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Ashley Maready
If you're in the market for a new cash back credit card, the Citi Double Cash® Card is worth a look. Earning cash back rewards with this no annual fee card is easy. Plus, there's no limit to how much cash back you can earn.
The Citi Double Cash® Card frequently ranks as one of the top cash back credit cards. Learn more about the Citi Double Cash benefits and determine if it's the right card for you.
Citi Double Cash card benefits
The Citi Double Cash benefits are impressive -- especially as it is a no annual fee credit card. It isn't as packed with perks as some of the premium rewards credit cards, but that's to be expected in a card with no annual fee. Here are some of this Citi card's most notable features.
Rewards
You can earn 2% back on all your spending with this rewards card, which is one of the highest flat rates you'll find for cash back credit cards. You'll get 1% back when you make a purchase and an additional 1% when you pay your bill. If you make at least the minimum payment each billing cycle, you'll earn 2% in cash back on any payments you've made to your account.
Paying at least the minimum is always a good practice to avoid late payment fees. But to avoid paying credit card interest fees, it's recommended that you pay your entire credit card balance off every month.
The Citi Double Cash® Card is a flat-rate card rather than a bonus category card. That means you'll be rewarded for your everyday spending and don't have to keep track of specific earning categories. It's a great, no-fuss way to earn rewards. Plus, there are no limits on how much cash back you can earn.
You can redeem your cash back rewards in several ways. You can redeem your rewards as a statement credit, check, or credit to a linked Citi savings or checking account. You can also convert your cash back rewards to Citi ThankYou Points, which you can spend through the Citi ThankYou Rewards program. Travel redemptions are great, but you can also use Citi credit card points to buy a gift card or donate to charity.
Intro 0% APR for balance transfers
The other big draw of the Citi Double Cash® Card is its 0% intro APR on balance transfers. New cardholders get 18 months interest free on balances they transfer. This is one of the longest introductory balance transfer periods on the market.
If you have a good credit score and want to pay down credit card debt, this could be an excellent way to reduce your interest costs. As with any balance transfer card, make sure you use that interest-free period to pay down your balance. Once the introductory period ends, your APR will shoot up to the go-to 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) APR.
Be aware that you'll need to pay a balance transfer fee. The fee -- 3% ($5 min.) on transfers in the first four months, 5% ($5 min.) thereafter -- is in line with the best balance transfer credit cards.
It's important to note certain actions -- like transferring a balance or getting a cash advance -- won't earn rewards. You'll only earn rewards on new purchases you make with this card. Plus, this card does not offer an intro 0% APR interest on purchases. This promotion only applies to balance transfers.
Choosing a credit card
Don't you wish you could take a peek inside a credit card expert's wallet sometimes? Just to see the cards they carry? Well, you can't look in anybody's wallet, but you can check out our experts' favorite credit cards. Get started here:
Credit card protection
The Citi Double Cash benefits don't stop there. You'll get several protections with this credit card. Citi offers early warning alerts for fraud on your account. You'll be notified of any suspicious activity via text, email, phone, or mail. You can then confirm it's a real transaction or report it as fraud. As we explain below, the card also provides $0 fraud liability protection, so you wouldn't have to pay any fraudulent charges.
Your Citi Double Cash® Card also protects you in the event of identity theft, lost wallets, or a lost card. For example, if you mislay your card, Citi® Quick Lock lets you block new purchases and cash advances without stopping pending transactions. This way, you can go about your business and if you find the card, you can unlock it and continue to make new purchases.
$0 fraud liability
You won't have to pay for unauthorized transactions with Citi's $0 fraud liability protection. It applies to in-store purchases, online, through the phone, a mobile device, and ATM transactions.
All you need to do is:
- Take reasonable care to protect your card from loss or theft
- Promptly report suspected fraud
With credit card fraud on the rise, this fraud protection should give you added peace of mind.
Citi Entertainment®
Citi Entertainment® is an online portal where you can purchase tickets to various events. This includes dining experiences, sporting events, concerts, shows, and other performances. If you're a Citi credit cardholder or a Citibank debit cardholder, you'll have access to Citi Entertainment®.
If you regularly buy entertainment tickets, this might be a nice perk. You don't need to activate it or do anything special to use Citi Entertainment®.
Final thoughts
If you're still not sure whether this is the right card for you, check out our full Citi Double Cash® Card review for more pros, cons, and details:
The best Citi cards come with a range of perks, and it's crucial to pick the right one for you. When you compare credit cards, think about which card benefits you'll use the most. For example, if you want to maximize your everyday cash back rewards, the Citi Double Cash® Card might be the right fit.
However, you might need to look elsewhere if you want a welcome bonus or a card loaded with premium perks. If you travel a lot, a card that doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee might suit you better. There are many other cards highlighted on our best credit cards list.
Here's how the Citi Double Cash® Card stacks up next to a couple of our favorite Citi credit cards:
As of Apr. 16, 2024
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| Citi Double Cash® Card | Citi Custom Cash® Card | Citi Premier® Card |
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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, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
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, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
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 |
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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: 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: 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) |
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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: Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 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: Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 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. 60,000 ThankYou® Points |
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Rewards Program: 2% cash back: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay Up to 2% cash back |
Rewards Program: 5% cash back in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent), 1% cash back on other purchases. Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025. 1% - 5% cash back |
Rewards Program: 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, at gas stations, for air travel, and on hotels, 1x points on other purchases 1x - 3x points |
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Intro APR: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months |
Intro APR: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months |
Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
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Regular APR: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) |
Regular APR: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) |
Regular APR: 21.24% - 29.24% (Variable) |
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Annual Fee: $0 |
Annual Fee: $0 |
Annual Fee: $95 |
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For the full list, head to our guide:
Still have questions?
Some other questions we've answered:
FAQs
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Citi doesn't publish minimum credit limits for its credit cards. Your credit score and other financial factors like your income can impact the credit limit that is offered to you. Citi Double Cash cardholders have reported credit limits as low as $500.
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The Citi Double Cash isn't hard to get. This card is intended for consumers with at least fair credit. You'll have better odds of approval if you have a FICO® Score of at least 580. However, your credit score isn't the only factor weighed during the application process. Your total debt and income may also be taken into consideration.
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No. As long as your account remains open, your ThankYou Points will never expire.
Our Credit Cards Experts
Natasha has been a freelance writer since 2015. She specializes in credit card and credit card rewards content. When not busy writing, she's either dreaming up her next credit card rewards redemption or traveling the globe. Her goal is to encourage more people to experience the world around them while making smart financial choices.
Fact Checked
Ashley Maready
Ashley Maready is a former history museum professional who made the leap to digital content writing and editing in 2021. She has a BA in History and Philosophy from Hood College and an MA in Applied History from Shippensburg University. Ashley loves creating content for the public and learning new things so she can teach others, whether it's information about salt mining, canal mules, or personal finance.
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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.
Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.