

If you favor Chase playing cards: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, with an annual charge of $95, competes immediately with the Citi Premier. While Chase’s switch companions (together with United MileagePlus and Southwest Rapid Rewards) is perhaps extra helpful for a lot of vacationers, there are some overlaps, together with Singapore KrisFlyer, Emirates Skywards and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. For extra data, learn our full overview of the Sapphire Preferred.
If you need a flat earnings charge: Try the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. It, too, prices a $95 annual charge, however this card comes with a much less profitable (however a lot less complicated) incomes charge of two miles per greenback on all purchases. Instead of an annual lodge credit score, you’ll rise up to a $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck software credit score as soon as each 4 years with the Venture. You’ll even get two annual lounge visits per yr to Capital One’s nascent community of airport lounges — or use these passes at over 100 Plaza Premium lounge areas. For extra data, learn our full overview of the Venture Rewards.
If you need a great deal of perks: One of the Citi Premier’s closest opponents over at American Express is the American Express® Gold Card, which earns 4 factors per greenback at eating places, 4 factors per greenback at U.S. supermarkets on the primary $25,000 in purchases per calendar yr (then 1 per greenback), 3 factors per greenback on flights booked immediately with airways or via Amex Travel and 1 level per greenback on different eligible purchases. The Amex Gold Card additionally comes with as much as $10 in month-to-month eating credit at choose eating places (as much as $120 in annual assertion credit) and as much as $10 in month-to-month U.S. Uber Cash (as much as $120 yearly), offsetting the vast majority of the $250 annual charge (see charges and costs). Enrollment is required for choose advantages. For extra data, learn our full overview of the Citi Premier.

For extra choices, try our full listing of journey rewards playing cards.

Read extra: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Citi Premier: Which mid-tier journey card is healthier?

Bottom line

Despite a bevy of opponents, the Citi Premier’s lengthy listing of bonus classes and strong sign-up bonus make it one of the vital profitable points-earning playing cards in its worth vary. The strong of ThankYou Rewards switch companions makes this card compelling, particularly for vacationers who need the pliability to redeem factors with numerous loyalty packages. It’s price a glance when you’re a fan of Citi.

Official software hyperlink: Citi Premier Card with 60,000 bonus ThankYou factors after $4,000 in spending within the first three months of account opening.

Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox, Stella Shon, Eric Rosen and Christina Ly.

For charges and costs of the Amex Gold Card, click on right here.