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You Can Now Activate Your Citi Card by Taking a Picture of It

Jan. 27, 2017
1 min read
You Can Now Activate Your Citi Card by Taking a Picture of It
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Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.

Citi is a TPG advertising partner

Citi just launched a special feature on its app that allows cardholders to activate a new card simply by taking a picture of it. Beginning today, you can open your Citi Mobile App and activate your card using the camera on your phone.

Once your card has been scanned, the account number will auto-populate, which speeds up the process. After your card has been scanned, you'll have to manually input your CVV, date of birth and last four digits of your Social Security Number into their respective fields.

While this might not seem like that big a deal, scanning your card is definitely quicker than manually typing the card number during the activation process. Next time your new Citi Prestige, Citi Premier® Card or other Citi card comes in the mail, consider taking advantage of this new perk.

TPG featured card

4 / 5
Go to review
Rewards rate
1XEarn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee
2XEarn 2X points + 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases
Intro offer
Open Intro bonus
50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status + $300 of Bilt Cash
Annual fee
$495
Regular APR
26.74 - 34.74% variable
Recommended credit
Open Credit score description
Good Credit, Excellent Credit

Pros

  • Unlimited up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
  • Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and Bilt Cash
  • $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
  • $200 Bilt Cash annually
  • Priority Pass membership
  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • Moderate annual fee
  • Housing payments may include transaction fees, depending on the payment method
  • Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
  • Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
  • Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
  • 2X points on everyday spend
  • $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
  • $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
  • Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 3 months + $300 of Bilt Cash.
  • Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
  • Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.