Citibank credit card promotions provide U.S. consumers with opportunities to earn significant rewards through welcome bonuses and ongoing cash-back programs. Based on current information available through November 2025, Citibank offers several notable credit card promotions, with the most valuable being the Citi Strata Premier® Card's initial bonus of 60,000 points. This promotion requires new cardholders to spend $4,000 within the first three months of account opening to qualify for the bonus points. The credit card landscape changes frequently, with offers appearing and disappearing regularly, making timing an important consideration for consumers interested in maximizing their rewards.
The Citi Double Cash Card represents another prominent option in Citibank's portfolio, offering a straightforward rewards structure of 2% cash back on every purchase—1% when making a purchase and an additional 1% when paying for those purchases. This card currently features a welcome offer of $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases within the first six months of account opening. Historical data indicates that this particular offer has been available since November 2023, though the card did lack any welcome offer during the period from November 2022 to November 2023.
Citibank also maintains a suite of cobranded credit cards in partnership with American Airlines AAdvantage, providing additional options for consumers interested in travel rewards. These cards are part of Citibank's broader credit card portfolio, which includes various products designed to meet different spending patterns and reward preferences.
Current Citibank Credit Card Promotions
The Citi Strata Premier® Card currently stands as Citibank's most valuable promotional offer. New cardholders can earn 60,000 ThankYou Points after meeting the minimum spending requirement of $4,000 within the first three months. This promotion represents a significant opportunity for consumers with substantial monthly expenses who can strategically meet the spending threshold without altering their normal purchasing behavior.
For consumers who prefer simplicity over category optimization, the Citi Double Cash Card provides an appealing alternative. Its current promotion offers $200 cash back after spending $1,500 in purchases within the first six months. The card's permanent rewards structure delivers consistent value without requiring category tracking or enrollment, making it suitable for consumers who want reliable cash back without complexity.
The availability of these promotions fluctuates based on Citibank's marketing strategies and competitive positioning. Historical patterns suggest that promotional offers may disappear temporarily, as demonstrated by the Citi Double Cash Card's lack of any welcome offer between November 2022 and November 2023. This volatility underscores the importance of applying for desired cards while specific promotions remain active.
Citi Double Cash Card: Rewards Structure and Benefits
The Citi Double Cash Card operates on a unique rewards accumulation system that distinguishes it from traditional cash-back cards. Cardmembers earn ThankYou Points equivalent to 1% on all purchases made and an additional 1% when those purchases are paid off. This two-stage earning process effectively creates a 2% cash-back rate but requires paying the balance to receive the full reward.
Beyond the base earning rate, the card provides enhanced value for specific travel bookings. Cardmembers can earn a total of 5% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions when booking through the Citi Travel portal. This elevated rate applies to these specific travel categories, providing additional incentives for using Citibank's travel booking platform.
The card carries no annual fee, making it accessible to consumers across various income levels. Its rewards are automatically tracked as ThankYou Points, which accumulate in the cardmember's account and can be redeemed through multiple channels. The absence of category restrictions or enrollment requirements simplifies the earning process compared to many competing cash-back cards.
Citi Custom Cash Card: Category-Specific Rewards
The Citi Custom Cash Card offers a different approach to rewards optimization through category-based earning. Cardmembers receive 5% cash back on their highest eligible spending category each billing cycle, capped at $500 in purchases. All spending beyond that $500 threshold, as well as purchases in all other categories, earn 1% cash back.
This card also provides enhanced travel rewards, offering an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel. This brings the potential total to 9% back on travel bookings made through the portal, assuming travel falls within the cardmember's top spending category for that billing cycle.
The Citi Custom Cash Card includes a welcome offer with bonus ThankYou Points, but specific details about the bonus amount and spending requirements are not provided in the available information. However, the terms indicate important restrictions: bonus points are unavailable to applicants who have received a new account bonus for a Citi Custom Cash Card within the past 48 months, or who have converted another Citi card with a recent bonus into a Custom Cash Card. Citibank also limits account holders to one Citi Custom Cash Card per person.
Citi Strata Credit Card Portfolio
The Citi Strata credit card portfolio represents Citibank's approach to premium and mid-tier credit card offerings. The portfolio includes the Citi Strata Elite Card and the standard Citi Strata Card, each designed to cater to different consumer segments and spending patterns.
The Citi Strata Elite Card carries a $595 annual fee and offers premium benefits. Its pricing structure includes a variable APR of 21.24% to 29.24% for purchases and balance transfers, based on creditworthiness. Cash advances carry a 29.49% variable APR, and the penalty APR can reach up to 29.99% for late payments or returned payments. The card charges no foreign transaction fees, making it suitable for international travelers, though it imposes a 5% cash advance fee (minimum $10) and a 5% balance transfer fee (minimum $5). Authorized users can be added for $75 each.
The standard Citi Strata Card offers a more accessible entry point with a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers from account opening. After the promotional period, variable APRs of 19.24% to 29.24% apply. This card includes a Self-Select category feature that provides 3x points on eligible categories including fitness clubs, select streaming services, and live entertainment. The Citi Strata Card carries no annual fee, making it accessible to a broader range of consumers.
American Airlines AAdvantage Cobranded Cards
Citibank partners with American Airlines to offer a suite of cobranded AAdvantage credit cards. These cards allow cardmembers to earn AAdvantage miles on everyday purchases, which can be redeemed for flights on American Airlines and partner airlines. While specific details about these cards' rewards structures and benefits are not fully detailed in the available information, they represent an important component of Citibank's credit card portfolio for consumers focused on travel rewards.
The cobranded cards provide a direct path to airline loyalty program accumulation, bypassing the intermediate step of converting ThankYou Points to airline miles. For frequent American Airlines travelers, these cards may offer more targeted value than general-purpose travel rewards cards.
Understanding ThankYou Points Redemption
Citibank credit cards that earn rewards do so through the ThankYou Points system. This unified rewards currency allows cardmembers to accumulate points across multiple cards and redeem them through various channels. The redemption process is designed to be flexible, accommodating different consumer preferences and spending needs.
Cardmembers can redeem ThankYou Points online through the ThankYou.com portal or by calling the ThankYou Service Center at 1-800-THANKYOU (1-800-842-6596). For international callers, a collect call option is available at 859-283-8016. The online redemption process follows a simple shopping-style interface: users browse the rewards collection or travel options, add desired items to their cart, and complete the order.
Redemption options include cash back, gift cards, travel bookings, and shopping purchases. The flexibility allows cardmembers to choose the redemption method that provides the most value for their specific situation. For example, someone saving for a vacation might redeem for travel, while someone seeking immediate value might choose cash back.
Eligibility Considerations and Account Restrictions
Citibank maintains specific eligibility requirements and restrictions for its promotional offers. The most significant restriction applies across the Citi Custom Cash Card product line: applicants who have received a new account bonus for this specific card within the past 48 months are ineligible for current bonus offers. This restriction also applies to individuals who have converted another Citi credit card with a recent bonus into a Citi Custom Cash Card.
Additionally, Citibank limits customers to one Citi Custom Cash Card per person, preventing multiple accounts to earn multiple bonuses. These restrictions are designed to prevent bonus abuse and ensure that promotional offers reach new and returning customers rather than existing account holders seeking to cycle through bonuses.
The Citi Double Cash Card's historical pattern of offering and withdrawing welcome bonuses suggests that timing matters for consumers seeking maximum value. During periods when no welcome bonus is available, the card still provides ongoing value through its 2% cash-back structure, but consumers may prefer to wait for a promotional period to apply.
APR and Fee Structures
Understanding the cost of carrying balances is crucial when evaluating Citibank credit cards. The Citi Strata Elite Card carries the highest APRs, with purchase and balance transfer APRs ranging from 21.24% to 29.24%, and cash advances at 29.49%. The penalty APR can reach 29.99% for payment issues.
The Citi Strata Card offers more favorable terms with a 0% introductory APR for 15 months, followed by variable APRs of 19.24% to 29.24%. This introductory period provides significant value for consumers planning large purchases or balance transfers, as it eliminates interest charges during the promotional window.
All cards include standard fees such as cash advance fees (5% of each advance, minimum $10) and balance transfer fees (5% of each transfer, minimum $5). The Citi Strata Elite Card's $595 annual fee reflects its premium positioning, while the $75 authorized user fee allows cardholders to add additional users at a reasonable cost. Notably, the Citi Strata Elite Card charges no foreign transaction fees, which provides value for international travelers.
Strategic Application Timing
Based on historical patterns, consumers should consider applying for Citibank credit cards when specific promotions are available rather than assuming they will remain constant. The Citi Double Cash Card's history demonstrates that welcome offers can disappear for extended periods, with no bonus available from November 2022 to November 2023. This suggests that prospective cardholders should monitor offer availability and apply promptly when desirable promotions appear.
The current Citi Double Cash offer of $200 after $1,500 in spending represents the highest welcome bonus the card has offered according to available information. This makes the current period particularly attractive for applying to this card.
For the Citi Strata Premier® Card's 60,000-point bonus, consumers should evaluate whether their spending patterns can naturally accommodate the $4,000 requirement within three months without overspending or carrying balances that would negate the bonus value.
Maximizing Value Through Card Combinations
While specific combination strategies are not detailed in the available information, the existence of multiple Citibank cards with different earning structures suggests potential for portfolio optimization. The Citi Custom Cash Card's category-specific 5% earning (up to $500 monthly) could complement the Citi Double Cash Card's flat 2% rate on all other spending.
Cardmembers who hold multiple ThankYou Points-earning cards can pool their points through the ThankYou network, potentially accelerating reward accumulation. However, specific details about point pooling mechanics and transfer partners are not provided in the available source material.
Travel Benefits and Booking Considerations
The enhanced rewards rates on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel (5% on Double Cash, up to 9% on Custom Cash when travel is the top category) create an incentive to use Citibank's travel portal. However, consumers should compare portal pricing against direct bookings or other travel sites to ensure they're receiving genuine value.
The Citi Strata Elite Card's lack of foreign transaction fees provides straightforward value for international travelers. Combined with its premium benefits, this feature may offset the $595 annual fee for consumers who travel internationally several times per year.
Important Disclosures and Limitations
All Citibank credit card applications are subject to credit approval, and terms and conditions apply. The APR ranges provided are variable and based on creditworthiness. Consumers should review current terms at the time of application, as rates and fees may change.
The information presented is based on data current as of November 2025. Credit card offers and terms change frequently, and consumers should verify current promotions directly with Citibank before applying. WalletHub editorial content is not provided, reviewed, or endorsed by Citibank or any other financial institution mentioned.
Conclusion
Citibank's current credit card promotions offer valuable opportunities for U.S. consumers seeking cash-back rewards and travel benefits. The Citi Strata Premier® Card's 60,000-point bonus provides the highest value for those who can meet its $4,000 spending requirement, while the Citi Double Cash Card's $200 bonus offers a more accessible entry point with a $1,500 requirement. The Citi Custom Cash Card adds category-specific optimization for consumers with predictable spending patterns. The introduction of the Citi Strata Elite Card with premium benefits and the standard Citi Strata Card with no annual fee expands options across different consumer segments. Prospective cardholders should apply while specific promotions remain available, as historical patterns show offers can disappear without notice. Understanding the full terms, including APRs, fees, and eligibility restrictions, is essential for making informed decisions about which Citibank credit cards align with individual financial goals and spending habits.