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One of Citi's best no-annual-fee cards, the Citi Double Cash® Card (Rates & Fees) comes with an above average welcome bonus.
New applicants can earn a $200 cash back bonus after meeting the minimum spending requirement. It's an attractive way to start earning 2% cash back on every purchase.
Here's what you need to know about the bonus, how to apply, and whether it's better to apply outright or acquire this card another way.
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.
- 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, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel. - Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.49% - 27.49%, 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).
- 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, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
Citi Double Cash Welcome Offer Overview
New applicants for the Citi Double Cash can take advantage of the following welcome offer:
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.
It's not a given that a no-annual-fee card will offer a welcome bonus, let alone a good one. But this is a solid offer, especially considering the relatively modest spending requirement needed to earn it.
In addition to the cash back bonus, new cardmembers can also take advantage of the following introductory balance transfer offer:
0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months, then a variable rate of 17.49% - 27.49% - 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)
To put this offer in context, it's the best we've ever seen on this card. In fact, it's remained unchanged since mid-November 2023, with very little fluctuation since AwardWallet began tracking its offer history.
In other words, if you've been considering adding the card to your wallet, now is as good a time as any to apply.
Citi Double Cash Highlights
Compared to many other cards on the market, the Citi Double Cash is super simple. But it's also incredibly useful, especially as part of a paired Citi card strategy.
That's primarily because of its earning rates. This card earns:
- 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.
- 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
If you pair this card with another Citi card that earns ThankYou Points, you can combine the Citi Double Cash‘s lucrative everyday earning rate with another card's bonus categories.
Pairing it with a premium Citi card, such as the Citi Strata Premier® Card (Rates & Fees) or Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (Rates & Fees), also unlocks full access to Citi's airline and hotel transfer partners. This means you'll be able to transfer your rewards at the full transfer ratios instead of the limited transfer options available with this card on its own.
Beyond its rewards, the Citi Double Cash also includes a few useful benefits:
- Extended warranty
- 24-hour fraud protection
- Contactless payments and digital wallet compatibility
- Access to Citi Merchant Offers and Citi Flex Pay (on eligible purchases)
Related: Full Review of the Citi Double Cash Card
Should you apply for the Citi Double Cash outright?
Applying outright isn't the only way to get the Citi Double Cash. You can also acquire it by product changing from another eligible Citi card, provided your existing account qualifies for a product change.
This is worth considering because some other Citi cards offer much more lucrative welcome bonuses. For example, you could apply for a premium ThankYou Rewards card, earn its larger welcome offer, and use it for a year. If you decide the annual fee no longer makes sense, the Citi Double Cash is often a great card to product change into.
It's also worth thinking about the opportunity cost.
Applying for the Citi Double Cash outright uses one of your Citi 8/65 application slots, as well as a spot under Chase's 5/24 rule, on a card with a relatively modest welcome offer.
That's not to say the current offer isn't valuable. Rather, depending on your goals, you may find other cards provide more value for those limited application opportunities.
Ultimately, it's another factor to consider as you build your long-term credit card strategy.
Related: Citi Has Some Fantastic No Annual Fee Cards — Here’s the Best Strategy for Getting Them
Who Is Eligible for the Citi Double Cash?
The Citi Double Cash isn't subject to the same family-based application restrictions as Citi's other ThankYou Rewards cards. Outside of Citi's standard application rules, applying for this card won't affect your eligibility for other Citi ThankYou Rewards cards, and vice versa.
The main application restriction to keep in mind is Citi's 8/65 rule. If you're planning your applications around other Citi cards — such as applying for both the Citi Double Cash and the Citi Strata Premier — you can only apply for one Citi personal card every eight days and no more than two Citi personal cards within a 65-day period.
You should also pay close attention to the welcome bonus eligibility language in the card's terms:
“Offer available to new Citi Double Cash cardmembers approved through this offer. Bonus ThankYou® Points are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi Double Cash account in the past 48 months.”
Before applying, make sure you meet these requirements to ensure you're eligible to earn the welcome bonus.
Bottom Line
The Citi Double Cash welcome bonus is a solid offer on one of our favorite everyday credit cards, providing $200 cash back after meeting a modest spending requirement spread over six months. That works out to an average of just $250 in spending per month.
Beyond the welcome offer, cardholders earn 2 ThankYou Points per dollar spent on every purchase. Plus, new cardmembers can take advantage of an introductory 0% APR on balance transfers for 18 months.
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.
- 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, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel. - Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.49% - 27.49%, 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).
- 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, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Citi Double Cash® Card (Rates & Fees), Citi Strata Premier® Card (Rates & Fees), and Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (Rates & Fees)
