{"id":83806,"date":"2025-07-26T15:00:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T15:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=83806"},"modified":"2026-04-08T14:19:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:19:24","slug":"citi-rewards-card-combo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/citi-thankyou-rewards\/citi-rewards-card-combo\/","title":{"rendered":"The Citi Trifecta: A Winning Combo of Citi ThankYou Rewards Cards"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In 2025, Citi revamped the cards in its ThankYou<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Rewards program, introducing the new <a data-ccid=\"242\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CitiStrataElite?var2=ccid~242\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Citi Strata Elite\u2120 Card<\/a> (<a data-ccid=\"242\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=a3pDkecFgAg&offerid=1978593.4347&type=3&subid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>), which serves as the centerpiece for our redesigned ThankYou Rewards trifecta.<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"qs-card\" data-id=\"242\">\n            <div class=\"qs-data\">\n                <div class=\"qs-view\">\n                    <div class=\"qs-cardname\">Citi Strata Elite\u2120 Card<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-image\"><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/95\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CardArt-CitiStrataEliteCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Citi Strata Elite\u2120 Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Citi Strata Elite\u2120 Card' data-ccid=\"242\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CitiStrataElite?var2=ccid~242\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-rates\"><span class=\"qs-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"242\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=a3pDkecFgAg&offerid=1978593.4347&type=3&subid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong> Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening. <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"qs-info\">\n                    <strong class=\"qs-cardname\">Citi Strata Elite\u2120 Card<\/strong>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong> Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening. <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee:<\/strong><b>$595<\/b><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-tabs\"><a class=\"qs-more\" href=\"#more\">Show more<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"wwl\">Why We Like It<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"hl\">Highlights<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"er\">Earning Rates<\/a><div class=\"qs-tab-wwl\">The Citi Strata Elite\u2120 Card is Citi's premier rewards card, delivering top-tier travel and dining rewards and standout perks like a $300 annual hotel credit and no foreign transaction fees. From Friday night dinners to weekend getaways, the elevated earnings on hotels, air travel, and CitiNights\u2120 purchases make this a powerhouse option for frequent travelers looking to maximize every dollar spent.<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-hl\"><ul><li>Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.<\/li><li>Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com<\/li><li>Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights\u2120 purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time<\/li><li>Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases<\/li><li>Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.<\/li><li>No Foreign Transaction Fees<\/ul><\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-er\"><ul>\r\n<li>12X \u2013 Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com.<\/li>\r\n<li>6X \u2013 Earn 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com.<\/li>\r\n<li>6X \u2013 Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights\u2120 purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time.<\/li>\r\n<li>1.5X \u2013 Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <a class=\"qs-share\" href=\"\/find-a-card\/CitiStrataElite\/\" title=\"copy\"><svg width=\"12\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/awardwallet\/public\/builds\/icon\/icon-sprite.svg?v2026-4-307b22a62b#share-square\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/use><\/svg><\/a>\n        <\/div><\/p>\n<p>The card currently features a solid offer worth 75,000 ThankYou Points after meeting the spending requirement, a bonus large enough to unlock thousands of dollars in travel through Citi\u2019s airline and hotel transfer partners.<\/p>\n<p>The Citi Strata Elite delivers premium perks without premium pricing. With a $595 annual fee, it undercuts rival flagship cards from rivals Chase and American Express, yet still includes airport lounge access, hundreds of dollars in annual credits, and up to 12X earning rates on select travel booked through CitiTravel.com.<\/p>\n<p>Rounding out your winning Citi trifecta involves grabbing AwardWallet's favorite everyday spending card, the <a data-ccid=\"3002009\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-CitiDoubleCashCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Citi Double Cash<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/a> (<a data-ccid=\"3002009\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=a3pDkecFgAg&offerid=951783.4206&type=3&subid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>), with the option of adding the new <a data-ccid=\"241\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CitiStrataCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Citi Strata\u2120 Card<\/a> (<a data-ccid=\"241\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=a3pDkecFgAg&offerid=1960645.4297&type=3&subid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>) to lock in additional earning categories, without adding any annual fees.<\/p>\n<p>Here's how to put together this winning strategy.<\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_light_blue no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Page Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#Start_With_the_Premium_Citi_Strata_Elite\">Start With the Premium Citi Strata Elite<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Earn_2X_Points_on_Every_Purchase_With_the_Citi_Double_Cash\">Earn 2X Points on Every Purchase With the Citi Double Cash<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Add_the_Citi_Strata_Card_for_3X_categories_and_no_annual_fee\">Add the Citi Strata Card for 3X categories and no annual fee<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Leverage_the_Citi_ThankYou_Card_Trifecta_for_Top_Returns_on_Spending\">Leverage the Citi ThankYou Card Trifecta for Top Returns on Spending<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Who8217s_Eligible_for_Citi_Cards\">Who's Eligible for Citi Cards?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Final_Thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n<h2><span id=\"Start_With_the_Premium_Citi_Strata_Elite\">Start With the Premium Citi Strata Elite<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The current 75,000-point offer on the <a data-ccid=\"242\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CitiStrataElite?var2=ccid~242\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Citi Strata Elite<\/a> might not be the highest seen for this card, but the Citi Strata Elite delivers excellent earning rates, some tangible perks, and doesn't charge the stratospheric annual fees now charged by rival premium cards. You don't need to worry about maximizing complicated monthly credits either, since the flagship benefits are relatively easy to use.<\/p>\n<p>Feature benefits include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>12\u00d7 on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com<\/li>\n<li>6\u00d7 on air travel booked on CitiTravel.com<\/li>\n<li>6\u00d7 dining on Citi Nights (Fri\u2013Sat, 6 p.m.\u20136 a.m. ET); 3\u00d7 dining other times<\/li>\n<li>Up to $300 Annual hotel benefit<\/li>\n<li>Up to $200 Annual Splurge Credit\u2120<\/li>\n<li>Up to $200 Annual Blacklane<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Credit<\/li>\n<li>Four Admirals Club passes each calendar year<\/li>\n<li>Up to $120 Global Entry<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> or TSA PreCheck<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Credit<\/li>\n<li>Priority Pass\u2122 lounge access<\/li>\n<li>Full transfer access to all Citi ThankYou partners, including American Airlines<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Citi Strata Elite is the engine that turns everyday spend from your other Citi cards into premium award travel.<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"qs-card\" data-id=\"242\">\n            <div class=\"qs-data\">\n                <div class=\"qs-view\">\n                    <div class=\"qs-cardname\">Citi Strata Elite\u2120 Card<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-image\"><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/95\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CardArt-CitiStrataEliteCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Citi Strata Elite\u2120 Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Citi Strata Elite\u2120 Card' data-ccid=\"242\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CitiStrataElite?var2=ccid~242\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-rates\"><span class=\"qs-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"242\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=a3pDkecFgAg&offerid=1978593.4347&type=3&subid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong> Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening. <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"qs-info\">\n                    <strong class=\"qs-cardname\">Citi Strata Elite\u2120 Card<\/strong>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong> Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening. <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee:<\/strong><b>$595<\/b><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-tabs\"><a class=\"qs-more\" href=\"#more\">Show more<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"wwl\">Why We Like It<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"hl\">Highlights<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"er\">Earning Rates<\/a><div class=\"qs-tab-wwl\">The Citi Strata Elite\u2120 Card is Citi's premier rewards card, delivering top-tier travel and dining rewards and standout perks like a $300 annual hotel credit and no foreign transaction fees. From Friday night dinners to weekend getaways, the elevated earnings on hotels, air travel, and CitiNights\u2120 purchases make this a powerhouse option for frequent travelers looking to maximize every dollar spent.<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-hl\"><ul><li>Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.<\/li><li>Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com<\/li><li>Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights\u2120 purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time<\/li><li>Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases<\/li><li>Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.<\/li><li>No Foreign Transaction Fees<\/ul><\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-er\"><ul>\r\n<li>12X \u2013 Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com.<\/li>\r\n<li>6X \u2013 Earn 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com.<\/li>\r\n<li>6X \u2013 Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights\u2120 purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time.<\/li>\r\n<li>1.5X \u2013 Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <a class=\"qs-share\" href=\"\/find-a-card\/CitiStrataElite\/\" title=\"copy\"><svg width=\"12\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/awardwallet\/public\/builds\/icon\/icon-sprite.svg?v2026-4-307b22a62b#share-square\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/use><\/svg><\/a>\n        <\/div><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/citi-thankyou-rewards\/citi-strata-premier\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Earn_2X_Points_on_Every_Purchase_With_the_Citi_Double_Cash\">Earn 2X Points on Every Purchase With the Citi Double Cash<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>We consider the <a data-ccid=\"3002009\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-CitiDoubleCashCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Citi Double Cash<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/a> (<a data-ccid=\"3002009\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=a3pDkecFgAg&offerid=951783.4206&type=3&subid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>) the best rewards card from any issuer for non-bonus spending.<\/p>\n<p>The card is marketed as a cash-back card earning 2% cash back on every purchase: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay. However, rewards are <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/citi-thankyou-rewards\/double-cash-changes-2022\/\" rel=\"noopener\">issued as ThankYou Points<\/a> that can be redeemed for cash back or transferred to a few travel partners. You'll also earn 5% rewards on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/citi-thankyou-rewards\/citi-travel-portal\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Citi Travel<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> portal<\/a> &#8212; although you'll want to use your Citi Strata Elite for these purchases as part of this Citi trifecta.<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"qs-card\" data-id=\"3002009\">\n            <div class=\"qs-data\">\n                <div class=\"qs-view\">\n                    <div class=\"qs-cardname\">Citi Double Cash<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-image\"><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nextinsure.com\/imaging\/opt\/12d797ee-967a-492c-afac-48873b260ebb.jpg\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Citi Double Cash\u00ae Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Citi Double Cash\u00ae Card' data-ccid=\"3002009\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-CitiDoubleCashCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-rates\"><span class=\"qs-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"3002009\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=a3pDkecFgAg&offerid=951783.4206&type=3&subid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nEarn $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<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"qs-info\">\n                    <strong class=\"qs-cardname\">Citi Double Cash<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/strong>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nEarn $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<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee:<\/strong><b>$0<\/b><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-tabs\"><a class=\"qs-more\" href=\"#more\">Show more<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"wwl\">Why We Like It<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"hl\">Highlights<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"er\">Earning Rates<\/a><div class=\"qs-tab-wwl\">The Citi Double Cash is a dynamic, no-annual-fee cash-back rewards card that allows you to earn 2% traditional cash back, or convert your rewards to ThankYou Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio (2x ThankYou points per $1). When paired with a premium ThankYou Rewards earning card, the Citi Double Cash is now the best card available for everyday, non-bonus purchases.\r\n<br>\r\n<br>\r\nIf 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.<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-hl\"><ul>\r\n<li>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<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.<\/li>\r\n<li>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.\r\n<br><br>\r\nPlus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.<\/li>\r\n<li>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.<\/li>\r\n<li>Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.<\/li>\r\n<li>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.<\/li>\r\n<li>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).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-er\"><ul>\r\n<li>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.\r\n<br><br>\r\nPlus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <a class=\"qs-share\" href=\"\/find-a-card\/DoubleCash-18BT\/\" title=\"copy\"><svg width=\"12\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/awardwallet\/public\/builds\/icon\/icon-sprite.svg?v2026-4-307b22a62b#share-square\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/use><\/svg><\/a>\n        <\/div><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/citi-thankyou-rewards\/citi-double-cash-card\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Add_the_Citi_Strata_Card_for_3X_categories_and_no_annual_fee\">Add the Citi Strata Card for 3X categories and no annual fee<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The icing on the ThankYou Rewards cake is the <a data-ccid=\"241\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CitiStrataCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Citi Strata\u2120 Card<\/a> (<a data-ccid=\"241\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=a3pDkecFgAg&offerid=1960645.4297&type=3&subid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>), which earns up to 5X points on spending, and doesn't charge an annual fee.<\/p>\n<p>This card's 5X eligible categories cross over with the Citi Strata Elite, so you're better off using that card for these purchases. However, it does open up valuable 3x categories like supermarket spending, at gas and EV charging stations, on select transit,\u00a0 include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit services, and a unique category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores\/Barber Shops\/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores).<\/p>\n<p>On top of that, new cardholders will earn 20,000 bonus points points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"qs-card\" data-id=\"241\">\n            <div class=\"qs-data\">\n                <div class=\"qs-view\">\n                    <div class=\"qs-cardname\">Citi Strata\u2120 Card<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-image\"><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/94\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CardArt-CitiStrataCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Citi Strata\u2120 Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Citi Strata\u2120 Card' data-ccid=\"241\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CitiStrataCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-rates\"><span class=\"qs-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"241\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=a3pDkecFgAg&offerid=1960645.4297&type=3&subid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong> Earn 20,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"qs-info\">\n                    <strong class=\"qs-cardname\">Citi Strata\u2120 Card<\/strong>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong> Earn 20,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee:<\/strong><b>$0<\/b><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-tabs\"><a class=\"qs-more\" href=\"#more\">Show more<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"wwl\">Why We Like It<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"hl\">Highlights<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"er\">Earning Rates<\/a><div class=\"qs-tab-wwl\">The Citi Strata\u2120 Card is one of the most rewarding no-annual-fee cards on the market, thanks to its impressive combination of flexible bonus categories and solid everyday earning. Cardholders can earn elevated points in popular categories like gas stations, supermarkets, EV charging, streaming, and even fitness clubs\u2014making it easy to rack up rewards on routine spending without paying an annual fee.<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-hl\"><ul>\r\n<li>Earn 20,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.<\/li>\r\n<li>0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months; after that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%, 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).<\/li>\r\n<li>Earn 3 ThankYou<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores\/Barber Shops\/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services.<\/li>\r\n<li>Earn 5 ThankYou<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> via cititravel.com; earn 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at Supermarkets, on Select Transit purchases, and at Gas & EV Charging Stations.<\/li>\r\n<li>Earn 2 ThankYou<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points for each $1 spent at Restaurants; earn 1 ThankYou<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Point for each $1 spent on All Other Purchases.<\/li>\r\n<li>No Annual Fee<\/li>\r\n<\/ul> <\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-er\"><ul>\r\n  <li>5X \u2013 Earn 5 ThankYou<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel\u2120 via cititravel.com<\/li>\r\n  <li>3X \u2013 Earn 3 ThankYou<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores\/Barber Shops\/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services.<\/li>\r\n  <li>3X \u2013 Earn 3 ThankYou<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points per $1 spent at Supermarkets<\/li>\r\n  <li>3X \u2013 Earn 3 ThankYou<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points per $1 spent on Select Transit purchases<\/li>\r\n  <li>3X \u2013 Earn 3 ThankYou<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points per $1 spent at Gas and EV Charging Stations<\/li>\r\n  <li>2X \u2013 Earn 2 ThankYou<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points per $1 spent at Restaurants<\/li>\r\n  <li>1X \u2013 Earn 1 ThankYou<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <a class=\"qs-share\" href=\"\/find-a-card\/CitiStrata\/\" title=\"copy\"><svg width=\"12\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/awardwallet\/public\/builds\/icon\/icon-sprite.svg?v2026-4-307b22a62b#share-square\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/use><\/svg><\/a>\n        <\/div><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/citi-thankyou-rewards\/citi-custom-cash\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Leverage_the_Citi_ThankYou_Card_Trifecta_for_Top_Returns_on_Spending\">Leverage the Citi ThankYou Card Trifecta for Top Returns on Spending<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>With a wallet full of high-earning ThankYou Rewards cards, you're ready to start stacking points for your next adventure. Let's dive into a quick illustration of how the Citi Trifecta works in practice.<\/p>\n<p>Let's say you spend an average of $450 per month at supermarkets, $300 at restaurants, $150 at gas stations, $250 each on air travel and hotels (averaged over the year), and $850 on other purchases you can charge to a credit card. (For reference, that's a total of $2,250 in card spending per month.)<\/p>\n<p>This is how many ThankYou Points you could earn if maximized:<\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-1146\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-1146 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Category<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Monthly Spend<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Card<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">Earn Rate<\/th><th class=\"column-5\">Monthly Points<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Supermarkets<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$450<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Citi Strata Card<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">3x<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">1,350<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Restaurants<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$300<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Citi Strata Elite<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">3\u00d7 (weekday)<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">900<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Gas<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$150<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Citi Strata Card<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">3x<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">450<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Air Travel (booked on CitiTravel.com)<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$250<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Citi Strata Elite<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">6x<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">1,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Hotels (booked on CitiTravel.com)<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$250<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Citi Strata Elite<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">12x<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">3,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Other purchases<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$850<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Citi Double Cash<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">2x<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">1,700<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<tfoot>\n<tr class=\"row-8 even\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Total<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">$2,250<\/th><th class=\"column-3\"><\/th><th class=\"column-4\"><\/th><th class=\"column-5\">8,900 points per month<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tfoot>\n<\/table>\n\n<p>That's almost 9,000 points per month in earnings from $2,250 in spending \u2014 just shy of 4x ThankYou Points per dollar spent. This tops up your AwardWallet account with around 105,000 points per year, without accounting for the points from signup bonuses.<\/p>\n<div class=\"compare-cards-wrap compare-count-cards-3 compare-p-citi\"><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/95\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CardArt-CitiStrataEliteCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Citi Strata Elite\u2120 Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">Citi Strata Elite\u2120 Card<\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong> Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening. <\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Citi Strata Elite\u2120 Card' data-ccid=\"242\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CitiStrataElite?var2=ccid~242\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$595<span class=\"compare-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"242\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=a3pDkecFgAg&offerid=1978593.4347&type=3&subid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--0\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul>\r\n<li>12X \u2013 Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com.<\/li>\r\n<li>6X \u2013 Earn 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com.<\/li>\r\n<li>6X \u2013 Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights\u2120 purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time.<\/li>\r\n<li>1.5X \u2013 Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nextinsure.com\/imaging\/opt\/12d797ee-967a-492c-afac-48873b260ebb.jpg\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Citi Double Cash\u00ae Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">Citi Double Cash<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nEarn $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<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. <\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Citi Double Cash\u00ae Card' data-ccid=\"3002009\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-CitiDoubleCashCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$0<span class=\"compare-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"3002009\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=a3pDkecFgAg&offerid=951783.4206&type=3&subid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--9\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul>\r\n<li>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.\r\n<br><br>\r\nPlus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/94\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CardArt-CitiStrataCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Citi Strata\u2120 Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">Citi Strata\u2120 Card<\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong> Earn 20,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Citi Strata\u2120 Card' data-ccid=\"241\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CitiStrataCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$0<span class=\"compare-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"241\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=a3pDkecFgAg&offerid=1960645.4297&type=3&subid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--0\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent, Good Credit<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul>\r\n  <li>5X \u2013 Earn 5 ThankYou<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel\u2120 via cititravel.com<\/li>\r\n  <li>3X \u2013 Earn 3 ThankYou<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores\/Barber Shops\/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services.<\/li>\r\n  <li>3X \u2013 Earn 3 ThankYou<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points per $1 spent at Supermarkets<\/li>\r\n  <li>3X \u2013 Earn 3 ThankYou<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points per $1 spent on Select Transit purchases<\/li>\r\n  <li>3X \u2013 Earn 3 ThankYou<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points per $1 spent at Gas and EV Charging Stations<\/li>\r\n  <li>2X \u2013 Earn 2 ThankYou<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points per $1 spent at Restaurants<\/li>\r\n  <li>1X \u2013 Earn 1 ThankYou<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"Who8217s_Eligible_for_Citi_Cards\">Who's Eligible for Citi Cards?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>These cards all share a base set of <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/citi-thankyou-rewards\/citi-application-rules\/\" rel=\"noopener\">application restrictions that apply to all Citi cards<\/a>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Maximum of one (1) personal card per eight days<\/li>\n<li>No more than two (2) total cards per 65 days<\/li>\n<li>Maximum one (1) business card per 95 days<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In addition to the overall issuer rules, ThankYou Rewards-earning cards also feature one extra restriction: You can't get a bonus on a particular card if you've earned a new account bonus <em>on that same card<\/em> within the past 48 months. For example, the Citi Strata Elite notes:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>Bonus ThankYou<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi Strata Elite\u2120 Card account in the past 48 months or if you converted another Citi credit card account on which you earned a new account bonus in the last 48 months into a Citi Strata Elite.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>However, this 48-month rule doesn't restrict you from putting together a trifecta of the <a data-ccid=\"242\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/citi-thankyou-rewards\/citi-strata-elite-offer\/\">Citi Strata Elite<\/a>, <a data-ccid=\"3002009\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/citi-thankyou-rewards\/citi-double-cash-card\/\">Citi Double Cash<\/a>, and <a data-ccid=\"241\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/citi-thankyou-rewards\/citi-strata-card\/\">Citi Strata Card<\/a>. You'll just need to wait a couple of months while you're approved for all three cards.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/rewards-card-application-rules\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Understanding Rewards Credit Card Application Rules and Restrictions<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Final_Thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Citi ThankYou Rewards trifecta is an unmatched way to earn substantial rewards on your day-to-day purchases. The best part is that you don't need to pay multiple annual fees to build out this rewards strategy, which makes it much more accessible. Once you've collected your welcome bonus on each card, you'll be able to take advantage of some excellent transfer partners and learn about the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/citi-thankyou-rewards\/redeem-citi-points\/\" rel=\"noopener\">best ways to use ThankYou Points<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Citi\u2019s refreshed ThankYou\u00ae Rewards lineup has reshaped how travelers earn and redeem points. A new flagship card headlines the update\u2014backed by two powerful companions that make everyday spending more rewarding. Here\u2019s how the new Citi trifecta works.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":125495,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[12055],"tags":[12519,12707,12621],"coauthors":[36390],"class_list":["post-83806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-credit-cards","tag-application-strategy","tag-citi-thankyou-rewards","tag-earning-strategy"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83806","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83806"}],"version-history":[{"count":49,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83806\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":246497,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83806\/revisions\/246497"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/125495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83806"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83806"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83806"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=83806"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}