Review: Citi Premier
Update: As of May 10th, the Citi Premier is no longer open to new applicants. Citi is expected to launch their replacement for this card, the Citi Strata Premier on May 18th. It will largely be identical to the Premier with the addition of earning 3x points on EV charging.
The Citi Premier is an all around great card to have in your wallet and the best card out there for gas purchases. Between a hefty signup bonus, low annual fee, and great bonus categories, you can’t go wrong with this card. I think its an underrated card especially when paired with the Citi Double Cash. Citi doesn’t get a lot of love but its a nice way to round out your portfolio of cards.
Quick Facts
Signup Bonus: 60,000 Citi ThankYou Points after spending $4,000 in 3 months. Plus earn 10x points on hotels, rental cars and attractions book through the Citi Travel Portal through June 30th, 2024.
Points Earned: Citi ThankYou Points. Those ThankYou Points can be transferred to 16 airline and hotel partners or be used to redeem them for other purchases at a 1 cent per point value. If you use the points the right way you can get a value of at least $1,020 from the signup bonus.
Earnings Structure:
3x points on airfare.
3x points on hotels.
3x points on gas.
3x points on dining.
3x points on grocery stores.
Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Annual Fee: $95
This card is the unsung hero of mid-tier credit cards thanks to the low annual fee, large signup bonus and well rounded bonus categories. It is also the one card with the best bonus for gas station purchases. Keep in mind this is only standalone gas stations, Costco gas purchases will not. However, if you buy snacks inside the convenience store, it should count for 3x points.
Citi Transfer Partners
Citi has 16 airline and hotel transfer partners. The only downside is of their airline partners, only JetBlue is based in the US. While that might scare some people off, after reading my posts about how to maximize your credit card points you’ll realize that having only one domestic airline shouldn’t be an issue. Air France/KLM Flying Blue, Avianca Lifemiles, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, just to name a few are some of the best programs to redeem points with and can even be used for flights within the US as well as abroad. Be on the lookout for transfer bonuses as Citi regulary has bonuses when you transfer points to one of their partners. You can get an additional 20-30%.
$100 Hotel Credit
Similar to the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the Citi Premier also offers an annual hotel credit. To use this statment credit you’ll need to book a hotel for at least $500 on Citi’s ThankYou travel portal. Once you do that you’ll receive a $100 credit. That’s the equivalent to a 20% discount if you find a hotel stay for exactly $500. If you value this benefit, it will more than make up for the annual fee of $95. As with the Sapphire Preferred, this is very useful when staying at an independent hotel that is not affiliated with a major chain.
Citi Offers
Similar to Amex and Chase Offers, Citi has certain deals you can enroll in at various places to get cash back. Citi’s Merchant Offers are almost as plentiful as Amex’s and far more than what Chase has. Additionally, there are often overlaps with American Airline’s SimplyMiles site as well as Upside.
Citi Premier or Chase Sapphire Preferred?
I think these two cards are very comparable to each other with an identical signup bonus and annual fees as well as similar bonus categories. The Premier has the edge with better bonus categories but the Sapphire Preferred has the better travel protection. The hotel credits are good if its something you can take advantage of. With the Premier you need to spend exactly $500 to get 20% off and the $100 back on a hotel stay whereas with the Sapphire Preferred you can get the most value from a hotel stay under $250 to get the $50 back. That’s a toss up depending on your travel habits.
Is it Worth It?
Absolutely! The Citi Premier is easily the most underrated mid-tier card out there. Citi just doesn’t have the brand recognition that American Express and Chase have but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a great card.
Want to apply? Citi Premier
