Citi Premier rebrands as Citi 'Strata' Premier — and changes very little else
Editor's Note
Update: some offers mentioned below are no longer availabl.e View the current offers here.
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You may have heard the rumors that the Citi Premier® Card would be refreshed. Now we can confirm that those rumors are true.
As of May 12, the Citi Premier Card has been rebranded as the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees).
Credit card changes can either be positive or negative — or a mix of both — but rarely do they evoke such a neutral response. In our opinion, the changes are lackluster and do not warrant a change of the card's name.
So, let's dive deep into what changes existing cardholders and new applicants can expect.
The information for the Citi Premier has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. The Citi Premier Card is no longer available for new applications.
Summary of the changes
What isn't changing:
- Annual fee (staying the same at $95)
- Most bonus categories, including air travel, hotels, gas stations, supermarkets and dining
- ThankYou Rewards transfer partners
- $100 annual hotel credit
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Citi Entertainment
- World Elite Mastercard benefits
What is changing:
- New name and card art
- New electronic vehicle charging stations bonus category
- Ongoing Citi Travel portal bonus category
- Reintroduction of travel protections
- Elevated sign-up bonus
Existing Citi Premier cardmembers will receive the enhanced benefits on the Strata Premier card effective immediately. They will receive a new card with the new Strata Premier name and card art when their current card expires.
New earning rates
The new card has two changes to its earning structure:
- New: 3 points per dollar spent at electronic vehicle charging stations
- Extended: 10 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through the Citi Travel portal
All other bonus-earning categories are staying the same.
Earning bonus points per dollar spent on EV charging is a good addition, seeing how the card already earns 3 points per dollar spent on gas purchases.
Since the refreshed Citi Travel portal launched in March 2023, eligible cardholders (including those with the Premier) have been able to earn bonus points on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through the portal.
This perk was slated to end June 30 but is now an ongoing benefit of the Strata Premier. While this can provide value to cardholders and boost their ThankYou Rewards points balance, there are many reasons why booking directly is usually better.
It might have been nice to see the introduction of new bonus categories like streaming services, online retail purchases or drugstores. However, this card already has strong bonus categories.
Related: How to earn over 300,000 points in one year
Reintroducing travel protections
The next set of benefits is quite interesting. Citi will introduce — or, rather, reintroduce — four new travel protection benefits for cardholders:
- Trip cancellation and interruption
- Trip delay
- Lost or damaged luggage
- Car rental coverage
In 2019, Citi removed travel and purchase protections across several cards; the Citi Premier lost 10 travel and purchase protections.
This is where things get interesting because back then, Citi inserted the following statement in the frequently asked questions for the Citi Premier:
Citi continuously evaluates our products to ensure that associated benefits best meet the needs of our customers. As such, we will no longer offer select protection benefits on your card so we can continue providing key benefits that our customers use and value most at no additional cost. As a cardmember, you will continue to receive a range of valuable card benefits including FICO Credit Score, Citi Identity Theft Solutions, and Citi Entertainment.
This begs the question, what changed? Perhaps it was the COVID-19 pandemic, during which people who booked their travel on the Citi Premier card were not covered by changes, and customer satisfaction decreased.
Regardless, adding back benefits that were removed about five years ago is a welcome change. However, it really just brings the Strata Premier back up to the standard of many of its competitors, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
Related: The best travel insurance policies and providers
Elevated sign-up bonus
For a limited time, new customers who apply for the Citi Strata Premier on citi.com can earn 75,000 bonus ThankYou points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. Existing Premier cardholders are not eligible for the bonus on the new card.
The highest offer we've seen on the Citi Premier card is 80,000 bonus points, which was last offered in January 2023. The regular offer on the Citi Premier has been 60,000 points for a while now, so picking up 75,000 points now is a good deal.
Bottom line
The new Citi Strata Premier doesn't vary much from the Citi Premier.
Although we expected more elevated benefits or perhaps the addition of new transfer partners, maintaining existing bonus categories for the same $95 annual fee is (somewhat unexcitingly) welcome.
We are seeing one new bonus category with EV charging, an extension of bonus points on select Citi Travel bookings and the reintroduction of travel protections.
All in all, not much is changing — this card still has a strong value proposition.
We're much more interested in the Citi Prestige's successor. This premium card stopped accepting applications in mid-2021, and it is expected that Citi will launch a Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see rates and fees) later this year, which will hopefully give the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees), the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express a serious run for their money. Stay tuned.
The information for the Citi Prestige has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Premium credit cards vs. mid-tier credit cards: Which should you get?
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Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.