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Citi® ThankYou® Preferred Card review

Kliment Dukovski
Kliment Dukovski
Last updated:  

Please note: This card has been discontinued, and it is not available on our site.

Discontinued product

This card has been discontinued, and it is not available on our site. Compare other credit cards or take Finder's credit card quiz to find one that fits your needs.

Compare similar credit cards and find the best option for you.

How much are ThankYou points worth?

The value of your ThankYou points varies by redemption:

  • Gift cards. Redeem 2,500 points for a $25 gift card for retailers like Best Buy, Gap, Home Depot, Sears and Xbox. For gift cards, each ThankYou point is worth a flat 1 cent.
  • Merchandise. Redeem points for computer hardware, video games, office products, health and beauty products and more. For merchandise, each ThankYou point is worth approximately 0.8 cents, making 2,500 points worth $16.
  • Travel. Redeem points toward hotels, flights, car rental, cruises and more. Each point is worth 1 cent, which makes your 45,000 points equal to $450 in airline tickets.

You can also use your points to pay your bills, transfer or donate to charity.

The perks

  • Earn points.

    Earn 2x points for dining and entertainment purchases — including coffee shops, restaurants, music downloads, movie theaters and concerts — and 1x points on all other purchases. Redeem points for gift cards, merchandise, travel rewards, concert tickets or shopping through Amazon.com.

  • Intro APR period on balance transfers and purchases.

    It’s easy to transfer high-APR balances to your new card — and save on unnecessary interest. Get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months following your account opening. After that, a variable APR of 15.49% to 25.49% applies.

You’ll also like …

  • No annual fee.

    You won’t pay a fee annually to use the Citi® ThankYou® Preferred Card.

  • Points transfer.

    Transfer a minimum 1,000 ThankYou points to TrueBlue® points for rewards with JetBlue — without a fee.

  • EMV chip technology.

    Get increased security and global acceptance with EMV chip technology, which makes the card hard to counterfeit.

  • Citi Entertainment℠ access.

    Buy presale tickets and VIP packages for thousands of concerts and sports events annually, or enjoy dining experiences and other benefits with Citi Entertainment℠ access.

What to watch out for

  • No signup bonus.

    This is the rare card that doesn’t offer a signup bonus to new cardmembers. If you’re looking for a signup offer, consider the Citi Premier® Card.

  • Foreign transaction fees.

    If you use your card abroad, expect to pay a transaction fee equal to 3% of every transaction. While it may not sound like much, the extra cost can add up quickly over a trip of several days.

  • High penalty APR.

    For a single late or returned payment, you’ll pay up to $35 in fees. And Citi can impose up to a 29.99% fixed penalty APR, which your account could be stuck with indefinitely.

  • Balance transfer limitations.

    You must complete all balance transfers within four months of card membership to take advantage of the intro APR period. For every balance transfer you make, you’ll pay $5 or 3% of the transaction, whichever is greater.

    Note that your transfer, including any fees, can’t be higher than your credit limit, and you can’t make a balance transfer from another account with Citi or its affiliates.

How does a balance transfer work with this card?

On receipt of your card, call the number on the back to request your balance transfers. To take advantage of the 0% intro APR period for 15 months following card membership, you must complete your transfers within four months from the date you opened your account. After that, a variable APR of 15.49% to 25.49% applies.

If Citi gives you the option to transfer balances with your application, you’ll wait 14 days for the transfers to complete. You can’t transfer balances from accounts at Citi or its affiliates. If you change your mind, call support as soon as you can to cancel the process.

Your total transfer, including fees, should not exceed your credit limit. Each balance transfer you make will cost $5 or 3% of the transaction, whichever is greater. That’s a $30 fee for a $1,000 balance transfer.

What should I know before I apply?

To apply for the Citi® ThankYou® Preferred Card, you need to be at least 18 years old and a resident of the US.

Expect to provide your:

  • Name, date of birth and Social Security number.
  • Address and contact information.
  • Annual income and monthly mortgage or rent payments.

What credit score do I need?

Apply with a good credit score of 670 or higher to increase your chances of approval with a low APR and high credit limit. Citi will likely also consider other factors tied to your credit score, such as your credit utilization.

What do customers say about the Citi® ThankYou® Preferred Card?
The Better Business Bureau hasn’t accredited Citi, though the company was founded more than 200 years ago. Not only that, but the BBB rates Citi an F. Based on 93 customer reviews at the time of writing, Citi earns a composite score of 1.02 out of 5.

Many reviewers complain about poor customer service with the bank in general. As for the Citi® ThankYou® Preferred Card, customers complain often about problems with points redemption, and one person claimed Citi closed their account after 12 years of card membership without a single late payment. Your mileage with this bank may vary.

How to apply for the Citi® ThankYou® Preferred Card

  1. Go to the Citi website.
  2. Navigate to the rewards cards and select the Citi® ThankYou® Preferred Card, then click Apply now.
  3. Complete the application form with your name, address and financial data.
  4. Review and submit your application.

How long will it take to get my Citi® ThankYou® Preferred Card?

Expect approval to take up to 10 business days, if further review is needed. On approval, your card should arrive by mail within 10 business days.

I got the card. Now what?

  • Download the Citi Mobile® app. Use the Android or iOS app to activate your card, check your FICO® Score for free, set up automatic payments, find an ATM and more.
  • Set up alerts. Stay current on balance levels, due dates and transactions by email or to your phone.
  • Avoid paying interest. Your due date is 23 days after the close of each billing cycle. Pay on time and in full to avoid unnecessary interest on your purchases.
  • Avoid paying fees. Balance transfers, cash advances and foreign transactions come with a fee.
  • Customer support. Call 866-422-0306 for help or questions.

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Bottom line

If you spend a lot on dining and entertainment for dining, movies, concerts, music downloads and more, the no-annual-fee Citi® ThankYou® Preferred Card is worth a look. You’ll earn flexible ThankYou points redeemable toward gift cards, merchandise and travel — and with no annual fee.

For more robust earnings for ThankYou points, the Citi Premier® Card could be a stronger alternative.

Before you dive into an application for this card, compare the benefits of other rewards credit cards for the best fit with your spending.

Compare Citibank credit cards.

Frequently asked questions

Images: Citi

Expert review

Kliment Dukovski

Review by

Kliment Dukovski is a credit cards writer. He's written over 600 articles to help readers find and compare the best credit cards. Kliment has also written on money transfers, home loans and more. Previously, he ghostwrote guides and articles on foreign exchange, stock market trading and cryptocurrencies.

Expert review

The Citi® ThankYou® Preferred Card may not look like much on first glance. It offers double the points on dining and entertainment purchases for no annual fee, but it lacks a signup bonus you’ll find with other cards. (Citi is a finder.com advertising partner.)

However, pair it with the AT&T Access Card from Citi — which earns you 1x points on purchases made through eligible travel and retail websites and directly with AT&T — and you get a decent points-earning combo.

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