AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. Terms Apply to the offers listed on this page. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers.
Featuring a wide range of spending categories, top transfer partners, and an affordable annual fee, the Citi Premier® Card is one of the best mid-tier rewards cards you can add to your wallet.
When you factor in the 60,000 point sign-up bonus, $100 annual hotel savings benefit, and the lack of foreign transaction fees, the Citi Premier card is one of the best rewards cards available for a $95 annual fee.
The Citi Premier also takes out the top spot in our review of the best rewards cards for gas & fuel, earning 3X points per $1 spent on airfare and hotels and at gas stations, restaurants, and supermarkets.
- 60,000 point signup bonus worth $800 towards airfare through the ThankYou Travel Center, or potentially much more when transferred to airline partners
- 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 ThankYou.com
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee
- 3X points per $1 spent on airfare, hotels, and at gas 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
Page Contents
- Citi Premier Credit Card Overview
- Citi Premier Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 Bonus ThankYou Points
- Pros & Cons of the Citi Premier Card
- Earn 3X Points on Valuable Bonus Categories
- Redeem Citi Premier Points for a Fixed-Value for Air Travel and Hotels
- Citi Premier® Card Benefits and Annual Fee
- $95 annual fee
- $100 annual hotel savings benefit
- Citi Premier® Card retail and travel protection benefits
- No foreign transaction fees
- Entertainment and lifestyle perks
- No charge for adding a Citi Premier authorized user accounts
- Sharing Citi Premier points with other people
- Citi Premier World Elite Mastercard benefits
- Comparison With Similar Cards
- Is the Citi Premier® Card Right for You?
- Is It Worth It?
- Citi Premier Card Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Citi Premier credit card worth it?
- How do I redeem Citi Premier points?
- When do Citi Premier card points expire?
- What credit score do you need for the Citi Premier Card?
- What is the lowest credit limit for the Citi Premier?
- Is the Citi Premier hard to get?
- Does the Citi Premier Credit Card have an annual fee?
- Which is the best Citi credit card for travel?
Citi Premier Credit Card Overview
The Citi Premier Card is a versatile travel rewards credit card allowing cardholders to earn Citi Premier ThankYou Points for everyday spending. With a generous welcome bonus and a fantastic return on a wide range of spending categories, making it popular among travelers and rewards enthusiasts.
The Citi Premier Card caters to individuals who enjoy earning valuable rewards on travel-related expenses and other everyday purchases. Whether you frequently dine out, fuel up at gas stations, or shop at supermarkets, this card offers significant rewards that can be redeemed directly for travel through the ThankYou Rewards Travel Centre or transferred to airline and hotel partners.
Citi Premier Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 Bonus ThankYou Points
New cardmembers will unlock 60,000 bonus ThankYou Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.. That breaks down to roughly $1,334 monthly on the card after you are approved to earn the signup bonus.
Understanding how much you need to spend each month and the timeframe to meet the minimum spending requirement is crucial to ensure you earn the 60,000 bonus points without overspending and committing unnecessary resources to lock in the welcome offer.
Thankfully, Cit provides an excellent tool called the Citi Credit Tracker to help new card members manage their minimum spend, ensuring you know exactly what you need to do to lock in the signup bonus.
Pros & Cons of the Citi Premier Card
Pros:
- Lucrative 60,000-point welcome offer
- 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, on airfare, and hotel purchases
- Flexible redemption options, including access to all of Citi's airline and hotel transfer partners
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to exclusive entertainment and lifestyle perks
Cons:
- $95 annual fee
- Lack of travel and retail protection benefits
- Only earns 1x point on non-bonus purchases
Earn 3X Points on Valuable Bonus Categories
One of the primary reasons new cardmembers apply for the Citi Premier® Card is the lucrative earning rates on everyday spending categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and travel, which significantly boost your ThankYou Points earnings.
Let's take a look at each of the bonus categories:
- 3X points per $1 spent on airfare, hotels, gas 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
When paired with the Citi® Double Cash Card — which we think is one of the best personal rewards cards available for non-bonus spending — the combo will supercharge your earning strategy, and you'll only pay a modest annual fee to hold both cards over the long term.
Redeem Citi Premier Points for a Fixed-Value for Air Travel and Hotels
The flexibility of the Citi Premier Card extends to its redemption options, giving cardholders multiple ways to redeem ThankYou Points.
As a Citi Premier member, you can redeem ThankYou Points for 1¢ per point towards air travel, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and more when redeemed through the ThankYou Travel Center.
There are no blackout dates, and airline tickets are treated as revenue fares — meaning you'll earn both elite and redeemable miles. This gives the signup bonus a base value of $600 towards travel when redeemed through the Citi travel portal for a fixed value.
However, similar to rival Chase Ultimate Rewards, the most valuable way to redeem your Citi Premier rewards is by transferring ThankYou Points to Citi's 18 airline and hotel transfer partners.
| Citi Transfer Partner | Transfer Ratio | Transfer Times |
|---|---|---|
| Aeromexico Rewards | 1:1 | Up to 6 days |
| Accor Live Limitless | 2:1 | Unknown |
| Avianca LifeMiles | 1:1 | Instant |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 1:1 | Instant |
| Choice Privileges | 1:2 | Unknown |
| Emirates Skywards | 1:1 | Unknown |
| Etihad Guest | 1:1 | 1 hour |
| EVA Air Infinity MileageLands | 1:1 | 2 days |
| Air France/KLM Flying Blue | 1:1 | Instant |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | 1:1 | Instant |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 1:1 | 1 day |
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club | 1:1 | 1 day |
| Sears Shop Your Way® | 1:12 | Unknown |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | 1:1 | 1 day |
| Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus | 1:1 | 3 days - 7 days |
| Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles | 1:1 | Instant |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 1:1 | Instant |
Citi ThankYou transfer partners don't receive quite the same attention as rival programs Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards, but the program has some fantastic partners offering top value for your points.
For example, one of the best ways to book flights on United Airlines (and many Star Alliance airlines) is using Singapore KrisFlyer miles. You can book a round-trip, business-class ticket within the continental U.S. for 40,000 miles and a round trip to Hawaii for only 35,000 miles in economy or 60,000 in business class.
When booking United flights, many people assume Chase points are better since they transfer directly to United's MileagePlus program, but all three of these tickets cost fewer points if you transfer points to Singapore KrisFlyer than if you booked the same itinerary with United MileagePlus.
Regrettably, American Airlines is not a long-term transfer partner of Citi ThankYou Rewards. In 2021, Citi Premier cardholders were able to participate in a limited-time transfer program to American, providing a temporary avenue for maximizing their rewards with a domestic program. For now, your best bet to earn American miles is via the Citi Premier AAdvantage cards.
Citi Premier® Card Benefits and Annual Fee
$95 annual fee
The Citi Premier charges an annual fee of $95 per year, on par with other cards in the mid-tier flexible rewards card category.
While the Citi Premier® Card doesn't feature big-ticket perks like airport lounge access, cardholders can access a range of benefits that more than account for the annual fee each year.
$100 annual hotel savings benefit
Outside of the huge earning potential of this card, it also offers a $100 annual hotel savings benefit. Once per calendar year, you can get $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding fees and taxes), through ThankYou.com.
You're effectively getting ~20% off a cash hotel stay of $500. As the card charges a $95 annual fee, using this benefit once per year can cover the cost of holding the card year-on-year.
Citi Premier® Card retail and travel protection benefits
Unfortunately, Citi announced dramatic changes to the Citi Premier Card card retail and travel benefits in 2019, including the removal of almost all travel and purchase protections.
The Citi Premier retained extended warranty coverage and purchase protection but lost many of its benefits, including car rental insurance, trip delay protection, and trip cancellation and interruption insurance. The only protection benefits of note left on this card are:
- Purchase protection: With purchase protection, you can buy an eligible item using your Citi Premier® Card, and receive up to $10,000 per incident if the item is damaged or stolen within 90 days of the purchase or delivery date. The maximum limit per calendar year is $50,000.
- Extended warranty: The extended warranty coverage extends the manufacturer's warranty on eligible items for 24 months. This benefit applies to items with a manufacturer's warranty of 5 years or less, and coverage is limited to $10,000 per item.
No foreign transaction fees
You can bring your Citi Premier® Card with you when traveling overseas to avoid foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.
Entertainment and lifestyle perks
- Citi Private Pass: This program offers Citi credit and debit cardholders exclusive event access to a wide array of entertainment and lifestyle experiences. With Citi Private Pass, Citi Premier cardholders can enjoy pre-sale tickets, preferred seating, and VIP packages for popular events like concerts, sports games, dining experiences, and more.
- Citi Concierge: Citi's premium Citi Concierge service provides Citi Premier card members with personalized assistance and lifestyle management services. The service has a team of experts available 24/7 to assist with various tasks and requests, such as travel arrangements, restaurant reservations, event tickets, shopping recommendations, and other concierge services.
It doesn't cost anything to add an authorized user to your account, so you can give a family member or partner an authorized user card at no cost and leverage household spending to earn even more points.
Sharing Citi Premier points with other people
You can transfer ThankYou Points between accounts without fees, making sharing rewards easy. You can transfer up to 100,000 points, and receive up to 100,000 points within a calendar year.
However, it's important to note that Citi has an ultra-prohibitive expiry policy on shared points. Once transferred, points are only valid for 90 days, so you need to have the potential redemption locked in before you start moving points around, or you run the risk of losing them.
Citi Premier World Elite Mastercard benefits
As a World Elite Mastercard, the Citi Premier card provides its users with various extra benefits exclusive to Mastercard holders. Here are some of the most notable perks:
- Zero liability protection for purchases
- Mastercard ID Theft Protection
- A complimentary ShopRunner membership
- Get a $5 Lyft credit when you take a minimum of three rides per month
- Receive three months of DoorDash DashPass for free
- Cellphone protection
- Access to the World Elite Concierge
Comparison With Similar Cards
- 3X points per $1 spent on airfare, hotels, and at gas 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
- 5X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 5X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases
For a more detailed look at these cards, check out our Citi Premier Card vs Citi Premier comparison post, highlighting which of these rewards cards delivers more value.
Is the Citi Premier® Card Right for You?
Citi dishes up a somewhat complex set of application restrictions that can have a significant impact on your ability to get ThankYou Rewards earning cards, including the Citi Premier ThankYou Premier signup bonus. Rules include:
- Maximum of one (1) personal card per eight days
- Maximum two (2) total cards per 65 days
- Maximum one (1) business card per 95 days
- You can only receive the sign-up bonus if you haven't received a bonus on this same card in the past 48 months
Related: Who is Eligible to Get a Bonus on the Citi Premier® Card?
Credit score requirements
A credit score of 700 or higher, classified as Good credit, increases the likelihood of getting approved for the Citi Premier. Your chances are also influenced by factors like your annual income and existing debts.
Additionally, it's essential to meet the minimum eligibility criteria, including being at least 18 years old, having a valid SSN or ITIN, and maintaining a U.S. mailing address.
Is It Worth It?
The Citi Premier® Card is a reward-focused card that will help you earn the maximum number of points possible from your spending, particularly when paired with other ThankYou points earning cards.
While it's light on big-ticket benefits, the high points earning rate still makes it a great standalone travel card you can use at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, and hotels to earn 3 points per $1 dollar spent.
The current 60,000-point offer provides enough points for a round-trip business class flight to Hawaii, plus, you can make use of great category bonuses to earn valuable points that transfer to a variety of airline partners.
If you haven't taken advantage of the Citi Premier earning rates, now is the time to get your application in and start stacking ThankYou Points.
- 60,000 point signup bonus worth $800 towards airfare through the ThankYou Travel Center, or potentially much more when transferred to airline partners
- 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 ThankYou.com
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee
- 3X points per $1 spent on airfare, hotels, and at gas 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
Citi Premier Card Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Citi Premier credit card worth it?
Is the Citi Premier the right card for you? This depends on your individual spending habits, travel preferences, and financial goals. The card offers a range of benefits, including generous rewards on air travel, dining, gas, and entertainment purchases, and access to the ThankYou Points program.
The card can provide significant value if you frequently spend in these categories and maximize the travel rewards. However, if you depend on the travel protection benefits offered by your credit card, or primarily make other purchases, you should look at other options, as Citi stripped many of these benefits from the Citi Premier.
How do I redeem Citi Premier points?
If you have Citi Premier travel rewards, you can redeem them in two ways. Firstly, you can use the ThankYou Rewards portal to redeem your points for a fixed value. This gives you access to a variety of options such as air travel, hotel bookings, car rentals, merchandise, gift cards, statement credits, and more.
Secondly, as a Citi Premier cardholder, you can transfer your ThankYou Points to participating hotel and airline loyalty programs. Transferring points to Citi's transfer partners can provide you with even more value.
When do Citi Premier card points expire?
Your Citi Premier card points will not expire if your account is open and in good standing. However, if your account is closed, you have 60 days to use your points before they expire. This applies regardless of whether you close your account or if Citi closes it due to inactivity.
It also applies if Citi converts your card to one that doesn't earn ThankYou Points. However, if Citi closes your account due to fraudulent activity, you will lose your points immediately. You may also lose your points immediately if your tax or residency situation changes.
What credit score do you need for the Citi Premier Card?
If your credit score is 700 or higher (considered Good credit), it will improve your chances of being approved for the Citi Premier Card. Other factors affecting your approval odds include your annual income and any outstanding debts. It's also important to note that applicants must be at least 18 years old and have a U.S. mailing address and a valid SSN or ITIN.
What is the lowest credit limit for the Citi Premier?
Based on the data points available, Citi typically sets the minimum credit limit for the Citi Premier Card at $2,000. However, this limit can be higher for those with excellent credit, a significant annual income, and other relevant factors. In fact, some cardholders have reported credit limits as high as $20,000.
The number of existing Citi credit cards held can also impact the assigned credit limit. Citi assesses your current credit limits and overall available credit to determine the limit for the new card, which may result in newer cards having lower limits than older ones.
Is the Citi Premier hard to get?
Outside of Citi's standard application rules, you can get the Citi Premier if you haven't received a welcome bonus on this same card in the past 48 months.
Does the Citi Premier Credit Card have an annual fee?
Yes, the Citi Premier Card has a $95 annual fee; however, the card does not charge foreign transaction fees.
Which is the best Citi credit card for travel?
In the past, The Citi Prestige was considered the top-tier ThankYou Rewards earning credit card, but as it is not currently open to applications, the Citi Premier Card is Citi's top ThankYou Rewards card.
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
At the moment, I’m at 5/24, including 1 AA Mile Up, 1 AAdvantage Platinum Select, and a CSP that I got on 11/14/22.
Do you think I’ll be denied a Citi Premier or should I wait until I’m under 5/24 next January, 2024?
Big question! That’s a while to wait to get under 5/24, so you could potentially leave a lot on the table if you wait for that. Did you get both the Mile Up and the Platinum Select in November 2022 — or just the CSP? If you recently got a couple of Citi cards, I’d hold off on applying for a new one. But if you’ve had those cards for a bit, then the Citi Premier could help round out your collection.
Does Citi have 5/24 restriction like Chase has?
Tom – no, but they have their own rules. They’re sensitive to how many inquiries you’ve had recently. People often say Citi has a 6/6 rule: if you have 6 or more recent inquiries in the last 6mo, expect a denial. You also can’t get more cards than this with Citi: 1 new card every 8 days, 2 personal cards in 65 days, 1 business card every 90 days. Lastly, it seems like Citi is strictest (recent inquiries, number of new cards in the last year) with its Premier Card.
Citi is catching up with Chase offers, having more good promotion offers now.
I agree that this card has some good benefits, however, Citi would need to partner with American to get me to get a card. I get good benefits from Chase and Amex. I just don’t need Citi, unless they have a partnership with AA. I wonder why they are dragging their heels on this.
Combining the Premier card with the Custom Cash and Double Cash cards makes for a compelling strategy.
This is super tempting… but I finally get under 5/24 in February and still need to pickup a Chase Ink Business Preferred and a World of Hyatt card.
Really tough call. Should I do it??
Although the fact that Citi doesn’t even have a single hotel transfer partner kinda makes it less valuable for me.
Is anyone else besides Chase ever gonna be able to partner with Hyatt?!
Luke – when would you drop under 5/24 again if you got this card? If it’s 2 months, it could be worth it. 9 months? Probably not. Citi does have 2 hotel transfer partners: 1:1 to Wyndham and 1:2 to Choice. Lastly, Bilt transfers to Hyatt. Read more on that here – https://awardwallet.com/blog/bilt-earn-rewards-paying-rent/
“Ending soon” is pretty vague. Got an actual date?
We think it’s ending today, January 10.