Citi Strata Premier Card overview
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see charges and charges) is an under-the-radar gem with an exceptional vary of bonus classes. Whereas the cardboard is not as robust on the redemption aspect as comparable choices from Chase or Amex, the flexibility to earn 3 factors per greenback on eligible journey and eating purchases for simply $95 a 12 months remains to be a fairly nice deal. Card score*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐`
* Card score relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
The Citi Strata Premier Card is without doubt one of the finest earners on all kinds of on a regular basis spending. It accrues 3 factors per greenback with airways, lodges, gasoline stations, electrical car charging stations, eating places and supermarkets — a wonderful slate of bonus classes for a card with a $95 annual charge.
Additionally, the factors you earn with the Citi Strata Premier are among the many most versatile rewards currencies and are price 1.8 cents every, in accordance with TPG’s November 2024 valuations. Citi has improved the ThankYou Rewards program considerably through the years to compete with American Categorical Membership Rewards and Chase Final Rewards.
The cardboard underwent a minor refresh again in Could, introducing a brand new identify, EV charging bonus class and journey protections; the annual charge has stayed the identical.
The advisable credit score rating for the Citi Strata Premier card is 670 or above.
In the event you’re there and are contemplating making use of, here is what else it’s best to find out about this card — and why you would possibly need to apply now.
Associated: The perfect Citi bank cards
Citi Strata Premier professionals and cons
| Professionals | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Citi Strata Premier welcome provide
The Citi Strata Premier is providing 75,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.
Each day E-newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day e-newsletter
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
In line with TPG’s November 2024 valuations of ThankYou factors at 1.8 cents apiece, this bonus is price $1,350.
Up to now, the cardboard has supplied welcome bonuses of as much as 80,000 factors for brand spanking new cardholders (not accessible). Nonetheless, the usual provide is 60,000, so now could also be an excellent time to select it up.
The welcome bonus is just not accessible if in case you have acquired a brand new account bonus for a Citi Premier or Citi Strata Premier account previously 48 months.
Associated: The final word information to bank card software restrictions
Citi Strata Premier advantages
A lot of Citi Strata Premier‘s worth proposition comes from its potential to earn bonus factors in lots of classes with out charging a hefty annual charge. As such, you should not anticipate an awesome variety of perks.
Nonetheless, there are a number of advantages of this card that may assist you recoup your annual charge:
- $100 annual lodge credit score: You will take pleasure in a $100 credit score as soon as per calendar 12 months for single-stay lodge bookings of $500 or extra (excluding taxes and charges) made by 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 find out about. These embrace a $5 month-to-month Lyft credit score after taking three rides in a calendar month and entry to the Mastercard luxurious lodges and resorts portfolio for on-property perks like complimentary breakfast and room upgrades upon availability. By means of the World Elite Mastercard program, you will additionally take pleasure in perks like cellphone safety and World Emergency Providers.
- Citi Leisure: This program provides cardholders particular entry to buy tickets to hundreds of occasions — from concert events and sporting occasions to distinctive eating experiences and film screenings — earlier than most people can purchase them.
- No overseas transaction charges: Like all good journey card, the Citi Strata Premier permits you to journey freely with out incurring a charge on worldwide spending.
Citi Strata Premier card additionally helps you journey with ease of thoughts, offering the next journey protections:
- Journey cancellation and interruption
- Journey delay
- Misplaced or broken baggage
- Automotive rental protection
I all the time ensure to make the most of the $100 annual lodge credit score as it is a certain approach to offset the annual charge. Nonetheless, aside from this, there aren’t many different advantages to make the most of for substantial financial savings.
Associated: Is the Citi Premier well worth the annual charge?
Incomes factors on the Citi Strata Premier
The Citi Strata Premier‘s incomes construction is the place the cardboard shines.
The cardboard gives 10 ThankYou factors per greenback spent on lodges, automotive leases and sights booked by 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
- Motels
- Gasoline stations
- EV charging stations
- Supermarkets
- Eating places (together with takeout)
The cardboard earns 1 level per greenback on all different purchases.
These incomes charges are among the many most spectacular of any journey rewards card, particularly contemplating the Citi Strata Premier’s inexpensive annual charge. That is my go-to card for gasoline purchases because it earns a vast 3 factors per greenback, which lessens the sting of my excessive gasoline costs in California.
I additionally usually use this card to earn bonus factors at supermarkets as a result of, in contrast to the American Categorical® Gold Card, there is no such thing as a spending cap on this class.
Associated: The perfect bank cards with annual charges below $100
Redeeming factors on the Citi Strata Premier
Citi ThankYou factors will be redeemed for assertion credit, money rewards or third-party reward playing cards. Moreover, they are often transferred to any of Citi’s 21 switch companions.
You’ll be able to redeem your ThankYou Factors for journey straight by the Citi portal at a charge of 1 cent every, however that is nicely under TPG’s November 2024 valuation of ThankYou factors at 1.8 cents every. To get a better worth, you will need to make the most of the choice to switch your factors to Citi’s in depth checklist of switch companions.
Associated: The final word information to Citi ThankYou factors
Transferring factors on the Citi Strata Premier
The Citi Strata Premier can also be a best choice for vacationers, because of its participation within the ThankYou Rewards program, which presently has 15 airline switch companions, 5 lodge companions and one procuring companion.
When you’ll discover that most of the frequent flyer applications are these of worldwide airways, you’ll be able to nonetheless guide high-value (and simply redeemable) awards by them.
As an illustration, you’ll be able to leverage Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles for first rate business-class award availability on these airways and their SkyTeam companions. You too can entry some phenomenal offers on Star Alliance awards utilizing Avianca LifeMiles and snag Oneworld tickets by Qatar Privilege Membership.
I discover nice worth in a number of switch companions, together with Air France-KLM Flying Blue, which gives business-class flights at 50,000 miles and the flexibility to add a stopover free of charge for as brief as 24 hours to so long as one 12 months.
One other switch companion I’ve utilized is Singapore Airways KrisFlyer, as it is a certain approach to guide premium cabins on Singapore Airways.
Associated: The perfect 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 couple of direct opponents that is perhaps a greater match for you:
- In the event you desire Chase playing cards: The Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card competes straight with the Citi Strata Premier with an annual charge of $95. Whereas Chase’s switch companions — together with United MileagePlus, Southwest Fast Rewards and World of Hyatt — is perhaps extra useful for a lot of vacationers, there are additionally some overlaps like Singapore KrisFlyer, Emirates Skywards and Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership. For extra info, learn our full evaluation of the Sapphire Most popular.
- If you’d like a flat earnings charge: Strive the Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card. It additionally expenses a $95 annual charge (see charges and charges), however this card earns a flat 2 miles per greenback on most purchases as an alternative of providing bonus classes. For extra info, learn our full evaluation of the Enterprise Rewards card.
- If you’d like added perks: In the event you dine out regularly, you would possibly desire the American Categorical® Gold Card, because it has a better incomes charge of 4 factors per greenback at U.S. supermarkets (on the primary $25,000 in purchases per calendar 12 months, then 1 per greenback) and at eating places (on as much as $50,000 in purchases per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback). It additionally comes with helpful credit that assist offset a lot of the greater $325 annual charge (see charges and charges). Enrollment is required for choose advantages. For extra info, learn our full evaluation of the Amex Gold.
For added choices, take a look at 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 stable sign-up bonus make it some of the profitable points-earning playing cards in its value vary. The big selection of ThankYou Rewards switch companions makes this card compelling, particularly for vacationers who need the flexibleness to redeem factors with varied loyalty applications. It is price a glance should 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 with a 75,000-point bonus
For charges and charges of the Amex Gold Card, click on right here.
