Citi Strata Premier card overview: Full particulars

Citi is a TPG promoting companion.

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees) is an under-the-radar gem with an outstanding vary of bonus classes. Whereas Citi factors aren’t as useful as Chase or Amex factors, the power to earn 3 factors per greenback on eligible journey and eating purchases for a modest annual payment continues to be a reasonably nice deal. Card ranking*:

* Card rating is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.

The Citi Strata Premier Card is among the greatest earners on all kinds of on a regular basis spending. It accrues 3 factors per greenback with airways, electrical car charging and gasoline stations, accommodations, eating places and supermarkets — a wonderful slate of bonus classes for a card with a $95 annual payment.

And the factors you earn with the Citi Strata Premier are among the many most versatile rewards currencies, price 1.8 cents every (in line with TPG’s Could 2025 valuations).

The really useful credit score for the Citi Strata Premier card is 670 or above.

Should you’re there and are contemplating making use of, this is what else it is best to find out about this card — and why you would possibly need to apply now.

Associated: The best Citi credit cards

The Citi Strata Premier is providing 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.

In line with TPG’s Could 2025 valuations of ThankYou factors at 1.8 cents apiece, this bonus is price $1,080.

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That is the Strata Premier’s common supply. The cardboard has previously offered up to 80,000 points for brand spanking new cardholders (not accessible).

The welcome bonus isn’t accessible in case you have obtained a brand new account bonus for a Citi Premier or Citi Strata Premier account prior to now 48 months. It is usually not accessible in case you have transformed one other Citi bank card account on which you earned a brand new account bonus within the final 48 months right into a Premier or Strata Premier card.

Associated: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions

A lot of Citi Strata Premier‘s worth proposition comes from its capacity to earn bonus factors in lots of classes with out charging a hefty annual payment. As such, you should not count on an amazing variety of perks.

Nevertheless, there are a number of advantages of this card that may provide help to recoup your annual payment:

• $100 annual resort credit score: Take pleasure in a $100 credit score as soon as per calendar 12 months for single-stay resort bookings of $500 or extra (excluding taxes and costs) made by way of the Citi journey portal.
• World Elite Mastercard advantages: As a World Elite Mastercard, the Citi Strata Premier confers a number of travel-related perks that buyers won’t find out about. These embody a $5 month-to-month Lyft credit score after taking three rides in a calendar month and entry to the Mastercard luxurious accommodations and resorts portfolio for on-property perks like complimentary breakfast and room upgrades upon availability. By way of the World Elite Mastercard program, you will additionally take pleasure in perks like cellphone safety and World Emergency Companies.
• Citi Leisure: This program offers cardholders particular entry to buy tickets to 1000’s of occasions — from live shows and sporting occasions to distinctive eating experiences and film screenings — earlier than most people should buy them.
• No overseas transaction charges: Like several good journey card, the Citi Strata Premier lets you journey freely with out incurring a payment on worldwide spending.

The Citi Strata Premier additionally helps you journey with ease of thoughts, offering the next journey protections:

• Automobile rental protection
• Misplaced or broken baggage
• Journey cancellation and interruption
• Journey delay

I all the time be sure that to make use of the $100 annual resort credit score as it is a positive approach to offset the annual payment. Nevertheless, other than this, there aren’t many different advantages to benefit from for substantial financial savings.

Associated: Is the Citi Premier worth the annual fee?

The Citi Strata Premier‘s incomes construction is the place the cardboard shines.

The cardboard provides 10 ThankYou factors per greenback spent on accommodations, automotive leases and points of interest booked by way of the Citi Journey portal.

Cardholders additionally earn 3 factors per greenback on purchases within the following classes, with no caps or annual limits:

• Air journey
• EV charging stations
• Gasoline stations
• Resorts
• Supermarkets
• Eating places (together with takeout)

The cardboard earns 1 level per greenback on all different purchases.

These incomes charges are among the many most spectacular of any journey rewards card, particularly contemplating the Citi Strata Premier’s inexpensive annual payment. That is my go-to card for gasoline purchases because it earns a vast 3 factors per greenback, which lessens the sting of the excessive gasoline costs in California.

I additionally usually use this card to earn bonus factors at supermarkets as a result of, in contrast to the American Express® Gold Card, there is no such thing as a spending cap on this class.

Associated: The 7 best credit cards with annual fees under $100

Citi ThankYou points might be redeemed for assertion credit, money again or present playing cards. They can be transferred to any of Citi’s companions (our suggestion).

You’ll be able to redeem your ThankYou Factors for journey immediately by way of the Citi portal at a price of 1 cent every, however that is nicely beneath TPG’s Could 2025 valuation of ThankYou factors at 1.8 cents every. To get extra worth, you will need to benefit from the choice to switch your factors to Citi’s intensive listing of switch companions.

The Citi Strata Premier can be a best choice for vacationers, due to its participation within the ThankYou Rewards program, which presently has one buying, 5 resort and 15 airline transfer partners.

When you’ll discover that most of the frequent flyer packages are these of worldwide airways, you may nonetheless guide high-value (and simply redeemable) awards by way of them.

I discover nice worth in a number of switch companions, together with Air France-KLM Flying Blue, which provides business-class flights for as few as 60,000 miles and the power to add a stopover for free for as quick as 24 hours to so long as one 12 months. Final 12 months, I transferred Citi ThankYou factors to Flying Blue to fly in enterprise class from Los Angeles to Dublin with a one-day stopover in Paris for 60,000 factors.

One other switch companion I’ve utilized is Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, which is a good way to guide premium cabins on Singapore Airways.

Associated: Best ways to redeem Citi ThankYou points

As an inexpensive journey rewards card, the Citi Strata Premier has a number of direct rivals that is likely to be a greater match for you:

• Should you desire Chase playing cards: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) competes immediately with the Citi Strata Premier with the identical $95 annual payment. Whereas Chase’s switch companions (together with United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt) is likely to be extra helpful for a lot of vacationers, there are additionally some overlaps (like Singapore KrisFlyer and Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership). For extra data, learn our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
• In order for you a flat incomes price: Attempt the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. It additionally prices the identical $95 annual payment, however this card earns a flat 2 miles per greenback on most purchases as an alternative of providing bonus classes. For extra data, learn our full review of the Venture Rewards card.
• In order for you added perks: Should you dine out continuously, you would possibly desire the American Express® Gold Card. It has a better incomes price of 4 factors per greenback at U.S. supermarkets (on the primary $25,000 in purchases per calendar 12 months, then 1 per greenback) and at eating places worldwide (on as much as $50,000 in purchases per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback). It additionally comes with useful credit that may greater than offset the substantial $325 annual payment (see rates and fees). For extra data, learn our full review of the Amex Gold.

For extra choices, try our full list of the top travel rewards cards.

Regardless of a bevy of rivals, the Citi Strata Premier‘s lengthy listing of bonus classes and stable welcome bonus make it one of the crucial profitable points-earning playing cards in its value vary.

The wide selection of ThankYou Rewards switch companions makes this card compelling, particularly for vacationers who need the flexibleness to redeem factors with numerous loyalty packages.

It is price critical consideration in case you’re keen on Citi or searching for a flexible travel rewards card so as to add to your pockets.

Apply right here: Citi Strata Premier

For charges and costs of the Amex Gold Card, click on here.