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Citi offers a valuable lineup of credit cards with different flavors of rewards to fit all tastes and preferences. Whether you want to reward your spending with ThankYou® Points, cash back, American Airlines AAdvantage® miles, or just enjoy the flexibility of a low-interest credit card, Citi likely has a product to fit your wallet.
But how you you know when to apply for a Citi credit card? And what differentiates a good welcome offer from a great one?
Here's a look at the best-ever offers on Citi credit cards and when it makes sense to apply — based on each card's past offer history. It's also worth pointing out that multiple offers discussed below aren't currently available, but it helps to know what was available previously so you understand what to look for in a great offer.
Page Contents
Overview
The table below highlights a wide variety of Citi cards, showcasing the best-ever offers, the spending requirement and timeframe affiliated with the offers, when those offers happened, and when we recommend you apply for these cards — based on offer history.
As a brief primer, a “best-ever offer” represents the card's highest publicly available welcome bonus. This title does not account for targeted offers that you might receive from Citi or its partners, such as American Airlines.
| Credit Card | Best-Ever Offer | Spend Requirement | When That Offer Happened | When to Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citi Strata Premier℠ Card | 80,000 Citi ThankYou Points | $4,000 in 3 months | July 8, 2021 — January 13, 2022 | Apply for this card when the bonus is 80,000 points. |
| Citi Rewards+® Card | 25,000 Citi ThankYou Points | $1,500 in 3 months | April 25, 2023 — July 25, 2023 | Apply for this card when the bonus is 20,000 points or greater. |
| Citi Custom Cash® Card | $200 | $750 in 3 months | June 10, 2021 — September 12, 2022 | Apply for this card when the bonus is $200. |
| Citi Double Cash® Card | $200 | $1,500 in 3 months | November 14, 2023 — Ongoing | Apply for this card while the offer is still active. |
| Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® | 100,000 American Airlines AAdvantage Miles | $10,000 in 3 months | July 23, 2023 — September 8, 2023 | Apply for this card when the bonus is 70,000 miles or greater. |
| Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® | 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage Miles | $3,500 in 4 months | August 20, 2024 — October 18, 2024 | Apply for this card when the bonus is 50,000 miles or greater. |
| American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card | 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage Miles | $500 in 3 months | March 12, 2024 – Ongoing | Apply for this card while the offer is still active. |
| Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® | 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage Miles | $5,000 in 5 months | October 18, 2024 — January 9, 2025 | Apply for this card when the bonus is 65,000 miles or greater. |
And before we get further, we'd be remiss not to mention that Citi has tight restrictions on credit card application frequency. Before you apply for any cards mentioned below, make sure you have a thorough understanding of what those restrictions are.
Cards That Earn Citi ThankYou Points
While Citi offers a few cards that earn transferable ThankYou Points, only two have an offer history to speak of. Here's a look at those two cards:
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
NOTE: We've combined the records from the old Citi Premier℠ Card and the new Citi Strata Premier℠ Card in this table, as it is an updated version of the older card.
With a reasonable $95 annual fee and a handful of valuable bonus categories, it's easy to see why the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card holds its own as a fantastic mid-tier travel rewards card. The points you earn are transferable to 21 partners, which means there's a lot you can do with your ThankYou Points.
- 3X points per $1 on airfare and hotels and at gas stations, restaurants, and supermarkets
- Annual Hotel Benefit: Save $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when you book through CitiTravel.com
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee
- 10X points per $1 on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
- 3X points per $1 spent on airfare, and other hotel purchases
- 3X points per $1 spent at gas and EV charging stations
- 3X points per $1 spent on dining at restaurants, including cafes, bars and lounges
- 3X points per $1 spent at supermarkets
- 1X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
On purchases, Citi Strata Premier cardholders earn 10X points per $1 on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com; 3X points per $1 spent on airfare and other hotels; and 3X points at gas stations, EV charging stations, restaurants, and supermarkets plus 1X on everything else.
Welcome offers for the Citi Strata Premier range between 50,000 and 80,000 ThankYou Points after spending $4,000 in three months, with an occasional spending perk added in.
| Start Date | End Date | Welcome Offer | Spend Requirement | Spend Timeframe (Months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2025 | Ongoing | 60,000 | $4,000 | 3 |
| May 16, 2024 | April 2, 2025 | 75,000 | $4,000 | 3 |
| January 10, 2023 | May 12, 2024 | 60,000 | $4,000 | 3 |
| June 14, 2022 | January 9, 2023 | 80,000 | $4,000 | 3 |
| January 13, 2022 | June 13, 2022 | 60,000 | $4,000 | 3 |
| July 8, 2021 | January 13, 2022 | 80,000 | $4,000 | 3 |
| October 22, 2020 | July 8, 2021 | 60,000 | $4,000 | 3 |
| October 11, 2018 | October 22, 2020 | 50,000 | $4,000 | 3 |
| Unknown | October 11, 2018 | 60,000 | $4,000 | 3 |
As history shows, the best-ever welcome offer on the card was 80,000 ThankYou Points. And since this offer comes around periodically, it's worth waiting for.
Related: Citi Strata Premier Card full review
Citi Rewards+® Card
For those who want to earn ThankYou Points without paying an annual fee, look no further than the Citi Rewards+® Card. When you swipe the card, you'll earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. On everything else, earn 1X.
- 2X ThankYou® Points at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter
- 1X points on all other purchases
- Automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase - with no cap
You can redeem your points for travel, gift cards, cash back, or transfer them to a select list of partners. However, you'll have full access to all of Citi's 21 partner programs if you also hold the Citi Prestige® Card (no longer open to new applicants) or Citi Strata Premier.
Welcome offers for the Citi Rewards+ range between 15,000 and 25,000 ThankYou Points after spending between $1,000 and $1,500 in three months. And this card is no stranger to added 5X spending categories.
| Start Date | End Date | Welcome Offer | Spend Requirement | Spend Timeframe (Months) | Welcome Offer Perks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 25, 2023 | Ongoing | 20,000 | $1,500 | 3 | None |
| April 25, 2023 | July 25, 2023 | 25,000 | $1,500 | 3 | None |
| February 8, 2022 | April 25, 2023 | 20,000 | $1,500 | 3 | 5X ThankYou Points per $1 spent on airfare and hotels for 12 months ($6,000 cap) |
| August 12, 2021 | February 8, 2022 | 20,000 | $1,500 | 3 | None |
| February 3, 2021 | August 12, 2021 | 15,000 | $1,000 | 3 | None |
The best-ever welcome offer on the card was 25,000 ThankYou Points, but it's worth taking advantage of offers of 20,000 points or higher. This is a quality offer for a no-annual-fee product that earns transferable points.
Related: Citi Rewards+ full review
Cards That Earn Cash Back
Citi offers two cash-back credit cards that have become mainstays in the wallets of those who prefer to get a little back on every purchase. Here's the offer history on those two cards:
Citi Custom Cash® Card
The Citi Custom Cash® Card is a nifty no-annual-fee credit card that adapts to your spending habits. On everyday purchases, you'll earn 5% cash back (available as 5x ThankYou Points) on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, and 1% cash back thereafter, plus 1% on everything else.
- Sign-up bonus of $200 in cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening, issued as 20,000 ThankYou® Points
- 5% cash back in your top eligible spend category on up to $500 of purchses each billing cycle
- No rotating bonus categories to sign up for--the top earning category adjusts automatically each month to the eligible category in which you spend the most.
- Excellent intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers
- No annual fee
- 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, plus, you'll earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
- 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.
- Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.
- Eligible spending categories are: Restaurants, Gas Stations, Grocery Stores, Select Travel, Select Transit, Select Streaming Services, Drugstores, Home Improvement Stores, Fitness Clubs and Live Entertainment.
The rewards you earn on the Citi Custom Cash are delivered as ThankYou Points. You can redeem points for travel on ThankYou.com or for cash back in the form of a statement credit or direct deposit at a rate of one cent per point. But if you have a Citi Strata Premier℠ Card or Citi Prestige® Card, you can pool your points and move them to Citi's transfer partners.
Welcome offers on the Citi Custom Cash don't stray from the $200 cash bonus (fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou Points), but what has changed over time is the spending requirement and the associated timeframe. The card offered a $200 bonus after $750 worth of spending in the first three months before Citi upped the spending requirement to $1,500 and extended the three-month period to six months.
| Start Date | End Date | Welcome Offer | Spend Requirement | Spend Timeframe (Months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 13, 2022 | Ongoing | $200 | $1,500 | 6 |
| June 10, 2021 | September 12, 2022 | $200 | $750 | 3 |
If you're looking to add this card to your wallet, apply for it when there's a $200 (20,000-point) offer.
Related: Citi Custom Cash full review
Citi Double Cash® Card
Much like the aforementioned “cash back” credit card, the Citi Double Cash® Card offers rewards denominated in ThankYou Points. With this card, you'll earn 2% (2X points) on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back (1X points) when you buy, plus an additional 1% (1X) as you pay for those purchases, as long as you pay at least the minimum due on time.
If you're looking to pay down debt or finance a larger purchase, this card also comes with one of the best available introductory APR offers on balance transfers.
- 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.
- 2% cash back on every purchase - 1% when you buy + 1% when you pay
- 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the (Variable) APR will be 18.24% - 28.24% based on your creditworthiness
- 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)
- No annual fee
- Earn 2% cash back on every purchase—1% when you buy and 1% when you pay. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25. Citi cash rewards now also convert to ThankYou points at 1:1 ($10 = 100 ThankYou points).
The rewards you earn can be converted to cash back or transferred to a limited set of partners — or can be used with the full roster of 21 partners if you hold the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card or Citi Prestige® Card.
The Citi Double Cash fluctuates between offering either a cash bonus offer or instead offering a special introductory APR. But when a welcome offer with cash back comes around, it's routinely $200 after spending $1,500 in the first three months of account opening.
| Start Date | End Date | Welcome Offer | Spend Requirement | Spend Timeframe (Months) | Welcome Offer Perks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 14, 2023 | Ongoing | $200 | $1,500 | 3 | None |
| November 14, 2022 | November 14, 2023 | None | None | None | Special introductory APR for 18 months |
| August 11, 2022 | November 14, 2022 | $200 | $1,500 | 3 | None |
If you want to add the Citi Double Cash to your wallet, do so when there's a cash-back bonus. For a no-annual-fee product, $200 worth of ThankYou Points is incredible.
Related: Citi Double Cash Card full review
American Airlines Credit Cards
For those who want to bank a lot of American Airlines AAdvantage miles on a sign-up bonus, look no further than Citi's co-branded credit cards that earn miles on every purchase. Here's a look at the offer history on a handful of American Airlines credit cards.
Related: Which Citi American Airlines AAdvantage Credit Card is Right for You?
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
With elite perks on offer and an annual fee to match, it's clear that American Airlines' flagship credit card is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®. For $595 annually, you can enjoy complimentary Admirals Club membership for the primary cardholder (which can cost between $750 and $850 annually), free checked bags, and more.
- Complimentary Admirals Club® membership for the primary cardholder
- Admirals Club® membership for authorized user accounts
- First checked bag free on domestic AA flights for you and up to 8 companions
- Priority check-in, TSA screening lines, and boarding
- 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points after you spend $40,000 in purchases within the year
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- Earn 10X miles for every $1 spent on eligible hotels booked at aa.com/hotels and eligible rental cars booked through aa.com/cars
- Earn 4X miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases (increased to 5X miles through the end of the calendar year after you pass $150,000 in purchases annually)
- Earn 1X mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases
The AA Executive Card also earns well on purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
Welcome offers for the AA Executive Card range between 50,000 and 100,000 AAdvantage miles after spending between $2,500 and $10,000 in three months.
| Start Date | End Date | Welcome Offer | Spend Requirement | Spend Timeframe (Months) | Welcome Offer Perks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 8, 2023 | Ongoing | 70,000 | $7,000 | 3 | None |
| July 23, 2023 | September 8, 2023 | 100,000 | $10,000 | 3 | The annual fee increased to $595 at the onset of this offer |
| December 5, 2022 | July 23, 2023 | 50,000 | $5,000 | 3 | None |
| October 7, 2022 | December 5, 2022 | 80,000 | $5,500 | 3 | None |
| August 10, 2021 | October 7, 2022 | 50,000 | $5,000 | 3 | None |
| June 27, 2019 | August 10, 2021 | 60,000 | $6,000 | 3 | None |
| Unknown | June 27, 2019 | 60,000 | $3,000 | 3 | None |
The best-ever 100,000-mile offer on the AA Executive Card came with an annual fee increase and added costs for authorized users. And while this offer was spectacular, it only appeared once. In the event we never see it again, we'll recommend taking (A)advantage of offers of 70,000 miles or greater. They're still valuable and a bit more frequent.
Related: Citi AA Executive Card full review
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
For those who don't want to splurge on AA's most expensive credit card, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® stands as a solid option with plenty of perks to make each trip more comfortable and affordable, such as priority boarding and a free checked bag. Even better, it has a reasonable annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months.
With these perks, it's easy to justify the annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months.
- Free checked bags for you and up to 4 companions on domestic itineraries
- Priority boarding to help you win the race for overhead bin space
- A 25% discount on inflight food, beverage, and Wi-Fi purchases
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent at restaurants
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent at gas stations
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- Earn 1X mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases
You'll earn 2X AAdvantage miles for every $1 spent at gas stations, restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases. On everything else, you'll earn 1X mile per $1 spent. And like on AA's other cards, you'll also earn 1 Loyalty Point for every $1 spent.
Welcome offers for the AA Platinum Select range between 50,000 and 75,000 AAdvantage miles after spending between $2,500 and $3,500 in four months.
| Start Date | End Date | Welcome Offer | Spend Requirement | Spend Timeframe (Months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 19, 2024 | Ongoing | 60,000 | $3,000 | 3 |
| August 20, 2024 | October 18, 2024 | 75,000 | $3,500 | 4 |
| August 7, 2024 | August 20, 2024 | 60,000 | $3,000 | 3 |
| April 29, 2024 | August 7, 2024 | 50,000 | $2,500 | 3 |
| March 7, 2024 | April 29, 2024 | 75,000 | $3,500 | 4 |
| February 20, 2024 | March 7, 2024 | 60,000 | $3,000 | 3 |
| October 25, 2023 | February 19, 2024 | 50,000 | $2,500 | 3 |
| May 5, 2023 | October 25, 2023 | 50,000 | $2,500 | 3 |
| April 6, 2023 | May 5, 2023 | 75,000 | $3,500 | 4 |
| Unknown | April 6, 2023 | 60,000 | $3,000 | 3 |
As history shows, 50,000-mile offers are the most prevalent. Looking for anything higher than that is the way to go with this card.
Related: Citi AA Platinum Select full review
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
If you want to earn AAdvantage miles without paying an annual fee, the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card is a quality wallet addition. When used for everyday spending, cardholders will earn 2X AAdvantage miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services, and on purchases with AA, plus 1X on everything else.
- 15,000 AAdvantage® miles after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- 2X AAdvantage® miles on eligible American Airlines purchases and at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services
- Save 25% on inflight drinks and snacks when you use your card on American Airlines flights
- $0 annual fee
- 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services
- 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
We're currently seeing just the second-ever seen offer on the AA MileUp Card, so the history doesn't have a lot to compare. Offers have included 10,000 bonus miles + a $50 statement credit or 15,000 miles — both after $500 in purchases.
| Start Date | End Date | Welcome Offer | Spend Requirement | Spend Timeframe (Months) | Welcome Offer Perks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 12, 2024 | Ongoing | 15,000 | $500 | 3 | None |
| Unknown | March 11, 2024 | 10,000 | $500 | 3 | $50 statement credit |
For the right wallet, this card can make a lot of sense. And the bonus is pretty good for a no-annual-fee product. Short-haul awards start around 7,500 miles, which means this bonus could be good for a free flight.
Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®
Small businesses loyal to American Airlines have their own flavor of AA's Citi-branded mid-range credit card: the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®. And depending on which categories your business routinely spends in, the card can make a lot of sense. On top of that, the card has an annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months.
- Free checked bags for you and up to 4 companions on domestic itineraries
- Priority boarding to help you win the race for overhead bin space
- A 25% discount on inflight food, beverage, and Wi-Fi purchases
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on cable and satellite providers
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent at gas stations
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on select telecommunications merchants
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on car rentals
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- Earn 1X mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases
On purchases, your business will earn 2 AAdvantage® miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, plus 2 miles on purchases at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants, and at gas stations, plus earn 1 mile per $1 spent on other purchases.
Welcome offers for the Citi AAdvantage Business Card range between 60,000 and 75,000 AAdvantage miles after spending between $3,000 and $6,000 in the introductory period.
| Start Date | End Date | Welcome Offer | Spend Requirement | Spend Timeframe (Months) | Welcome Offer Perks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 10, 2025 | Ongoing | 65,000 | $4,000 | 4 | $99 annual fee waived for first 12 months |
| October 19, 2024 | January 9, 2025 | 75,000 | $5,000 | 5 | $99 annual fee waived for first 12 months |
| June 19, 2024 | October 18, 2024 | 65,000 | $4,000 | 4 | $99 annual fee waived for first 12 months |
| April 16, 2024 | June 19, 2024 | 75,000 | $5,000 | 5 | $99 annual fee waived for first 12 months |
| November 19, 2023 | April 15, 2024 | 65,000 | $4,000 | 4 | $99 annual fee waived for first 12 months |
| October 19, 2023 | November 18, 2023 | 75,000 | $6,000 | 6 | $99 annual fee waived for first 12 months |
| June 4, 2020 | October 19, 2023 | 65,000 | $4,000 | 4 | None |
| April 2, 2020 | June 4, 2020 | 70,000 | $4,000 | 3 | $99 annual fee waived for first 12 months |
| January 16, 2020 | April 1, 2020 | 65,000 | $4,000 | 3 | None |
| June 27, 2019 | January 16, 2020 | 65,000 | $4,000 | 3 | $99 annual fee waived for first 12 months |
| Unknown | June 27, 2019 | 70,000 | $4,000 | 4 | $99 annual fee waived for first 12 months |
As history shows, offers oscillate between 65,000 and 70,000 miles, with an occasional 75,000-mile offer thrown in. Anything greater than 65,000 miles is generally really good. If you can wait around, however, there's no harm in looking for something at 70,000 miles or greater.
Related: Citi AAdvantage Business Card full review
Publicly Available vs. Targeted Offers
The offers above represent the highest publicly available offers, but you might see targeted offers for something a little better. To check, services such as CardMatch will ask for some personal information and run a quick search for any special card offers you may qualify for.
These offers can also appear in your mail or email inbox. It's worth keeping an eye open for these targeted, elevated offers. Unfortunately, it's hard to predict what these may be or when you might see them.
Related: How To Get Targeted Credit Card Offers
Bottom Line
When considering applying for a Citi credit card, evaluating the welcome offer in front of you in the context of all other historical welcome offers makes sense. It could mean the difference between applying now or waiting for the offer to get a little better.
Knowing when to apply, what to watch for, and what a quality offer looks like may prove helpful as you develop your broader credit card strategy and work toward your next points and miles redemption. With information about the offer history on various Citi credit cards, you should have a better understanding of what offers to apply for and when you should wait.
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