Best for base rate earning
Citi ThankYou Rewards
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The Citi ThankYou Rewards program is a standout because you can increase your earning potential substantially by using more than one Citi credit card and pooling your Citi ThankYou points together. Several of the cards offer stellar intro 0 percent APR options as well as top base-rate earnings.
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- Rewards program basics: Citi ThankYou points can accumulate quickly thanks to high earnings on everyday purchases across several card options. With a premium Citi card, you can transfer points to travel partners for top value.
- How to redeem: You can typically redeem Citi ThankYou points for cash back, travel through the Citi portal, gift cards, merchandise or charitable donations. You can also pay with points when shopping with select merchants, and your points may be transferable to Citi travel partners, depending on the card you have.
- Redemption options and value of rewards: Once again, the value of your rewards depends on how you redeem them as well as which Citi cards you have.
Redemption category Value Travel through the Citi ThankYou portal 1 cent each Cash back 1 cent each Gift cards Usually 1 cent each, but promotions can up the value Shop with points at various online and in-store merchants 0.8 cents each Pay with points to cover recent purchases in qualifying categories 0.8 cents each Transfer to high-value travel partner 1.6 cents each, according to Bankrate’s valuation (Citi Strata Premier℠ Card or Citi Prestige® Card* [no longer available to new applicants] needed to transfer points to most partners) -
- The Citi Strata Premier® Card opens the door to transferring points to Citi travel loyalty partners for a $95 annual fee. The card also offers excellent earnings in everyday categories: 3X points per dollar at gas and EV charging stations, supermarkets and restaurants, as well as on air travel and hotels. It also earns 10X points on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through the Citi travel portal while offering 1X points per dollar on all other purchases.
- The Citi Double Cash® Card is another no-annual-fee card that earns cash back to the tune of 2 percent back on every purchase — 1 percent when you buy and another 1 percent when you pay for your purchases. As long as you also carry a Citi premium card, you can convert your rewards earned into full-fledged ThankYou points, rather than the “basic” points you earn with this card on its own.