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Citi ThankYou points are one of the best major flexible points currencies around. With 14 airline transfer partners and five hotel programs, Citi ThankYou points can be some of the most lucrative flexible points you can have.
Citi ThankYou has an infuriatingly complex points expiration policy. So, the answer to the question: ‘do Citi ThankYou points expire?' is tricky, to say the least. Your points are generally safe as long as your account is open and in good standing. However, be aware that you'll find multiple exceptions and different expiration deadlines depending on how you earned your points.
Do Citi ThankYou Points Expire?
As a rule of thumb, Citi ThankYou points do not expire. However, Citi has different expiration policies for some of its older cards. We break down all of this by card below.
Plus, you can start the clock on expiration by transferring points to another Citi cardholder or closing your account.
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Citi ThankYou Point Expiration Policies
When your ThankYou Points expire (or don't expire) varies depending on what credit card you have and whether you have points earned from another card.
Citi cards with no expiration
Citi ThankYou points earned from any of the following cards do not expire as long as you keep your account open:
- Citi Custom Cash® Card
- Citi Double Cash® Card
- Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
- Citi Prestige® Card
- Citi Rewards+® Card
- Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card
- CitiBusiness® ThankYou® Card
- AT&T Access Card from Citi
- AT&T Access More Card from Citi
- AT&T Points Plus Card
- AT&T Universal Rewards World MasterCard
However, if you hold one of these “no expiration” cards after a product change from a previous card, the points earned from the previous card will have a different expiration deadline as follows.
Related: How To Earn Citi ThankYou® Points
Citi cards with special expiration terms
The points earned on that former card before the product change will expire at the end of their natural cycle per the initial card membership agreement. This list includes:
- AT&T Universal Business Rewards Card
- CitiBusiness Card with ThankYou Rewards
- CitiBusiness World Card with ThankYou Rewards
- PremierPass Card
Cards with 5-year expiration policy
Points earned from any of the following cards will expire at the end of the year when five full (calendar) years have passed since you earned them. For instance, points earned in June 2019 will expire on December 31, 2024.
- AT&T Universal Card
- AT&T Universal Rewards Card
- AT&T Universal Savings and Rewards Card
- Citi Platinum with ThankYou Rewards Card
Differently, points earned from the former Citi Forward® Card expire five years from the end of the month in which they were earned (this applies to points earned through June 3, 2016).
Cards with 3-year expiration policy
Points earned from the following cards will expire at the end of the year when three years have passed. For instance, points earned in June 2021 will expire on December 31, 2024.
- AT&T Universal Business Rewards Card
- Citi Business® Card with ThankYou® Rewards
- Citi Business® World Card with ThankYou® Rewards
- Citi Professional with ThankYou® Rewards
This same three-year rule also applies to points earned from Citibank checking accounts (which stopped earning points in September 2023).
Other Citi ThankYou Expiration Policies
Account closure
If your account is closed, you have 60 days to use your points before they expire. This applies whether you close your account or if Citi closes it due to inactivity. It also applies if you product change your Citi card — or Citi converts your card — to one that doesn't earn ThankYou Points.
However, if Citi closes your account for other reasons (such as fraud), you will lose your points immediately. You also might lose points immediately if your tax or residency situation changes.
Points received through sharing
It's possible to share Citi ThankYou Rewards with other account holders. If you do, points expire in 90 days.
End of the Citi ThankYou Rewards program
Per the terms and conditions, you'll lose your points in 90 days if Citi decides to end its rewards program. But that's surely a remote chance.
Using Citi Points Before They Expire
If your points will expire soon, you can redeem them in several ways:
- Transfer your points to one of the Citi ThankYou transfer partners.
- Redeem your points for flights, hotels, and more directly through the Citi Travel portal.
- Cashout points for a deposit to a bank account or receive a check in the mail for cash back.
- Pay bills online using Citi ThankYou Points.
- Redeem as a statement credit.
- Purchase gift cards.
- Shop with points as your payment method at merchants such as Dollar General, Walgreens, and Walmart, and online at multiple retailers.
Although there are different options available, transferring your points to a travel partner provides the best opportunities for maximum value. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to transfer Citi points.
Note: If you've closed your only account earning ThankYou Points, you'll lose access to online redemptions. Call 1-800-THANK-YOU to redeem points over the phone.
Use AwardWallet to Track Citi ThankYou Points Expiration
With such a complex Citi expiration policy, it pays to monitor your Citi ThankYou balance, especially if you hold one of the older Citi cards. The best way to do this is to use AwardWallet to track your balance. That way, you will receive a timely reminder if you have any points in danger of expiration.
To add your Citi ThankYou account to AwardWallet, log into your account and then link your Citi ThankYou account to AwardWallet, and you're set.
Related: How to Track Your Rewards Using AwardWallet
Our Take
The Citi ThankYou program is a major credit card points program in the U.S. It's comprehensive and easy to use, with few pitfalls in the small print. This makes it easy for consumers to use the program and maximize the value of their points.
The program's value is boosted by the sheer number of cards earning Citi ThankYou Rewards. This includes the no-annual-fee Citi Rewards+® Card and the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, which carries a modest annual fee and a robust set of features and benefits.
With so many options, there is a strategy for everyone to use the ThankYou Rewards program. However, Citi should simplify the multiple policies for when ThankYou Points expire.
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