Citi Credit Cards Review: From Citi Platinum Select To Citi Forward
January 30, 2010 by Millie Kay G.
If you’re looking to get a Citibank credit card, you’ve got quite a few good choices. If you happen to pay your credit card in full each month, you’ll be able to benefit from the rewards offered by the Citi ThankYou Points Network, which is Citi’s credit card rewards program. Your credit history will determine whether you’ll be approved for a card, and will also have an influence on your credit limit and interest rates. Here’s a look at some of the popular cards available from Citibank.
Citi Credit Cards Review
Citi Platinum Select MasterCard is Citibank’s basic, regular credit card. It offers a 0% APR on both new purchases and balance transfers for up to 12 months (based on credit history). Card members will receive the Extra Cash benefit, which provides online discounts for entertainment, travel and merchandise. It also has no annual fee. Here’s where you can apply.
Citi Forward Credit Card is a rewards card that gives you 0% APR for 6 months on purchases AND balance transfers, allows a .25 APR reduction for wise credit use, and helps you earn bonus points when you spend: 6,000 points after your first $250 spent (within 3 months of card receipt), 5,000 points when you go for paperless statements, and additional points per dollar you spend. And there’s no annual fee. We wrote about this card earlier last year, when if first came out: check out our Citi Forward Credit Card Review for additional details. If you’re interested in applying, you can visit this link for more information.
Citi Forward Card for College Students is a great option for college students because it’s one of the few rewards cards that encourages the prudent use of credit cards. It’s the counterpart of the Citi Forward card, and offers 0% APR for 6 months on new purchases, if you’re eligible. It also has a cool rate reduction feature wherein you can get a .25% APR reduction for purchases if you pay your bills on time or stay under your credit limit. In addition, you can rack up the rewards points which you can redeem through the ThankYou Points Network: 3,500 bonus points after your first $250 purchase (within 3 months of getting the card); 2,500 points when you opt for paperless statements, 100 points per month for good card use, 5 points for each dollar spent on select spending categories and 1 point per dollar spent on everything else. Simply use your card and you’ll gain rewards. Also, there’s no annual fee. Here’s where you can apply.
Citi mtvU Platinum Select Visa Card for College Students is another good starter card for students. It’s a rewards card which allows you 0% APR for 6 months on purchases if you qualify; 25 rewards points per month if you have good credit card habits, 5 points earned per $1 spent on books, music, movies and meals and 1 point earned per $1 spent on everything else. An additional bonus of 2,000 ThankYou points twice a year is available if you maintain a good GPA. And no annual fee! Here’s where you can apply.
Citi PremierPass Card-Elite Level is Citi’s rewards card for travelers. Qualifying applicants can look forward to earning 200,000 in bonus points after $600 in purchases within three months. Also, you can earn 2 points for every dollar spent on everyday purchases and one point for other purchases. You can also earn 1 point for every mile you fly on any airline; and if you buy an airline ticket for someone else on your card, their miles will earn you points as well. When you want to redeem those rewards, the Citi ThankYou Points Network even lets you book flights without blackout dates. Or you can opt for rewards such as merchandise, hotel stays, or gift cards. There’s a $75 annual fee though.
Before signing up for any credit card, read through any disclosures or terms and conditions. That way, you’ll be prepared for any rate changes after introductory periods end and you’ll be ready for fees that may go into effect after a period of time.
Also, bear in mind that there are fees for making cash advances and balance transfers. For rewards programs, scour the fine print for exclusions: you don’t want to book tickets to see your relatives only to have your plans fall through because your points aren’t up to par.
For more on top credit cards, check out this list of best credit card rewards programs.
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