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Citicards Rewards is a program designed to reward cardholders for their purchases and loyalty.
You can earn 5x points on travel purchases, making it a great option for frequent travelers.
To redeem points, you can choose from a variety of options, including statement credits, gift cards, and travel bookings.
With Citicards Rewards, you can also earn points on everyday purchases, such as groceries and gas.
Earning and Redeeming Points
Earning and redeeming points with your Citi Rewards card can be a great way to maximize your rewards. You earn 0.4 mpd on all your spend, but there are some categories where you can earn more points.
If you spend online, except for travel and in-app mobile wallet payments, you'll earn 4 mpd. This is a great opportunity to earn more points on your daily purchases. Department stores, shops selling bags, shoes, and clothes, also earn you 4 mpd.
You can also earn 10 times the points when you book hotels, car rentals, and attractions through CitiTravel.com. This is a great way to earn more points on your travel expenses.
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Here's a breakdown of the bonus spending categories:
Keep in mind that there's a cap of $1,000 per statement month for these categories, and any spend in excess of the cap earns 0.4 mpd.
Redeeming your points can be done in various ways. You can use them to offset purchases made using your Citi credit card, or you can redeem them for gift cards.
Mileage Earnings
Earning miles can be a great way to boost your rewards balance, but it's essential to understand how it works. You can earn miles on your SGD spend, FCY spend, and Bonus spend.
The minimum spend required to earn miles is SGD 1, as transactions are rounded down to the nearest SGD 1. For example, if you spend SGD 1.50, you'll earn miles on SGD 1.
Here's a breakdown of the mileage earnings:
You can use Citi PayAll to pay bills and earn miles, but be aware that most categories are excluded from rewards. However, there are some exceptions, and you should check your existing cards first.
Citi Rewards Cardholders can earn 0.4 mpd on all payments with Citi PayAll, but with an admin fee of 2.6%. This means you'd be paying 6.5 cents per mile, which is not worth considering under regular circumstances.
Bonus Points
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Earning bonus points can significantly boost your rewards. You can earn 10 timesX ThankYou Points per $1 spent on Hotel, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com.
Additionally, you can earn 3 timesX ThankYou Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas Stations, and EV Charging Stations.
Citi Rewards Cardholders also earn a total of 10 ThankYou points for every S$1 spent on Online transactions (except travel and in-app mobile wallet payments) and Department stores, or shops selling bags, shoes, and clothes.
Cards
Citicards rewards offer a variety of benefits, including purchase protections and bonus rewards on certain spending categories.
If you're looking for a credit card with no annual fee, the Citi Rewards Program Guide recommends checking out the Citi Secured Mastercard, which offers no annual fee and can be approved with no credit history.
Citicards rewards points are worth 1.6 cents each, on average, according to Business Insider's points and miles valuations.
To maximize rewards, consider using a card like the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card, which automatically maximizes rewards on purchases.
Some of the best Citicards rewards include:
- Best overall: Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
- Best for cash back: Citi Double Cash Card
- Best for airline miles: Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
- Best for Costco shoppers: Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi
- Best for small purchases: Citi Rewards+ Card
- Best for 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers: Citi Diamond Preferred Card
- Best for 0% intro APR with no fees: Citi Simplicity Card
- Best for low or no credit: Citi Secured Mastercard
Additionally, some Citicards rewards offer exclusive benefits, such as savings on Microsoft and Intuit products with the World Elite Mastercard.
Rewards and Sign-up Bonuses
If you're new to Citi Cards, you can enjoy a sign-up bonus of 40,000 ThankYou points, equivalent to 16,000 miles, by applying online, getting approved within 30 days, and spending at least S$800 on eligible transactions within the first 2 months of approval.
To earn these points, you'll need to apply for a Citi Rewards Card and meet the spending requirement within the specified timeframe. This offer is open to those who don't currently hold a principal Citi card and haven't cancelled one in the past 12 months.
Citi Rewards Cardholders earn 10 ThankYou points for every S$1 spent on online transactions and department store purchases, which translates to 4 mpd (miles per dollar). However, there's a cap of S$1,000 per statement month, shared between these two categories.
If you have both the Citi Rewards Mastercard and Visa, you can earn 4 mpd on up to S$2,000 per statement month. Just keep in mind that the calendar month and statement month are not the same, so be sure to check your Citi online banking for the exact dates.
Here's a breakdown of the bonus earning categories:
Remember to check your Citi online banking for the exact dates of your statement month, as it may vary from person to person.
Fees and Costs
The Citi Rewards Card's fees are something to consider. The annual fee for the principal cardholder is S$196.20, and S$98.10 for supplementary cards.
The first year's fee is waived for the principal cardholder, which is a nice perk. You can expect to pay the full fee from the second year onwards.
Transfers to airline and hotel programmes also come with a cost. Points transfer at a 5:2 ratio, with a minimum transfer block of 10,000 miles. Transfers cost S$27.25 each, regardless of the number of points being converted.
Here's a breakdown of the fees:
What Is the Range?
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The Citi Rewards card range offers flexibility, but it's worth noting that the points options vary between cards. The Citi Rewards loyalty program has three main credit cards attached.
These are the Citi Rewards, Citi Premier, and Citi Prestige cards. Citi Prestige sits at the higher end of the market, with a higher income requirement and a $700 annual fee.
A more affordable choice is Citi Premier, which packages a lower annual fee and lower income requirements. The standard Citi Rewards card is more of an entry-level product, but still gets you in the door to earn points via Citi.
Here's a brief rundown of the Citi Rewards card range:
- Citi Rewards
- Citi Premier
- Citi Prestige
If you choose the Qantas or Velocity path, you'll forgo the flexibility to earn points directly.
Annual Fee Cost
The annual fee cost of the Citi Rewards Card is a significant consideration. The principal cardholder's annual fee is S$196.20.
For supplementary cards, the fee is significantly lower at S$98.10. This can be a good option for additional cardholders.
The good news is that the first year's fee is waived for principal cardholders.
Transfer Fees
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Transfer fees can be a significant cost to consider when managing your rewards points.
Citibank has a fixed transfer fee of S$27.25 per transfer, regardless of the number of points being converted.
This fee applies to all transfers, making it essential to factor it into your decision-making process when transferring points.
With a 5:2 ratio, you can transfer points at a relatively low cost, but the transfer fee will still add up over time.
The minimum transfer block is 10,000 miles, so you'll need to have at least this amount in your account to initiate a transfer.
Redeeming and Transferring Points
ThankYou points are credited when your transaction posts, which generally takes 1-3 working days. This means you can expect to see your points reflected in your account soon after your purchase is processed.
You can redeem your points for gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com. For a limited time, earn bonus points after spending a certain amount in the first months of account opening, redeemable for a specific amount in gift cards or travel rewards.
To transfer your points, you have a choice of 11 airline and hotel programmes to choose from. Points transfer at a 5:2 ratio, with a minimum transfer block of 10,000 miles.
Transfer Partners
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You can transfer your Citi Rewards points to 11 airline and hotel programmes. The transfer rates and minimum transfer levels vary by frequent flyer program.
If you're a Citi Prestige cardholder, you get more choice with transfer partners, including Cathay (formerly Asia Miles), Etihad Guest, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club. For most cardholders, transfer options are limited but high in quality.
Here's a breakdown of the transfer rates for Citi's trio of eligible credit cards:
Points transfer at a 5:2 ratio for most cardholders, with a minimum transfer block of 10,000 miles.
Buy Miles with PayAll
If you're looking to buy miles with Citi PayAll, you'll need to know that it supports 24 different categories of payment, including outstanding balance with IRAS, with a monthly cap of S$200,000.
Citi PayAll has a monthly cap for each category, ranging from S$100,000 to S$30,000, depending on the category.
You can earn miles for free with Citi PayAll, but be sure to check if your existing cards would let you earn miles for free first, as most card issuers exclude these categories from rewards.
Citi Rewards Cardholders earn 0.4 mpd on all payments with an admin fee of 2.6%, which works out to 6.5 cents per mile, a rate that's not worth considering under regular circumstances.
However, Citi has run promotions in the past that have upsized the earn rate to as much as 2.5 mpd, and during the 2024 income tax season, the cost per mile was reduced to 1.31 to 1.62 cents apiece, making it a more attractive option.
Here are the categories supported by Citi PayAll, along with their monthly caps:
Keep in mind that Citi PayAll transactions will count towards the minimum spend for welcome offers and other promotions, provided the service fee is paid.
How to Contact
You can contact Citi Rewards in a few different ways.
If you're in Australia, you can call them on 13 24 84 for credit card-related queries, including rewards programs.
From overseas, you'll need to dial +61 2 8225 0615.
Alternatively, you can head to the Citi website and submit an online enquiry.
Comparison and Selection
If you're looking for a Citi credit card that earns rewards, you have several options. The Citi Rewards card is one of the best out there, as it uses a blacklist system that earns bonuses for online spending, unless explicitly blacklisted.
The Citi Rewards card is not the only card with this feature, but it's one of the best. The DBS Woman's World Card also uses a blacklist system, making it a great alternative.
To choose the right Citi credit card, consider your spending habits and financial goals. The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is a good option for automatically maximizing rewards, while the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is the best overall Citi credit card.
Here are some of the best Citi credit cards, each with its own unique features:
- Best overall: Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
- Best for cash back: Citi Double Cash Card
- Best for automatically maximizing rewards: Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
- Best for airline miles: Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
- Best for Costco shoppers: Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi
- Best for small purchases: Citi Rewards+ Card
- Best for 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers: Citi Diamond Preferred Card
- Best for 0% intro APR with no fees: Citi Simplicity Card
- Best for low or no credit: Citi Secured Mastercard
Comparison to Other Specialised Spending Cards
The Citi Rewards card stands out from other specialised spending cards with its blacklist system, which earns bonuses for all online transactions unless they're explicitly blacklisted.
This approach is unique among cards that offer bonus rewards for online spending, such as the DBS Woman's World Card, which also uses a blacklist system.
In contrast, cards like the HSBC Revolution, UOB Preferred Platinum Visa, and OCBC Rewards use a whitelist system, where only specified transactions earn bonuses.
Some whitelists are broader than others, but it's still not quite the same as the Citi Rewards' blacklist system.
The Citi Rewards card is also notable for its high reward value, with Citi ThankYou points worth 1.6 cents each on average.
This makes it a great option for those who want to earn significant rewards on their everyday expenses.
Top Card Comparison
Choosing the right credit card can be overwhelming, but let's break it down. If you're looking for a card with no annual fee, you have options like the Coles No Annual Fee Mastercard Review and the American Express No Annual Fee rewards cards.
Some credit cards offer rewards programs that allow you to earn points or miles on specific categories, such as supermarket, dining, or travel spend. For example, the Supermarket bonus point credit cards and the Dining spend bonus point credit cards can help you earn rewards on everyday expenses.
If you're a frequent flyer, consider cards like the Virgin Australia bonus point credit cards or the Qantas Bonus Point Credit Cards, which offer rewards on flights and other travel-related expenses.
Citi offers a variety of credit cards, including the Citi Rewards Program Guide, which earns rewards through the Citi ThankYou Rewards program. This program is valuable, with points worth 1.6 cents each, on average.
If you're looking for a card with a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, consider the Citi Diamond Preferred Card. Alternatively, if you need a card with no fees, the Citi Simplicity Card might be a good option.
Here's a comparison of some top Citi credit cards:
Remember to consider your spending habits and financial goals when choosing a credit card.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is 5000 Citi points worth?
5000 Citi points are worth $50 in gift card value, or approximately $55 with select merchant sales
Where can I see my Citi rewards?
To view your Citi rewards, log into your Citi account or visit the ThankYou website. Your rewards will be available for access once you're logged in.
What is the best Citi card to have?
The best Citi card depends on your needs: flat-rate cash back, automatic 5% rewards, travel rewards, or balance transfers. Consider your goals to find the Citi card that suits you best.
What credit score is needed for Citi Rewards card?
To be approved for the Citi Rewards+ card, you'll need a good to excellent credit score, typically ranging from 670 to 850. A higher credit score increases your chances of approval.
Sources
- https://www.pointhacks.com.au/citi/
- https://milelion.com/2024/07/30/review-citi-rewards-credit-card/
- https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/compare/travel-reward-credit-cards
- https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-cards/best-citi-credit-cards
- https://creditcards.aa.com/citi-credit-cards-american-airlines-aadvantage-cardmember/
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