How to earn Citi ThankYou points

Earn more Citi points by spending with Citi ThankYou cards.

Citi has a solid range of earning categories with many methods to earn points fast. And while the Citi ThankYou program lacks some earning options compared to competitors — such as earning ThankYou points through partnered retailers —Citi is one of the few credit card companies to allow you to purchase points. This gives you some flexibility if you only need a few more points to earn a reward.

Six ways to earn Citi ThankYou points

Earn points with signup bonuses

Every Citi ThankYou card offers a signup bonus to help you quickly accumulate points. Each card provides a different welcome offer and qualification requirements, so choose a card with requirements you know you can complete.

Compare cards for earning Citi ThankYou points

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Name	Product	Welcome Offer	Rewards	Annual Fee	Filter values
Citi Rewards+℠ Card		15,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months	2x points at supermarkets and gas stations on up to $6,000 annually, then 1x points after that and on all other purchases	$0		Earn 15,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Citi Premier℠ Card		60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months	3x points on travel and gas, 2x points on dining and entertainment and 1x points on everything else	$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)		Earn 60,000 bonus points after making $4,000 in purchases with your card within the first 3 months of account opening.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Citi Prestige® Credit Card		50,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months	5x points on flights and dining, 3x points on hotels and cruises and 1x points on all other purchases	$495		Earn 50,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Citi Rewards+℠ Student Card		2,500 points after spending $500 in the first 3 months	2x points at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 annually, then 1x after that and on all other purchases	$0		Earn 2,500 bonus points after you spend $500 in purchases with your card within the first 3 months of account opening.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Spend in eligible categories

Depending on the credit card you choose, you’ll be able to earn ThankYou points on purchases made across a variety of categories. Here are a few examples of what each Citi ThankYou credit card can earn in a given category.

You can also earn ThankYou points with other Citi rewards cards, including certain Citi business cards. Compare Citi rewards cards to find the card that offers the best earning categories for you.

Book travel through Citi Travel Center

While you technically need to spend your Citi ThankYou points to book travel through Citi’s portal, you’ll still earn miles with the airline of your choice. Consider this a rebate on your points since you aren’t earning Citi ThankYou points directly.

Merge your Citibank accounts

If you have a Citibank Account Package or want to open one, you can earn bonus points to your ThankYou account for connecting your accounts and fulfilling certain requirements.
Data obtained at the time of writing. Values are subject to change and should be used only as a general guide.

If you have a Citigold Account, Citi Priority Account or Citi Private Bank Account Package, then you can earn even more points for meeting certain requirements.

Data obtained at the time of writing. Values are subject to change and should be used only as a general guide.

Share Citi points

Unlike some credit card reward programs, Citi allows you to purchase points to your account through the ThankYou.com site. While points purchased this way are typically a poor value play, this can be helpful if you need a few more points for a redemption.

Purchase Citi points

Unlike some credit card reward programs, Citi allows you to purchase points to your account through the ThankYou.com site. While points purchased this way are typically a poor value play, this can be helpful if you need a few more points for a redemption.

Consider the Amex Membership Rewards Program

American Express® Gold Card

• Earn 35,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $2,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first 3 months.
• Earn 4x Membership Rewards® points when you dine at restaurants worldwide. Earn 4x Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1x). Earn 3x Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
• $100 airline fee credit: up to $100 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees at one selected qualifying airline.
• Choose to carry a balance with interest on eligible charges of $100 or more.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Annual fee is $250.
• Terms apply.

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Bottom line

While the Citi ThankYou program lacks some of the earning potential found in some of its competitors, you can still build more than enough points for some great redemption options.

If you’re looking for a credit card with more earning potential, compare reward cards to find one that fits your spending habits.

Frequently asked questions

• How much are Citi ThankYou points worth?

  The value of Citi ThankYou points depends on what you’re redeeming them on. When redeemed for cashback statements, they’re worth 0.5 cents each according to the Citi ThankYou site at the time of writing.

• Do ThankYou points expire?

  Generally, your points won’t expire so long as you maintain an active account. You can do so making a qualifying purchase activity at least once every 18 months.

• Can I transfer points to another Citi card?

  Yes. You can transfer up to 100,000 Citi ThankYou points per calendar year from your account opening. You can receive the same number of points per calendar year. You must use points transferred within 90 days of the date of transfer.

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