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Citi

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

TravelCash BackDiningHotelAirlineExcellent CreditNo Foreign Transaction FeesLuxury

Key Features

Annual Fee$595.00
Regular APR
The variable APR for purchases, and balance transfers is 20.49% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
For Citi Flex Plans subject to an APR, the variable APR is 20.49% - 28.49%, based on creditworthiness.
The variable APR for cash advances is 29.74%.
The variable penalty APR is up to 29.99% and may be applied if you make a late payment or make a payment that is returned.
Other Fees
$75 Authorized User Fee
Cash advance fee - either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.
Balance transfer fee — either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Fee for foreign purchases - None.
Minimum interest charge – $0.50.
For Citi Flex Pay Plans subject to a Plan Fee, a monthly fee of up to 1.72% will apply, based on the Citi Flex Plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the Transaction, and other factors.
NetworkMastercard
Read the full review
Best for those with
Very Good Credit

About this card

The Citi Strata Elite Card is a mixed bag. Its strengths lie in its rewards program, offering high earning rates on travel and dining, a generous sign-up bonus, and luxury travel perks like lounge access and statement credits. However, the high annual fee of $595 is a major drawback, compounded by a high APR and fees for balance transfers and authorized users. While the statement credits can offset the annual fee, maximizing them requires effort and specific spending habits. The card's reputation is generally positive, but its value is highly dependent on the cardholder's ability to utilize the benefits. The high APR could negate the value of the rewards if a balance is carried. The fees rating is poor due to the high annual fee, balance transfer fee, and authorized user fee. The APR rating is also poor due to the high APR range. Considering these factors, the card is a 'Fair' option, with an overall rating of 2.7. Strengths: High rewards on travel/dining, large sign-up bonus, luxury perks. Weaknesses: Very high annual fee, high APR, other fees.

2.7
Overall Rating

Pros & Cons

What's great

  • Generous sign-up bonus
  • High rewards rate on travel and dining
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Transfer partners
  • Luxury perks
  • Lounge membership

Things to consider

  • High annual fee
  • High regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Authorized user fee

What this card offers

Sign-up bonuses

  • Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months

Rewards

  • 12 points per dollar spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com
  • 6 points per dollar spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com
  • 6 points per dollar spent at Restaurants on Citi Nights℠ purchases, Friday and Saturday from 6 PM - 6 AM ET
  • 3 points per dollar spent at Restaurants any other time
  • 1.5 points per dollar spent on All Other Purchases

Other features

  • Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of 2 nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.
  • Up to $200 Annual Splurge Credit℠: Every calendar year, earn up to $200 in statement credits on your choice of up to 2 of the following brands: 1stDibs, American Airlines (exclusions apply), Best Buy®, Future Personal Training, and Live Nation (exclusions apply).
  • Up to $200 Annual Blacklane® Credit: Every calendar year, earn up to $200 in statement credits when you book with Blacklane, a premium global chauffeur service. Earn up to $100 on Blacklane purchases January through June and up to $100 July through December.
  • Priority Pass™ Select membership: Enjoy complimentary access to 1,500+ airport lounges worldwide. Annual membership fee valued at $469.
  • American Airlines Admirals Club® Lounge Access Passes: Every calendar year, receive 4 Admirals Club® Citi Strata Elite℠ Passes for access to nearly 50 Admirals Club® lounges (over $300 in value). Inside each of the nearly 50 lounges, you can enjoy a selection of snacks, complimentary cocktails, personal travel assistance and more.
  • Additionally, Up to $120 Global Entry® or TSA PreCheck® Application Fee Credit: Receive a statement credit, up to $120 every four years, as reimbursement for your application fee for Global Entry® or TSA PreCheck®.
  • Citi Travel®: Use points to book flights, hotels, car rentals and attractions.
  • Points transfer: Points transfer to American Airlines, JetBlue, Virgin Atlantic, Cathay Pacific, Eva Air, Choice Hotels, The Leading Hotels of the World® and others.
  • Gift cards, cash back and more: Redeem your ThankYou® Points for gift cards to your favorite retailers and more at thankyou.com.
  • Shop with points: Use points at participating merchants like Amazon, PayPal, CVS and others.
  • Citigold® Relationship Credit: Qualifying Citigold clients receive a $145 Banking Relationship Annual Credit if the primary cardmember has an open and current Strata Elite℠ Card account with an assessed Annual Membership Fee of $595.
  • Citigold® Private Client Relationship Credit: Qualifying Citigold Private Clients receive a $595 first year banking relationship credit and a $145 credit each year thereafter if the primary cardmember has an open and current Strata EliteSM Card account with an assessed Annual Membership Fee of $595.
  • Travel and Shopping Protection: Help stay protected with travel insurances, including Trip Delay Protection, Enhanced Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Protection, Lost or Damaged Luggage, MasterRental Coverage (car rental insurance), and Extended Warranty and Purchase Assurance Plus.
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Citi® Quick Lock: Misplaced your card? Use Citi® Quick Lock in the Citi Mobile® App or at citi.com to instantly block new charges while allowing recurring transactions to continue without disruption.
  • 24-hour fraud protection: Citi will alert you if we see unusual activity on your account.
  • Mastercard® ID Theft Protection: The ID Theft Protection program offered by Mastercard® helps eliminate the worry of identity theft by monitoring the information you choose to protect and alerting you if suspicious activity is found.
  • Contactless pay: Shop safely with a contactless chip-enabled card. Just tap your card on the payment reader and go in seconds.
  • Automatic account alerts: Stay updated on balance, payments and credit limits via email or text.
  • Choose your payment due date: Choose to pay your bill on any available due date in the beginning, middle or end of the month. Enjoy the flexibility of paying your full balance or just the minimum payment due each month.
  • Paperless statements and e-communications: Reduce clutter and get your statements and most legal notices online instead of in the mail.
  • 24/7 Customer Service: Questions about your Citi® card account? Just call the number on the back of your credit card.
  • Citi Mobile® App: Manage your account when you want, where you want and the way you want.
  • Digital wallets: Digital wallets let you shop with confidence in millions of places online, within apps and in stores.
  • Access FICO® Score: Get free access to your FICO® Score online to review your credit history.
  • Citi Entertainment®: Citi cardmembers get special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including presale tickets and exclusive experiences.
  • Citi Travel®: With Citi Travel®, you can book flights, hotels, car rentals and attractions using your eligible Citi card, points or a combination of both.
  • Points transfer: Points transfer to American Airlines, JetBlue, Virgin Atlantic, Cathay Pacific, Eva Air, Choice Hotels, The Leading Hotels of the World® and others. There is no fee, and the minimum transfer is only 1,000 points.
  • Citi® Flex Pay: Buy now, pay later with Citi® Flex Pay. Pay over time in fixed monthly payments and continue to earn points on purchases. Available on eligible purchases of $75 or more.

Additional Notes

This offer may not be available if you leave this page. Offers may vary and this offer may not be available in other places where the card is offered. Bonus ThankYou Points are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi Strata Elite℠ account in the past 48 months or if you converted another Citi credit card account on which you earned a new account bonus in the last 48 months into a Citi Strata Elite. New cardmembers only. Subject to credit approval. Additional limitations, terms and conditions apply. You will be given further information when you apply.

Ratings

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