Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Quick Snapshot

• Annual Fee: $95
• APR: 21.24%-29.24% variable
• Rewards: 10X on hotels and car rentals booked through CitiTravel; 3X on air travel, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging; 1X on everything else
• Bonus: 75,000 ThankYou points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
• Best For: Travelers who want strong earning across multiple categories and valuable transfer partners at a moderate annual fee
• Credit Needed: Good to Excellent (670+)

Overview

The Citi Strata Premier is Citi's mid-tier travel rewards card and one of the strongest options in the $95 annual fee category. It earns 10X ThankYou points on hotels and car rentals booked through the CitiTravel portal, 3X on flights, hotels booked directly, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations, and 1X on everything else. The breadth of 3X categories is significantly wider than most competitors at this price point.

The 75,000-point welcome bonus after $4,000 in spending within 3 months is among the most generous offers in the mid-tier space, with points worth at least $750 when redeemed through the portal and potentially more when transferred to airline and hotel partners. ThankYou points transfer to over a dozen partners including JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Accor hotels, giving you access to outsized redemption values.

The Strata Premier also includes an annual hotel savings benefit when booking through CitiTravel, trip interruption protection, baggage delay insurance, and no foreign transaction fees. When paired with the Citi Double Cash or Custom Cash, it unlocks transfer partner access for points earned across all your Citi cards, creating a flexible and powerful rewards ecosystem that rivals much more expensive setups from competitors.

APR Breakdown

• Purchase APR: 21.24%-29.24% variable
• Balance Transfer APR: 21.24%-29.24% variable
• Cash Advance APR: 29.99% variable
• Penalty APR: 29.99% variable

Note: Variable APR of 21.24%-29.24% based on creditworthiness and tied to the Prime Rate. No intro APR offer on purchases or balance transfers.

Benefits Overview

Elevated Earning Rates

• 10X points on hotels and car rentals booked through CitiTravel
• 3X points on air travel booked directly with airlines
• 3X points on hotels booked directly
• 3X points at restaurants worldwide
• 3X points at supermarkets
• 3X points at gas stations and EV charging stations
• 1X point on all other purchases

Transfer Partners and Redemption

• Transfer ThankYou points to 15+ airline and hotel partners
• Key partners include JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Avianca LifeMiles, and Accor
• Points worth 1 cent each when redeemed through the CitiTravel portal
• Transfer ratios are typically 1:1 for most partners
• Enables transfer partner access for points earned on the Double Cash and Custom Cash

Travel Protections

• Annual hotel savings benefit on CitiTravel bookings
• Trip interruption protection
• Baggage delay insurance
• No foreign transaction fees
• Worldwide car rental insurance (secondary coverage)
• Citi Entertainment presale access

Rewards & Points

• 10X points on hotels and car rentals booked through CitiTravel
• 3X points on air travel, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, gas, and EV charging
• 1X point on all other purchases

ThankYou points are most valuable when transferred to airline and hotel partners. Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club often yield 1.5-2.5 cents per point on premium cabin flights. Points can also be redeemed at 1 cent each through the CitiTravel portal or as statement credits.

Welcome Bonus

Earn 75,000 ThankYou points after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. At a baseline value of 1 cent per point, this bonus is worth $750 in travel. With strategic transfers to airline partners, the value can exceed $1,200 depending on the redemption.

Fees Summary

• Annual Fee: $95
• Balance Transfer Fee: 5% of each transfer (min $5)
• Cash Advance Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount, whichever is greater
• Foreign Transaction Fee: $0
• Late Payment Fee: Up to $41
• Returned Payment Fee: Up to $41

Who This Card Is Best For

Ideal For

• Multi-category travelers who want 3X on flights, dining, gas, groceries, and hotels simultaneously
• Points transfer enthusiasts who want access to 15+ airline and hotel partners
• Citi ecosystem builders who pair this with the Double Cash and Custom Cash for maximum flexibility
• International travelers who need no foreign transaction fees and global restaurant earning

Not Good For

• Annual fee avoiders who do not want to pay $95 per year for a credit card
• Lounge access seekers who want Priority Pass or airport lounge membership (upgrade to Strata Elite)
• Cash back purists who prefer simple cash back over managing transfer partners

Key Pros & Cons

Pros

• 75,000-point welcome bonus is among the best in the $95 annual fee category
• 10X on hotels and car rentals via CitiTravel is exceptional
• 3X on six everyday categories covers most spending patterns
• Transfer partners include premium programs like Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic
• No foreign transaction fees for international travel
• Unlocks transfer partner access for all Citi ThankYou cards in your wallet
• Annual hotel savings benefit adds ongoing value
• Trip interruption and baggage delay protections
• $95 annual fee is competitive for the level of rewards offered
• Pairs with Double Cash and Custom Cash for a powerful no-compromise ecosystem

Cons

• $95 annual fee is not waived the first year
• No airport lounge access at this tier
• No intro APR on purchases or balance transfers
• High ongoing APR starting at 21.24% variable
• 10X rate requires booking through CitiTravel portal, not directly
• 1X on non-bonus categories is below the 2% flat-rate standard
• Transfer partner list is smaller than Chase and Amex
• No annual travel credit to offset the annual fee

Alternatives to Consider

How the Rewards Add Up

Example Annual Value

First-year value: $1,435 ($750 bonus + $685 rewards - $95 fee). With airline transfer partner redemptions, the 75,000-point bonus alone can yield $1,200+ in premium cabin flights.

Should You Get This Card?

You Should Get It If...

• You want one of the best mid-tier travel cards with a generous welcome bonus
• You spend across dining, groceries, gas, and travel and want 3X on all of them
• You want access to airline and hotel transfer partners for premium redemptions
• You plan to pair this with other Citi ThankYou cards for ecosystem synergy
• You travel internationally and need no foreign transaction fees
• You value a broad earning structure over a single category focus
• You want trip protection and rental car insurance

You Should Skip It If...

• You want airport lounge access included with your card
• You prefer a no-annual-fee card and cannot justify $95 per year
• You want a large annual travel credit to offset the fee
• You rarely travel and would not use transfer partners
• You prefer simple cash back over managing a points ecosystem
• You want a card with an intro 0% APR on purchases

Apply Now

Apply for Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Information accurate as of May 2026. Terms and conditions apply. Please visit the issuer's website for the most current information.