#4 Among Transferable Points
Point Value
1.6 ¢
Program Score
8.4
Citi points offer solid value thanks to a strong transfer partner list, highlighted by exclusive access to American Airlines.
Opening new credit cards and earning welcome offers is the fastest, easiest way to earn points, and Citi is no exception. With fewer cards offering high bonuses than Chase, Amex, or Capital One, your earning potential is more limited.
You can earn ThankYou points through welcome offers and certain cards’ spending multipliers, but you won’t stockpile points as quickly as with other banks. Having a Citi Strata Elite or Citi Strata Premier unlocks the highest transfer rates to all Citi partners. If you have cash back cards from Citi, you can combine those rewards with one of the aforementioned Strata cards to be able to transfer to partners.
Special Offers Related to Citi ThankYou Rewards. Click the arrow to see more.
Citi ThankYou Rewards is offering a 30% transfer bonus to Preferred Hotels & Resorts I Prefer Hotel Rewards. The standard transfer ratio is 1:2, so with the bonus, you’ll receive 2,600 I Prefer Hotel Rewards points for every 1,000 Citi ThankYou Rewards points transferred. Offer expires June 13, 2026.
Citi ThankYou Rewards is offering a 25% transfer bonus to Wyndham Rewards. The standard transfer ratio is 1:1, so with the bonus, you’ll receive 1,250 Wyndham Rewards points for every 1,000 Citi ThankYou Rewards points transferred. Offer expires June 13, 2026.
Tomorrow, May 16 is the last day to share Citi ThankYour Rewards if you plan to transfer any of our points to another person.
Citi will end points sharing between ThankYou Rewards cardholders. Members can currently share up to 100,000 points per year, with transferred points expiring after 90 days. The change takes effect May 16, 2026, so members who plan to share points should do so before then.
Citi ThankYou Rewards is offering a 25% transfer bonus to Leading Hotels of the World Leaders Club. The standard transfer ratio is 5:1, so with the bonus, you’ll receive 250 Leaders Club points for every 1,000 Citi ThankYou Rewards points transferred. A minimum transfer of 1,000 points is required. Offer expires May 16, 2026.
Citi’s transfer partner network has improved in recent years. While it still trails Chase and American Express, the gap has narrowed. As with all transferable point systems, transferring points to partners typically provides the best value.
If you have multiple Citi cards, move points to the Strata Premier or Strata Elite to access all partners at the best rates. The Citi Strata card also transfers to partners, but at a reduced rate. The Citi Double Cash can transfer points to just three programs: JetBlue, Choice Privileges, and Wyndham, and at lower ratios.
Because of this, it’s important to combine points from no-fee Citi cards with the Strata Premier or Elite to unlock full partner access and maximize value.
You can redeem through the Citi Travel Portal at 1¢ per point, but value is limited and you won’t earn loyalty points on these bookings.
The main reason to use the portal is to use the hotel credits that come with Citi’s premium cards:
Both credits must be used through the Citi Travel Portal. These are similar to perks offered by:
These redemption options offer poor value compared to transferring points:
Discover your points' highest-value redemption options. Use the filters to find the optimal sweet spot for your next trip.
Take advantage of Citi’s regular, 1:2 transfer ratio with Choice Hotels, where you can find some great sweet spots
We rank Citi behind Chase and American Express, and alongside Bilt, among transferable points systems. While Chase and Amex have led the way for years, the gap has narrowed as Citi has improved its partner lineup and has some strong sweet spot redemption opportunities.
The main limitation is the card lineup. With only two high-quality options, the Citi Strata Elite and Citi Strata Premier, it’s harder to build a large balance of points compared to other ecosystems.
Most people in the hobby start with Chase before moving to Amex. Citi is in the next tier alongside Capital One and Bilt. They are the only program that transfers to American Airlines, so if you live near an AA hub or are loyal to the airline, you'll want to prioritize Citi ThankYou points.
Citi can work for beginners thanks to simple earning structures on its lower tier cards, but you’ll typically get more value by starting with Chase, then Amex, before adding Citi's high value Strata cards when it fits your broader strategy.
If you cancel or downgrade a Citi card, you have a 37-day grace period to receive a refund of your annual fee. After that, Citi generally does not offer a prorated refund.
Citi ThankYou points are tied to specific cards. If you hold multiple cards that earn ThankYou points, you can combine them. However, if you combine points and then close a card, the points from the closed account expire after 60 days. You can also share up to 100k points per year between ThankYou accounts. Shared points expire 90 days after receipt.*
*The Citi Custom Cash Card does not allow point sharing with another person. You can combine those points with other Citi cards you own, but if you close the Custom Cash Card, any moved points will expire 60 days after canceling.
Yes. ThankYou points are Citi’s rewards currency. You can redeem them for cash back at 1 cent per point, but if you have a card that earns transferable points, you can move them to an airline or hotel partner and redeem them for much more value.
They can be. Cash or statement credit redemptions give you 1¢ per point. Transferring points to an airline or hotel partner can unlock redemptions worth twice that amount or more, especially when you take advantage of partner sweet spots.
Yes. You can book flights through the Citi Travel Portal, but that’s usually poor value. If your card allows transfers, moving points to an airline partner typically gives you a much better return than booking through the portal at a simple 1:1 rate.
Yes. You can redeem points for a statement credit to help pay your bill. We only recommend this if you can’t pay your balance in full and would otherwise incur interest. Otherwise, transferring to an airline or hotel partner will give you better value.
Tracking Points & Transfer Options
