Latest news with #premiumcard
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Citi Launches the Citi Strata Elite Credit Card
Premium Card Offers Customers One of the Highest Earn Rates and Valuable Lifestyle Benefits Key Highlights: New card offers premium travel and dining benefits plus generous earn on every dollar spent Flexible benefits make it easy for cardmembers to customize to fit their lifestyle Citi Strata Elite joins Citi Strata Card and Citi Strata Premier Card to complete Citi's family of rewards credit cards that caters to cardmembers' passions NEW YORK, July 28, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Citi announced the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card—a new premium credit card offering 12x points on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on the Citi Travel® platform; 6x points on Air Travel booked on Citi Travel; 6x points at Restaurants, every Friday & Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. ET; and more travel, dining and entertainment benefits. Plus, with the Citi Strata Elite Card, cardmembers can unlock nearly $1,500 in value each year—with valuable lifestyle benefits cardmembers will want to use and even more perks for those who fly with American Airlines. "The new Citi Strata Elite Card is the smart choice for savvy premium cardmembers who want to earn high rewards on travel and dining while still earning generously on every dollar spent," said Pam Habner, Head of U.S. Branded Cards & Lending at Citi. "You shouldn't need a math degree and a spreadsheet to track your credit card benefits! We have curated flexible lifestyle benefits that we know our customers will want to use—because we asked them what they value. And, this is the only branded credit card that has American Airlines benefits built right into the card." The Citi Strata Elite Card rewards cardmembers with ThankYou® Points for the things they care about most, with the ability to earn: 12x points on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on 6x points on Air Travel booked on 6x points at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services, every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. ET and 3x points any other time. 1.5x points on All Other Purchases. With Citi Strata Elite, cardmembers can feel confident knowing they've chosen the card that can maximize their rewards earn. Citi Strata Elite cardmembers will also enjoy access to the following premium benefits and protections: Valuable Lifestyle Benefits Cardmembers Will Want to UseCiti researchi found 75% of premium cardmembers indicate that customization—like opting for perks—is a very or extremely important part of the equation. Citi Strata Elite offers: Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Every calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more booked through Citi Travel. Up to $200 Annual Splurge Credit℠: Every calendar year, earn up to $200 in statement credits on your choice of up to two of the following brands: 1stDibs, American Airlines, Best Buy®, Future Personal Training, and Live Nation. Up to $200 Annual Blacklane Credit: Every calendar year, enjoy up to $200 in statement credits when booking with Blacklane, a global chauffeur service. Earn up to $100 on Blacklane purchases January through June and up to $100 July through December. Up to $120 Global Entry® or TSA PreCheck® Application Fee Credit: Receive a statement credit, up to $120 every four years, as reimbursement for the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Even More Perks for Those Who Fly with American AirlinesIn addition to being a Splurge Credit option, American Airlines has partnered with Citi to offer additional benefits: Four American Airlines Admirals Club® Citi Strata Elite Passes (Worth Over $300 Annually): Every calendar year, receive four Admirals Club® Citi Strata Elite℠ Passes for access to nearly 50 Admirals Club® lounges worldwide. Points Transfer: Ability to transfer Citi ThankYou® Points into American Airlines AAdvantage® miles, which can be used on flights and more to create a personalized travel experience. "American is deepening its partnership with Citi to deliver even more benefits that combine the best of American and Citi's rewards offerings," said Scott Long, American Airlines Senior Vice President of AAdvantage. "We're always looking for innovative ways to enhance our products and reward our customers for their loyalty. The new Citi Strata Elite Card provides Citi cardmembers an exciting opportunity to experience some of the fantastic benefits the AAdvantage program offers." Additional Premium Perks for Savvy Consumers Complimentary Priority Pass Select™ membership (Worth $469 Annually): Complimentary access for primary cardmembers and authorized users, and up to two guests to 1,500+ airport lounges worldwide (not all lounges admit guests). Access to The Reserve by Citi Travel: A collection of 4.5-5 star participating hotels on the Citi Travel platform offering on-property benefits including daily complimentary breakfast for two, free wi-fi, a $100 experience credit (varies by property) and early check-in, late check-out, and room upgrades (subject to availability). No foreign transaction feesii: No foreign transaction fees when traveling internationally. Access to Citi Entertainment®: Get special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including presale tickets and exclusive experiences for the year's most anticipated concerts, sporting events, arts and dining experiences. Access to The Mastercard Collection benefits: Citi Strata Elite is the first World Legend credit card issued featuring Mastercard's new premium tier benefits, offering priority reservations at thousands of the most sought-after restaurants abroad; ticketing access across music, theater, and sporting events globally; and more. "We're thrilled to introduce World Legend with Citi, a payment experience to meet people's growing expectations of a payments card," said John Levitsky, U.S. co-president at Mastercard. "Our new World Legend card tier will help deepen cardmember loyalty by offering elevated benefits, experiences and exclusive Priceless access in categories that people love—dining, entertainment, and travel." Protections for Peace of MindAdditionally, Citi Strata Elite cardmembers will receive travel and shopping protections including trip delay protection, enhanced trip cancellation and trip interruption protection, lost or damaged luggage protection, MasterRental coverage, extended warranty and purchase assurance plus. With access to nearly $1,500 in value and a suite of new benefits, the new Citi Strata Elite comes with a $595 annual fee and $75 annual fee for each authorized userii. Rewards for Citi Wealth Clients Citigold® Private Client Relationship Tier credit: Qualifying Citigold Private Clients receive a $595 first year banking relationship credit and $145 Annual Credit each year thereafter if the primary cardmember has an open and current Citi Strata Elite Card account. Citigold® Relationship Tier credit: Qualifying Citigold clients receive $145 Banking Relationship Annual Credit if the primary cardmember has an open and current Citi Strata Elite Card. Rounding out the Citi Strata Family of Rewards Credit CardsThe Citi Strata Elite Card and new Citi Strata℠ Card join the Citi Strata credit card portfolio, a range of products uniquely tailored to what cardmembers value most. Each of the cards—Citi Strata Elite, Citi Strata Premier®, and Citi Strata—is designed to give cardmembers the flexibility to curate the life they envision for themselves. Today, the Citi Strata Card—a rich enhancement of the former Citi Rewards+® Card—offers cardmembers increased opportunities to earn more points on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on Citi Travel, and at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations and on select transit purchases. Additionally, the new Self-Select category offers 3x points on an eligible category like fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, among others that speak to their personal desires, all at no annual feeiii. The Citi Strata Card offers benefits that cater to cardmembers' everyday routines and passions while helping them enjoy experiences now and in the future. With the Citi Strata Card, cardmembers can earn: 5x points on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on 3x points at Supermarkets. 3x points on Select Transit and at Gas & EV Charging Stations. 3x points on an eligible Self-Select Category of their choice. (Eligible categories include Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores.) 2x points at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services. 1x points on All Other Purchases. For more information on the Citi Strata credit card portfolio, visit About CitiCiti is a preeminent banking partner for institutions with cross-border needs, a global leader in wealth management and a valued personal bank in its home market of the United States. Citi does business in more than 180 countries and jurisdictions, providing corporations, governments, investors, institutions and individuals with a broad range of financial products and services. Additional information may be found at | X: @Citi | LinkedIn: | YouTube: | Facebook: i Citi partnered with Material in June-July 2025 to conduct a poll of 1,000 adults ages 18+ who own at least one premium credit card (annual fee of $395 or more) and contribute to financial decision-making for their household. In addition, this survey included another 854 adults age 18+ who own at least one credit card, that is not a premium credit card and contribute to financial decision-making for their household. ii Pricing for Citi Strata Elite Card: The variable APR for purchases and balance transfers is 21.24%-29.24% based on your creditworthiness. For Citi Flex Plans subject to an APR, the variable APR is 21.24%-29.24%, based on creditworthiness. For Citi Flex Pay Plans subject to a Plan Fee, a monthly fee of up to 1.72% will apply, based on the Citi Flex Plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the Transaction, and other factors. The variable APR for cash advances is 29.49%. The variable penalty APR is up to 29.99% and may be applied if you make a late payment or make a payment that is returned. Minimum interest charge - $0.50. Annual fee - $595. Annual fee for Authorized Users - $75. Fee for foreign purchases - None. Cash advance fee - 5% of each cash advance (min. $10). Balance transfer fee - 5% of each transfer (min. $5). Rates as of 07/27/2025. iii Pricing for the Citi Strata Card: 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers from date of account opening; after that, the variable APR for unpaid promotional balances, new purchases, and new balance transfers is 19.24% - 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness. For Citi Flex Plans subject to an APR, the variable APR is 19.24% - 29.24%, based on creditworthiness. For Citi Flex Pay Plans subject to a Plan Fee, a monthly fee of up to 1.72% will apply, based on the Citi Flex Plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the Transaction, and other factors. The variable APR for cash advances is 29.49%. The variable penalty APR is up to 29.99%. Minimum interest charge - $0.50. Annual fee - $0. Fee for foreign purchases - 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase. Cash advance fee - 5% of each cash advance (min. $10). Balance transfer fee - intro fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum). Rates as of 07/27/2025. View source version on Contacts Media Contact:Courtney Klopfer(718) Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Citigroup enters credit card perk wars with $595 annual fee for Strata Elite
Citigroup (C) is once again courting high-end credit card spenders as it rolls out its new Strata Elite premium card on Sunday with a $595 annual fee. "The modern customer, who is affluent with a passion for travel and dining, told us they want to maximize the rewards they can earn in the categories they care about," Pam Habner, Citigroup's head of US branded cards and lending, said in an interview. Strata Elite joins an increasingly crowded field as the biggest names in finance all chase after the same well-heeled consumers with credit card perks. Last month, JPMorgan Chase (JPM), the largest US credit card issuer by purchase volume, raised the annual fee of its top-tier Chase Sapphire Reserve card to $795 from $550 and loaded it with more perks. The country's second-largest credit card lender, American Express (AXP), also promised a refresh later this year of its higher-end Platinum card that currently comes with a $695 annual fee. Capital One (COF) is also "leaning in hard" with its Venture X rewards card, CEO Richard Fairbank told analysts last week. That card, which launched in 2021, comes with a $395 annual fee and special offers. Big banks dominate the premium US credit card market. With average interest rates above 20%, according to Federal Reserve data in May, credit cards have long been "one of the most attractive areas in consumer banking," CFRA banking analyst Ken Leon said. Habner, who previously launched JPMorgan's Sapphire Reserve card in 2016, said Citigroup's new Strata Elite card will offer customers "the highest earning potential of any card in the market." "They very clearly told us we don't want a card that has a coupon book filled with merchant offers we may or may not use," Habner added. Read more: See which credit cards topped the 2025 Yahoo Finance Awards The rollout of the bank's new premium card comes after Citigroup exited the business of courting wealthy spenders with perks in 2021, when it ceased accepting applications for its premium Prestige card ($495 annual fee). By purchase volume and outstanding credit balances, Citigroup ranks as the country's third-largest credit card lender. Its branded credit card business grew 11% in the second quarter compared with the year-ago period to $2.8 billion. Its smaller retail services card business fell 5% to $1.6 billion. "Part of competing in this space is ensuring that we have innovative products that appeal to the needs and interests of our customers," Citigroup CFO Mark Mason told reporters earlier this month. Citigroup won't be rolling out its own branded airport lounge as part of the Strata Elite. It will, however, offer cardholders "priority pass," a voucher that grants access to 1,000 airport lounges worldwide. JPMorgan's Sapphire Reserve, American Express' Platinum, and Capital One's Venture X all come with the same perk. But Habner said Citigroup aims to offer a wider range of perks with more customization and four passes per year to the American Airlines-owned Admirals Club airport lounge network. In exchange for the annual fee, cardholders get six times points on air travel and 12 times points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on the company's travel platform. Along with 1.5 times points on all other purchases, cardholders will get three times points at restaurants, with that amount doubling to six times points on Friday and Saturday nights. "Our customers are busy," Habner said. "They're living exciting lives, they're change makers, they're traveling the world. They don't want to have to have a math degree and a spreadsheet to try to keep track of their card rewards program." David Hollerith is a senior reporter for Yahoo Finance covering banking, crypto, and other areas in finance. His email is Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock prices Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-citi-strata-elite-card-STRATAELITECARD0725-f5287116c71642e0b1965a26e8658f9e.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
4 days ago
- Business
- Travel + Leisure
Citi Just Released a New Premium Travel Credit Card With Competitive Perks—but Is It Worth the Annual Fee?
Citi has been hard at work revamping its credit card portfolio—and today, the bank has officially reentered the premium credit card space with the Citi Strata Elite Card, which promises high-end travel benefits in exchange for a $595 annual fee. This launch comes just four years after Citi discontinued its former premium credit card, the Citi Prestige Card, which was once a leader in the space. The new card includes unique benefits not found in other offerings from the brand, like travel-friendly statement credits, a Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership, and unique (but slightly confusing) bonus earning categories. Further, Citi and American Airlines partnered together again—like they did with the Citi Prestige Card—to offer new benefits to cardholders. Statement credits are becoming the norm among premium travel credit cards, with The Platinum Card from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve both offering travel and lifestyle credits to cardmembers to help offset the annual fee. The Citi Strata Elite is no different, and includes the following statement credits: Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit : This can be used on stays of two nights or longer at any hotel of your choosing when booked through Citi Travel. This can be used on stays of two nights or longer at any hotel of your choosing when booked through Citi Travel. Up to $200 Annual Splurge Credit : This credit can be used for purchases at up to two merchants, including 1stDibs, American Airlines, Best Buy, Future Personal Training, and Live Nation. This credit can be used for purchases at up to two merchants, including 1stDibs, American Airlines, Best Buy, Future Personal Training, and Live Nation. Up to $200 Annual Blacklane Credit : Cardholders receive $100 in credit January through June, and $100 July through December toward rides with Blacklane, a global chauffeur service. Cardholders receive $100 in credit January through June, and $100 July through December toward rides with Blacklane, a global chauffeur service. Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Application Fee Credit: This credit is awarded every four years and is applied toward application and renewal fees. Another standout feature of the Citi Strata Elite card is its points earning structure, which strays from that of competitors in the market. It follows this structure: 12x points on car rentals, hotels, and other attractions booked through Citi Travel 6x points on air travel booked through Citi Travel 6x points at restaurants—including delivery—every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. ET and 3x points when purchased at any other time 1.5x points on other purchases This is relatively straightforward: You'll earn bonus points on travel booked through Citi Travel, 3 points per dollar on dining, and 1.5 points per dollar elsewhere. Plus, you can earn an industry-leading 6 points per dollar when you dine between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. ET on Friday and Saturday. Oddly, this perk doesn't change based on your time zone, so those on Pacific time would start the bonus earning clock at 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. There are some interesting travel-specific benefits included with the card, too. Members will get a Priority Pass Select membership with their card, which provides access to thousands of airport lounges worldwide. In partnership with American Airlines, cardholders receive four American Airlines Admirals Club passes per year that can be used at over 50 American-branded lounges worldwide. Speaking of American Airlines, Citi Strata Elite cardmembers can also transfer their Citi ThankYou points to American Airlines AAdvantage. This is a big benefit for points and miles enthusiasts, as AAdvantage offers some of the best redemption rates on international award flights. No other transferable points programs offer transfers to AAdvantage. Cardholders will also benefit from stripped foreign transaction fees, and access to The Reserve and Citi Entertainment. The former is a preferred hotel booking platform that includes benefits like room upgrades and dining credits. Meanwhile, the latter gives Citi cardholders access to event ticket presales to things like exclusive concerts or sporting events. Finally, those with a Citigold banking relationship—the wealth management service offered by Citibank—can save on the card's annual fee. Citigold Private Clients receive the standard $595 statement credit the first year they open the card, but then that number drops to $145 per year going forward. Meanwhile, those at the standard Citigold relationship tier get $145 per year in statement credits. This effectively brings the annual fee to $145. Citi's take on the premium travel credit card differs from the likes of Chase and American Express. The card has a lower annual fee than the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum cards, but also offers less lounge access and statement credits. At the same time, the Citi Strata Elite offers higher earning rates on everyday purchases, which may be helpful for frequent shoppers. If you're a semi-frequent traveler and want to earn bonus points on your everyday spending, the Citi Strata Elite can be a good option. However, those looking for more extensive airport lounge access and travel benefits may be better served by the competition.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Citigroup enters credit card perk wars with $595 annual fee for Strata Elite
Citigroup (C) is once again courting high-end credit card spenders as it rolls out its new Strata Elite premium card on Sunday with a $595 annual fee. "The modern customer, who is affluent with a passion for travel and dining, told us they want to maximize the rewards they can earn in the categories they care about," Pam Habner, Citigroup's head of US branded cards and lending, said in an interview. Strata Elite joins an increasingly crowded field as the biggest names in finance all chase after the same well-heeled consumers with credit card perks. Last month, JPMorgan Chase (JPM), the largest US credit card issuer by purchase volume, raised the annual fee of its top-tier Chase Sapphire Reserve card to $795 from $550 and loaded it with more perks. The country's second-largest credit card lender, American Express (AXP), also promised a refresh later this year of its higher-end Platinum card that currently comes with a $695 annual fee. Capital One (COF) is also "leaning in hard" with its Venture X rewards card, CEO Richard Fairbank told analysts last week. That card, which launched in 2021, comes with a $395 annual fee and special offers. Big banks dominate the premium US credit card market. With average interest rates above 20%, according to Federal Reserve data in May, credit cards have long been "one of the most attractive areas in consumer banking," CFRA banking analyst Ken Leon said. Habner, who previously launched JPMorgan's Sapphire Reserve card in 2016, said Citigroup's new Strata Elite card will offer customers "the highest earning potential of any card in the market." "They very clearly told us we don't want a card that has a coupon book filled with merchant offers we may or may not use," Habner added. Read more: See which credit cards topped the 2025 Yahoo Finance Awards The rollout of the bank's new premium card comes after Citigroup exited the business of courting wealthy spenders with perks in 2021, when it ceased accepting applications for its premium Prestige card ($495 annual fee). By purchase volume and outstanding credit balances, Citigroup ranks as the country's third-largest credit card lender. Its branded credit card business grew 11% in the second quarter compared with the year-ago period to $2.8 billion. Its smaller retail services card business fell 5% to $1.6 billion. "Part of competing in this space is ensuring that we have innovative products that appeal to the needs and interests of our customers," Citigroup CFO Mark Mason told reporters earlier this month. Citigroup won't be rolling out its own branded airport lounge as part of the Strata Elite. It will, however, offer cardholders "priority pass," a voucher that grants access to 1,000 airport lounges worldwide. JPMorgan's Sapphire Reserve, American Express' Platinum, and Capital One's Venture X all come with the same perk. But Habner said Citigroup aims to offer a wider range of perks with more customization and four passes per year to the American Airlines-owned Admirals Club airport lounge network. In exchange for the annual fee, cardholders get six times points on air travel and 12 times points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on the company's travel platform. Along with 1.5 times points on all other purchases, cardholders will get three times points at restaurants, with that amount doubling to six times points on Friday and Saturday nights. "Our customers are busy," Habner said. "They're living exciting lives, they're change makers, they're traveling the world. They don't want to have to have a math degree and a spreadsheet to try to keep track of their card rewards program." David Hollerith is a senior reporter for Yahoo Finance covering banking, crypto, and other areas in finance. His email is Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock prices Sign in to access your portfolio
