Citibank offers a wide range of credit cards. Its cards offer some of the best 0% APR, cash back and travel deals available today. In this article I'll cover what I think are the best no annual fee Citibank credit cards for those looking for the rewards and low rates.
I've carried Citi credit cards for years. Back in the day I took advantage of Citi's 0% balance transfer cards to get out of debt. Today the Citi Double Cash is in my wallet because it pays 2% cash back–1% on purchases + 1% when you pay for those purchases.
Factoid: Did you know that Citibank was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York? Now you do.
In this article we'll look at what I think are the best Citibank credit cards available today, starting with the card I carry.
Best Citibank Cash Back Credit Cards
Citibank credit cards offers excellent cash back rewards. Here are my favorites.
Citi® Double Cash Card - 18 month BT offer

Beyond the cash back, the card also offers a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. The card does come with a signup bonus, there is no annual fee, and you get free access to your credit score.
- Rewards: Earn 1% on purchases & 1% on payments
- Signup Bonus: For a limited time, earn $0 cash back after spending $0 on purchases in the first 0 months of account opening.
- 0% Intro APR: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfer Fee: 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
- Annual Fee: $0
Approval Odds
Based on data we've collected from public forums, here are a sample of credit scores that were either approved or denied for this card:
App Status | Date | Credit Score | Bureau | Credit Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Approved | 08/15/2020 | Equifax | ||
Approved | 05/12/2021 | Equifax | ||
Approved | 07/25/2022 | Not Provided | ||
Approved | 08/26/2022 | Equifax | ||
Approved | 04/26/2020 | Equifax | ||
Denied | 09/02/2014 | Experian | ||
Denied | 06/16/2017 | Experian | ||
Denied | 09/06/2020 | Equifax | ||
Denied | 06/13/2021 | Equifax | ||
Denied | 04/06/2016 | Equifax | ||
Denied | 09/17/2015 | Experian |
Citi Custom Cash Card

The result is a 5% cash back card without the headaches and limitations of existing rotating category cards. Keep in mind that the 5% is capped at $500 a month and all other purchases earn 1% cash back.
Beyond the cash back, the card also offers a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months and on purchases for 15 months. The card also offers a $200 bonus after you spend $1,500 on purchases with the card in the first 6 months.
- Signup Bonus: $200
- Rewards Rate: 1% or 5%
- 0% Intro APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months and on purchases for 15 months, then a variable APY of 18.49% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfer Fee: $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- Annual Fee: $0
Approval Odds
Based on data we've collected from public forums, here are a sample of credit scores that were either approved or denied for this card:
App Status | Date | Credit Score | Bureau | Credit Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Approved | 06/10/2021 | Experian | ||
Approved | 06/10/2021 | Equifax | ||
Approved | 12/30/2022 | Experian | ||
Approved | 02/06/2023 | Experian | ||
Approved | 06/10/2021 | Experian | ||
Approved | 06/10/2021 | TransUnion | ||
Approved | 08/05/2022 | Equifax | ||
Approved | 11/27/2022 | Not Provided | ||
Approved | 06/12/2021 | Experian | ||
Approved | 06/10/2021 | Equifax | ||
Approved | 06/10/2021 | TransUnion | ||
Approved | 06/27/2022 | Experian | ||
Approved | 01/17/2023 | TransUnion | ||
Approved | 06/14/2021 | Experian | ||
Approved | 06/13/2021 | Experian | ||
Approved | 07/16/2022 | Equifax | ||
Denied | 08/24/2022 | Equifax | ||
Denied | 06/10/2021 | Equifax |
Citi Double Cash + Citi Custom Cash
For those wanting to maximize cash back, a combination of Citi Double Cash and Citi Custom Cash is a good strategy. For example, if we assume a $4,000 monthly spend, the Citi Double Cash alone would generate $80 a month in cash back assuming the card were paid in full ($4,000 x 2% = $80).
If the Citi Custom Cash is used for $500 of spending in an eligible category, however, that spend alone would generate $25 (5% of $500). If the remaining $3,500 were charged to Citi Double Cash, that would generate $70. Combined both cards would produce $95 a month in cash back. That's an 18.75% increase over using the Citi Double Cash card alone.
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

That's the good news. The not so good news is that the card pays out these rewards once a year (around February). You get a certificate that you can use at Costco or exchange for cash. I've carried the card for years primarily as our Costco ID. Because you have to wait a year for the rewards, we rarely use it outside of Costco (we don't even use it at Costco most of the time!). But others might not mind waiting a year for the rewards.
Beyond the cash back, the card also offers a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for months. The card doesn't come with a signup bonus, but there is no annual fee and you get free access to your credit score.
- Rewards: 1% to 4%
- Signup Bonus: None
- 0% Intro APR: None.
- Annual Fee: $0
Best Citibank Balance Transfer Credit Cards
Citibank offers some of the longest 0% intro APRs available on balance transfers. The one note of caution, however, is the balance transfer fee. While the days of no fee balance transfers are gone for now, Citibank charges as high as 5% on the transfer fee. The industry standard is 3%. Note that there are no fees for using the 0% intro APR for purchases.
The higher balance transfer fee may be worth the cost if the extra 0% period saves you more. It's important, however, to do the math before making a decision. One alternative is the Citi Double Cash card listed above. While the duration of its 0% balance transfer is a bit shorter, its transfer fee is lower.
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

The card offers no meaningful rewards and no signup bonus. It is a no annual fee card, which again makes it ideal for its primary function–balance transfers.
- Signup Bonus: N/A
- Rewards Rate: N/A
- 0% Intro APR: 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 17.49% - 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- Balance Transfer Fee: $5 or 5% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater
- Annual Fee: $0
Approval Odds
Based on data we've collected from public forums, here are a sample of credit scores that were either approved or denied for this card:
App Status | Date | Credit Score | Bureau | Credit Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Approved | 06/09/2018 | Equifax | ||
Approved | 10/15/2022 | Not Provided | ||
Approved | 01/09/2017 | Equifax | ||
Approved | 11/18/2022 | Not Provided | ||
Approved | 05/20/2018 | Not Provided | ||
Approved | 01/11/2023 | Equifax | ||
Approved | 02/15/2023 | Experian | ||
Approved | 07/01/2020 | Equifax | ||
Denied | 04/04/2021 | Equifax |
Citi Simplicity® Card

So what's the difference? Unlike Citi Diamond, this card charges no late fees or penalty rates. That's the good news. In exchange, it does charge a slightly higher regular APR.
- Signup Bonus: N/A
- Rewards Rate: N/A
- 0% Intro APR: 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 18.49% - 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater for the first four months of account opening, after that balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% after first four.
- Annual Fee: $0
FAQs
Is Citi the same as Citibank?
Yes. In 2009 Citicorp, Inc. reorganized into two groups, Citicorp and Citi Holdings.
Are Citi credit cards good cards?
Yes and no. They have some of the best cash back and 0% APR cards available on the market today. Its travel cards, however, are not as popular as those offered by the likes of American Express and Chase.
What credit score do you need to get a Citibank credit card?
You need good to excellent credit for most of Citi's credit cards. Generally speaking, you want to aim for a FICO score of 700 or higher, although we have seen some approvals with scores in the upper 600s.
Final Thoughts
I've banked at Citi for more than 30 years. I've carried at least one Citibank credit card for about as long. Overall they offer competitive cards depending on your specific goals. They compete best in the cash back and 0% intro APR markets.