Guide to CitiBank Credit Cards

*Editorial Note: The below offers are no longer available or have expired. 

Every so often, I’ve been going through some of the more popular credit card issuers and presenting a list of their credit cards, highlighting some of the better programs for rewards. So far, I’ve looked at the best credit cards from American Express and Capital One.

Credit cards can be dangerous tools in the wrong hands. It’s been many years since I’ve paid an interest charge or late fee; I would suggest anyone who does not pay their credit card bill completely each month should ignore these posts. For those looking for good deals, perhaps Citi has something to offer.

Citi Professional Cash Card

This Citi Professional Cash Card and its cousin, the Citi Professional Card With Thank You Network, offer similar rewards. Purchases at restaurants, gas stations, office supplies, and car rentals earn 3% cash back or 3 points for every dollar spent. All other purchases earn 1% cash back or 1 point per dollar.

The difference is that the earnings from the cash card can be redeemed via check while the points earned with the Thank You Network card can only be collected through purchasing items through Citi’s network of merchants. The good news is that many of these merchants offer gift cards.

Also, the Citi Professional Card With Thank You Network is currently offering a 10,000 point bonus after your first purchase, redeemable for a $100 gift card.

The Cash card offers a regular purchase interest rate of 10.24% and the Thank You Network card offers 11.24%. Both cards offer a 0% introductory rate for purchases for 12 months.

Citi Bronze/AAdvantage® MasterCard

The Citi Bronze/AAdvantage® MasterCard, which comes in other flavors such as Gold and Platinum, offer rewards for frequent travelers on American Airlines. With the Bronze card, one mile is earned for each two dollar spent, while the Gold and Platinum level cards earn one mile for each dollar. Miles can be redeemed not only with American Airlines, but with 25 top airlines, car rental companies, and hotels.

These three cards offer sign-on bonuses after your first purchase. You will earn 5,000, 12,500, or 15,000 points depending on the level of card you own. The increasing benefits come with increasing annual fees, however. The Bronze card has no annual fee while the Gold and Platinum cards charge $50 and $85 respectively. This annual fee can be worthwhile if you make the most out of these credit card rewards.

Citi Dividend Platinum Select

I consider the Citi Dividend Platinum Select to be the flagship rewards card. Unfortunately, it is not quite the card it used to be. Many past cardholders saw a reduction of the cash back rewards and were later suggested to change to the Citi Dividend World MasterCard. For new card members, the Citi Dividend Platinum Select offers 5% cash back at The Home Depot and on Home Furnishing and Home & Garden purchases from 4/1/12 to 6/30/12. After 6 months, this is reduced to a 2% cash back bonus. All other purchases earn 1% cash back.

The Citi Dividend Platinum Select for Students offers the same features, but has a different promotional rate. The card for students offers a 0% APR on purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers for 6 months, while the standard card extends that offer for 12 months.

Citi Driver’s Edge Platinum Card

For one year, this card offers 6% cash back on purchases at supermarkets, gas stations, and drugstores and 1% rebates on all other purchases. This is one of the best rebate offers that I’ve seen lately. After one year, the 6% level drops to 3%, putting a damper on what otherwise would be the only card to use for certain purchases.

You also receive rebates for each mile you drive, $1 for each 100 miles. That can add up considerably. Citi verifies your mileage by requiring a copy of auto service receipts with odometer readings.

Unfortunately, the rebate isn’t pure cash. The rebated can only be used towards the purchase of a car, repairs or service, or merchandise in the Thank You network. The maximum you can earn each year is $1,000 in rebates, higher than other rebate programs, but not unlimited.

Like some of its other cards, Citi also has another version of this card, the Citi Driver’s Edge Card for College Students. The difference here is the lack of the 6% rebate offer; the highest purchase categorizes max out at 3%.

Citi Home Rebate Platinum Select Card
The Citi Home Rebate Platinum Select Card is another good replacement for the Citi Dividend Platinum Select. For 6 months, this card earns a 6% rebate benefit on purchases on utilities, cable and satellite television, internet connection, and telecommunications services. After 6 months, this rebate is reduced to 1%, the same as the rebate for all other purchases.

If you don’t want to use this card for purchases, consider balance transfers. During this promotion, there is no balance transfer fee and no interest charged on transfers for one year.

As always, these credit card rewards are not for everyone. If you pay interest or late fees, you won’t benefit from any special offers. Only consider opening new credit if you are an expert at managing your own money and buy only what you can afford to pay each month.