What is Citi prestige? The Citi Prestige credit card is a premium lifestyle credit card that is offering both miles and reward points to its customers. You get to enjoy complimentary night stays at participating hotels, complimentary rounds of golf, fast-track immigration at various airports complimentary priority access to airport lounges, and many more.
Citi Prestige
The Citi Prestige card which is no longer available to new applicants used to be the most enticing, exciting, benefits-packed premium credit card available on the market. The card has excellent travel benefits, unmatched travel insurance, and unique features such as free golf and American airlines admirals’ club lounge access.
However, ever since, the card has removed many of these said benefits. But one feature that is still very much around and has improved in so many ways is its yearly $250 travel credit.
Due to the pandemic and its aftermath, Citi has moved in a bid to keep its Citi prestige cardholders from canceling out of the service by tweaking some of its benefits. I mean it’s a travel card after all and when you get to think of its hefty price tag of $495 for the primary card holder, it’s pretty difficult to justify it if you are not traveling.
Citi Prestige Card Pros and Cons
The pros and cons of the Citi Prestige card are as follows;
Pros
- Bonus categories
- Luxury perks and benefits
Cons
- Has an annual fee
- Requires an excellent credit
The Citi Prestige Basic Card
This is a travel card and has an annual fee of $495. The ongoing APR for the card is 16.74% – 24.74% variable APR. It does not charge any foreign transaction fees. Its rewards include;
- 5 ThankYou points for every dollar on buys at both airlines and travel agencies
- 5 ThankYou points per dollar on purchases at restaurants and this is including bars, lounges, cafes, and fast food.
- 3 ThankYou points per dollar on buys at cruise lines and hotels.
- 1 ThankYou point for each dollar spent on all other types of purchases.
- Earnings get to expire after a total of three years to the day that they were earned.
Redemption Options
All of the points earned with this card are worth 1 cent each regardless of the type of option that you select. You can redeem it for travel, gift card purchase cash back, payment of bills, and many more. You can also choose to transfer to one of Citi’s partner airlines. And via strategic redemptions, you can get more value out of your points in this manner, if you don’t have any plans of traveling internationally, although the option is limited.
Benefits of the Citi Prestige
This card offers lots of benefits and some of which are as follows;
- Complimentary fourth hotel night free benefit
- $250 travel credit every year.
- You get a priority pass select membership
- Global Entry or TSA precheck credit.
Disadvantages of Citi Prestige
Just as mentioned already, this card offers lots of perks and benefits, although there are still some drawbacks to this card and they are;
- High annual fee
- Limited transfer partners
- Lounge access is not available in some areas and others.
Can You Still Apply For the Citi Prestige Card
The Citi Prestige card as you should know is a premium travel credit card and as of now, it is no longer available to new applicants. This very card comes with close to $250 in yearly travel credit. And all through 2022, the company Citi has once again expanded this credit to include restaurants and even supermarkets.
What Credit Score Do You Need For Citi Prestige
Just as explained already, Citi prestige is no longer available for new applicants. But before now, if you wish to apply for this card and maybe in the future if you wish to apply, a FICO score of 700 or higher is needed for this card.
The reason for this is simple and it is due to the fact that this very card is aimed at customers with really good to excellent credit. And even with that, you should also know that it is possible to get approved also with a score below the 700 mark or even get denied his card with a score that is well above the mark.
Does Citi Do a Soft Pull
Depending on the situation, Citi may decide to carry out a hard inquiry or a soft pull in order to review an increase request that you made. Existing cardholders who requested an increase online, or new cardholders who requested a higher limit than the initial offer of Citi may get to see Citi hard pull their credit report from a credit bureau.