How To Maximize Your Rewards Using the Citi Trifecta
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In today’s financial landscape, credit card rewards have become a valuable tool for savvy consumers looking to maximize their spending power. By strategically using credit cards that offer cash back, points, or travel rewards, you can significantly enhance the value you get from everyday purchases. Owning a carefully curated set of credit cards, known as a trifecta, can further amplify these benefits.
A trifecta combines the strengths of three complementary credit cards, each excelling in different spending categories, to optimize your rewards. This approach increases your total rewards and provides flexibility in how you redeem them, whether for cash back, travel, or other valuable perks. Understanding how to use a credit card trifecta effectively can transform your spending habits into a powerful tool for financial gain.
The Citi trifecta is one of the best credit card triplicates to own. We’ll explain how much you can save and why these three cards cover your purchases in all rewards categories.
The Citi Credit Card Trifecta
Card #1 – Citi® Double Cash Card
Our Rating: 4.9
Citi® Double Cash Card
Welcome Offer
Earn $200 cash back
Est. Value
$200
Annual Fee
$0
APR
18.49% – 28.49%, Variable
Credit Req’d
Good to Excellent 670 – 850
Rewards: Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
Card #2 – Citi Strata Premier® Card
Our Rating: 4.7
Citi Strata Premier® Card
Welcome Offer
75,000 bonus points
Est. Value
$750
Annual Fee
$95
APR
20.49%- 28.49% Variable
Credit Req’d
Good 670 – 739, Excellent 740 – 850
Rewards: 10x points per dollar spent on specific travel purchases through CitiTravel.com; 3x points per dollar spent on airfare, gas, hotels, and restaurants; and 1x points per dollar spent on everything else.
Card #3 – Citi Custom Cash® Card
Our Rating: 4.7
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Welcome Offer
Earn $200 in cash back
Est. Value
$200
Annual Fee
$0
APR
18.49% – 28.49% Variable
Credit Req’d
Good 670 – 739, Excellent 740 – 850
Rewards: Earn 5% cash back in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle up to the first $500 spent, then 1%. Unlimited 1% cash back on other purchases.
How Much Can The Citi Trifecta Earn You in Rewards?
Using your three Citi credit cards for the right purchases is critical to maximizing your rewards potential. Below is a sample budget and a table that outlines the cash back earned using each Citi credit card for the correct reward category.
All three cards in the Citi Trifecta earn ThankYou® points on purchases. These points can be redeemed for cash (through a statement credit) at 1 penny per point.
| Category | Monthly Spending | Annual Cash Back w/ Double Cash | Annual Cash Back w/ Strata | Annual Cash Back w/ Custom Cash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groceries (5%) | $500 | $300 | ||
| Gas (3%) | $200 | $72 | ||
| Travel (3%) | $500 | $180 | ||
| Dining Out (3%) | $250 | $90 | ||
| Shopping (2%) | $100 | $24 | ||
| Other (2%) | $1,100 | $264 | ||
| ANNUAL CASH BACK (Minus Annual Fee) | $288 | $284 | $300 |
- Citi Trifecta Annual Cash Back – $872
- Effective Cash Back Rate – 2.74%
What stands out about using the Citi trifecta is that, in a standard budget, each card earns a very similar annual amount of cash back. The Strata and Custom Cash will dominate your everyday spending, and the Double Cash will be your “everything else” card of choice.
The Citi Strata Premier® Card is the only card in the trifecta to charge an annual fee. It has the potential to earn 10x ThankYou points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com. This can boost the cash back rate to over 3% annually for an avid traveler.
Don’t Forget About the Bonuses!
In addition to an everyday rewards cash back strategy, a big benefit of owning these three Citi credit cards are the initial sign-on bonuses each card provides.
- Citi Double Cash – Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of your Citi Double Cash® card account opening.
- Citi Strata Premier – For a limited time: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com.
- Citi Custom Cash – Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Add them all up and you’ll earn $1,150 is cash back after meeting each spending requirement. The two smaller $1,500 hurdles will be met by staying inside the mock budget above but the Strata Premier will require a slightly higher amount of additional spending.
If you’re able to apply and own the Citi Trifecta, meet the spending requirements and use all cards to maximize rewards, your first year cash back earnings can easily top $2,000.
Can Other Citi Cards Can Be Used in a Citi Trifecta?
After reviewing all other Citi credit card products, I found that no other credit card can replace one of the three above to earn a higher reward rate. Citi is an issuer that offers many products tailored to introductory rates, balance transfers, and long-term 0% APR opportunities. The credit cards they provide focused on rewards are terrific but limited.
If you fill up at the pump more than once a week, you may consider adding a fourth card. The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi can boost your rate to 4% cash back on gas (the first $7,000 spent annually), including additional elevated reward opportunities.
(Possible) Card #4 – Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Our Rating: 4.4
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Welcome Offer
N/A
Est. Value
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
APR
19.74% – 27.74% Variable
Credit Req’d
Rewards: 4% cash back on gas purchases (up to $7,000 spent annually). 3% cash back at restaurants and on eligible travel, 2% cash back at Costco and on Costco.com, and 1% cash back on everything else.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How can the Citi Strata Premier® Card maximize my rewards in the trifecta?
The Citi Strata Premier® Card is the wild card of the Citi trifecta; its value comes from everyday travel, entertainment, and dining purchases. The more you spend in these categories, the more valuable the card becomes. The reverse is also true, and with an annual fee, this card needs to generate more than it costs.
Remember that the big up-front welcome offer makes the Citi Strata Premier® Card an easy choice for your wallet from the start.
How does the Citi® Double Cash Card card fit into the trifecta?
Everyone should own a credit card that offers an everyday cash back rate of 2% or more on all purchases because you’ll find that many (and sometimes most) of your spending doesn’t fit into a high cash back category.
The 2% cash back card is your “base” card, and the Citi® Double Cash Card fits perfectly because it doesn’t include an annual fee.
What makes the Citi Custom Cash® Card card unique within the trifecta strategy?
I’ve owned this credit card for a while, and it fits perfectly in my wallet for monthly grocery purchases. With two children, I spend about $500 monthly on groceries, which means $300 in annual cash-back savings.
The beauty of the Citi Custom Cash® Card is that it automatically applies your largest monthly spend category to the 5x ThankYou point return, so you can casually change your spending to maximize cash back without extra work.
Final Thought on Using the Citi Trifecta
The Citi credit card trifecta strategy presents a powerful method for maximizing your rewards across various spending categories. You can earn significant cash back and points on everyday purchases, travel, dining, and entertainment by effectively utilizing the Citi Double Cash, Citi Custom Cash, and Citi Strata Premier cards.
This strategic approach enhances earning potential and provides flexible redemption options, including travel transfers and cash back. By aligning your spending with each card’s strengths, you can unlock many rewards, turning your everyday expenses into valuable benefits and experiences.
