In today’s competitive credit card market, the Citi® Rewards+℠ Card stands out as a popular choice for consumers looking to earn rewards on their everyday purchases. This card, designed with supermarket and gas station shoppers in mind, offers a lucrative rewards structure that can significantly benefit its users.
The Citi Rewards+ Card earns 2 ThankYou Points per dollar spent at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 in spending per year, and 1 ThankYou Point per dollar on all other purchases, making it an attractive option for those who frequent these establishments. The card also comes with no annual fee, which allows cardholders to maximize their rewards potential without having to worry about offsetting any costs.
In addition to its competitive rewards structure, the Citi Rewards+ Card offers a unique feature known as points rounding. With this benefit, all purchases made with the card are automatically rounded up to the nearest 10 points, helping cardholders accumulate rewards at a faster pace. This feature, combined with its strong rewards earning potential at supermarkets and gas stations, makes the Citi Rewards+ Card an excellent choice for savvy shoppers looking to get the most out of their credit card spend.
Card Overview
The Citi® Rewards+℠ Card is a no-annual-fee credit card that provides cardholders with an opportunity to earn points on their everyday purchases, specifically at supermarkets and gas stations. With this card, users can maximize their rewards on essential daily expenses, making it an attractive option for many consumers.
Citi Rewards+ cardholders earn 2 ThankYou Points per dollar spent at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 in spending per year. Beyond this limit, and for all other purchases, cardholders earn 1 ThankYou Point per dollar spent. Designed to benefit those who frequently shop for groceries and fuel, the card’s rewards structure is well-suited for a wide range of consumers.
Another unique feature of the Citi Rewards+ card is its signature Round-Up feature. This perk automatically rounds up the points earned on individual purchases to the nearest 10 points, ensuring that no transaction’s rewards go to waste. For example, if a cardholder spends $12 at a supermarket, they would receive 24 points for the purchase, which would then round up to 30 points.
Furthermore, the card offers a welcome bonus to new cardholders upon meeting certain spending requirements. This bonus can prove valuable in boosting the initial rewards earned and provides an incentive for people to sign up for the card.
Rewards and Benefits
The Citi Rewards+ Card offers its cardholders various rewards and benefits which cater primarily to users who frequently shop at supermarkets and gas stations. Cardholders can earn 2 ThankYou Points per dollar when spending at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 in spending per year.
Perhaps one of the most unique features of this card is that it rounds up every purchase to the nearest 10 points, regardless of the transaction amount, ensuring that cardholders earn more rewards points from their everyday spending. In addition to these, the card also provides a 10% points rebate when redeeming points, allowing users to maximize their earned rewards even further.
Other than the bonus points earned at supermarkets and gas stations, the Citi Rewards+ Card offers 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. This broad earning category ensures that cardholders accumulate rewards on various types of expenses.
It is worth noting that the card comes with no annual fee, which can be a significant advantage to those looking to keep their costs low while still enjoying the benefits of a rewards credit card. This feature allows cardholders to focus on earning and redeeming their rewards points without worrying about additional annual charges.
Interest Rates and Fees
The Citi Rewards+ Card has a variable APR that depends on the applicant’s creditworthiness. The range for purchase APRs typically falls between 13.49% and 23.49% based on your credit score and financial history. Additionally, the card provides a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for the first 15 months. After this introductory period, the balance transfer APR will also fall within the 13.49% to 23.49% variable APR range.
Some of the fees associated with the Citi Rewards+ Card include a balance transfer fee, which is $5 or 3% of the transferred amount, whichever is greater. The card also charges a foreign transaction fee of 3% for any purchases made outside of the United States.
Nevertheless, the Citi Rewards+ Card has no annual fee, allowing cardholders to enjoy its benefits without an upfront cost. Additionally, late payment fees can range from up to $40, depending on your account’s history, and there is no penalty APR for late payments.
Pros and Cons
One of the main advantages of the Citi Rewards+ Card is the ability to earn 2x ThankYou Points at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 spent per year. After reaching this cap, cardholders will earn 1 ThankYou Point per dollar on all other purchases.
The card also offers a unique feature called Points Round Up, which automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase. This can be highly beneficial for those who frequently make small purchases, as it maximizes the rewards earned.
In addition, the Citi Rewards+ Card carries no annual fee, making it an attractive option for those who prefer a no-cost rewards card. The card also offers an introductory APR of 0% on balance transfers and purchases for a limited time, providing financial flexibility and convenience for new cardholders.
However, there are some limitations to this card as well. Firstly, the accelerated rewards rate of 2x points is limited to the first $6,000 spent per year at supermarkets and gas stations. Once this threshold is reached, the earning rate drops to 1 point per dollar, which may not be as competitive as other rewards cards in the market.
Moreover, the redemption options for ThankYou Points may not be as flexible as other rewards programs. Points can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, gift cards, and more, but transferring points to frequent flyer programs may be limited, and the value of these redemptions can vary.
Comparisons with Other Cards
The Citi® Rewards+℠ Card offers 2x points at supermarkets and gas stations, making it an attractive option for consumers who frequently spend in these categories. However, it’s important to compare its offerings with other cards on the market to determine which one best suits your needs.
For example, the Citi Double Cash Card provides 2% cash back on all purchases (1% at the time of purchase and 1% when you pay your balance). This card’s rewards structure is more straightforward and not category-specific, making it a better option for individuals who prefer cash back rewards and not just earning points on supermarket and gas station purchases.
Another competitor to consider would be the American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card, which offers 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%) and 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations. Although the Blue Cash Preferred Card has a $95 annual fee, it could potentially offer greater rewards for individuals who spend a significant amount in these categories.
In addition to cash back cards, the Citi Rewards+ Card also competes with other point-based rewards cards like the Chase Freedom Flex, which offers 5% cash back on rotating categories each quarter, up to $1,500 in combined purchases. These categories sometimes include supermarkets and gas stations, but also extend to other popular spending areas such as dining, travel, and online shopping. The reward structure of the Chase Freedom Flex can provide more variety and potentially higher rewards
Who Should Apply
The Citi® Rewards+℠ Card is an excellent option for individuals who frequently shop at supermarkets and gas stations. The card offers 2 points per dollar spent at these locations on the first $6,000 spent each year, making it a valuable tool for those who prioritize earning rewards in these categories.
Additionally, this card is well-suited for those who appreciate the convenience of automatic round-up features. The Citi Rewards+℠ Card rounds up the points on every purchase to the nearest 10 points, which can contribute to a faster accumulation of rewards over time.
Here are some key factors to consider:
- Regular shoppers at supermarkets and gas stations: The 2x points benefit in these categories make the card a strong choice for individuals with high spending in these areas.
- Reward points users: Those who value the Citi ThankYou Points system can take advantage of the card’s rewards program to build up their points balance.
- Introductory bonus: New cardholders can earn a welcome bonus after meeting the minimum spending requirement, providing an initial boost in rewards.
While the Citi Rewards+℠ Card is an appealing option for these individuals, it may not be the best choice for those who spend more in other categories, such as travel or dining. Additionally, those who are seeking a card with more extensive perks, such as airport lounge access or travel insurance, may want to explore other credit card options.
Conclusion
The Citi® Rewards+℠ Card can be an excellent choice for individuals who frequently shop at supermarkets and gas stations, providing you with valuable 2x points on those purchases. With no annual fee, it offers an affordable and efficient way to earn rewards on everyday spending.
Additionally, by implementing the $6,000 annual cap on the 2x points (and 1 point afterward) at supermarkets and gas stations, it ensures that responsible spenders get the most out of the card without overly incentivizing excessive spending.
Another important aspect of the card is its simplicity, as it only has one tier of rewards. This makes it user-friendly for people new to the rewards card space and straightforward for experienced users as well. Although it may not have some of the high-end perks found in other cards, it’s an excellent choice for those who mainly want to earn rewards for groceries and gas purchases.