Citi has confirmed with TPG that the discontinued Citi Rewards+ Card is being absolutely refreshed as Citi expands its Strata household of playing cards.
As of Might 22, the Citi Rewards+ Card is being rebranded because the Citi Strata℠ Card. There’s at all times uncertainty round modifications to bank cards, particularly when its predecessor is discontinued. Nevertheless, on this case, the cardboard modifications are largely constructive, which can entice rewards bank card fans who beforehand didn’t have the Citi Rewards+ on their radar.
As a longtime Citi loyalist and die-hard Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see charges and charges) (previously the Citi Premier) fan, I am excited to see the issuer overhauling its lineup of Citi ThankYou Rewards-earning bank cards.
So, let’s leap into what modifications current cardholders and new candidates can anticipate.
The data for the Citi Rewards+ and Citi Premier has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer. The Citi Premier Card is now not accessible for brand spanking new functions.
Abstract of modifications
What is not altering:
What’s altering:
- New identify and card artwork
- New bonus classes
- Elevated incomes charges on current bonus classes
- Elevated welcome bonus
- What the cardboard is fabricated from (it will likely be nearly solely recycled plastic)
Each day Publication
Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day publication
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
Citi Rewards+ used to spherical up every buy to the closest 10 factors. Sadly, this distinctive perk can be discontinued, together with the power for every cardholder to obtain 10% of the primary 100,000 factors redeemed per calendar yr again.
In an unique interview with Pam Habner, Citi’s head of branded playing cards and lending, Habner highlighted Citi’s dedication to listening to buyer suggestions and interesting in focus teams to be taught what present and potential cardholders need from their bank cards. She talked about how the present market showcases cardholders trying to be versatile with their reward earnings and the way these findings drove Citi to make significant modifications.
Current Citi Rewards+ Card members could have entry to the brand new Citi Strata Card on July 20, and new clients can apply later this summer season.
New incomes charges
Probably the most thrilling facet of the brand new Citi Strata Card is the introduction of latest bonus classes and improved incomes charges from the now-discontinued Rewards+ Card. The modifications embrace:
- New: 5 factors per greenback spent on lodges, automotive leases and points of interest booked on cititravel.com
- Elevated: 3 factors per greenback spent at supermarkets
- Elevated and expanded: 3 factors per greenback spent on choose transit, gasoline and electrical car charging stations
- New: 3 factors per greenback spent on eligible self-select class of health golf equipment, choose streaming providers, reside leisure, beauty shops/barber outlets/hair salons or pet provide shops.
- New: 2 factors per greenback spent at eating places
- Identical: 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
Beforehand, the Citi Rewards+ earned 2 factors per greenback spent on grocery retailer and gasoline station purchases; nonetheless, the brand new incomes charges are way more profitable. The Rewards+ Card earned 5 factors per greenback spent on lodge, automotive rental and attraction bookings by way of the Citi journey portal, nevertheless it had an finish date of Dec. 31. Now, the incomes fee for these purchases is a everlasting addition to the cardboard.
It is a whole revamp of the cardboard, and its incomes charges convey it nearer to the Citi Strata Premier Card, which has a $95 annual price and bought its personal refresh in Might 2024.
For my part, this may pave the trail for Citi to have its personal model of the Chase Trifecta, the place Citi cardholders can carry a number of playing cards and maximize incomes charges and advantages together with each other. The brand new incomes charges make this card a worthy contender for on a regular basis purchases and problem long-standing rivals, such because the Chase Freedom Limitless® (see charges and charges).
Habner emphasised Citi’s function in revamping {the marketplace} and staying aggressive. It is evident that Citi leaned in on clients’ need to earn extra throughout on a regular basis spending classes. Due to this fact, the issuer simplified and elevated alternatives with the Citi Strata Card in what I might name important classes of gasoline stations, supermarkets and eating places, along with introducing the brand new self-select class.
Probably the most thrilling growth, for me, is the brand new bonus class: 3 factors per greenback spent on a self-select class.
With a variety of choices to select from, it ought to be pretty straightforward to maximise. Cardholders can change their self-select class each quarter. I see this bonus class being a key driver for Citi as a result of a few of the eligible classes usually are not generally supplied on different playing cards at an elevated incomes fee.
With some fitness center memberships costing greater than $200 in cities equivalent to New York and Los Angeles and reside leisure tickets costing a few hundred {dollars}, this may be extraordinarily helpful for a lot of people. To me, this offers the Chase Freedom Flex® (see charges and charges) a run for its cash as a result of a few of its quarterly bonus classes up to now have included health golf equipment or streaming providers, however reward earnings are at all times capped at $1,500 every quarter you activate.
Associated: earn over 300,000 factors in 2025
New welcome bonus
For a restricted time, new clients authorized for the Citi Strata Card will earn 30,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 inside the first three months of account opening. Remember that current Citi Rewards+ Card holders will routinely be transformed to the Citi Strata Card on July 20. Due to this fact, cardholders won’t be able to use for the Citi Strata Card, as they will already maintain the cardboard.
The welcome bonus just isn’t accessible to candidates who acquired a brand new account bonus for a Citi Rewards+ account up to now 48 months or those that transformed one other Citi account on which they earned a brand new account bonus within the final 48 months right into a Citi Strata or Citi Rewards+ account.
One other welcoming piece of stories is that authorized candidates could have immediate authorization and, due to this fact, entry to their new bank card straight away.
Backside line
The Citi Strata Card is a refreshing change within the bank card area, and I welcome it. A whole overhaul to the incomes charges and inclusion of latest classes make this card a aggressive possibility for these trying to earn ThankYou Rewards. The modifications to this card have made it extra helpful as an on a regular basis spending bank card and supply a robust worth proposition.
When you’re a Citi Strata Premier Card holder, you may mix your Strata Card factors to switch them to Citi’s journey companions for optimum worth.
Now, with modifications to 2 Citi playing cards and their inclusion into the Strata household, all eyes are on the successor to the Citi Status (discontinued in 2021). If Citi maintains this upward development of card refreshes and enhancements, I anticipate the “Strata Elite” to offer different premium playing cards a run for his or her cash.
The data for the Citi Status has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Associated: What I am trying ahead to seeing in Citi’s upcoming premium bank card
