The Citi ThankYou Points program has been in hiding since the pandemic started. While American Express, Capital One, and Chase introduced new cards and revamped their reward programs, Citi was nowhere to be found. So, finally, we have positive news, hell any news, out of Citi with a new card in the Citi Custom Cash.
Citi is targeting American Express and Chase with its Citi Custom Cash. As you’ll see below, Citi wants a piece of the action when it comes to your restaurant, grocery store, travel, transit, streaming, and drugstore spending.
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Citi Custom Cash Details
New card members earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. This is a solid welcome offer considering the Citi Custom Cash has no annual fee.
It’s important to note that the terms and conditions state Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash account per person. In addition, you qualify for the $200 bonus if you have not received a bonus on this card in the past 48 months. Being that this is a new card, the 48-month restriction shouldn’t apply to many people.
How to Earn Points with the Citi Custom Cash
The Citi Custom Cash earns 5% cash back on up to $500 in one of the 10 bonus categories where you spend the most in each billing cycle. 5% bonus categories are restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment. Within bonus categories that state “select” and then a category, here are the types of merchants that qualify:
- Travel – airline, hotel, cruise line, and travel agency purchases.
- Transit – car rentals, ferries, commuter railways, subways, taxis/limousines/car services, passenger railways, bridge and road tolls, parking lots/garages, bus lines, and motor home and recreational vehicle rentals.
- Streaming Services – Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, Apple Music, CBS All Access, Disney+, AT&T TV NOW, ESPN+, fuboTV, HBO Max, NBA League Pass, Netflix, Pandora, Showtime, Sling TV, Spotify, Starz, SiriusXM, Vudu, YouTube Red, YouTube TV, and Tidal.
How to Redeem Points with the Citi Custom Cash
Citi ThankYou Points earned can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, travel, and Shop with Points at Amazon.com. The best way to receive the most value with your points is to transfer points to Citi’s travel partners. Avianca LifeMiles, Singapore KrisFlyer, Etihad Guest, and Virgin Atlantic are partners that can offer high value. Before booking travel with Citi’s partners, you’ll also need to hold either the Citi Prestige Card or Citi Premier Card.
With that said, examples of ways to redeem Citi ThankYou Points with these partners include:
- 87,000 points to Avianca LifeMiles to book Lufthansa first class US to Europe with no fuel surcharges
- 86,000 points or 107,000 miles to Singapore KrisFlyer to book New York-JFK to Frankfurt or Los Angeles to Tokyo-Narita (NRT) Suites Class
- 50,000 points to Etihad Guest to book American Airlines business class US to Europe, Japan, or South Korea
- 55,000-60,000 points to Virgin Atlantic to book ANA first-class US to Japan
Which Cards Compete with the Citi Custom Cash?
Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Freedom Flex are the closest competitors to Citi Custom Cash. Both of these Chase cards have no annual fee. Separately, both offer 5% cash back categories and allow you to convert cashback earned into Chase Ultimate Rewards points if you also hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or Chase Ink Business Preferred.
Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Freedom Flex earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, and 3% on drugstore purchases. Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5% on all other purchases while Chase Freedom Flex earns 5% on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter.
Citi Custom Cash FAQs
What kind of card is Citi Custom Cash?
The Citi Custom Cash is a Mastercard.
What are the rewards for Citi Custom Cash?
Cashback is earned in the form of ThankYou Points. Cardmembers earn 5x points in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to $500 in spending.
What are the eligible Citi Custom Cash categories that earn 5% cash back?
The eligible categories are restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and Live Entertainment.
How do you redeem rewards?
You can redeem your points as a statement credit, for gift cards, Shop with Points at Amazon, and travel.
Do ThankYou Points expire?
Your points never expire as long as your account remains open.
Citi Custom Cash Conclusion
This card offers 20,000 ThankYou Points as a welcome offer. Separately, the card has no annual fee. Cardmembers earn 5% cash back in select bonus categories on up to $500 in spending each billing cycle. Points earned can be transferred to book award flights with Citi’s travel partners. High-value partners include Avianca LifeMiles, Singapore KrisFlyer, Etihad Guest, and Virgin Atlantic. All in all, you have to appreciate this move by Citi to stay relevant in the travel credit card space.
What do you think about the Citi Custom Cash? Are you going to apply for this card? Please let me know in the comments below or by sending me an email on my contact page.
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