The Citi Double Cash Card is a popular choice for earning rewards, and for good reason - its points system is straightforward and lucrative. You earn 2% cash back on all purchases, with no rotating categories or spending limits.
One of the key benefits of the Citi Double Cash Card is its flexibility. You can redeem your rewards for cash back, statement credits, or even transfer them to other loyalty programs. This makes it easy to get the most value from your rewards.
To maximize your rewards, consider using the Citi Double Cash Card for all your daily purchases, from groceries to gas to entertainment. This way, you'll earn 2% cash back on everything, without having to worry about complicated rewards structures.
By following these simple tips, you can get the most from your Citi Double Cash Card points and enjoy the benefits of a lucrative rewards program.
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Rewards Program
The Citi Double Cash card has a phenomenal rewards structure that's hard to beat. You earn 2% cash back on every purchase, with 1% back when you make the purchase and another 1% back when you pay it off.
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This means you get two cents back on every dollar spent, which is more rewarding than a vast majority of cash back credit cards. The cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou points, and each ThankYou point earned with the card can be redeemed for one cent cash back.
You can redeem your cash back for a paper check, statement credit, or a deposit into a linked Citi checking or savings account, or to a checking or savings account you’ve used at least twice to pay a Citi credit card bill.
Here are some key redemption options:
- Cash back for a paper check, statement credit, or a deposit into a linked Citi checking or savings account
- Redeem for gift cards
- Transfer to Citi travel partners, including JetBlue and Wyndham
- Combine points across your Citi card accounts with other Citi cards, such as the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
Review
The Citi Double Cash card is a standout in the rewards program world. It offers a phenomenal rewards structure that's hard to beat.
You'll earn 1% cash back when you make a purchase and another 1% when you pay for that purchase. This means you'll get two cents back on every dollar spent.
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No other card I can think of offers a return of better than 2% cash back without any major strings attached. The Bank of America Premium Rewards card offers 2.625% return on spending, but only if you have $100K with Bank of America through the Preferred Rewards program.
The cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou points, which can be redeemed for one cent cash back each. There are no minimum redemption amounts, and you can choose to be rewarded with a statement credit or direct deposit.
For more insights, see: Chase 2 Cash Back Card
Rewards Rate
The Citi Double Cash card offers a flat 2% cash back on every purchase, which is a phenomenal rewards structure. This means you'll earn 1% cash back when you make a purchase and another 1% cash back when you pay for that purchase.
For comparison, the Citi Rewards+ Card offers 2 ThankYou points per $1 spent at supermarkets and gas stations, and 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on all other purchases. The Citi Rewards+ Card also offers a 10% points back for the first 100,000 points you redeem per year.
The Citi Double Cash card is one of the main cards I've used for my personal spending within the United States when there's not otherwise a bonus category. I've even used the card to pay my income taxes for a fee of under 2%.
Here's a breakdown of the rewards rate for the Citi Double Cash card:
The Citi Double Cash card has no annual fee, so you don't have to worry about earning enough rewards to make up for one. However, the interest rate can be steep, so if you're planning to carry a balance, know that the interest charges will eat into the value you get from the rewards.
Redemption Options
You can redeem your Citi Double Cash Card points for cash back, which is a straightforward option.
Aside from cash back, you can also redeem your points toward gift cards or travel through Amazon.com.
Citi Double Cash Card points can be transferred to a limited number of Citi travel partners, including JetBlue and Wyndham.
Consider reading: How to Redeem Bofa Travel Rewards
Keep in mind that point values may vary if you choose to redeem them for anything other than cash.
If you hold other Citi cards, you have access to many more transfer-partner options and can combine points across your Citi card accounts, including points earned on the Citi Double Cash Card.
Features and Benefits
The Citi Double Cash Card offers a flat-rate cash back rewards structure, earning 1% cash back when you make a purchase and 1% cash back when you pay for that purchase.
This results in a total cash back rate of 2% on every dollar spent, making it one of the best cash back credit cards on the market.
The cash back rewards are earned in the form of ThankYou points, which can be redeemed for one cent cash back each.
You can redeem your ThankYou points for a statement credit or direct deposit, with no minimum redemption amounts.
Here are the key features and benefits of the Citi Double Cash Card:
- 1% cash back when you make a purchase
- 1% cash back when you pay for that purchase
- Cash back rewards earned in the form of ThankYou points
- ThankYou points can be redeemed for one cent cash back each
Core Features
The Citi Double Cash Card is a top-notch flat-rate cash back credit card with a high rewards rate. Many flat-rate cards top out at 1.5%, but this card offers a better return.
New cardholders can transfer a balance from another credit card, making it a great option for those looking to consolidate debt or move a balance to a lower-interest card.
Here are the core features you need to know:
- 1% cash back when you make a purchase
- 1% cash back when you pay for that purchase
- 2% total cash back rate on all purchases
- No minimum redemption amounts
- Rewards can be redeemed as a statement credit or direct deposit
Travel Rewards Flexibility
You can earn rewards on the Citi Double Cash even without having the Citi Strata Premier Card.
Having the Citi Double Cash in conjunction with the Citi Strata Premier Card or Citi Prestige Card gives you the flexibility to convert your rewards into travel rewards points.
You can transfer your Citi Double Cash rewards to the 15+ Citi ThankYou airline and hotel partners, ranging from Air France-KLM Flying Blue to Singapore KrisFlyer.
Personally, I value ThankYou points at 1.7 cents each, so this increases the value of the rewards by 70%.
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Here are some of the airline and hotel partners you can transfer your points to:
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue
- Emirates Skywards
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Singapore KrisFlyer
This means you can earn rewards on the Citi Double Cash and then decide to apply for the Citi Strata Premier Card in the future, pooling all your rewards together and transferring them to partners.
Alternatives and Considerations
If you're unsure about the Citi Double Cash Card, consider these alternatives. The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card is a good match if you're looking to make a big purchase soon but still want to earn cash back.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card offers rewards with long-term value in addition to its introductory APR offers. If you're on the fence, it's worth exploring these options to see which one best fits your needs.
Here are some cards to compare:
- Chase Freedom Unlimited: This card could be a good match if you’re looking to make a big purchase soon but still want to earn cash back.
- Wells Fargo Active Cash: This card’s rewards give it long-term value in addition to its introductory APR offers.
Consider These Alternatives
If you're not sure about the Citi Double Cash Card, there are some other options worth considering.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card could be a good fit if you're planning a big purchase soon.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card offers long-term value with its rewards, in addition to its introductory APR offers.
If you're looking for a card with cash back rewards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card might be the way to go.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card's rewards program gives it long-term value, making it a solid choice for some cardholders.
Here are some alternative cards to consider:
- Chase Freedom Unlimited Card
- Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Our Take
The Citi Double Cash Card is a solid choice for people who want a great rewards rate without the hassle of keeping track of bonus rewards categories.
One of the standout features of this card is its ability to earn 2% cash back on all purchases, with no rotating categories or spending limits to worry about.
If you already have a credit card with bonus rewards on certain spending categories, consider having this card in your wallet for purchases that earn less than 2%.
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The card's long intro balance transfer APR promotion makes it an excellent option for paying down high-interest credit card debt, but be aware that you'll need to pay a balance transfer fee.
You can make up for the balance transfer fee over time with rewards earned on new purchases after you've paid off the balance transfer.
If this caught your attention, see: Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Cash Advance Fee
Maximizing Rewards
The Citi Double Cash card offers a phenomenal rewards structure, earning you 2% cash back on every purchase. This is achieved through 1% cash back when you make a purchase and another 1% cash back when you pay for that purchase.
You can redeem your cash back for a paper check, statement credit, or a deposit into a linked Citi checking or savings account. Each ThankYou point earned with the card can be redeemed for one cent cash back.
The Citi Double Cash gives you the best of both worlds, allowing you to earn cash back and convert those points into travel rewards points. To maximize the value of this, you'll want to have the Citi Double Cash in conjunction with the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card or Citi Prestige Card.
You can earn rewards on the Citi Double Cash even without having the Citi Strata Premier. Then in the future, you can decide to apply for the Citi Strata Premier Card, and all the rewards you've earned on the card can be pooled with your other ThankYou points and transferred to partners.
Here's a breakdown of the card's rewards structure:
- 1% cash back when you make a purchase
- 1% cash back when you pay for that purchase
- Redeemable for one cent cash back per ThankYou point
- Can be transferred to 15+ Citi ThankYou airline and hotel partners
This means for every dollar you spend (and subsequently pay the bill for) you're getting your choice of either two cents or two transferrable points, which can be converted into airline miles.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is 10,000 Citi points worth?
10,000 Citi points are worth $100 with Citi Travel cards, but the value varies for Citi cash back cards
How many Citi points equal $1 dollar?
Citi ThankYou Points can be redeemed for $1 at a rate of 10-50 points, depending on the redemption option. For gift cards and travel bookings, it's typically around 100 points per dollar.
Sources
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/citi-thankyou-points-value
- https://www.creditkarma.com/credit-cards/insights/citi-double-cash-card
- https://onemileatatime.com/guides/citi-double-cash-worth-it/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/credit-cards/citi-double-cash-will-move-to-points-system-nix-minimum-redemption
- https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/citi-double-cash-card/
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