Citibank Credit Cards - Compare & Apply

Here's a card that makes it easy to earn points toward rewards for everyday purchases with the ThankYou Network. For starters you can get 15,000 bonus ThankYou Points when you make $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening which you can redeem for a $150 gift card. You can also earn extra points when you shop through the ThankYou(R) Bonus Center, a network of over 600 retailers. Downside: There can be a high APR for less credit worthy applicants. This card is for the applicant with excellent credit who enjoys reward points.

Even fiercely loyal business travelers have been told to start scouring discount booking websites for the cheapest possible airfares and hotel rooms. Yet, for travelers with a say over where they stay, the Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Visa Signature® Card offers some compelling reasons to remain true to a single family of hotel brands that includes DoubleTree, Hampton Inn and Waldorf Astoria.

This no-annual-fee account offers a competitive APR compared to similar travel rewards cards. Cardholders earn 2 rewards points for every dollar they spend on everyday purchases. That rate bumps to 3 points per dollar at supermarkets, drugstores and gas stations, while every dollar spent at a participating Hilton property earns 6 points per dollar. You'll get the biggest possible rewards value by spending high and staying low: redeeming your points at Hilton's lower category properties in rural and suburban areas.

Best credit card for Hilton loyalists who love travel flexibility
As with most hotel credit cards, this card is best for frequent travelers who get reimbursed for expenses on their personal cards. When combined with Hilton's "points and points" promotion, cardholders can earn as many as 21 HHonors points per dollar spent at a participating Hilton property. Load up your in-room dining bill until you hit your company's per diem and you'll earn free room nights even faster.

If you're not finicky about your leisure travel destination, Hilton's diverse portfolio offers a wide range of redemption options. Some roadside Hampton Inn locations require as few as 5,000 rewards points for a free room night. Most of Hilton's business-class accommodations clock in at between 20,000 and 40,000 points, while rooms in major cities require as many as 80,000 points.

In additon, this card offers travelers the fastest possible path to Gold status in Hilton's HHonors program. Complete just four eligible stays within your first 90 days as a cardholder, and Hilton will bump you immediately to Gold instead of to the complimentary Silver status. That shaves 16 stays from the usual requirement, entitling you to a 25 percent points bonus, a fifth night free on reward stays, and a host of other in-room benefits.

How this card compares to other travel rewards credit cards
Business travelers often swear by the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express as their go-to hotel credit card. Citi and Hilton must have designed their Visa Signature card by aiming for SPG's spot in those travelers' wallets. Visa Signature's included services, such as concierge access, dining reservations and travel protection, rival those of American Express in nearly every way.

Starwood, with hotel brands like Westin, W, and Sheraton in its portfolio, recently adjusted the required rewards points for free nights at its most popular hotels. They're now competitive with Hilton's redemption rates in most cities, although Hilton's Hampton Inn brand covers many parts of the country where Starwood has no presence. Citi can boast a travel rewards card that can go toe-to-toe with the SPG card, and offering this account with no annual fee could be the knockout punch that encourages Starwood customers to check out Hilton's updated properties.

Of course, travelers looking for the biggest bargains might do better with brand-neutral travel rewards cards. For instance, the Capital One Venture Card offers an across-the-board 2 percent rebate that you can use to erase travel purchases from your statement. The American Express Platinum Card charges a significant annual fee, but offers Membership Rewards points and strong travel amenities. This card is best for consumers who travel frequently, stay at Hilton hotels that do not revolve a balance.

Should you switch to the Citi Hilton HHonors Visa Signature Card?
If your company relies on Hilton as a preferred vendor, this card is a no-brainer. Enhanced perks, accelerated status and a flexible property portfolio help this card rival the SPG American Express card for the hearts of road warriors. Casual travelers can even make a strong case for switching, based on this no-annual-fee card's signup bonuses and hotel upgrades. For most other consumers, this account might make a good secondary travel companion, at best.

This card requires excellent credit to obtain. Balance transfers are either 3% or $5 of the amount of each transfer and apply to this offer. This card offers low interest rates based on your creditworthiness and has no annual fee. And with enrollment you can earn bonus cash back from Citi on eligible purchases on rotating categories each quarter. The card is best for consumers who are looking for a flexible cash back bonus structure or a long term balance transfer offer.

Here is a card that catches the eye and that I like because it offers bonus cash back from Citi for purchases in changing categories when you enroll. The card offers 1% on all other purchases. There is a 0% introductory purchase APR for the first 7 months and no annual fee. Downside: After the introductory period APR can be moderate to very high depending on credit worthiness. This card is great for the student with excellent credit who is looking for a cash back rewards program.

This card requires excellent credit to obtain but offers a longer than average 0% introductory APR on balance transfers and for purchases depending on credit rating. The card carries no late fees - ever, no penalty rate - ever and no annual fee - ever. This card is best for consumers seeking an introductory rate or an average APR but not necessarily with frills.

While Chase and American Express battled for the hearts and minds of affluent consumers, Citibank sat on the sidelines. Having survived a challenging corporate restructuring, they're back in the hunt with a low introductory rate credit card and a strong balance transfer offer. The Citi Diamond Preferred Card may not be as prestigious as another "Black Card" on the market, but it does include some nice perks for cardholders who like to treat themselves to premium hotels, restaurants and live entertainment experiences.

0% introductory APR for 18 months on balance transfers and purchases, plus a low "go-to" rate
According to Citi's current promotional material, the Citi Diamond Preferred Card features a variable go-to rate ranging from 11.99 - 21.99 percent based upon your creditworthiness after a generous 18-month teaser period. However, watch the fine print for a crucial detail about this balance transfer deal. The 0% APR applies only to balance transfers you complete during your first four months with the card. And note there is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3 percent of the amount of each transfer.

Inside Citi's enhanced fraud protection program
Citi Diamond Preferred Card features zero-dollar liability on unauthorized purchases and Citi Identity Theft Solutions, the bank's enhanced fraud detection and resolution program. Beaten up in the press after a handful of high-profile identity theft cases, Citi reached out to its customers and to the business community with details of its new Identity Theft Solutions system.

Citibank's Director of Fraud Policy, Rich Detura, told analysts from Javelin Strategy & Research that his company's system includes consumer-friendly alerts as part of a comprehensive program to help cardholders understand how they can better protect themselves from becoming fraud victims.

Should you switch to Citi Diamond Preferred Card?
Consider switching to the Citi Diamond Preferred Card if any of these are true:

You're making a big purchase soon

You don't travel overseas

You're concerned about identity theft

You want personal attention from a 24-hour concierge

You often need to get front-row tickets to concerts and events

With no annual fee, the Citi Diamond Preferred Card offers inexpensive access to the kind of personalized concierge service that usually only comes with much more expensive charge cards. If you don't already use a credit card with this kind of travel and entertainment planning perk, Citi can help you grow accustomed to the privilege. Otherwise, this card fills the gap between the kind of "no-frills" card most often associated with balance transfer offers and the more typical reward credit card that features exclusive experiences.

Who uses this card?

This card is best if you've got a big vacation or another large purchase coming up that you want to spread out over the next eighteen months. Citi's current offer extends this card's 0% APR teaser period to 18 months, enough time for you to buy plane tickets now for a trip you'll make next year, while still paying off the whole trip before finance charges kick in. However, you may want to think twice about taking the card outside the country: unlike other premium credit cards, the Citi Diamond Preferred Card doesn't waive foreign transaction fees.

You'll get the most out of this card if you enjoy the kinds of special events and experiences offered through the Citi Private Pass program. Recently, members were offered the chance to score premium seats to hot ticket events like the Watch the Throne tour featuring Jay-Z and Kanye West. Fans of Brad Paisley and Tony Bennett enjoyed advance access to preferred tickets for otherwise sold-out venues. When kids' favorites like Yo Gabba Gabba come to town, Citi Private Pass can help you get your hands on tickets that even scalpers can't find.

This is one of my favorite student cards. 5 ThankYou(R) Points for every $1 you spend at restaurants and on entertainment; 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. It also offers 100 ThankYou Points per billing period for responsible credit card management up to 1,200 ThankYou points. This card also has a decent APR for a student card and no cosigner required. This card is best for students trying to establish a positive credit history and who spend in entertainment categories.

This card is best for consumers who travel frequently, stay at Hilton hotels that do not revolve a balance.

This card is best for business owners with an established credit history who want more rewards, a low intro rate, no annual fee and quarterly and annual account summaries.

This card is designed for businesses with an established credit history who fly frequently with American Airlines.

This card is best for consumers with excellent credit who are looking for a low introductory rate plus reward points and no annual fee.

This card requires excellent credit to obtain but offers a longer than average 0% introductory APR on balance transfers and for purchases depending on credit rating. The card carries no late fees - ever, no penalty rate - ever and no annual fee - ever. This card is best for consumers seeking an introductory rate or an average APR but not necessarily with frills.

This EMV-chip embedded card is best for American Airlines loyalists with excellent credit who don’t carry a balance.