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Citi Strata Premier card evaluation: Full particulars

Citi is a TPG promoting accomplice.

Citi Strata Premier Card overview

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see charges and costs) is an under-the-radar gem with an exceptional vary of bonus classes. Whereas Citi factors aren’t as beneficial as Chase or Amex factors, the power to earn 3 factors per greenback on eligible journey and eating purchases for a modest annual payment continues to be a fairly nice deal. Card score*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

* Card score is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.

The Citi Strata Premier Card is likely one of the finest earners on all kinds of on a regular basis spending. It accrues 3 factors per greenback with airways, electrical car charging and gasoline stations, inns, eating places and supermarkets — a superb slate of bonus classes for a card with a $95 annual payment.

And the factors you earn with the Citi Strata Premier are among the many most versatile rewards currencies, value 1.8 cents every (in keeping with TPG’s Might 2025 valuations).

The advisable credit score rating for the Citi Strata Premier card is 670 or above.

In case you’re there and are contemplating making use of, here is what else it’s best to learn about this card — and why you would possibly need to apply now.

Associated: The very best Citi bank cards

Citi Strata Premier professionals and cons

Execs Cons
  • Bonus factors on journey booked by means of the Citi Journey portal
  • Excessive points-earning on on a regular basis purchases
  • Annual resort credit score
  • Switch factors to airways and inns
  • World Elite Mastercard advantages
  • Handful of journey protections
  • Affordable annual payment
  • Competing playing cards provide higher journey protections
  • Factors are value lower than Amex, Capital One and Chase’s

Citi Strata Premier welcome provide

The Citi Strata Premier is providing 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.

In response to TPG’s Might 2025 valuations of ThankYou factors at 1.8 cents apiece, this bonus is value $1,080.

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THE POINTS GUY

That is the Strata Premier’s common provide. The cardboard has beforehand supplied as much as 80,000 factors for brand new cardholders (now not accessible).

The welcome bonus is just not accessible when you have acquired a brand new account bonus for a Citi Premier or Citi Strata Premier account up to now 48 months. Additionally it is not accessible when you have transformed one other Citi bank card account on which you earned a brand new account bonus within the final 48 months right into a Premier or Strata Premier card.

Associated: The final word information to bank card utility restrictions

Citi Strata Premier advantages

A lot of Citi Strata Premier‘s worth proposition comes from its skill to earn bonus factors in lots of classes with out charging a hefty annual payment. As such, you should not count on an amazing variety of perks.

JT GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

Nevertheless, there are a number of advantages of this card that may enable you recoup your annual payment:

  • $100 annual resort credit score: Take pleasure in a $100 credit score as soon as per calendar yr for single-stay resort bookings of $500 or extra (excluding taxes and costs) made by means of the Citi journey portal.
  • World Elite Mastercard advantages: As a World Elite Mastercard, the Citi Strata Premier confers a number of travel-related perks that customers won’t learn about. These embody a $5 month-to-month Lyft credit score after taking three rides in a calendar month and entry to the Mastercard luxurious inns and resorts portfolio for on-property perks like complimentary breakfast and room upgrades upon availability. By the World Elite Mastercard program, you will additionally get pleasure from perks like cellphone safety and International Emergency Companies.
  • Citi Leisure: This program offers cardholders particular entry to buy tickets to 1000’s of occasions — from live shows and sporting occasions to distinctive eating experiences and film screenings — earlier than most people can purchase them.
  • No overseas transaction charges: Like several good journey card, the Citi Strata Premier lets you journey freely with out incurring a payment on worldwide spending.

The Citi Strata Premier additionally helps you journey with ease of thoughts, offering the next journey protections:

  • Automotive rental protection
  • Misplaced or broken baggage
  • Journey cancellation and interruption
  • Journey delay

I all the time make sure that to make use of the $100 annual resort credit score as it is a positive strategy to offset the annual payment. Nevertheless, aside from this, there aren’t many different advantages to make the most of for substantial financial savings.

Associated: Is the Citi Premier definitely worth the annual payment?

Incomes factors on the Citi Strata Premier

The Citi Strata Premier‘s incomes construction is the place the cardboard shines.

The cardboard provides 10 ThankYou factors per greenback spent on inns, automobile leases and sights booked by means of the Citi Journey portal.

Cardholders additionally earn 3 factors per greenback on purchases within the following classes, with no caps or annual limits:

  • Air journey
  • EV charging stations
  • Fuel stations
  • Accommodations
  • Supermarkets
  • Eating places (together with takeout)

The cardboard earns 1 level per greenback on all different purchases.

FG TRADE/GETTY IMAGES

These incomes charges are among the many most spectacular of any journey rewards card, particularly contemplating the Citi Strata Premier’s inexpensive annual payment. That is my go-to card for gasoline purchases because it earns an infinite 3 factors per greenback, which lessens the sting of the excessive gasoline costs in California.

I additionally usually use this card to earn bonus factors at supermarkets as a result of, not like the American Specific® Gold Card, there isn’t a spending cap on this class.

Associated: The 7 finest bank cards with annual charges beneath $100

Redeeming factors on the Citi Strata Premier

Citi ThankYou factors will be redeemed for assertion credit, money again or reward playing cards. They can be transferred to any of Citi’s companions (our advice).

CITI THANKYOU

You possibly can redeem your ThankYou Factors for journey straight by means of the Citi portal at a charge of 1 cent every, however that is nicely under TPG’s Might 2025 valuation of ThankYou factors at 1.8 cents every. To get extra worth, you will need to make the most of the choice to switch your factors to Citi’s intensive checklist of switch companions.

Transferring factors on the Citi Strata Premier

The Citi Strata Premier can be a best choice for vacationers, due to its participation within the ThankYou Rewards program, which presently has one procuring, 5 resort and 15 airline switch companions.

When you’ll discover that most of the frequent flyer packages are these of worldwide airways, you’ll be able to nonetheless e-book high-value (and simply redeemable) awards by means of them.

ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

I discover nice worth in a number of switch companions, together with Air France-KLM Flying Blue, which provides business-class flights for as few as 60,000 miles and the power so as to add a stopover totally free for as quick as 24 hours to so long as one yr. Final yr, I transferred Citi ThankYou factors to Flying Blue to fly in enterprise class from Los Angeles to Dublin with a one-day stopover in Paris for 60,000 factors.

One other switch accomplice I’ve utilized is Singapore Airways KrisFlyer, which is an effective way to e-book premium cabins on Singapore Airways.

Associated: Finest methods to redeem Citi ThankYou factors

Which playing cards compete with the Citi Strata Premier?

As an inexpensive journey rewards card, the Citi Strata Premier has a number of direct opponents that may be a greater match for you:

  • In case you favor Chase playing cards: The Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card (see charges and costs) competes straight with the Citi Strata Premier with the identical $95 annual payment. Whereas Chase’s switch companions (together with United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt) may be extra useful for a lot of vacationers, there are additionally some overlaps (like Singapore KrisFlyer and Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership). For extra data, learn our full evaluation of the Sapphire Most well-liked.
  • In order for you a flat incomes charge: Attempt the Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card. It additionally expenses the identical $95 annual payment, however this card earns a flat 2 miles per greenback on most purchases as a substitute of providing bonus classes. For extra data, learn our full evaluation of the Enterprise Rewards card.
  • In order for you added perks: In case you dine out ceaselessly, you would possibly favor the American Specific® Gold Card. It has the next incomes charge of 4 factors per greenback at U.S. supermarkets (on the primary $25,000 in purchases per calendar yr, then 1 per greenback) and at eating places worldwide (on as much as $50,000 in purchases per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback). It additionally comes with beneficial credit that may greater than offset the substantial $325 annual payment (see charges and costs). For extra data, learn our full evaluation of the Amex Gold.

For extra choices, try our full checklist of the highest journey rewards playing cards.

Backside line

Regardless of a bevy of opponents, the Citi Strata Premier‘s lengthy checklist of bonus classes and strong welcome bonus make it one of the profitable points-earning playing cards in its worth vary.

The big selection of ThankYou Rewards switch companions makes this card compelling, particularly for vacationers who need the flexibleness to redeem factors with numerous loyalty packages.

It is value critical consideration in the event you’re a fan of Citi or on the lookout for a flexible journey rewards card so as to add to your pockets.


Apply right here: Citi Strata Premier


For charges and costs of the Amex Gold Card, click on right here.


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