Again in Could, TPG solely discovered the Citi Rewards+ Card was being rebranded to the Citi Strata℠ Card. Now, we have acquired affirmation Citi is launching the all-new Citi Strata℠ Elite.
As a longtime Citi loyalist and die-hard Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees) (previously the Citi Premier) fan, I am excited to see the issuer overhauling its lineup of Citi ThankYou Rewards-earning bank cards.
Purposes for each playing cards at the moment are open.
So, let’s bounce into what modifications present cardholders and new candidates can count on.
The knowledge for the Citi Strata Elite, Citi Strata Card, Citi Rewards+ and Citi Premier has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer. The Citi Rewards+ and Citi Premier are not out there for brand spanking new purposes.
Abstract of modifications
What didn’t change:
What did change:
- New identify and card artwork
- New bonus classes
- Elevated incomes charges on present bonus classes
- Elevated welcome bonus
- What the cardboard is made from (it is going to be nearly fully recycled plastic)
- World Elite Mastercard benefits
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Citi Rewards+ used to spherical up every buy to the closest 10 factors. Sadly, this distinctive perk is discontinued, together with the flexibility for every cardholder to obtain 10% of the primary 100,000 factors redeemed per calendar yr again.
In an unique interview with Pam Habner, Citi’s head of branded playing cards and lending, Habner highlighted Citi’s dedication to listening to buyer suggestions and interesting in focus teams to study what present and potential cardholders need from their bank cards. She talked about how the present market showcases cardholders seeking to be versatile with their reward earnings and the way these findings drove Citi to make significant modifications.
Present Citi Rewards+ Card members acquired entry to the brand new Citi Strata Card as of July 20, and new clients can apply as of right now, July 27.
New incomes charges
Probably the most thrilling side of the brand new Citi Strata Card is the introduction of recent bonus classes and improved incomes charges from the now-discontinued Rewards+ Card. The modifications embody:
- New: 5 factors per greenback spent on lodges, automobile leases and points of interest booked on cititravel.com
- Elevated: 3 factors per greenback spent at supermarkets
- Elevated and expanded: 3 factors per greenback spent on choose transit, gasoline and electrical automobile charging stations
- New: 3 factors per greenback spent on eligible self-select class of health golf equipment, choose streaming providers, dwell leisure, beauty shops/barber retailers/hair salons or pet provide shops.
- New: 2 factors per greenback spent at eating places
- Similar: 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
Beforehand, the Citi Rewards+ earned 2 factors per greenback spent on grocery retailer and gasoline station purchases; nevertheless, the brand new incomes charges are way more profitable.
The Rewards+ Card earned 5 factors per greenback spent on resort, automobile rental and attraction bookings by the Citi travel portal, but it surely had an finish date of Dec. 31. Now, the incomes fee for these purchases is a everlasting addition to the cardboard.
It is a whole revamp of the cardboard, and its incomes charges carry it nearer to the Citi Strata Premier Card, which has a $95 annual price and acquired its own refresh in May 2024
For my part, this could pave the trail for Citi to have its personal model of the Chase Trifecta, the place Citi cardholders can carry a number of playing cards and maximize incomes charges and advantages together with each other.
The brand new incomes charges make this card a worthy contender for on a regular basis purchases and problem long-standing rivals, such because the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees).
Habner emphasised Citi’s position in revamping {the marketplace} and staying aggressive. It is evident that Citi leaned in on clients’ need to earn extra throughout on a regular basis spending classes. Due to this fact, the issuer simplified and elevated alternatives with the Citi Strata Card in what I would name important classes of gasoline stations, supermarkets and eating places, along with introducing the brand new self-select class.
Probably the most thrilling improvement is the brand new bonus class: 3 factors per greenback spent on a self-select class.
With a variety of choices to select from, it must be pretty simple to maximise. Cardholders can change their self-select class each quarter. I see this bonus class as a key driver for Citi as a result of some eligible classes are usually not generally supplied on different playing cards at an elevated incomes fee.
With some health club memberships costing greater than $200 in cities corresponding to New York and Los Angeles and dwell leisure tickets costing a few hundred {dollars}, this may be extraordinarily helpful for a lot of of us.
To me, this offers the Chase Freedom Flex® a run for its cash as a result of a few of its quarterly bonus categories up to now have included health golf equipment or streaming providers, however reward earnings are all the time capped at $1,500 every quarter you activate.
The knowledge for the Chase Freedom Flex has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Associated: How to earn over 300,000 points in 2025
New welcome bonus
For a restricted time, new clients accredited for the Citi Strata Card will earn 30,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 throughout the first three months of account opening. Needless to say present Citi Rewards+ cardholders have been mechanically transformed to the Citi Strata Card on July 20. Due to this fact, cardholders will be unable to use for the Citi Strata Card, as they’re going to already maintain the cardboard.
New Cardholders can even obtain a 0% introductory annual proportion (APR) on stability transfers and purchases for 15 months; after that, a variable APR might be 19.24% – 29.24% might be utilized based mostly on credit score worthiness. Steadiness transfers are topic to a 3% price (minimal $5) and throughout the first 4 months of account opening, afterward every switch might be 5% (minimal $5).
The welcome bonus shouldn’t be out there to candidates who acquired a brand new account bonus for a Citi Rewards+ account up to now 48 months or those that transformed one other Citi account on which they earned a brand new account bonus within the final 48 months right into a Citi Strata or Citi Rewards+ account.
One other welcoming piece of reports is that accredited candidates will instantly have instant authorization and entry to their new bank card.
Backside line
The Citi Strata Card is a refreshing change within the bank card house, and I welcome it.
A whole overhaul to the incomes charges and inclusion of recent classes make this card a aggressive possibility for these seeking to earn ThankYou Rewards. The modifications to this card have made it extra helpful as an everyday spending credit card and supply a robust worth proposition.
As a Citi Strata Premier cardholder, you possibly can mix your Strata Card factors and switch them to Citi’s journey companions for max worth. As well as, the Strata household is now full due to the brand new Citi Strata Elite launch, giving cardholders ample alternative to decide on a card that most closely fits their life-style.
Associated: Best Citi Cards of July 2025
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