Citi Custom Cash Credit Card 2024: Managing multiple rewards credit cards can be cumbersome, especially when trying to remember which card to use for specific purchases. Each card typically offers different bonus categories, sometimes requiring multiple activations throughout the year.
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card simplifies this process with its automated bonus category tracking feature. Citi keeps tabs on your monthly spending and automatically assigns a 5% bonus (up to $500 in spending per month) to the category where you spend the most. There’s no need to memorize which merchants to use or to activate bonus categories manually—everything is seamlessly automated.
The Citi Custom Cash makes earning cash back effortless. With one of the most competitive cash back rates available for a no-annual-fee credit card, it stands out as a straightforward choice. Its adaptive bonus categories tailored to your spending habits make it one of the easiest rewards credit cards to manage. Additionally, the card boasts a robust introductory APR offer, adding further value to its benefits.
Pros:
- Enticing welcome bonus
- Earn up to 5% cash back on everyday purchases
- No annual fee
Cons:
- Bonus categories have spending caps
- Low earning rate for non-bonus spending
- Foreign transaction fees apply
click here – PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature Credit Card Review 2024
Who is the card for?
The Citi Custom Cash caters to individuals with fluctuating spending patterns. If your primary spending categories vary from month to month—such as home improvement, live entertainment, travel, or groceries—the card automatically identifies the eligible category where you’ve spent the most each billing cycle and applies a bonus to it. There’s no need to activate or monitor anything.Moreover, the card’s 0% introductory APR for 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers makes it an ideal option if you foresee making a substantial purchase that you won’t be able to pay off immediately, such as an unexpected medical expense or vehicle repair. Alternatively, if you’re carrying high-interest debt on other credit cards, the Citi Custom Cash can provide a 15-month interest-free period as a strategic financial tool.Lastly, this card presents an opportunity to earn complimentary travel. Through a simple method, you can convert the rewards accumulated with this card into airline miles and hotel points, expanding your travel possibilities.
Features
$200 Welcome Bonus:
Upon meeting a spending threshold of $1,500 on purchases within the initial six months of account opening, the Citi Custom Cash rewards you with a $200 cash bonus. This cash reward is delivered in the form of Citi ThankYou points, offering flexibility in redemption.
This welcome offer is notably generous for a credit card with no annual fee. Although the spending requirement may initially appear substantial, you have a six-month timeframe to fulfill it. In fact, achieving the bonus entails spending just $250 per month.
Bonus Categories Aligned with Your Spending Habits:
The standout feature of the Citi Custom Cash lies in its adaptation to your spending patterns. The card analyzes your expenditures and allocates the highest cash back rate to the category where you’ve spent the most each month. You’ll earn 5% cash back on up to $500 spent monthly (then 1%) in one of the following categories:
- Drugstores
- Gas stations
- Grocery stores
- Fitness clubs
- Home improvement stores
- Live entertainment
- Restaurants
- Select streaming services
- Select transit
- Select travel
Additionally, you’ll earn 1% cash back on all other purchases. For instance, if your monthly spending comprises $200 at gas stations, $700 at grocery stores, and $600 at restaurants, you’d earn:
- $2 for gas station purchases (1% back)
- $27 for grocery store purchases (5% back on up to $500, then 1% back)
- $6 for restaurant purchases (1% back)
Should your spending habits shift the following month, the Citi Custom Cash seamlessly adjusts and assigns the 5% bonus to the highest spending category.
click here – Netspend Visa Prepaid Card Review 2024
Introductory APR Offer:
Benefit from a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers with the Citi Custom Cash (then 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)). This feature proves advantageous if you anticipate a significant purchase that won’t be immediately paid off or if you currently hold credit card debt accruing monthly interest charges. Depending on your balance size, a 15-month reprieve from interest expenses could yield substantial savings.
Interest Rates:
The Citi Custom Cash imposes a variable purchase APR ranging from 19.24% to 29.24% (Variable), dependent on your creditworthiness. For most cardholders falling within this range, the APR may be considered high, even within the credit card realm. However, if you consistently pay off your balance in full each month, this APR becomes a non-issue.
Additionally, a cash advance APR of 29.99% (Variable) applies, with cash advances incurring interest immediately upon initiation.
Other Fees:
While the Citi Custom Cash does not charge an annual fee, it does entail several standard credit card fees, including:
- Balance Transfer Fees: A fee of 5% of each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5, applies.
- Cash Advance Fees: You’ll incur a fee of 5% of each cash advance, with a minimum of $10.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: Transactions processed outside the U.S. are subject to a fee of 3% of the purchase amount.
- Penalty APR: Late or returned payments may result in a penalty APR ranging from up to 19.24% to 29.24% (Variable).
- Penalty Fees: Late or returned payments may incur penalty fees of up to $41.
Additional perks
Unlock Travel Rewards with Your Cash Back:
While the Citi Custom Cash Card accrues Citi ThankYou points rather than traditional cash back, you have the option to convert your points into cash back at a rate of 1 cent per point. This can be redeemed as a statement credit, direct deposit, or check.
Here’s where it gets interesting: Citi ThankYou points earned with credit cards that carry an annual fee, such as the Citi Premier® Card or the Citi Prestige® Card (not currently available for new applicants), allow you to transfer your rewards to 18 different travel loyalty programs. This opens up the possibility of converting your points into airline miles and hotel points, potentially yielding a value greater than 1 cent per point.
For instance, you could transfer 20,000 points to Avianca for a one-way coach flight between the U.S. and Europe on United Airlines. Alternatively, transferring 19,500 points to Singapore Airlines could secure you a complimentary coach flight from the Continental U.S. to Hawaii on United Airlines.
Citi Entertainment Access:
Most Citi credit cards, including the Citi Custom Cash, grant access to Citi Entertainment. This platform enables you to book presale tickets for popular concerts, sporting events, culinary experiences, and more. Citi Entertainment can make all the difference between securing coveted tickets and missing out on exclusive events.
Card alternatives
| Citi Custom Cash® Card | U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card | Citi Double Cash® Card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intro bonus | Earn $200 in cash back | $200 bonus | Earn $200 cash back |
| APR | 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable) | 19.74% to 29.74% Variable | 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable) |
| Annual fees | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Credit score | Excellent, Good, Fair | Good, Excellent | Excellent, Good, Fair |
click here – Chase DoorDash Rewards Mastercard Review 2024