Citi ThankYou Points for Maximum Value- ThankYou Points Worth & How to Use Them

Many different credit cards offer rewards. With all the rewards out there it can be confusing which to choose from. Citi ThankYou Points are some of the rewards options available to credit card holders. In this article, we will be discussing what Citi ThankYou Points are. Citi ThankYou Points are rewards that you receive from having certain credit cards with Citibank.

Why Applying For The Citi Thank You Card Is A Great Idea

The Citi Thank You card features great options for both students and big spenders. Regardless of your prerogative, there are many tips and tricks you can use when trying to get the most out of your Citi ThankYou Points. Applying for the Citi Thank You Card is easy. With the click of a button, you can sign up for one of four card options. Before you do, it’s important to understand the differences between these four options as well as some wonderful tips to consider when redeeming your points.

• Citi ThankYou Preferred and Primer Cards
• Citi Prestige Card
• AT&T Access Card by Citibank

When you use these cards you can earn certain amounts of points for each time you use the cards. In addition, if you have a checking account with Citi that gets regular direct deposits then you can also earn more points. These points can be used for things like purchases, bill payments, cash back, and other things. They have a flexible return and allow you to use them how you please which makes it very appealing. There are also many ways to get the points because they are offered with so many credit card options. Thus, earning these points may not be hard as there are different card choices for you to apply and choose the best option from.

An In-Depth Look At Citi Credit Cards When Applying For The Citi ThankYou Card

Citi Offers four different card Options when signing up, they include, The Preferred Card, Premier Card, the Student Preferred Card and the ATT Access Card. The Preferred Card offers two times the points on entertainment and dining options. Although you get two times the points on these types of purchases, there is no sign on bonus programs.

The Citi ThankYou Premier Card 

The Citi ThankYou Premier Card is a little different. One of this card’s major perks is the 60,000 bonus points program, allowing users to get 60,000 bonus points if they spend 4,000 dollars within the first 3 months of receiving the card. It also features an annual fee which is waived for the first 12 months.

The Citi Preferred Card For College Students 

This card is a wonderful option for students as it gives them 2,500 bonus points after spending $500.00 within the first 3 months of opening their account. Also includes 0% APR on purchases for your first 7 months.

The ATT Access Card 

The great thing about this option is the 10,000 bonus points offered after spending $1,000 within the first 3 months of opening your account. This card doesn’t feature an introductory 0% APR offer; instead, the APR is based on the borrower’s creditworthiness. One of the best benefits offered with this option is the double ThankYou Points earned for every dollar spent online.

Do These ThankYou Points Expire

So the primary question you’re probably asking yourself is; do these ThankYou Points expire? Unless specified otherwise, Citi ThankYou Points expire within three years from the date they were earned.

Tips and Tricks For Redeeming Your Citi Thank You Points

Generally, Citi ThankYou Points are valued at a little less than a penny when applied to other offers outside travel. If you are looking to get the most bang for your buck, consider using your points with some of Citi’s travel partners. On the other hand, if you’re not a frequent flyer but would rather use your points elsewhere, there are many options available. Depending on the Citi card chosen, each accumulates points differently. Some cards will reward more points for specific types of purchases than others. Although not mentioned previously, the Citi Prestige Card is one of the best options for maximizing your ThankYou Points. The downside to this option is the high annual fee of $450. Besides the Citi Prestige, the Premier card is the next best option as it offers a great earning scheme and low $95 annual fee. Regardless of what option you choose, there are many ways to redeem your points.

Using Thank You Points For Paying Student Loans 

Many students are finding that Citi ThankYou Points are a life saver when it comes to paying for student loans. Using your Citi points in this fashion nets you about 1 penny per point. This is just another reason why applying for the Citi ThankYou card is a great option.

Redeeming For Cash 

On top of using Citi points for paying off your mortgage or student loans, you can also redeem them for cold hard cash. When redeeming your points for cash, keep in mind that the end valuation is pretty weak. Unfortunately, you’ll only receive about a half a cent per point. If you want to get the most out of your points, then using them to book Travel flights is your best option. Most travel partners will allow Citi point redemptions at 1.25 cents per point, one of the highest payout options available.

How Much Can You Earn?

Now this all sounds good but it raises the question of how much you can actually earn from these cards, well depending on which card you have you can earn different points, the main purchases you can earn points on are:

• Restaurants and entertainment
• Travel
• Gas
• Hotel stay
• Airline tickets
• AT&T products and services
• Retail Purchases
• Other Purchases

On qualifying purchases such as the ones on the list, you can earn two to three times the points. On other purchases, you can earn 1 point for every dollar you spend. Roughly, each point is worth about a penny. Which means that you have to spend money to get these points as with most credit card rewards. However, they also have options for you to buy the points. For example, if you have a large reward you want to cash out but you have to reach a certain increment in order to be able to cash it out you can purchase the points in order to be able to cash out your amount of points. Each set of 1,000 points is worth about $10.

How To Redeem Points

One of the main advantages of the Citi Rewards is that you can easily redeem your points in a number of different ways. Here are some of the ways that points can easily be redeemed through:

• Gift cards
• Bill payments
• Rental car certificates
• Contributions to charities
• Cash
• Credits to your bill
• On other purchases

One thing to know is if you are going to redeem them in the form of cash you will receive less money for them, and this is also true for redemption toward bill balance. The bottom line is you get more if you redeem them through gift cards, bill payments, rental car certificates, and charitable contributions. If you travel a lot and prefer to use your points for travel then you can also use them on airfare through a method that transfers them. There is a list of partner airlines that you can use your points toward.

What Are The Overall Benefits?

These points were designed to allow customers to now have to wait long periods of time in order to earn rewards. As you may know, credit cards reward you for the more you spend, but spending a lot can adversely affect your credit if you carry a balance. This point system tries to relieve that by allowing you to earn points in multiple ways. They also provide bonus point options which means you can spend less and then earn more. The best way to earn is to have an account with Citibank in addition to your credit card. By having an account you have the option to earn points on products linked to your account in addition to services linked to your account. The points you earn are added from all your qualifying purchases and then they are attached to one account, which allows for convenient earning.

Tips For Using These Points

Ultimately, these points provide you with a fun and convenient way to shop and earn. However, the best thing to do if you are redeeming these points is to pay attention to where you are going to use them that is going to give you the most value for them. They can be worth a penny or less per point. For example, it may be better to use them on a gift card for a retailer instead of the actual retailer’s website because of the way the point values break down. If you decide to take advantage of these points then figuring out the way you want to redeem your points will help you get the most out of having the points and the best offers. Also, the points depend on what card you have. Research and understand which card is best for your needs so you can get the most out of it. Whether you’re using your points for paying down student loans or taking your next trip, applying for the Citi ThankYou Card is a great option. If you’re looking for a great card with low APR and high paying rewards programs, Citi Banks line of credit card options is a perfect fit. Also, don’t forget when asking yourself, do these ThankYou Points expire, that you have three years to redeem them.