Advertiser Disclosure:
Katie's Travel Tricks has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Katie's Travel Tricks and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Editorial Disclosure:
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author's alone.
Non-Affiliate Offer
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Welcome Offer
bonus_miles
bonus_miles_full
How to Earn Rewards
5%
Cash back (5x ThankYou® Points) on your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent (then 1% in that category). Eligible categories: Restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, live entertainment. Category adjusts automatically — no enrollment.
4%
ADDITIONAL cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal — through 6/30/2026 (special travel offer)
1%
Cash back (1x ThankYou® Point) on all other purchases
Key Benefits
Tap any benefit to see details.
5% Cash Back on Top Eligible Spend Category (Up to $500/Cycle)
Earn 5% cash back (5x ThankYou Points) on your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent. Maximum potential: $25/month or $300/year if you max the category every cycle. Categories adjust automatically based on your spending — no enrollment required.
4% Additional Cash Back on Citi Travel Portal (Through June 30, 2026)
Limited-time (through 6/30/2026): Earn an ADDITIONAL 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal. Stacks on top of the 1% base or 5% top-category earn.
Pool ThankYou Points with Citi Strata Premier or Prestige to Unlock Transfer Partners
Cash back earned is technically ThankYou® Points (1 TYP = 1 cent cash back). If you also hold a Citi Strata Premier or Citi Prestige, you can pool points across cards — turning the 'cash back' into points transferable to Citi's airline/hotel partners (Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, JetBlue, Wyndham, Choice, etc.). Without a Premier-tier card, points are cash back only.
$0 Annual Fee — Keep Long-Term at No Cost
No annual fee — keep the card open indefinitely at no cost. Useful for keeping average account age high (good for credit score) and for ongoing 5% category strategy.
0% Intro APR for 18 Months on Balance Transfers (4-Month Window)
0% intro APR on balance transfers for the first 18 months, for transfers completed within 4 months of account opening. After intro period: variable APR 17.49%-27.49% based on creditworthiness. Useful for paying down high-interest debt — but be aware of balance transfer fees.
3% Foreign Transaction Fee — Don't Use Abroad
This card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee. NOT a card to use for international travel — use a no-FTF card abroad.
Citi Entertainment® Access
Access to Citi Entertainment® for exclusive presale tickets to concerts, sporting events, dining experiences, and more.
ThankYou® Points Never Expire (As Long as Account is Open)
ThankYou Points never expire as long as the account is open. Worth keeping the $0-AF card open indefinitely just to preserve points.
Cash Back / Statement Credit / Direct Deposit / Check / Gift Cards / Travel / Amazon
Multiple redemption options: statement credit, direct deposit, mailed check ($5/500-point minimum for check), gift cards, travel, Shop with Points at Amazon.com or PayPal. Cash back redemptions = 1 TYP per cent.
$0 Liability on Unauthorized Charges
$0 liability on unauthorized charges — Citi covers fraudulent transactions if reported.
48-Month Welcome Bonus Restriction (Citi Family Rule)
Citi has a 48-MONTH (4-year) restriction on Custom Cash welcome bonuses (longer than Chase's 24-month rule). Bonus not available if you received a Custom Cash bonus in the past 48 months OR if you converted another Citi card with a recent bonus into a Custom Cash. Important to plan around if applying for multiple Citi cards.
Citi Issues Only ONE Custom Cash Account Per Person
Citi will only issue ONE Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person — so unlike Chase where you can have multiple of the same card type via business + personal pairings, Custom Cash is strictly one-and-done.
Citi Application Velocity Rules (1/8 + 2/65)
Citi limits applications: 1 Citi personal card per 8-day rolling window, 2 Citi personal cards per 65-day rolling window. Plan timing carefully if applying for multiple Citi cards (Custom Cash + Strata Premier + Double Cash trifecta strategy).
Katie's Take
Why this card might (or might not) be right for you.
Show
Hide
Katie's Take
Why this card might (or might not) be right for you.
This can be a good starter card or a good way to strategically earn extra Thank You points.
If you pair this with a Citi Strata Premier, you'd be able to combine all the cash back/points.
To maximize, move all your spending for one category (or the first $500 of that category) to this card. You earn 5% cash back on up to $500 a month in your highest spend of these categories: Restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, live entertainment.
Offer History
See past welcome bonuses to gauge whether the current offer is elevated.
View History
Hide
Offer History
See past welcome bonuses to gauge whether the current offer is elevated.
| Offer | Spend Req. | Date |
|---|---|---|
| $200 + 4% Citi Travel Stack (Through 6/30/2026)CurrentElevated | $1,500 in 6 mo + Citi Travel use | Current with limited-time travel portal stack |
| $200 Cash Back (20,000 ThankYou Points)Current | $1,500 in 6 mo | Current public; standard offer (May 2026) |
