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Citi Premier® Card Credit Card Review

Citi Premier® Card
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Citi Premier® Card
Citi Premier® Card
Patrick Sather
Jan. 30, 2024
4 min read
Patrick Sather
Citi Premier® Card Summary
Founded in 1998, Citi is one of the largest financial services providers in the United States and a major issuer of credit cards. The Citi Premier® Card rewards you 3x points on restaurant, gas station, travel, and supermarket purchases, as well as 1x points on all other purchases. It also offers a $100 annual hotel savings benefit and charges no foreign transaction fees.

Pros

  • No fee on foreign transactions
  • Flexible reward points that don’t expire

Cons

  • Doesn’t offer as many points per purchase as similar cards
  • Doesn’t include travel protections

Citi Premier® Card at a glance

9.8
Editorial score

Fees

$95 annual fee, 5% cash advance fee ($10 minimum), and a 5% balance transfer fee (or a minimum of $5)
10.0

APR

21.24%-29.24% (variable)
9.0

Security

FDIC insured, 128-bit SSL encryption, biometric, and two-factor authentication
10.0

Customer service

24/7 customer service on the phone and live chat
10.0

Online experience

User-friendly online platform and app, comprehensive Help Center and FAQ Section on website
10.0

This content is not provided by Citibank. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone and have not been endorsed by Citibank.

Citi Premier® Card Citi Premier® Card Visit Site

Overview

Citigroup Inc., or Citi, was founded in 1998 as part of a merger between Citicorp and Travelers Group. With over $23 trillion in assets under management and 200 million customer accounts, Citi is the third-largest bank in the United States. It also ranks as the second-largest credit card issuer in the US, with more than 14 cards currently in circulation. 

The Citi Premier® Card is a mid-tier travel reward credit card that offers 3x points on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, and hotels, and 1x points on all other purchases. There’s no cap on the number of points you can earn, and points never expire. The card also offers a $100 annual hotel savings benefit and charges no foreign transaction fees. 

Suitable For?

If you often travel internationally and want an affordable reward card card, the Citi Premier® Card may be right for you. With a relatively low $95 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, it’s a cost-efficient mid-tier credit card that can save you money when traveling abroad. 

Plus, by rewarding you 3x points on restaurant, supermarket, and gas station purchases, the card offers you plenty of ways to earn points when you spend on everyday purchases.  

Interest Rates and Fees 

The interest rate for the Citi Premier® Card can vary depending on your creditworthiness, with a variable APR of 21.24%-29.24%. It charges a $95 annual fee, as well as a 5% fee on balance transfers and cash withdrawals. However, it doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees.  

APR

21.24%-29.24%

Annual fee

$95

Balance transfer fee

5%

Cash withdrawal fee

5%

Foreign transaction fee

$0

Rewards & Cash Back

The Citi Premier® Card is a rewards travel card that earns ThankYou® points when you make qualifying purchases. You can redeem these points for cash or spend the points to earn travel miles, gift cards, or spending credits at select retailers, such as Amazon. The points don’t expire and there’s no limit on the number of points you can earn. 

Each ThankYou® is worth approximately $0.01. However, Citi has partnered with select international mileage programs that offer you a 1:1 ratio when you transfer points to purchase miles. These include Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, TrueBlue®, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. 

You earn 3x points when you use your card on restaurant, supermarket, gas station, hotel, and travel purchases, and 1x points on all other purchases. Currently, Citi is offering an introductory offer that gets you 60,000 bonus points when you spend at least $4,000 within three months of account opening. 

In addition to point rewards, the Citi Premier® Card also comes with a $100 annual hotel savings benefit. This benefit can save you $100 each year when you use your card to pay for a hotel stay of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees. 

The Application Process

There are many ways that you can apply for a Citi Premier® Card. The easiest option involves visiting the Credit Card tab on Citi’s website and clicking “Apply Now” on the Citi Premier® Card banner. Alternatively, you could visit your nearest Citi branch or call the Citi credit card and have a customer service representative guide you through the application. You may also receive a pre-approval offer in the mail with an invitation code that you can use to start your application.

To complete your application, you’ll need to provide personal information, including your name, email address, social security number, date of birth, and home address. You’ll also need to provide financial data, such as your annual income and monthly rent or mortgage payment. 

It can take Citi up to 14 business days to process your application. Upon approval, you can expect to receive your credit card in the mail within 7-10 business days.

See Rates and Fees

Citi Premier® Card Citi Premier® Card Visit Site

Help & Support

You can contact Citi’s credit card support line 24/7 at 1-800-950-5114. As a Citi Premier® Card holder, you also get access to Citi Concierge, a 24/7 dedicated phone line that can help you with vacation planning, purchasing event tickets, and booking dinner reservations. It’s easy to reach a customer service agent over the phone once you enter your account details. 

Security

Citi utilizes a host of security features and services to ensure the privacy of your data. While you’re online, Citi uses 128-bit SSL encryption and two-factor authentication to deter unauthorized parties from accessing your personal or financial information. If you use the Citi mobile app, you can also opt to use a biometric fingerprint signature to secure your account.

As a World Elite Mastercard®, The Citi Premier® Card comes with a suite of security benefits, including zero liability and Mastercard® ID theft protection. The card offers enhanced purchase protection of up to $10,000 per incident if an item is damaged or stolen within 90 days of the purchase date. 

Additionally, any item you purchase that comes with a manufacturer’s warranty of five years or fewer can qualify for a 24-month warranty extension (limit $10,000 per item).  

FAQs 

Are there foreign transaction fees for the Citi Premier® Card?

No, the Citi Premier® Card doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees. 

Is the Citi Premier® Card a Mastercard® or Visa® Credit Card?

The Citi Premier® Card is a Mastercard.

Conclusion

The Citi Premier® Card offers excellent international travel perks and flexible ways to earn rewards at an affordable price. It’s easy to earn rewards with 3x points offered on common purchases like restaurants, gas stations, and grocery stores. 

Additionally, with no fees on foreign transactions, you don’t have to worry about racking up charges when you use your card while traveling abroad. 

Methodology

This review was completed based on information gathered from Citi’s website and customer reviews.

Patrick Sather
Written by
Patrick Sather
Patrick Sather is an award-winning personal finance writer and licensed broker who has worked for some of the largest financial firms in the United States, including TD Ameritrade and Pacific Life. A graduate of the University of Nebraska in both Economics and International Trade and English, his articles on life's most common financial decisions and quandaries are straightforward, practical, and always easy to understand.
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