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Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer

Cory Santos

| Last updated on March 26th, 2024

Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer

Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer
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BestCards refers to a variation of FICO Score 9, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when deciding whether to approve you for a credit card. Please note that the range shown here is our own estimation and not a guarantee of credit needed to be approved for any given card. Recommended Credit: Excellent / Good
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Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer

  • 18.99% - 28.99% (Variable) Regular Purchase APR
  • 18.99% - 28.99% (Variable) Balance Transfer APR
  • 29.99% (Variable) Cash Advance APR

At a Glance

The Citi® Double Cash Card is one of the most versatile cash back credit cards on the market today, thanks to impressive, flat-rate cash back, lucrative introductory 0% APR offers, and more. Cardholders earn 2% back on every eligible purchase: 1% back at the time of sale and an additional 1% back when they pay their statement balance. Cash back is redeemable for statement credits, direct deposits, checks, or converted as ThankYou® points.

  • Best Benefits
  • Rates & Fees
  • Why Should You Apply?
  • Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
  • To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
  • Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.99% - 28.99%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
  • If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
  • There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
  • Regular Purchase APR: 18.99% - 28.99% (Variable)
  • Intro Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers
  • Balance Transfer APR: 18.99% - 28.99% (Variable)
  • Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
  • Cash Advance APR: 29.99% (Variable)
  • Cash Advance Transaction Fee: 5% of each cash advance; $10 minimum
  • Penalty APR: Up to 29.99% (Variable)
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 3%
  • Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $41
  • Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $41
  • You prefer earning cash back at a flat rate rather than in rotating categories
  • You're looking to either consolidate existing balances or pay down a large purchase with no interest charges for an extended period of time
  • You like to have the flexibility of converting cash back into lucrative rewards points
  • You're considering a credit card without an annual fee
Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer

Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer

Terms & Conditions

In-Depth Review: Citi® Double Cash Card

The Citi® Double Cash Card is a cash back rewards credit card that gives you the satisfaction of earning cash back – twice! The card, issued by Citibank, earns an unlimited 1% cash back on every dollar spent on purchases, plus an additional 1% back when you pay off the purchase in your statement balance.

Who Can Benefit from the Citi Double Cash Card?

The Citi Double Cash Card is ideal for individuals seeking a straightforward cash back credit card without an annual fee. If you regularly use a credit card for everyday purchases and consistently pay off your balance each month, the Citi Double Cash Card can help you maximize your cash back potential. Moreover, if you prefer a simple rewards program that doesn’t require tracking rotating categories or activating offers, this card is a perfect fit.

However, if you tend to carry a balance on your credit card or desire a card with additional perks and benefits, the Citi Double Cash Card may not be the most suitable choice. In that case, exploring other credit cards that align with your specific needs and spending habits might be beneficial.

How to Get the Double Cash

Credit Needed

To be eligible for the Citi Double Cash credit card, having a good to excellent credit score is generally recommended. This typically means a FICO score of 670 or higher, though having a score in the 700s or above would increase your chances of approval and potentially qualify you for better terms and rewards.

Pre-Qualify Before Applying

A great feature of Citi credit cards is the ability to pre-qualify before applying. This pre-screening process only applies to Citi’s proprietary rewards cards, with the Citi® Double Cash Card one of those offers.

These offers are based on credit score, borrowing history, and other readily available personal information. If you receive a pre-qualified offer, your chances of approval are generally favorable. Even better, there is no credit check needed to pre-qualify with Citi.

Here is the information you will need to get pre-qualified offers from Citibank:

  • Full name
  • Email address
  • Last four digits of your SSN
  • Current address

How to Earn Cash Back

Welcome Offer

New accounts can earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. This welcome bonus is almost guaranteed, especially since meeting the spending goal requires only $250 on Double Cash monthly.

Unlimited 2% Cash Back On All Purchases

With the Citi® Double Cash Card, every purchase earns a total of 2% cash back. This 2% back is divided as follows: 1% back when you make an eligible purchase with the card and an additional 1% back when you pay off the corresponding balance.

There is no limit to the amount of cash back you can earn.

Cash Back Limitations

However, there are restrictions on the types of transactions that qualify for double cash back. These transactions include:

Balance transfers Card account checks Unauthorized or fraudulent transactions
Cash advances Returns for credit Traveler’s cheques or foreign currency purchases
Lottery tickets Money orders or wire transfers Reloading of a prepaid debit or gift cards
Card fees, late fees, or finance charges

How to Redeem Cash Back

Citi offers multiple options for cardmembers to redeem their cash back rewards. These options include statement credits, direct deposits, or receiving a check. Cardholders also have the choice to convert their cash back into Citi ThankYou® points automatically. Citi ThankYou® points are the currency of the Citi ThankYou® Rewards Program, with an estimated value of one cent per point. ThankYou® points can be used for various redemptions, such as:

  • Gift cards, including 15% more value when redeeming ThankYou points for gift cards from Wayfair®, Sephora®, and Grubhub.
  • Merchandise through participating retailers
  • Travel
  • Charity

0% Intro APR Balance Transfer Offer

The Double Cash Card has no annual fee, which is always welcome for a rewards card. Additionally, it offers a 0% intro APR for the first 18 months on balance transfers (when completed within the first four months of opening an account).

Having eighteen months to pay down existing credit card debt is an excellent feature, and it is even better when combined with the lack of an annual fee. This means you can take your time paying down your existing balances while earning cash back faster than many other comparable credit cards.

Citi® Benefits

The Double Cash Card has impressive perks and security features courtesy of Citi®. These include:

  • Citi Entertainment: Citi provides cardholders exclusive access to events and ticket presales for popular concerts, sporting events, and more.
  • Citi Lost Wallet: Citi’s Lost Wallet service provides emergency card replacement and emergency cash should your card be lost or stolen.
  • Citi Identity Theft Solutions: Citi provides comprehensive support in identity theft and offers expedited service to help get your life back on track should you fall victim.

Mastercard Benefits

Double Cash cardholders enjoy the pinnacle of Mastercard protections and benefits courtesy of World Elite Mastercard. Just some of the perks that come with a World Elite card include:

Zero Liability Protection Airport Concierge Cell Phone Protection
Mastercard Global Services Priceless Experiences Lyft Credits
ID Theft Protection Priceless Golf Mastercard Travel Services
Mastercard Hotel Stay Guarantee ShopRunner Membership Hello Fresh Savings

Comparisons

How does the Double Cash compare with another popular Citi cash back card, the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card:

Citi Custom Cash℠ Card Citi® Double Cash Card
Cash back rewards 5% on top eligible spend category per billing cycle (up to $500) and 1% on all other purchases 2% cash back on all purchases (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay your bill)
Introductory APR offer 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 18 months
Sign-up bonus $200 cash back after spending $750 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening N/A
Foreign transaction fee 3%
Annual fee No annual fee

Unlimited Cash Back Comparisons

How does the Citi® Double Cash Card stack up against other popular unlimited cash back cards?

Chase Freedom Unlimited

The Chase Freedom Unlimited isn’t an exact match for the Citi Double Cash Card, but that doesn’t mean there are no comparisons between the two credit cards. The Freedom Unlimited Card earns an unlimited 1.5% back with every purchase – with some exceptions. That 1.5% back isn’t as impressive as the up to 5% back that comes with the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card or even the unlimited 2% back with the Double Cash. That said, earning 1.5% back is an exceptional value.

Freedom Unlimited also earns 3% back on bonus categories dining and restaurant purchases, including take-out orders and deliveries through eligible delivery services, like Grub Hub and UberEATS. That 3% back also applies to drugstore purchases. Finally, the card earns 5% back on travel booked through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards portal.

TD Bank Double Up

The TD Double Up Card is one of the closest competitors to the Double Cash Mastercard regarding features. Like the Double Cash Card from Citibank, the TD Double Up Visa Card earns an unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases. And, like Citi’s card, that 2% back takes the form of 1% back now – and 1% back later.

Where the two cards diverge are the sign-up bonus and introductory APR. The Double Up enjoys 0% intro APR on BTs for 15 months vs. the 18 months of 0% intro APR on balance transfers with the Double Cash Card from Citibank.

Wells Fargo Active Cash

The Wells Fargo Active Cash is a versatile cash back credit card that provides unlimited 2% cash back rewards without the annual fee. The card provides many of the same features as Citi’s Double Cash Mastercard but with a key difference.

Have an existing balance? In that case, the Double Cash might be right for you. Prefer to earn rewards as ThankYou Rewards points instead of cash back? The Double Cash is again the winner. But if you want an intro APR on purchases, the Active Cash has the edge.

PayPal Cashback Mastercard

The PayPal Cashback Mastercard offers the same hassle-free approach as the Citi Double Cash, but with a heavy emphasis on the PayPal network. Cardholders earn their 3% back when using their card anywhere in the world where PayPal is accepted. All other purchases with the card earn 2% cash back.

The great feature of the PayPal Mastercard is the seamless way it integrates into an existing PayPal account. Cardmembers can use their card to set up recurring payments of subscriptions, send money to friends or family, or male purchases at millions of retailers worldwide.

Like the Apple Card, the strength of the PayPal Cashback Mastercard is offset by some limitations. The primary limitation is the PayPal network. While PayPal is one of the largest third-party payment platforms in North America, it is limited abroad, making it less useful for those planning on traveling with their credit card. Additionally, the Double Cash features that 0% intro APR offer – something the PayPal Mastercard lacks.

Tips for Maximizing Rewards with the Double Cash Card

To make the most of your Citi Double Cash Card, here are some tips for maximizing your rewards:

  • Use your card for all your purchases: You can earn cash back on every transaction by using your Citi Double Cash Card for all your everyday spending.
  • Pay off your balance in full and on time: To receive the full 2% cash back, paying off your balance in full and on time each month is important.
  • Take advantage of redemption options: Explore the different ways you can redeem your cash back, such as statement credits, checks, or gift cards, to find the option that aligns with your preferences.
  • Keep track of your cash back earnings: Regularly review your cash back earnings to ensure you’re aware of the rewards you’ve accumulated.

What We Like About the Double Cash Card

Flat-Rate Rewards

The Citi® Double Cash Card is a flat-rate cash back card, much like the Chase Freedom Unlimited or the American Express Cash Magnet Card. These cards offer a basic earning rate for all purchases – 1.5% back, specifically. 

While the Double Cash Card technically earns 2% back, this is less than cards with rotating categories, such as the Discover It Cash Back or the Chase Freedom Flex. These examples earn 5% back on select categories that rotate every quarter and 1% back on everything else. For those who are very budget-savvy and like to plan all their purchases ahead of time, a cash back card that offers enhanced earnings in select categories each quarter may be preferable. 

For everyone else, however, the ability to earn a higher flat rate with every purchase than these rotating category cards is superior – especially if your purchase habits don’t sync with the 5% categories. In this regard, the Citi® Double Cash Card is an enticing option when compared to cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited, as it effectively earns 2% back, rather than 1.5%. The only requirement for earning 2% back is making timely payments, which is something most people are likely to observe anyway.

Intro APR Offer

The Double Cash’s 18-month introductory APR on balance transfers is another great feature. That year-and-a-half of no interest on transfers is among the longest intro APR rates available today, so getting that and 2% cash back on all purchases is a one-two combination almost anyone can get behind.

Things to Consider

Foreign Transaction Fee

There’s a lot to like about the Citi Double Cash® Card, but that doesn’t mean the card is perfect. For starters, the card charges a foreign transaction fee of 3% of the transaction cost in U.S. dollars.

Foreign transaction fees typically range from 1% to 3% of the purchase amount, which can significantly increase the cost of using credit cards abroad. Still, many quality reward credit cards feature no foreign transaction fees, including several Capital One credit cards.

FAQs

Citi partners with Experian and FICO to generate credit scores for users, with the bank pulling all three credit bureaus when applying for the Citi Double Cash Card. Typically, Citibank pulls either Experian or Equifax when you apply for one of its credit cards.

Citi has a grace period of 23 days with its credit cards, but there are no grace periods on Balance Transfers and Cash Advances.

  • Citi requires good or excellent credit to successfully apply many of its credit cards – the Double Cash back card included. This requirement means you should expect to have a FICO credit score of 720 or higher to get the card. 

You can call Citi Customer Service at 1-800-950-5114 (TTY: 1-800-325-2865 for hearing and speech impaired services only).

3% of each purchase transaction in U.S. dollars.

The Citi Double Cash now earns cash back rewards as Citi ThankYou Rewards points. Cardmembers will automatically earn TY points on every purchase with no requirements to convert existing rewards.

No. currently the Double Cash from Citi only offers 0% intro APR on BTs and not purchases.

Citi usually posts points to ThankYou Rewards accounts the day after the statement closes. 

Citi Ratings

How does the Citi® Double Cash Card stack up? Here is a selection of expert reviews for the card, as well as an overview of Citi® as a bank:

Should You Apply for the Citi® Double Cash Card?

The Citi Double Cash Card is a solid choice for individuals who want a straightforward cash back credit card with no annual fee. With its unique cash back program and competitive 2% cash back rate, the card offers a great opportunity to earn rewards on everyday spending. Whether you’re a frequent credit card user or prefer a simple rewards program, the Citi Double Cash Card has something to offer.

However, it’s important to consider your specific needs and spending habits before applying for any credit card. While the Citi Double Cash Card may be ideal for some, it may not be the best fit for everyone. By comparing different cash back credit cards and assessing your priorities, you can find the card that aligns with your financial goals and lifestyle.

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