Award System

Citi ThankYou Points

Citi ThankYou Points »

Bank

CitiBank

Bank Details »

Reconsideration Phone
800.870.1073

Breaking Points

Bonus Points Minimum Spend Point Value Annual Value Annual Fee 1st Year Value
20,000 $1,500 1.2 ¢ $0 $0 $258
Best Value Differentiating Perks Rules
No 5/24 , Citi 1/95 , Citi 2/65 , Citi 1/8 , Citi 6/6
Card Type: Personal, Cash

Spend Categories

All Other - »

1X points
1.2¢ Per Dollar Spent

Entertainment and Streaming = »

5X points
6¢ Per Dollar Spent

Gas Stations = »

5X points
6¢ Per Dollar Spent

Grocery Stores = »

5X points
6¢ Per Dollar Spent

Hotels = »

4X points
4.8¢ Per Dollar Spent

Restaurants = »

5X points
6¢ Per Dollar Spent

Rideshare and Transit = »

4X points
4.8¢ Per Dollar Spent

Drug Stores = »

5X points
6¢ Per Dollar Spent

Fitness Memberships = »

5X points
6¢ Per Dollar Spent

Card Benefits

Point Transfer Options

Transfer To Spouse/Partner Yes

Transfer To Friends Yes

Travel Partner Transfers

Citi ThankYou Points Outside Point System

Transfers Out To
Point Transfer Options
Avianca LifeMiles

1:1 117% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Cathay Pacific

1:1.12 112% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Etihad Guest

1:1 100% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Flying Blue and Air France

1:1 100% value retained

Point Transfer Options
jetBlue trueBlue

1:0.8 80% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Qantas Frequent Flyer

1:1 100% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Qatar Qmiles

1:1 100% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Singapore KrisFlyer

1:1 108% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Turkish Airways

1:1 100% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

1:1 117% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Wyndham Rewards

1:0.8 67% value retained

Bottom Line

Why You Might Want This Card

Exceptions To The Rule

About Citi ThankYou Points

Citi ThankYou points may not look like much at first glance, but they certainly demand our attention. While redemption can vary considerably -- depending on which credit card you hold and how you decide to redeem your points -- you can tap into some pretty significant savings. Your two best options for earning and redemption will be through the Citi Prestige or Citi Premier cards. Both cards offer a substantial sign-up bonus and extra points earned on certain spending categories. Some of the best value comes from transferring, which can only be done if you hold one of these 2 cards in your wallet.

Earning can be quick and easy, especially when you wait for a good sign-up bonus and then keep an eye on extra point categories. For example, the Prestige card gets you 5x points per $1 on airfare and restaurants, while the Premier can earn you 3x points on all travel, including gas. Make sure retention offers are on your current card so you can maximize points earned on everyday spending. We like to call every 6 months or so to make sure that the current retention offer is on the card.

Now let's talk about redeeming. ThankYou points stand out because they're transferable to every major alliance: OneWorld, SkyTeam and Star. We’ll forgive the fact that transfers aren’t always instantaneous, because Citi ThankYou points are so diverse with their partners that they’ll cover you whether you’re looking for a free domestic flight or a deluxe international fare. It can take a little research and pulling out your savvy side, but it's well worth it in the end. Some of the best redemption comes through Avianca LifeMiles, Etihad Guest, Virgin Atlantic and Singapore KrisFlyer. Just remember: you must hold the Prestige or Premier Card to transfer. We suggest checking those airlines to see if your route is covered by any of them.

Where Citi Custom Cash Fits In This Point Ecosystem

Personal Experience

Application Rules

Card approval not subject to 5-personal-cards-in-24-months rule

You'll be declined if you apply for a second Citi business card within 95 days

You'll be declined if you apply for a third Citi card within 65 days

You'll be declined if you apply for a second Citi card (business and/or personal) within 8 days

You'll be declined if there are 6 or more hard inquiries on your credit report the past 6 months

Breaking Points

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