Citi® ThankYou® Preferred Card review

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

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.

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.

Compare other rewards credit cards

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Name	Product	Welcome offer	Rewards	Annual fee	Filter values
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express		20% back on Amazon.com purchases in the first 6 months for up to $200 back, plus $150 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in the first 6 months	6% on select US streaming services, 3% on transit and US gas stations, 6% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 annually, then 1% after that and on all other purchases (redeem as statement credit)	$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)		Perfect for families: Earn up to 6% cashback as statement credit on everyday purchases and a big welcome offer for a cashback card. This heavy-hitter rewards card has uncontested value. Terms apply, see rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express		20% back on Amazon.com purchases in the first 6 months for up to $150 back, plus $100 statement credit after spending $2,000 within the first 6 months	2% at US gas stations and select US department stores, 3% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year, then 1% after that and on all other purchases (redeem as statement credit)	$0		This everyday cashback card offers a higher than average welcome offer for no annual fee, letting you earn 20% back on Amazon.com purchases in the first 6 months for up to $150 back, plus $100 after you spend $2,000 in the first 6 months. Terms apply, see rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Chase Freedom Unlimited®		$200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months	5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase, 5% on Lyft, 3% on dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases	$0		This solid 1.5% cashback card gets even better with the addition of up to 5% back in categories like travel, drug stores and dining.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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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

• Does this card come with a signup bonus?

  No. The Citi® ThankYou® Preferred Card is a rarity in that there’s no bonus for new customers.

• Is there a limit to how many points I can earn with this card?

  No. There’s no limit to how many ThankYou points you can earn, and they don’t expire.

• Which purchases qualify for 2x ThankYou points?

  Earn double the points at:

  • Cafes, bars, lounges and fast food restaurants.
  • Live theatrical productions, concerts, sporting events, movie theaters and amusement parks, including zoos, aquariums, circuses and carnivals.
  • Tourist attractions, such as museums and art galleries, record stores, video rental stores and on-demand streaming media.

• Which purchases don't qualify for 2x ThankYou points?

  Double ThankYou points earnings don’t extend to:

  • Bakeries and select restaurants and cafes inside department and grocery or warehouse stores.
  • Sporting camps, public and private golf courses and country clubs.
  • Video game arcades, bowling alleys and stores that sell musical instruments.
  • Stores that primarily sell video games or accessories, charitable organizations that provide live entertainment and bookstores.
  • Sports complexes at which you participate in the sport.

• Does the Citi ThankYou® Preferred Rewards Credit Card come with an annual fee?

  No, making it a decent choice for a long-term rewards card.

Images: Citi