Again in Could, TPG solely realized the Citi Rewards+ Card was being rebranded to the Citi Strata℠ Card. Now, we have acquired affirmation Citi is launching the all-new Citi Strata℠ Elite.
As a longtime Citi loyalist and die-hard Citi Strata Premier® Card (see charges and costs) (previously the Citi Premier) fan, I am excited to see the issuer overhauling its lineup of Citi ThankYou Rewards-earning bank cards.
Purposes for each playing cards at the moment are open.
So, let’s bounce into what adjustments present cardholders and new candidates can count on.
The knowledge for the Citi Strata Elite, Citi Strata Card, Citi Rewards+ and Citi Premier has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer. The Citi Rewards+ and Citi Premier are now not obtainable for brand new functions.
Abstract of adjustments
What didn’t change:
What did change:
- New title and card artwork
- New bonus classes
- Elevated incomes charges on present bonus classes
- Elevated welcome bonus
- What the cardboard is product of (will probably be nearly completely recycled plastic)
- World Elite Mastercard advantages
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Citi Rewards+ used to spherical up every buy to the closest 10 factors. Sadly, this distinctive perk is discontinued, together with the power for every cardholder to obtain 10% of the primary 100,000 factors redeemed per calendar yr again.
In an unique interview with Pam Habner, Citi’s head of branded playing cards and lending, Habner highlighted Citi’s dedication to listening to buyer suggestions and interesting in focus teams to study what present and potential cardholders need from their bank cards. She talked about how the present market showcases cardholders seeking to be versatile with their reward earnings and the way these findings drove Citi to make significant adjustments.
Current Citi Rewards+ Card members received entry to the brand new Citi Strata Card as of July 20, and new prospects can apply as of at this time, July 27.
New incomes charges
Probably the most thrilling side of the brand new Citi Strata Card is the introduction of recent bonus classes and improved incomes charges from the now-discontinued Rewards+ Card. The adjustments embody:
- New: 5 factors per greenback spent on motels, automobile leases and sights booked on cititravel.com
- Elevated: 3 factors per greenback spent at supermarkets
- Elevated and expanded: 3 factors per greenback spent on choose transit, gasoline and electrical car charging stations
- New: 3 factors per greenback spent on eligible self-select class of health golf equipment, choose streaming companies, dwell leisure, beauty shops/barber outlets/hair salons or pet provide shops.
- New: 2 factors per greenback spent at eating places
- Identical: 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
Beforehand, the Citi Rewards+ earned 2 factors per greenback spent on grocery retailer and gasoline station purchases; nonetheless, the brand new incomes charges are much more profitable.
The Rewards+ Card earned 5 factors per greenback spent on lodge, automobile rental and attraction bookings by the Citi journey portal, but it surely had an finish date of Dec. 31. Now, the incomes charge for these purchases is a everlasting addition to the cardboard.
It is a complete revamp of the cardboard, and its incomes charges carry it nearer to the Citi Strata Premier Card, which has a $95 annual payment and received its personal refresh in Could 2024
In my view, this will pave the trail for Citi to have its personal model of the Chase Trifecta, the place Citi cardholders can carry a number of playing cards and maximize incomes charges and advantages together with each other.
The brand new incomes charges make this card a worthy contender for on a regular basis purchases and problem long-standing rivals, such because the Chase Freedom Limitless® (see charges and costs).
Habner emphasised Citi’s position in revamping {the marketplace} and staying aggressive. It is evident that Citi leaned in on prospects’ need to earn extra throughout on a regular basis spending classes. Due to this fact, the issuer simplified and elevated alternatives with the Citi Strata Card in what I might name important classes of gasoline stations, supermarkets and eating places, along with introducing the brand new self-select class.
Probably the most thrilling improvement is the brand new bonus class: 3 factors per greenback spent on a self-select class.
With a variety of choices to select from, it must be pretty straightforward to maximise. Cardholders can change their self-select class each quarter. I see this bonus class as a key driver for Citi as a result of some eligible classes should not generally provided on different playing cards at an elevated incomes charge.
With some fitness center memberships costing greater than $200 in cities reminiscent of New York and Los Angeles and dwell leisure tickets costing a few hundred {dollars}, this may be extraordinarily helpful for a lot of of us.
To me, this provides the Chase Freedom Flex® a run for its cash as a result of a few of its quarterly bonus classes up to now have included health golf equipment or streaming companies, however reward earnings are all the time capped at $1,500 every quarter you activate.
The knowledge for the Chase Freedom Flex has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Associated: Learn how to earn over 300,000 factors in 2025
New welcome bonus
For a restricted time, new prospects accepted for the Citi Strata Card will earn 30,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 throughout the first three months of account opening. Understand that present Citi Rewards+ cardholders have been mechanically transformed to the Citi Strata Card on July 20. Due to this fact, cardholders won’t be able to use for the Citi Strata Card, as they will already maintain the cardboard.
New Cardholders can even obtain a 0% introductory annual share (APR) on stability transfers and purchases for 15 months; after that, a variable APR can be 19.24% – 29.24% can be utilized based mostly on credit score worthiness. Stability transfers are topic to a 3% payment (minimal $5) and throughout the first 4 months of account opening, afterward every switch can be 5% (minimal $5).
The welcome bonus is just not obtainable to candidates who acquired a brand new account bonus for a Citi Rewards+ account up to now 48 months or those that transformed one other Citi account on which they earned a brand new account bonus within the final 48 months right into a Citi Strata or Citi Rewards+ account.
One other welcoming piece of stories is that accepted candidates will instantly have on the spot authorization and entry to their new bank card.
Backside line
The Citi Strata Card is a refreshing change within the bank card area, and I welcome it.
A whole overhaul to the incomes charges and inclusion of recent classes make this card a aggressive choice for these seeking to earn ThankYou Rewards. The adjustments to this card have made it extra helpful as an on a regular basis spending bank card and supply a powerful worth proposition.
As a Citi Strata Premier cardholder, you possibly can mix your Strata Card factors and switch them to Citi’s journey companions for max worth. As well as, the Strata household is now full due to the brand new Citi Strata Elite launch, giving cardholders ample alternative to decide on a card that most closely fits their way of life.
Associated: Greatest Citi Playing cards of July 2025
