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The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, Citi®Double Cash Card, Citi Custom Cash℠ Card, Citi Prestige® Card, Citi Rewards+® Card. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.
Introduction to the Citi Strata Premier
The "new" Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is one of the best travel credit cards in the mid-tier credit card market. A rebrand of the former Citi Premier, the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card now comes with travel insurance and huge bonuses for bookings within the Citi travel portal. You'll also have access to many ways to use your points through Citi Travel and the issuer's airline and hotel partners, all for an annual fee under $100.
The mid-tier rewards card market is already quite full, with contenders from American Express, Wells Fargo, Chase, and Capital One. However, the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card still comes out ahead in several categories, especially now that it offers travel protection benefits.
This review examines the refreshed Citi Strata Premier℠ Card's offerings, whether it's a good fit for you, and why it might deserve a spot in your wallet.
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
Insider’s Rating
Business Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
4.6/5
Perks
Earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com. Earn 3X points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations and EV charging stations. Earn 1X point per $1 on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
21.24% - 29.24% variable
Intro Offer
75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening
Earn 75,000 bonus points
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
- Earn 3x points on most travel, restaurants, gas/EV charging, and supermarkets
- Earn 10x points on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked via Citi Travel
- $100 annual hotel credit on a single stay of $500 or more
- No foreign transaction fees
- Trip delay/interruption benefits and lost/damaged baggage coverage
Cons
- Has an annual fee
- Citi Travel rates often are higher than retail cost of travel
Citi Strata Premier℠ review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card Overview
As mentioned above, the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card isn't entirely new. Rather, it has replaced the former Citi Premier, which carried the same $95 annual fee and offered many of the same benefits.
This move from Citi is exciting not just because the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is essentially a new card. But because Citi hasn't been on the forefront of travel credit cards for years. Introducing a card with new travel benefits is a positive step toward rejoining the competition.
The former Citi Premier sat at the top of our guide to the best Citi credit cards for its versatility, and the revamped Citi Strata Premier℠ Card continues to merit this accolade by earning 3x per dollar at supermarkets, restaurants, gas stations, air travel, and hotels.
The revamped Citi Strata Premier℠ Card includes a new bonus category for elevated rewards that will be popular with eco-friendly drivers: EV charging. Cardholders can also now earn 10 Citi ThankYou points per dollar spent on most purchases within the Citi travel portal (on the Citi Premier, this rate was a limited-time offer), and 1x on everything else. Finally, the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card also has a new suite of travel insurance benefits that the previous Citi Premier did not.
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card Rewards
The Citi Strata Premier card earns Citi ThankYou points, which is a flexible point currency. This means points can be redeemed in multiple ways, including statement credits, gift cards, travel and more.
However, the most important feature of Citi points is that they can be transferred to a variety of hotel, shopping, and airline transfer partners. This is by far the most valuable way to redeem your points, and thanks to Citi's robust lineup of partners, it's easy to find ways to use your points.
The Citi Strata Premier card makes it easy to earn Citi points with such a broad range of elevated earning categories, especially if you're using the Citi travel portal.
Welcome Bonus
New Citi Strata Premier℠ Card cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. According to our most recent points and miles valuations, the initial bonus points alone are worth around $1,200 in travel when you transfer points to Citi's airline and hotel partners.
The points from this bonus alone could be worth enough to book a round-trip flight to Europe, South America, or even the Middle East for just the cost of taxes and fees.
Note that, in order to be eligible for the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card welcome offer, you must not have received a bonus for either the former Citi Premier or the new Citi Strata Premier℠ Card within the last 48 months.
How to Earn Points With the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card covers everyday spending more thoroughly than any other consumer credit card available right now.Cardholders earn:
- 10x points per $1 spent on CitiTravel.com hotel, car rentals and attractions bookings
- 3x points on air travel and hotels (including travel agencies)
- 3x points at gas stations (excluding gas purchases at warehouse clubs, discount stores, department stores, and convenience stores)
- 3x points at restaurants (including cafes, bars, lounges, and fast-food restaurants)
- 3x points at supermarkets (excluding discount superstores and warehouse clubs)
- 1 point per dollar on everything else
How to Use Points With the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
You can earn and redeem Citi ThankYou rewards on everyday essentials whether you're staying close to home or taking the card on the road. You'll get excellent value either way.
Citi ThankYou points are highly valuable, especially when transferred to partners. For example, Citi points earned by the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card transfer to Choice Privileges at a 1:2 ratio. This means that one Citi point becomes two Choice points and can unlock incredible value for redemptions, especially at Choice's all-inclusive properties.
Other options for redeeming Citi points include gift cards, cash back, shopping with your points, and travel booked via the Citi travel portal.
If you really want to boost your Citi ThankYou Rewards earning, consider opening the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card plus the other two cards in the Citi Trifecta — the Citi®Double Cash Card and Citi Custom Cash℠ Card . With this credit card combination, you're guaranteed to earn 2x to 5x rewards for every single purchase for maximum value.
Transfer Citi ThankYou Points to Airline and Hotel Partners
When you have the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (or the Citi Prestige® Card , which isn't available to new applicants), you can transfer your Citi ThankYou points to over a dozen travel loyalty program partners — mostly at a 1:1 ratio — to book award travel.
The value you'll get per point depends on the partner you choose and how you use the miles — typically, redeeming for expensive, international premium-cabin award flights will get you a higher value than domestic economy seats.
If you collect Sears Shop Your Way points, they're another transfer option at a rate of 1 Citi ThankYou point to 10 Sears points. Note that if you only have a no-annual-fee Citi ThankYou credit card, like the Citi Rewards+® Card , the only transfer partners available to you are JetBlue, Wyndham, and Choice, and the transfer ratios are slightly lower.
Redeem Citi ThankYou points for travel, gift cards, merchandise, and more
You can redeem Citi ThankYou points for gift cards, statement credits, or cash back at a rate of 1 cent each, making the bonus of 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening worth $750 in rewards. You can also use points at the same value to make a charitable donation or book travel through the Citi ThankYou travel portal.
It's also possible to pay with points at Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers, but you'll get a lower value when you redeem this way — as little as 0.5 cents per point.
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card Benefits and Features
Aside from earning points on your purchases, the newCiti Strata Premier℠ Card offers two key benefits: A $100 annual hotel credit, and travel insurance.
$100 Annual Hotel Benefit
Cardholders who book a hotel stay of at least $500 through Citi Travel before taxes and fees will receive a $100 statement credit once a year. Cardholders can earn the discount whether they pay for the hotel stay with their Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, Citi ThankYou points, or a combination of both.
Travel Insurance
The Citi Strata Premier Card offers four major types of travel insurance:
- Rental car insurance: Primary coverage outside your country of residence, without any country exclusions.
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance: Receive a maximum of $5,000 per trip and $10,000 during a consecutive 12-month period.
- Lost or damaged luggage: Reimbursem*nt for a maximum of $3,000 ($2,000 for New York) per trip and two claims during a consecutive 12-month period.
- Trip delay insurance: Beginning at six hours of delay, with a maximum payment of $500 per trip and two claims during a consecutive 12-month period.
To be eligible for this travel insurance benefit, you must pay for your trip using your Citi Strata Premier℠ Card.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card does not charge foreign transactionfees.
Purchase Protection
Additionally, the Citi Strata Premier℠ Cardoffers purchase protection if an item is damaged or stolen within 90 days from the date you bought it. You can receive up to $10,000 in coverage per incident (with a maximum of $50,000 in coverage per year).
Extended Warranty
The card also offers extended warranty protection — you'll get 24 additional months on manufacturers' warranties of five years or less for eligible items you bought with the card.
Citi Entertainment
As a cardholder, you can access the Citi Entertainment program, which offers presale tickets, preferred tickets, VIP packages, and more. When you check out at Ticketmaster or Live Nation, you'll need to provide the first six digits of your card number as the passcode to take advantage of Citi's ticket benefits.
World Elite Mastercard Benefits
While all World Elite Mastercard credit cards are eligible for certain benefits, each credit card issuer can choose which ones they want to add to the card. You won't find certain World Elite Mastercard benefits like cell phone insurance on the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, but you'll still get things like rental car perks and Lyft credits.
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card Fees and Other Costs
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card comes with a 21.24% - 29.24% variable APR, so this isn't a good card option if you plan to carry a balance. If you plan to make a large expense you want to pay for over time, you should check out the best zero-interest credit cards first.
This card comes with a $95 annual fee, but you won't pay any foreign transaction fees.
As with most cards, balance transfers, late or returned payments, and cash advances are also subject to fees.
Compare the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
With so many different travel credit cards from which to choose, how does the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card stack up?
As you evaluate the newly revamped Citi Strata Premier℠ Card,consider travel credit cards from other issuers that offer similar flexibility and earning opportunities. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a similarly strong bonus and options for earning and redeeming for travel, with amazing travel insurance benefits built into the card.
If you don't want to track bonus categories, the Capital One VentureRewards Credit Card offers a solid flat-rate return of 2 miles per dollar every time you swipe your card.
The following breakdown gives more insight into each card's merits and detractors.
Capital One VentureRewards Credit Card vs. Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
The Capital One VentureRewards Credit Card is a similar mid-tier travel credit card that earns Capital One miles you can transfer to airline and hotel partners. This card is an excellent option for those who spend a lot at Amazon and Walmart, neither of which earn bonus points through the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card.
Beyond those categories, however, the Capital One VentureRewards Credit Card's reward categories aren't quite as broad: You'll earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel Portal and 2 miles per dollar on everything else.
The Capital One VentureRewards Credit Card has a comparable $95 annual fee (rates and fees).
If the lion's share of your spending falls within the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card's 3x categories, you're likely better off sticking with it as your daily driver.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is Business Insider's choice for the best travel credit card available.The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card comes with some of the best credit card travel insurance available. You'll get things like trip delay insurance, baggage delay insurance, primary rental car insurance, and more.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also earns flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards® points you can transfer to multiple travel partners, and charges a $95 annual fee.
But while the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers stronger travel insurance protections, it falls behind theCiti Strata Premier℠ Card when it comes to earning rewards. The new Citi Strata Premier℠ Card offers up to 10x on travel portal purchases and earns extra rewards on gas stations and EV chargers.
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card vs. Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card is another contender, with the ability to earn 5x points per $1 spent on hotels and 4x points per $1 spent on airfare. This makes it a compelling option for those who travel often. Unfortunately, its limited selection of transfer partners restricts the usefulness of the points it earns.
American Express® Gold Card vs. Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
The American Express® Gold Card earns more points per dollar than the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card on both dining and supermarket purchases.
This may make the American Express® Gold Card a better option for those who spend most of their money on dining, especially since the card earns valuable Amex points. That being said, you'll need to be willing to pay the $325 annual fee, which is more than three times what the Citi Strata Premier charges.
Citi Strata Premier Card Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Citi Strata Premier card worth it?
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is worth it if you spend a lot of money across the card's bonus categories such as groceries, gas, and dining, and if you value Citi's airline and hotel transfer partners. This card is one of the best point-earners on the market.
Is the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card hard to get?
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card isn't difficult to get if you have a good credit score (defined as a FICO score of at least 670), you have a chance at being considered for the card (though we recommend not applying unless your credit score is at least 700). Just note that if you've opened or closed a ThankYou points-earning card in the last 24 months, you won't be able to earn the bonus on this card.
Can you downgrade a Citi Strata Premier card?
While many customers keep the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card year after year because they get value out of the annual fee, some folks may decide the perks and benefits aren't worth the yearly cost. Instead of canceling the card outright, you can request to product change to a no-annual-fee card, such as the Citi Rewards+® Card.
What is the credit limit on the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card?
The credit limit on your card will depend on several factors, including your credit score, payment history, existing credit, and whether or not you already have open Citi cards. Data points for the predecessor Citi Premier show credit limits up to $20,000, although this ceiling is determined by individual creditworthiness.
Is the Citi Premier better than the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
We tend to recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card over the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card because of its quality travel insurance.
Is the Citi Strata Premier a World Elite card?
Yes, the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a World Elite Mastercard. This means you'll get benefits with companies such as Lyft and Shoprunner.
Cardholder Insights
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a solid option that builds on the already well-liked Citi Premier card. With better benefits and no devaluation in sight, many cardholders believe that the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card will be even more popular than its predecessor.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
Our credit card experts reviewed the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card against other popular travel rewards cards by evaluating several factors, including:
- Fees — What fees do these cards charge? Do they cost less than $100 a year, or do they exceed$500?
- Rewards — Are the cards offering good returns on spending? Who can take advantage of these bonus categories?
- Credits — Do the cards offer any kind of statement credits?
- Travel benefits — What other benefits do the cards offer? Is theretravel insurance? How about airport lounge access or free checked luggage?
Freelance Writer
Carissa Rawson is a personal finance and credit cards expert who has spent the last five years helping consumers make informed decisions. When she's not planning elaborate trips using points and miles, she can be found sipping coffee and writing for publications such as Forbes, The Balance, and The Points Guy. Before launching a career as a journalist, she spent seven years in the US Air Force as an Arabic translator, which included a deployment with special forces.Carissa is usually based somewhere on a plane but due to the current situation, she's made herself at home in San Diego, California.
Freelance Writer
Holly Johnson is a credit card expert, award-winning writer, and mother of two who is obsessed with frugality, budgeting, and travel. In addition to serving as contributing editor for The Simple Dollar and writing for publications such as Bankrate, U.S. News and World Report Travel, and Travel Pulse, Johnson ownsClub Thriftyand is the co-author of "Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You’ll Love."
Marketing Compliance Manager
Angela Fung is the Compliance Manager for Business Insider'sPersonal Financedivision, overseeing a team that ensures content accuracy and editorial independence so readers are always getting up-to-date and objective financial advice.The compliance team's mission is to maintain reader trust by confirming stories are fact-checked and current so that readers can make informed financial decisions. The team also works to minimize risk for partners by maintaining clear, precise language that is compliant with regulatory and partner marketing guidelines that align with the editorial team.
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