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The Citi Premier® Card just got a new look and some extra perks. Citi announced the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card in early May 2024, refreshing the popular mid-tier travel card with more value for cardholders without hiking the annual fee.
Whether you’ve had your eye on applying for the Premier Card or you’re an existing cardholder, here’s what you need to know about the revamp.
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
Intro Bonus
75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.| Annual Fee | $95 |
| APR | 21.24% to 29.24% variable |
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a strong offering for a mid-tier travel card with a modest annual fee. We think travelers and foodies will appreciate this card’s bonus rewards categories and list of travel protections. But its hotel credit benefit can be difficult to earn if you don’t tend to book stays that cost hundreds of dollars for one trip. And you’ll have to learn to leverage foreign airline loyalty programs as JetBlue is the only domestic airline on the list of transfer partners.
Rewards Rates
- 10x10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com.
- 3x3x points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases.
- 3x3x points per $1 at restaurants.
- 3x3x points per $1 at supermarkets.
- 3x3x points per $1 at gas stations and EV charging stations.
- 1x1x point per $1 on all other purchases
Pros
- Strong earning rates on travel, dining, supermarkets and gas/EV charging
- Robust list of travel protections
- Points transfer 1:1 to most partners and 1:2 to Choice Privileges
Cons
- Hotel benefit only applies on a stay costing $500 or more
- Charges an annual fee
- Additional perks: Trip delay protection, trip cancellation and interruption protection, lost or damage luggage coverage, rental car insurance, $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) booked through CitiTravel.com.
- Foreign transaction fee: None
The Strata Premier offers more rewards and protections
Before the announcement, the Citi Premier Card offered 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024. With the redesigned Strata Premier Card, that rewards rate will become permanent.
The new card also offers 3x points per $1 at gas stations and EV charging stations.
These bonus categories are offered in addition to the 3x points per $1 at restaurants, 3x points per $1 at supermarkets, 3x points per $1 at gas stations, 3x points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases, and 1x point per $1 on all other purchases.
Additionally, the card now offers more travel protection perks, making it a better choice to cover your travel purchases. New and existing cardholders will get the following benefits:
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: Provides a reimbursem*nt for certain non-reimbursable expenses charged by a common carrier if your trip is canceled or cut short due to a covered reason.
- Trip delay insurance: Offers reimbursem*nt for certain expenses, such as food and hotel accommodations, if your trip is delayed by a common carrier for a qualifying period of time.
- Lost or damaged luggage insurance: Provides coverage for personal belongings that are lost or damaged by a common carrier.
- MasterRental coverage: Offers collision damage waiver coverage if you get in an accident with a rental car (when you pay with this card and decline the rental company’s coverage at the counter).
The new Strata Premier Card is also retaining the original card’s hotel credit perk, which gives cardholders $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through the Citi Travel portal. You can get the benefit once per calendar year.
Apply now and get an increased welcome offer
To celebrate the card relaunch, Citi is offering an elevated welcome bonus for a limited time: 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
For context, the card’s standard bonus is 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months. In other words, you’ll get $150 more value in the form of travel, cash back or gift cards if you apply before the offer ends.
Keep in mind, too, that you can potentially get even more value from your redemptions by transferring your ThankYou points to one of Citi’s numerous airline and hotel loyalty program partners and booking award travel.
Should you apply for the new Citi Strata Premier Card?
If you already have the Premier Card, you’ll automatically get the Citi Strata Premier Card’s new rewards rates and trip protection benefits. If you want the new card design, however, you’ll need to wait until your current card expires. The $95 annual fee is remaining unchanged with this revamp.
If you’re not a cardholder yet, the new welcome bonus is attractive—though Citi has offered as much as 80,000 bonus points in the past.
If you’re thinking about applying for the new Citi Strata Premier Card, though, it’s important to look at the full picture. Take a look at your spending habits and travel plans to evaluate whether the card’s rewards rates and benefits are the right fit for you.
Also, take some time to shop around and compare the card with other top travel credit cards. Whether you’re looking for a card with no annual fee or one that offers more premium perks, there could be options available that are better suited to your habits and needs.
Those who don’t want to pay an annual fee might prefer a card like the Bilt Mastercard®, which rewards spending on dining, travel, and rent payments. Meanwhile, those seeking a truly premium experience and willing to pay an annual fee in exchange for them might want a card like the The Platinum Card® from American Express with its extensive airport lounge access.
To view rates and fees of the The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page
Bilt Mastercard®
Special feature
The Bilt Mastercard offers the unique ability to earn points on rent.| Annual fee | $0 |
| Regular APR | See Terms |
The Bilt Mastercard®’s single biggest advantage is the ability to generate points from rent payments. As of June 2023 the median rent in a major U.S. city was $2,029, and if the average renter paid using their Bilt Mastercard instead of a bank transfer, they’d generate over $300 in travel rewards each year.The Bilt Mastercard is an excellent choice if you’re looking to generate travel rewards or points that can go toward a down payment fund through rent payments. If you’re looking to maximize short-term cash back, however, consider a card with a $200 – $600 cash welcome bonus like the Citi Double Cash Card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred®Card.
Rewards Rates
- Make at least 5 transactions in a statement period, in order to earn points on rent and qualifying net purchases (purchases minus returns /credits) for that statement period.
- 3X3X Bilt Points on dining
- 2X2X Bilt Points on flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises when booked directly with airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies
- 1X1X Bilt Points on rent paid through the Bilt App with your card account up to a maximum of 100,000 points each calendar year
- 1X1X Bilt Points on purchases
- Rewards and benefits terms.
Pros
- Uniquely earns points on rent
- Rent Day bonus every first of the month offers double points (excluding rent)
- Robust travel transfer partners
Cons
- Cash redemption rate is poor
- No traditional welcome bonus
- Travel perks: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection, Trip Delay Reimbursem*nt, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver. See this page for details.
- Foreign Transaction Fee: None
The takeaway
The biggest winners with the new Citi Strata Premier are existing cardholders, who don’t need to do anything to enjoy the new rewards rates and travel perks. However, new applicants will appreciate the limited-time welcome offer that accompanies the card relaunch.
If you’re considering the new Strata Premier Card, carefully review the card’s features and research alternatives to ensure you get the very best card for you.
In any case, it’s refreshing (pardon the pun) to see a card revamp that adds value without increasing an annual fee, as that bucks the trend we’ve seen in many recent credit card overhauls.
Fortune Recommends™ has partnered withCardRatingsfor our coverage of credit card products. Fortune Recommends™ andCardRatingsmay receive a commission from card issuers.
Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visitamericanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
