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Citi offers the Citi Simplicity® Card -- one of the few cards we've come across with no late payment fees, no penalty APR, and no annual fee. Even with those impressive perks, the main benefit of this card is its lengthy 0% intro APR. Here, you can read our full Citi Simplicity® Card review and decide if it's right for you.
On Citi's Secure Website.
On Citi's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 12 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 21 months
Regular APR
19.24% - 29.99% (Variable)
Rewards
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer 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).
Lower intro balance transfer fee
This is one of our favorite cards for balance transfers. It has 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers and a discounted balance transfer fee for the first four months. That combo makes it one of the most generous balance transfer offers we’ve seen. Plus, you can choose from any available payment date. That way, you can set up automatic payments that are aligned with your paycheck.
This credit card is a good fit for: Those looking to avoid fees while using a lengthy 0% intro APR to pay off purchases, credit card debt, or both.
Citi Simplicity® Card offers one of the longest intro periods among balance transfer cards, at 0%, 21 months. It also offers a 0%, 12 months introductory purchase APR.
One of the most unique perks is that there are no late fees, ever. In fact, the Citi Simplicity® Card is the only Citi card with no late fees, penalty APR, or annual fees.
While you should always pay your bill on time, because late payments can still affect your credit, it's nice to know that you won't be charged if you do slip up and miss a payment.
If you miss some payments, most credit card issuers will increase your interest rate to their penalty APR. Citi Simplicity® Card never charges a penalty rate, so your APR isn't at risk of increasing due to late payments.
When you're paying off debt, a credit card with no annual fee is a must.
The Citi Simplicity® Card allows you to select a payment due date that works best for you. For example, you could set up your payments for right after you receive your paycheck, so you don't have to worry about running out of money before your payment is due.
If you want to earn cash back: The Citi Double Cash® Card offers 2% cash back on purchases -- 1% when you make the purchase and 1% when you make your payment. The card also has a 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers.
If you want a longer 0% APR on purchases: The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card offers a 0% intro APR on both balance transfers and purchases for the first 21 billing cycles after opening the account.
Read more: Best Citi Credit Cards
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Citi Simplicity® Card | Citi Double Cash® Card |
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card |
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Apply Now for Citi Simplicity® Card
On Citi's Secure Website. |
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Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Fair to Excellent (580-850)
Fair to Excellent (580-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Welcome Offer: 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). Lower intro balance transfer fee |
Welcome Offer: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. 20,000 ThankYou® Points |
Welcome Offer: N/A |
Rewards Program: N/A |
Rewards Program: 2% cash back: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay Up to 2% cash back |
Rewards Program: N/A |
Intro APR: Purchases: 0%, 12 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 21 months |
Intro APR: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months |
Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for the first 21 billing cycles on purchases billing cycles, and after that 18.74% - 29.74% (Variable). Purchases: 0%, 21 billing cycles on purchases Balance Transfers: 0%, 21 billing cycles |
Regular APR: 19.24% - 29.99% (Variable) |
Regular APR: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) |
Regular APR: 18.74% - 29.74% (Variable) |
Annual Fee: $0 |
Annual Fee: $0 |
Annual Fee: $0 |
Highlights:
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Highlights:
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Highlights:
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Apply Now for Citi Simplicity® Card
On Citi's Secure Website. |
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The balance transfer fee is 3% ($5 min) for first 4 months, then 5% ($5 min.). This means that if you transfer a $5,000 balance, you'll pay $150 in the first four months, or $250 afterward. This is a typical balance transfer fee, but it is a fee nonetheless.
The card doesn't have a rewards program, which does reduce the card's luster after the 0% intro APR promo expires.
You will be charged a 3% foreign transaction fee on transactions made while outside the U.S.
Learn more: Best Credit Cards
The Citi Simplicity® Card offers a 0% intro APR on new purchases. However, some credit cards offer a 0% intro offer on purchases for up to 21 months.
Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.
You should have good to excellent credit before applying, which means a FICO® Score of at least 670. That said, there are reports of people with scores in the mid-600s being approved for this card, likely because other income and current debt factors inform a credit decision as well.
You should also be aware of the Citi application rules before applying for this card.
The Citi Simplicity® Card is one of the best credit cards for those seeking to get out of credit card debt. You'll avoid interest temporarily for both balance transfers and new purchases. It doesn't offer a lot of additional perks and rewards, but it is designed to be more lenient than your typical credit card for folks who have trouble paying their bills on time.
Read more: Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
According to Citi, the minimum credit limit for the Citi Simplicity® Card is $500. However, credit limits above $10,000 have been self-reported by cardholders.
The Citi Simplicity® Card is a Mastercard.
It seems to be fairly easy to get approved for the Citi Simplicity® Card for applicants with good to excellent credit. However, as with any credit card, larger credit lines tend to be reserved for those with higher credit scores.
The Citi Simplicity® Card is good for people who are looking to pay off credit card debt with a balance transfer, as it offers a 0% intro period of 21 months on transfers. Because of its lack of rewards, the card isn't a great fit for those who aren't paying off a credit card balance.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa.