Citibank best buy credit cards: Best Buy Credit Card Review

Best Buy Credit Card Review

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Frequent Best Buy shoppers could earn substantial rewards with a Best Buy Credit Card. You can apply in-store or online, and when you do, you’ll be considered for the store’s three rewards credit card options. The first is the My Best Buy® Credit Card, which is a closed-loop store card that only works for Best Buy purchases. The other two are My Best Buy® Visa® cards — one with a $59 annual fee and one that’s free. We’ll focus on the no-annual-fee version in this Best Buy Credit Card review.

Ratings Methodology

Best Buy Credit Card

Rating image, 3.00 out of 5 stars.

3.00 stars

Circle with letter I in it.
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor

Credit Score:

Circle with letter I in it.
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Fair (300-669)

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

300-579

580-669

670-739

740-850

Credit Score

Circle with letter I in it.
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Fair (300-669)

Intro APR
Circle with letter I in it.
0% – 12.99%, depending on financing term selected

Purchases: 0% – 12.99%

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

27.74%, variable

Rewards
Circle with letter I in it.
5% back on Best Buy purchases, 3% back for gas, 2% back at restaurants, bars, and grocery stores, 1% back on other purchases

1% – 5% back

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer

10% back on your first Best Buy purchase

Full Best Buy Credit Card review

Review of perks

Rewards

The My Best Buy® Credit Card earns 5% back on Best Buy purchases, or 6% back if you’re in the Elite Plus status tier. To qualify as an Elite Plus member, you need to make $3,500 in Best Buy purchases within a calendar year.

My Best Buy® Visa® cards have several bonus categories. They earn 3% back on gas, 2% back on dining and groceries, and 1% back on other purchases. Those rates are similar to what several top credit cards offer. Each My Best Buy® Visa® card also currently has a limited-time offer for 10% back on pharmacy and drug store purchases and 5% back on wholesale club purchases. That offer started on Sept. 1 and lasts through Dec. 31, 2020, and activation is required. New accounts may need to be open up to 30 days to qualify.

Note that Best Buy uses both percentages and points to refer to its rewards. This can be tricky to understand. To clarify, each point is worth $0.02 towards a Best Buy rewards certificate. On Best Buy purchases, each Best Buy Credit Card earns 2.5 points per $1, which is equal to 5% back.

See more: Best Credit Cards for Gamers

Sign-up bonus

After you’re approved for a Best Buy Credit Card, you’ll earn 10% back for your first day of Best Buy purchases. For example, if you spend $1,000, it’s worth $100 instead of the usual $50. Your first day of purchases must be within 14 days of account opening to qualify for this bonus offer. This is nowhere near the biggest sign-up bonuses, but it’s not bad for a store credit card.

Because of how this bonus works, it’s best to apply for a Best Buy Credit Card when you have a big purchase to make there. Keep in mind that you’ll only earn rewards on standard credit card purchases and not on purchases made through a Best Buy financing program. If you go with the 10% bonus, make sure you’ll be able to pay off what you buy in full by the due date so you don’t get charged interest.

No interest financing

Best Buy periodically offers deferred interest financing. If you pay off the full balance within the allotted timeframe, you won’t get charged any interest. This type of financing availability varies, and the length of the offer may depend on the amount financed or the type of product purchased.

While it’s better to pay for purchases in full, a Best Buy flexible financing plan is helpful when you can’t do that. And some of the zero-interest offers you can get with a Best Buy Credit Card are longer than anything you’d get with 0% intro APR credit cards.

If you use a special financing plan with your Best Buy Credit Card, make sure to check how much you need to pay per month to pay off the balance within the zero-interest period. The minimum payment amount isn’t always enough.

Learn more: Are Store Cards Worth It?

Alternatives to consider

  • If you want a more flexible 0% intro APR offer: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers a 0% intro APR on your purchases for 15 months. This is a waived interest offer, not deferred interest. If you don’t pay off the balance by the end of those 15 months, you’re only charged interest on the remaining balance.
  • If you want a high cash back rate on purchases: You can’t go wrong with the Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer, which can get you 2% cash back on your purchases. Rewards are paid out as 1% when a purchase is made, and then the other 1% when you pay the bill by the due date.

As of Jun. 29, 2023

Best Buy Credit Card

Chase Freedom Unlimited® Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer

Rating image, 3.00 out of 5 stars.

3.00 stars

Circle with letter I in it.
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor

Rating image, 5. 00 out of 5 stars.

5.00 stars

Circle with letter I in it.
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.

4.50 stars

Circle with letter I in it.
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor

Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®

On
Chase’s
Secure Website.

Apply Now for Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer

On
Citi’s
Secure Website.

Rates & Fees

Credit Rating Requirement:
Circle with letter I in it.
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Fair (300-669)

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

300-579

580-669

670-739

740-850

Fair (300-669)

Credit Rating Requirement:
Circle with letter I in it.
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

300-579

580-669

670-739

740-850

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Rating Requirement:
Circle with letter I in it.
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Fair to Excellent (580-850)

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

300-579

580-669

670-739

740-850

Fair to Excellent (580-850)

Welcome Offer:

10% back on your first Best Buy purchase

Welcome Offer:
Circle with letter I in it.
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – worth up to $300 cash back. That’s 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

Up to $300 cash back

Welcome Offer:

N/A

Rewards Program:
Circle with letter I in it.
5% back on Best Buy purchases, 3% back for gas, 2% back at restaurants, bars, and grocery stores, 1% back on other purchases

1% – 5% back

Rewards Program:
Circle with letter I in it.
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases

1.5% – 5% cash back

Rewards Program:
Circle with letter I in it.
2% cash back: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay

Up to 2% cash back

Intro APR:
Circle with letter I in it.
0% – 12.99%, depending on financing term selected

Purchases: 0% – 12.99%

Balance Transfers: N/A

Intro APR:
Circle with letter I in it.
0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months

Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months

Intro APR:
Circle with letter I in it.
N/A

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months

Regular APR:

27.74%, variable

Regular APR:

20.24% – 28.99% Variable

Regular APR:

18.99% – 28.99% (Variable)

Annual Fee:

$0

Annual Fee:
Circle with letter I in it.
N/A

$0

Annual Fee:

$0

Highlights:

  • INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – worth up to $300 cash back!
  • Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
  • After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1. 5% cash back on all other purchases.
  • No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
  • Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.24% – 28.99%.
  • No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
  • Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
  • Member FDIC

Highlights:

  • 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.
  • Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.99% – 28.99%, 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).

Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®

On
Chase’s
Secure Website.

Apply Now for Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer

On
Citi’s
Secure Website.

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What could be improved

Complicated approval process

During a Best Buy Credit Card application, the card issuer first decides whether to approve you for the My Best Buy® Visa® Platinum, which has no annual fee and works anywhere Visa is accepted. If not, it moves on to the My Best Buy® Credit Card, which also has no annual fee but only works at Best Buy. And if you don’t qualify for that, either, then it considers you for the My Best Buy® Visa® Gold, which has a $59 annual fee.

Unless you have a high credit score, it’s hard to anticipate which card you’ll receive. You might get approved for a credit card that you can only use at Best Buy. Or you might get one that isn’t a good deal because of its annual fee.

APR

Store credit cards often carry high APRs. Best Buy Credit Cards are no exception. If you don’t pay the full balance on your Best Buy Credit Card payment, you could be in store for some hefty interest charges. A related problem is that Best Buy’s financing offers are deferred interest. That’s not as attractive as the waived interest offers you can get with 0% intro APR credit cards.

Deferred interest means that interest still accumulates during the financing period. If you don’t get the entire balance paid off by the end of that timeframe, then you’ll be charged interest going back to when you made the purchase. And that’s when a high interest rate can come back to cost you. With deferred interest, you could end up with hundreds or even thousands of dollars in interest charges.

No rewards on financed purchases

If you decide to use one of Best Buy’s financing plans, you won’t earn any rewards on the purchase. Since consumers usually only finance their more expensive purchases, this could mean missing out on a large amount of rewards. Some cash back credit cards with 0% intro APRs let you both earn rewards on a purchase and finance it at zero interest during the introductory period. That’s a much better deal.

Inconvenient rewards redemptions

Every time you earn 250 points, Best Buy will send you a $5 reward certificate, which works like a gift card. You can change this if you want reward certificates sent when you reach a different amount. However, the minimum is $5. This is frustrating given that there are many rewards credit cards with no redemption minimums.

Reward certificates also expire. The standard expiration timeframe is 60 days. If you don’t have anything you need from Best Buy, you’ll need to pick something before your reward certificate expires. Otherwise, it will go to waste.

Purchase protection

You don’t get any sort of purchase protection, such as extended warranty coverage or insurance against damage and theft, from your Best Buy Credit Card. This is understandable since Best Buy sells its own protection plans. Nevertheless, it’s a big drawback. Purchase protection is nice to have when you buy electronics and appliances — two very popular types of products at Best Buy.

Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.

Compare cards

Suggested credit score

We recommend a FICO® Score of 640 or higher when applying for a Best Buy Credit Card. With fair or good credit, you’ll have a strong chance of approval for the My Best Buy® Credit Card. Though there are reports of applicants securing approval with lower scores.

Read more: Best Credit Cards for Fair/Average Credit

A Best Buy Credit Card is right for you if:

You shop at Best Buy several times monthly. Otherwise, you may be able to get more rewards with a standard rewards card that earns premium rewards in a broader range of categories.

Since each Best Buy Credit Card earns 5% back on Best Buy purchases, you could get a good value in rewards if you spend a lot with the retailer. You’ll also need to shop there frequently, though, since reward certificates expire if you don’t use them within 60 days.

Learn more: Best Store Credit Cards

FAQs

  • The credit limit on a Best Buy Credit Card depends on factors determined by the card issuer. These may include income, credit score, payment history, and other criteria.

  • The standard My Best Buy® Credit Card (not the My Best Buy® Visa®) can only be used for Best Buy purchases.

  • Consistent use of a Best Buy Credit Card, including regular, on-time payments, can lead to an increase in your credit score and can help develop a credit history.

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.

Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Best Buy, JPMorgan Chase, Target, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa.

The best Citi credit cards of 2023

CNN Underscored reviews financial products based on their overall value. We may receive a commission through our affiliate partners if you apply and are approved for a product, but our reporting is always independent and objective. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

If you’re in the market for a new credit card, Citibank — or Citi for short — offers a number of enticing options, especially for those looking for a card with a low or even no annual fee. Whether your goal is to earn rewards for that next big trip, put some cash back in your pocket or help yourself get out of debt, there’s likely a card for your specific needs within Citi’s card portfolio.

But which Citi credit card should you get? With so many options available, we’ve put together a list of our favorites in every category to make it easier for you to decide what’s the best Citi credit card for you.

  • Citi Premier® Card: Best sign-up bonus.
  • Citi® Double Cash Card: Best for flat-rate cash back.
  • Citi Custom Cash℠ Card: Best for bonus categories.
  • Citi Rewards+® Card: Best for small purchases.
  • Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card: Best for balance transfers.
  • Citi Simplicity® Card: Best for no late fees.

Why did we choose these as our best Citi credit cards for 2023? Let’s dive into the details of each card and see how they compare to one another.

If you’re looking to earn points and miles for that next big trip, the Citi Premier should be your go-to card within the Citi family. And right now, the card is offering a 60,000 bonus points to new card holders after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months after opening the account. Plus, with the current limited time welcome offer, new cardmembers will earn a total of 10 ThankYou points per dollar spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions (excluding air travel) booked through the Citi Travel portal through June 30, 2024.

The Citi Premier card earns Citi ThankYou Rewards points and features an impressive list of bonus categories — you’ll earn 3 points for every dollar you spend on air travel, hotels, gas stations, supermarkets and restaurants (including takeout), and 1 point per dollar for all other purchases.

When it comes to using your Citi ThankYou points, you can redeem them in a variety of ways, including for cash back, gift cards, travel or even transferred to over a dozen airline partners. That last option is the most complicated, but it can also be the most valuable if you have the time and flexibility to dive into Citi’s transfer partners.

Citi ThankYou Rewards Transfer Partners
Airlines
Aeromexico Club Premier JetBlue TrueBlue
Air France-KLM Flying Blue Qantas Frequent Flyer
Avianca LifeMiles Qatar Airways Privilege Club
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
Emirates Skywards Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus
Etihad Guest Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
EVA Air Infinity MileageLands Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Hotels
Choice Privileges Wyndham Rewards

While the ThankYou program primarily partners with international airlines such as Air France-KLM, Cathay Pacific and Etihad, many of these partners are also part of larger alliances that allow you to use your points on many other carriers. But if you’re looking for domestic travel, JetBlue is an easy transfer option.

If you redeem your Citi Premier points for gift cards or travel booked through the Citi travel portal, you’ll get 1 cent per point in value. But by transferring your points, you can gain access to even better values, especially when it comes to booking premium first and business class flights. That’s why frequent flyer website The Points Guy values Citi ThankYou points at 1.7 cents apiece.

Unfortunately, the Citi Premier doesn’t offer much when it comes to protecting your trip, as it doesn’t offer any travel insurance coverage. This means you won’t have access to car rental insurance, trip cancellation and interruption protection, trip delay protection, baggage delay protection and more. These are common insurance benefits on many other comparable travel cards, so while the Citi Premier has some great features, it shouldn’t be your first choice when it comes to paying for a trip.

But even though the Citi Premier has a $95 annual fee — which is the highest fee of any of the Citi cards on our list — you’ll get an annual $100 credit on hotel reservations of $500 or more when you book through ThankYou.com, extended warranty protection, damage and theft protection, no foreign transaction fees, three free months of DoorDash’s DashPass food delivery membership and a $5 discount on three Lyft rides taken in a month.

Read CNN Underscored’s complete review of the Citi Premier Card.
Learn more and apply for the Citi Premier Card.

The no-annual-fee Citi Double Cash Card is hands down one of the best cards for earning cash back on everything you buy, which is why CNN Underscored uses it as our benchmark credit card. You don’t have to worry about bonus categories or rotating offers with the Citi Double Cash, as you’ll earn 2% cash back on every purchase you make — 1% when you buy, and 1% when you pay your statement.

And while the Citi Double Cash technically earns ThankYou points — you can redeem those points as cash back or towards travel. However, if travel is your main goal and you want to get the most value out of your points, you’ll want to paid the card with a premium ThankYou Rewards card — such as the Citi Premier. This is because premium Citi ThankYou cards open up significantly more transfer options and a better transfer rate. You just need to make sure to use your card at least once every 12 months to prevent your existing rewards from expiring.

This makes pairing your Citi Double Cash with the Citi Premier an ideal combination, as you’ll earn 3 points per dollar in the Citi Premier bonus categories, and then 2% cash back (which can be thought of as 2 points per dollar) on all other purchases with the Citi Double Cash.

On top of its ease of use, the Citi Double Cash offers a 0% APR for 18 months on balance transfers made within the first four months after opening the card (which rises to a variable 18. 99%-28.99% afterward). But there’s no introductory APR for new purchases, so you’ll only find this feature useful if you have existing debt that you’re looking to consolidate at a low interest rate.

Unfortunately though, the card doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus and carries a 3% foreign transaction fee. This doesn’t help card members rack up a bunch of points right off the bat and isn’t a card that you’ll want to carry with you when you travel overseas.

Read CNN Underscored’s complete review of the Citi Double Cash Card.
Learn more and apply for the Citi Double Cash Card.

The Citi Custom Cash Card is a popular card within the Citi family since it offers the opportunity to earn extra cash back on the purchases you make the most. With the Citi Custom Cash Card, you’ll earn 5% cash back in your top eligible categories on a monthly basis up to $500 spent per billing cycle, then 1% cash back.

Unlike competing credit cards such as the Chase Freedom Flex℠, you aren’t forced into set or rotating bonus categories with the Citi Custom Cash Card, and you don’t have to select your bonus categories in advance. Instead, each month Citi will automatically calculate which eligible category you spent the most in, and award you 5% cash back in that category up to the $500 monthly maximum.

And while not every possible category is eligible for the bonus cash back, with many common everyday categories on the list — including gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement, fitness clubs and live entertainment — it’s quite easy to max out your 5% bonus on a monthly basis.

Gas stations are one of the eligible 5% cash back categories on the Citi Custom Cash Card.

iStock

And if you couple the Citi Custom Cash Card with another premium Citi card that earns ThankYou Rewards points, such as the Citi Premier, your cash back can be converted into travel points with more potential value by opening up the option of transferring your points to Citi’s airline and hotel partners.

In fact, you can couple the Citi Custom Cash Card with both the Citi Premier and Citi Double Cash for the ultimate Citi trifecta that earns bonus points or cash back on practically every purchase you make. While this negates the simplicity of having just one credit card in your wallet, if you’re willing to put in the effort, you’ll earn even more points month after month.

And even though the Citi Custom Cash Card comes with no annual fee, new card holders can earn $200 in bonus cash back (or 20,000 ThankYou points) when you spend $1,500 on the card within the first three months of opening the account.

Read CNN Underscored’s complete review of the Citi Custom Cash Card.
Learn more and apply for the Citi Custom Cash Card.

Even if you don’t spend a lot on your credit card, you can still earn plenty of rewards with the Citi Rewards+ Card. That’s because the card has a unique feature: It rounds up all purchases to the nearest 10 points. While that might not sound like a lot of extra points — and it’s not for a large purchase — if you make many small purchases, the extra points you’ll earn can be quite significant.

For example, let’s say you buy a candy bar from your local corner store. Typically, that $1 purchase will earn you a measly 1 point on most credit cards. But, with the Citi Rewards+ “round-up” feature, you’ll instead earn 10 points — or a 10x return. Or, instead of earning 8 points on a $8 manicure, you’ll be bumped up to earning the same 10 points as you do on the $1 candy bar.

Of course, when you make more expensive purchases, the round-up bonus becomes less significant. But over time, those bonus points can eventually add up. And in addition to the extra “round-up” points, you’ll also earn 2 points for every dollar you spend on the Citi Rewards+ at supermarkets and gas stations up to the first $6,000 per year, then 1 point thereafter.

On the redemption side, even though the Citi Rewards+ technically earns ThankYou Rewards points, these are basic points earned and not premium points like the points you earn with the Citi Premier card. This means you can’t directly transfer them to most partner airlines unless you also have a premium Citi card, so it’s worth considering pairing the Citi Rewards+ with a card like the Citi Premier.

But if you don’t have a premium Citi card, the best redemption option on the Citi Rewards+ alone is gift cards, where you’ll get 1 cent per point in value. Fortunately, as an added bonus, you’ll also get up to 10% of your points back as a rebate for the first 100,000 points redeemed per year.

For example, if you use 50,000 points to redeem for a $500 gift card, you’ll get 500 points back into your account shortly thereafter to redeem again at a future time. And this rebate applies even if you combine your rewards with another Citi card and redeem them for more valuable travel options.

This Citi Rewards+ card also offers a 0% APR on new purchases for 15 months starting from when you first open the account, as well as a 0% APR for 15 months on balance transfers made within the first four months after you open the account. Just be sure to pay off your debt before the intro periods end, because the APR rises to a variable 18.49% to 28.49% thereafter for both.

While you can get a longer introductory period on either the Citi Diamond Preferred or Citi Simplicity cards, the Citi Rewards+ is the only card of the three that offers a sign-up bonus of 25,000 points when you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within three months of opening the account. Plus, with the current welcome offer, new cardmembers will earn 5 points per dollar spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions (excluding air travel) booked through the Citi’s travel portal through June 30, 2024.

Read CNN Underscored’s complete review of the Citi Rewards+ Card.
Learn more and apply for the Citi Rewards+ Card.

If you find yourself in a position where you’re having a hard time making ends meet, the Citi Diamond Preferred is a great option for consolidating debt. In fact, it’s CNN Underscored’s best balance transfer card of 2023.

New Citi Diamond Preferred card holders get access to an introductory 0% APR for 21 months on balance transfers made in the first four months after you open the card. While that’s a significant amount of time to get a handle on your debt, the APR jumps to a variable 17.99%-28.74% once the introductory rate expires, so you’ll want to make sure you pay off your debt in full before then.

And if you’re looking to make a large purchase on the Citi Diamond Preferred, the same introductory 0% APR also applies to new purchases made in the first 12 months after you get the card (though again, the APR rises to a variable 17.99%-28.74% once the intro offer expires).

If you need to make a major purchase, you can use the Citi Diamond Preferred card to pay for it with no interest over as long as 18 months.

iStock

The Citi Diamond Preferred also comes with a free FICO credit score online and allows you to pick your monthly payment due date, which is extremely helpful for people who prefer to pay their credit card bills based on their paycheck schedule.

However, the biggest disadvantage of the Citi Diamond Preferred is that it has no rewards program. This means you won’t earn points or cash back on any of your purchases, even if you’re able to pay your credit card on time on a monthly basis. There’s also no other significant card benefits aside from the introductory APRs and free FICO score.

With minimum perks, this is truly only a card to get if you’re looking for an introductory APR on balance transfers or new purchases. But those features may be extremely helpful to some people.

Read CNN Underscored’s complete review of the Citi Diamond Preferred Card.
Learn more and apply for the Citi Diamond Preferred Card.

The Citi Simplicity card is similar to the Citi Diamond Preferred card, with an identical introductory 0% interest rate on balance transfers for the first 21 months after you open the account. Once the intro period ends, the APR rises to a variable 18.99%-29.74% depending on your creditworthiness, so again, it’s important to get rid of your debt before the introductory rate expires.

But the Citi Simplicity comes with one added bonus — it has no late fees, ever. That makes it potentially preferable to people who might not be able to pay their minimum statement balance on time every month.

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that you’ll still pay interest even if you’re late on paying your bill. Even worse, if you’re utilizing the introductory balance transfer feature and miss a payment, you’ll lose your introductory interest rate. So while you won’t be hit with a hefty late fee on the Citi Simplicity, it’ll still cost you a lot to miss a monthly payment.

And as with the Citi Diamond Preferred, you won’t earn any rewards on your purchases with the Citi Simplicity, so this is truly only a good choice if you’re in need of a card that doesn’t charge late fees or offers a favorable introductory interest rate on balance transfers or purchases.

Read CNN Underscored’s complete review of the Citi Simplicity Card.
Learn more and apply for the Citi Simplicity Card.

Like other major credit card issuers, Citi has some limitations when it comes to how often you can apply for a credit card. But the bank doesn’t limit the number of overall cards that you can have in your wallet at a given time.

When it comes to personal Citi credit cards, you can only apply for one card every eight days, and no more than two cards in a 65-day window. For business cards, you’re limited to being approved for one card every 95 days.

You also can’t earn a sign-up bonus on the same Citi card until 24 months from the date you last opened or closed that card. This means if you cancel a card, your eligibility resets at that date. This rule also applies to cards within the same “family” of Citi cards, such as cards that earn ThankYou Rewards.

As an example, if you open a Citi Rewards+ card, you won’t be able to get a Citi Premier card until at least 24 months later, because both cards earn ThankYou Rewards. But you also won’t want to close your Citi Rewards+ card before the 24 months are up, because that will reset the clock and you’ll have to wait another 24 months before you can open another Citi card from the ThankYou Rewards family.

For most Citi holders, these restrictions won’t be an issue. But they’re important to keep in mind if you’re looking to revamp your credit card strategy.

With so many Citi credit cards, it might be hard to choose the best one for you. Fortunately, they all have something unique to offer.

If you’re looking for a card that you can use to rack up points for travel, then the Citi Premier is your best bet — you’ll have access to Citi’s full list of transfer partners, as well as the ability to book flights and hotels through the Citi travel portal. However, this is the only card in the mix that charges an annual fee, so you’ll want to make sure that you’re getting enough value from it to make paying that fee worthwhile.

On the other hand, if you prefer a no-annual-fee card that offers cash back or the option to cash out for gift cards, the Citi Double Cash, Citi Custom Cash Card or Citi Rewards+ are great options. Just pick the best one of the three that matches your spending habits. Remember, you can always add the Citi Premier to your wallet in the future if you ultimately want to increase your travel redemption options with all 16 transfer partners.

Finally, the Citi Diamond Preferred and Citi Simplicity are the go-to credit cards for people who need to carry debt or are looking to make a large purchase and can’t pay for the item in full immediately. The only downside is you won’t earn any rewards for your purchases, but if you’re currently buried in credit card debt, either of these cards are a great way to start getting your finances under control.

Looking for the best overall credit card? Find out which cards CNN Underscored chose as its best credit cards currently available.

Get all the latest personal finance deals, news and advice at CNN Underscored Money.

how to apply, customer reviews and terms of use



Citibank credit cards online: how to apply, customer reviews and terms of use

City

Moscow

Saint Petersburg

Volgograd

Voronezh

Ekaterinburg

Kazan

Krasnoyarsk

Nizhny Novgorod

Novosibirsk

Omsk

Permian

Rostov-on-Don

Samara

Ufa

Chelyabinsk

Choose a credit card for yourself at City Bank. Order a card online or apply with a passport to a bank branch. The page contains all the bank’s credit card offers in 2023, as well as detailed information on maximum limits, interest rates, customer requirements, required documents and other conditions. Use the instructions below to apply for a credit card online at www.citibank.ru. Answers to frequently asked questions about credit cards.

K5M rating

6.8/10

Annual rate from 20.9 to 39.9%
Maximum limit 3 000 000 ₽
Grace period 50 days
Age from 20 years old


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Thank you, your complaint has been sent for consideration

K5M® is a rating by which the VZO service evaluates financial products: microloans, loans or credit cards. For an objective assessment, we have created a complex formula. It takes into account over 90 parameters at the time of the last update in February 2023. The rating process uses not only the main product parameters, such as the amount or interest rate of a loan, but also customer ratings.

Read more

Please be informed that on August 25, 2022, Citi announced its decision to wind down its Russian retail and Russian SME business. There will be no immediate changes to account services, payments, consumer loans, credit cards and deposits, corporate or payroll cards, or any other products or services. All banking operations, including the call center, Citibank Online or the mobile banking app, will continue to operate as usual.

How to apply

Go to the Citibank website. Select a card from the list on the left. Click the “Submit Application” button:

Fill out the online application and click the “Continue” button:

In addition, the card can be issued at the Citibank office or counter

Requirements for the borrower

  • Russian citizenship
  • From 22 years old
  • Permanent registration in one of the cities where Citibank operates
  • Confirmed source of income over 30,000 rubles

Required documents

  • Passport of the Russian Federation
  • Second document:
  • Help 2-NDFL
  • Copy of driver’s license and vehicle registration certificate
  • Copy of international passport (before the trip – attach a copy of the ticket, after the trip – migration stamp within the last 6 months)
  • Extract from the Pension Fund confirming monthly income after taxes of more than 30,000 rubles per month

About the bank

Citibank is the Russian subsidiary of the American financial group Citigroup, one of the largest in the world. It was registered in 1993 as a bank with 100% foreign participation. Then Citibank became one of the first international banks in the Russian market. Citigroup itself has existed for more than two hundred years and actively serves clients in 160 countries around the world. Russian Citibank is regularly included in the ratings of the most reliable banks in Russia according to Forbes.

Citibank is wholly owned by an American financial group that manages the bank’s shares through Citigroup Netherlands B.V. The bank’s branch network is small – it includes 23 offices and 7 branches. This is due to the fact that the bank is actively moving to a customer service model without offices. Citibank operates under the license of the Central Bank No. 2557 dated July 28, 2015.

In total, Citibank serves more than 600,00 private and 3,000 corporate clients. The first available are deposits, consumer loans, credit and debit cards, money transfers, insurance and wealth management services. For the second, the bank offers cash settlement services, loans of various types, guarantees, letters of credit, securities transactions and other services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the card be used abroad?

MasterCard cards can be used to pay for purchases in Russia and abroad. The MasterCard logo marks terminals and ATMs that accept bank cards. Citibank cards can be used at 800,000 ATMs, 9,000 of which are owned by Citigroup.

How to get an electronic statement?

You can subscribe to the service in the Internet bank or by phone. An electronic statement is available for viewing in the Internet bank interface. Notification of the readiness of the statement is sent by e-mail, the service is provided free of charge.

How to increase the credit limit?

The bank changes the credit limit based on the history of using the card. To increase the limit on your own initiative, contact the bank by phone or at the office.

Which transactions are covered by the grace period?

The interest-free period is valid when paying by card at retail outlets, online stores and paying utility bills. Cash withdrawals, money transfers and quasi-cash transactions are not recognized as preferential.

Is there an interest-free period for purchases with an additional card?

Additional card expenses are included in the total debt. If the loan is repaid during the grace period, no interest is charged.

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Rating based on reviews

85 ratings, average: 4.7 out of 5

Citibank will transfer credit card portfolio to Uralsib

https://ria.ru/20230530/banki-1875171012.html

Citibank to transfer credit card portfolio to Uralsib

Citibank to transfer credit card portfolio to Uralsib – RIA Novosti, 05/30/2023

Citibank will transfer credit card portfolio in Uralsib

Citibank has entered into an agreement to transfer credit card portfolio to Uralsib with the consent of their holders, Citibank’s press service told RIA Novosti. RIA Novosti, 05/30/2023

2023-05-30T19:03

2023-05-30T19:03

2023-05-30T23:03

economy

russia

moscow

citibank

uralsib (financial corporation)

citi

st. petersburg

/ html/head/meta[@name=’og:title’]/@content

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MOSCOW, May 30 – RIA Novosti. Citibank has entered into an agreement to transfer a portfolio of credit cards to Uralsib subject to the consent of their holders, Citibank’s press service told RIA Novosti. subject to obtaining the consent of customers, a transition to servicing in Uralsib will be offered, in accordance with Russian legislation,” the bank said. Back in April 2021, Citigroup announced the decision to withdraw from the retail banking markets of 13 countries, including Russia, as part of a strategy update. . After Western sanctions were imposed on Russia, Citibank said in mid-March last year that it would not attract new customers in Russia and would expand the process of exiting Russian business beyond retail. The group estimated the cost of leaving Russia at $170 million. Uralsib confirmed to the agency the conclusion of an agreement with Citibank, adding that the limit and interest rate on the credit card after the transition would correspond to current conditions. “We ask customers not to apply for a card on their own, but to wait for communication, which will be mandatory from our bank,” they noted. In December, Uralsib announced that it had completed the purchase of a portfolio of consumer loans to individuals from Citibank. The bank then noted that the acquired portfolio has a high credit quality and makes it possible to significantly increase the client base in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

https://ria.ru/20230530/sberbank-1875059300.html

https://ria.ru/20230528/union-1874631187. html

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economics, russia, moscow, citibank, uralsib (financial corporation), citi, st. petersburg

Economy, Russia, Moscow, Citibank, Uralsib (financial corporation), Citi, St. Petersburg

MOSCOW, May 30 – RIA Novosti. Citibank has entered into an agreement to transfer a portfolio of credit cards to Uralsib with the consent of their holders, Citibank’s press service told RIA Novosti.

“Citi has entered into an agreement with PJSC Uralsib Bank, under which current credit card holders of JSC KB Citibank, subject to customer consent, will be offered to switch to Uralsib services, in accordance with Russian law,” – reported in bank.

FAS fined Sberbank

May 30, 13:41

Back in April 2021, Citigroup announced its decision to withdraw from the retail banking markets of 13 countries, including Russia, as part of a strategy update.