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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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What credit score do you need to get the Citi Double Cash Card?
Katie Genter is a digital nomad who has traveled full time since June 2017. She writes and edits stories about points and miles, and loyalty programs, often letting her personal experiences color these stories.
Credit card writer Danyal Ahmed is an avid traveler, averaging about 100,000 aeronautical miles per year. He regularly applies that knowledge and his expertise in credit cards to his role as a credit card writer at TPG.
also contributed to this story
September 13, 2024 • 10 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
A popular cash-back card offers up to 2% rewards with no limits and can be integrated into a broader points-earning strategy.
Approval is influenced by factors beyond credit score, including income and account history.
There is no published minimum credit score, but a score around 670 or higher is generally recommended for the best approval odds.
The card is appealing for those seeking straightforward rewards, though it has a foreign transaction fee and minimal extra perks.
What to consider
Approval depends on overall credit profile, not just credit score, with income and account age also important.
Applicants can only apply for one card from this issuer every eight days and no more than two in a 65-day period.
If denied, calling the reconsideration line may help, especially if you can address the reason for rejection.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of several top cash-back cards, including their standout features and key tradeoffs.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
The Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees) provides up to 2% cash-back rewards — 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay — on every purchase with no limits and can also fit nicely into a larger Citi ThankYou® Points-earning portfolio.
If you're considering applying for the Citi Double Cash, you may be uncertain whether you have a high enough credit score to be approved.
Of course, your credit score is only one of many considerations issuers take into account when deciding whether to approve you for a card. So, let's look at what it takes to get approved for the Citi Double Cash.
What credit score is required for the Citi Double Cash Card?
I recommend a credit score of around 670 or higher to have the best chance of getting approved for a rewards card such as the Citi Double Cash. However, you may still be approved with a lower score if other aspects of your credit portfolio look appealing to Citi.
Citi doesn't publish specific credit scores needed to be approved for its cards. Other factors that go into Citi's qualification decision beyond your credit score include your income and the age of your accounts.
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Issuers need to be able to trust that you can pay off your credit card bill each month. If you have low or no income, it's very unlikely that you'll be approved for an unsecured card like the Citi Double Cash.
The Citi Double Cash earns up to 2% cash back on all purchases — 1% when you make a purchase and another 1% when you pay your statement — without charging an annual fee and without a limit on the cash-back rewards you can earn.
The Citi Double Cash is a great choice if you're looking for a cash-back rewards card to use on all your purchases or on purchases outside the bonus categories on your other cards.
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You can even convert the cash-back rewards earned on your Citi Double Cash to Citi ThankYou Points via a linked ThankYou account. And, if you also have a premium Citi ThankYou card, such as the Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees), you can then transfer your rewards to book flights with any of Citi's airline or hotel partners.
The Citi Double Cash has a few downsides, including a 3% foreign transaction fee and minimal perks. However, considering the earning rate and the lack of an annual fee, it is still an appealing option for many consumers.
How many card accounts can I have open with Citi?
Citi generally doesn't limit the overall number of credit cards you can have open as American Express does. However, Citi seems to have a maximum credit line that it is willing to extend across all Citi cards.
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So, if you get an "application pending" notice when you apply for the Citi Double Cash and you have at least one other Citi credit card, it may be worth calling Citi's reconsideration line at 1-800-695-5171 to see if you can get approved by shifting some credit from one of your current cards to open the new card.
Credit Karma and Credit Sesame are two popular (and free) websites that allow users to see their TransUnion and Equifax VantageScore 3.0 credit scores.
Factors that affect your credit score
Before you start applying for any credit cards, it's important to understand the factors that make up your credit score. According to myFICO, 90% of top lenders use FICO scores to make lending decisions. The formula for calculating your credit score isn't exact, but FICO is transparent about the different factors they assess and how much weight each is given:
Payment history (35%): Whether you've paid past credit accounts on time
Amounts of debt (30%): The relative size of your current debt and the ratio of your current debt to your available credit
Length of credit history (15%): How long your credit accounts have been established (including the age of your oldest account, the age of your newest account and an average age of all your accounts), how long certain credit accounts have been established and how long it has been since you used certain accounts
New credit (10%): How many new accounts have you opened recently
Credit mix (10%): How many different types of credit accounts you have, such as credit cards, retail accounts, installment loans, finance company accounts and mortgage loans
What to do if you get rejected
If your application is rejected, you should receive a letter in the mail stating why Citi turned down your application. Depending on the reasons given for the rejection, you may want to use this information to improve your credit score before applying again.
Or, if you believe you can provide additional information that might lead to approval of your application, you should call Citi's reconsideration line at 1-800-695-5171 and make your case.
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If you call the reconsideration line, explain that you recently applied for the Citi Double Cash, you were surprised to see that your application was rejected and that you'd like to speak to someone about getting that decision reconsidered.
Once the agent pulls up your application, be prepared to present a compelling argument for why Citi should approve your application. You may have a better chance of success if you're able to address Citi's stated reason for rejection, such as having closed an account if the reason for denial was that you had too many open accounts.
If you aren't able to receive an approval after calling the reconsideration line, hang up and try one more time. Sometimes, you can get an approval on the second try.
How long to wait before applying again
It's best to avoid applying again for a Citi card until you've addressed the reasons Citi gave for rejecting you. But, if you want to apply again, the consensus is that you can only apply for one Citi card (personal or business) every eight days and no more than two cards in a 65-day window.
I recommend waiting at least a few months before applying for the same card again. Applying again after only a small amount of time has passed can make you look desperate for credit, which won't do you any favors.
Consider other cash-back cards with no annual fee
There are many cash-back credit cards with no annual fee. The best card or cards for you will depend on many factors, but if you spend a lot in a specific category, you may want to get a card that earns a higher rewards rate in that category.
Here are some of the most popular options, including the Citi Double Cash:
Card
Welcome offer
Rewards rate
Foreign transaction fee
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases in three months from account opening.
5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
1.5% on everything
None
Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees)
Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
1.5% on all other purchases
3% of each purchase
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
6% (for the first year, then 3%) in your choice of one category: gas and electric vehicle charging stations, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plans/streaming, dining, travel, drugstores or home improvement/furnishings
2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs
(Elevated earning is received only on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter, then 1%)
1% on other purchases
3% of each purchase
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as $200 cash back after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 per calendar year in purchases for each category (then 1%)
1% on all other purchases
Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for statement credits
2.7% of each purchase (see rates and fees)
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases in three months from account opening.
5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
3% on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®)
The Citi Double Cash is one of our favorite cash-back cards thanks to a simple yet lucrative earnings rate. Earning 2% on all purchases is excellent (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay), so you'll want to ensure you qualify before applying.
Remember, there are other options if you get denied, such as calling the reconsideration line or applying for another cash-back card.
For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Cash Everyday, click here
Updated 5/28/25
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
