How to find the right Citibank credit card for you

By updated on June 18, 2013

If you are in the market for a new credit card, chances are that Citibank will have one that meets your needs. Citi credit card holders run the gamut from people with limited credit history to those with excellent credit. There are Citi credit cards for small business owners, for students, for travelers and for consumers who want to pay off their credit card debt. To find the best Citi credit card for your needs, you'll need to evaluate your financial goals and decide how you will use your new credit card.

Which Citibank credit cards are best?

Which Citi credit card is best for you primarily depends on your credit history and how you plan on using the card. Business owners might think about applying for a business credit card, since they are tailored for small business owners. Students and people with fair credit should look at introductory or student credit cards. People who travel a lot, or use credit cards often, should check out the company's rewards and airline credit cards. Citibank credit cards also come with such services as automatic bill pay, discounts on auto rentals and insurance, and money management services.

What is the Citi ThankYou Rewards Card?

Credit card companies have learned that one way to encourage you to use a credit card more frequently is to offer rewards tied to your spending patterns. Rewards credit cards sometimes carry a higher interest rate or higher fees than other credit cards. They are generally geared to people with good or excellent credit.

A rewards credit card works best if you intend to pay off your credit card balance in full each month, so think about how much you can charge each month and still pay your bill. When comparing rewards credit cards, check to see how quickly you can earn rewards, whether there are limits to the rewards you can earn and whether you must use or lose your rewards within a certain time frame.

Citi offers a variety of rewards credit cards, including some co-branded with hotels and airlines. For example, the Citi Gold/AAdvantage World MasterCard, a travel rewards card, currently allows customers to earn 30,000 bonus miles on American Airlines with $750 in purchases during the first four months. All purchases earn one airline mile per dollar. You can also get reduced airline mileage rewards so you can use your miles faster.

What is the Citi Cash Back Program?

Citibank credit cards offers cash returns on purchases, balance transfers and cash advances through its cash back credit card program. Customers can earn an average of five percent cash back at more than 400 top-name retailers when they use their credit cards for online shopping or at participating stores. Store offers and the length of availability vary, and discounts such as free shipping may have time limits. There is no limit on the amount of bonus cash consumers can accumulate through the program.

Citibank business credit cards, are they good for small business owners?

If you own a business, a business credit card can help you with your cash flow and with bookkeeping, since your business expenses can be tracked with a year-end statement. The Citi AT&T Universal Business rewards card earns five "Thank You" points per dollar spent on AT&T services and products, three points per dollar on office supplies, gas and professional services and one point per dollar on other purchases. The card has no annual fee and, for the first six months, you will pay zero percent APR on purchases.

If you have decided a Citibank credit card is what you are looking for, compare the credit card offers on this page to find the one that meets your credit needs.

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See How Your Card Stacks Up

Could you be getting better rewards and rates with another card? Find out.

Citi® Dividend Platinum Select® Visa® Card - $100 Cash Back

Editor's Rating

  • $100 cash back after $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
  • 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers and Purchases for 12 months. After that, the APR will be 12.99%-22.99% variable based on your creditworthiness*
  • Earn 5% cash back from Citi at Home Depot, Home furnishing stores and home and garden stores between 4/1/13 and 6/30/13, with enrollment
Apply Now Credit Needed Excellent
Purchase Intro

APR: 0%

Term: 12 months*

Purchase APR

12.99% - 22.99%* Variable

Balance Transfer Intro APR

0%

Balance Transfer Intro Period

12 months*

Annual Fee

$0* 

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Editor's Rating

  • Get 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers and Purchases for 18 months. After that, the APR will be 11.99%-21.99% based upon your creditworthiness.*
  • There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer.
  • Citi® Price Rewind searches for a lower price. Learn how you can get lower price after you purchase an item.
Apply Now Credit Needed Excellent
Purchase Intro

APR: 0%*

Term: 18 months on Purchases*

Purchase APR

11.99% - 21.99%* Variable

Balance Transfer Intro APR

0%*

Balance Transfer Intro Period

18 months on Balance Transfers*

Annual Fee

$0* 

Citi® Platinum Select® / AAdvantage® World MasterCard®

Editor's Rating

  • For a limited time, Earn 40,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of cardmembership*
  • Your first eligible checked bag is free*
  • Priority Boarding with Group 1 privileges* and 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases*
Apply Now Credit Needed Excellent
Purchase Intro

APR: N/A

Purchase APR

15.24% Variable 

Balance Transfer Intro APR

N/A

Balance Transfer Intro Period

Annual Fee

$95, waived for first 12 months* 

Citi Simplicity® Card

Editor's Rating

  • 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers and Purchases for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 12.99% - 21.99% based on your creditworthiness.
  • There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
  • No late fees - EVER
Apply Now Credit Needed Excellent
Purchase Intro

APR: 0%*

Term: 18 months on Purchases*

Purchase APR

12.99-21.99% Variable

Balance Transfer Intro APR

0%*

Balance Transfer Intro Period

18 months on Balance Transfers*

Annual Fee

$0* 

Citi Forward® Card for College Students

Editor's Rating

  • No Cosigner required
  • 5 ThankYou® Points for every $1 you spend at restaurants and on entertainment; 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
  • APR reduction on purchases when using credit wisely
Apply Now Credit Needed Good
Purchase Intro

APR: 0%*

Term: 7 months on Purchases*

Purchase APR

13.99% - 23.99%* Variable

Balance Transfer Intro APR

Balance Transfer Intro Period

Annual Fee

$0* 

Citi® Hilton HHonors Visa Signature® Card

Editor's Rating

  • Earn 40,000 Hilton HHonors Bonus Points after spending $1,000 within 4 months of account opening*
  • Earn 6 HHonors Bonus Points for each $1 spent at a participating hotel within the Hilton HHonors portfolio.*
  • Earn 3 HHonors Bonus Points for each $1 spent on purchases at supermarkets, drugstores and gas stations.*
Apply Now Credit Needed Excellent
Purchase Intro

APR: N/A

Purchase APR

Citi Hilton HHonors Visa Signature: P+10.99% (14.24% variable) or Citi Hilton HHonors Visa Gold: P+12.99% (16.24% variable) 

Balance Transfer Intro APR

N/A

Balance Transfer Intro Period

Annual Fee

None 

CitiBusiness ThankYouSM Card

Editor's Rating

  • Designed for businesses with an established credit history
  • Earn 15,000 bonus ThankYou® points after you make $3000 in purchases within 3 months of cardmembership - enough for $150 in gift cards
  • 0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months. After that, 13.24% variable.
Apply Now Credit Needed Excellent
Purchase Intro

APR: 0%

Term: 6 months

Purchase APR

13.24% Variable

Balance Transfer Intro APR

N/A

Balance Transfer Intro Period

N/A

Annual Fee

N/A 

Citi ThankYou® Preferred Rewards Card

Editor's Rating

  • Earn 15,000 bonus ThankYou Points after $1000 in card purchases within 3 months of account opening - enough for $150 in gift cards or other great rewards!
  • 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers and Purchases for 12 months. After that, the variable APR will be 12.99%-22.99% based upon your creditworthiness*
  • Earn 1 ThankYou Point for every $1 you spend on all purchases
Apply Now Credit Needed Excellent
Purchase Intro

APR: 0%*

Term: 12 months on Purchases

Purchase APR

12.99% - 22.99%* Variable

Balance Transfer Intro APR

0%*

Balance Transfer Intro Period

12 months on Balance Transfers

Annual Fee

$0* 

Citi® Dividend® Card for College Students

Editor's Rating

  • Earn bonus cash back each quarter on new must-have categories- like department stores, travel and more, with enrollment
  • Earn a full 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • Free enrollment each quarter for new categories that earn additional cash back.
Apply Now Credit Needed Good
Purchase Intro

APR: 0%*

Term: 7 months*

Purchase APR

13.99% - 23.99%* Variable

Balance Transfer Intro APR

Balance Transfer Intro Period

Annual Fee

$0* 

Citi Simplicity® Visa® Card

Editor's Rating

  • 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers and Purchases for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 12.99% - 21.99% based on your creditworthiness.
  • There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
  • No late fees - EVER
Apply Now Credit Needed Excellent
Purchase Intro

APR: 0%*

Term: 18 months on Purchases*

Purchase APR

12.99 - 21.99% Variable

Balance Transfer Intro APR

0%*

Balance Transfer Intro Period

18 months on Balance Transfers*

Annual Fee

$0* 

CitiBusiness®/ AAdvantage® World MasterCard®

Editor's Rating

  • Designed for businesses with an established credit history
  • Earn 30,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of cardmembership*
  • First eligible checked bag free for you and up to 4 traveling companions*
Apply Now Credit Needed Excellent
Purchase Intro

APR: N/A

Purchase APR

15.24 % Variable

Balance Transfer Intro APR

N/A

Balance Transfer Intro Period

N/A

Annual Fee

$95, waived for the first 12 months* 

Citi ThankYou® Card

Editor's Rating

  • Enjoy 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers and Purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 12.99% - 22.99% based upon your creditworthiness*
  • Earn 1 ThankYou Point for every $1 you spend on purchases.
  • Enjoy no limit on the number of points you can earn
Apply Now Credit Needed Excellent
Purchase Intro

APR: 0%*

Term: 15 months on Purchases

Purchase APR

12.99% - 22.99%* Variable

Balance Transfer Intro APR

0%*

Balance Transfer Intro Period

15 months on Balance Transfers

Annual Fee

$0* 

These quotes are from credit card issuers which have paid for a link to their website. Offers are subject to change without notice and may not be the same for all consumers.