How Much Are Citi ThankYou Points Worth?

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Citi lets you earn ThankYou Points through various credit cards. Even the Citi Custom Cash Card and the Citi Double Cash Credit Card, both marketed as cash back cards, are linked to the Citi ThankYou Rewards program. The card you get, the bonus categories it comes with and your spending habits affect how quickly you earn points.

The value of Citi ThankYou Points varies based on the redemption method you choose. For example, you usually get better value by transferring them to an airline partner instead of using them to shop online. In most cases, you can expect to get 0.5 cents to 1 cent per point. This is about average if you compare the value you get through the Citi ThankYou Rewards program with rewards programs run by other credit card issuers.

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MoneyGeek’s Takeaways

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The worth of a Citi ThankYou point typically varies from 0.5 cents to 1 cent per point.

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The value of ThankYou Points, when redeemed for cash back, depends on your card.

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Your points can sometimes be worth more if you transfer them to an airline partner.

Some of the links on this page will take you to one of our partner's sites, where you can compare and apply for a selected credit card.

How Much Are Citi ThankYou Points Worth?

How much Citi ThankYou Points are worth depends on how you redeem them. For example, you typically get better value if you use them to make travel bookings instead of redeeming them as cash back.

Value of Citi ThankYou Points Across Different Redemption Methods
Redemption Options
Value per Point

Overall

0.5 cents to 1 cent per point

Cash Back

0.5 cents to 1 cent per point

Gift Cards

1 cent per point

Pay With Points

0.8 cents per point

Travel

1 cent per point

Transfer to Airline or Hotel Partner

1 cent to 2 cents per point

Charitable Contribution

1 cent per point

Statement Credit

0.8 cents per point

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BEST OVERALL CREDIT CARD TO EARN THANKYOU POINTS

The Citi Premier Card lets you earn 3X ThankYou Points per dollar on spending at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels. You get 1X points per dollar on all other purchases. If you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months, you get a bonus of 60,000 points. Each year, you get $100 off when you book a hotel stay through ThankYou Rewards that costs $500 or more. Using this card outside of the U.S. makes sense because it doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. It comes with a $95 annual fee.

The no-annual-fee Citi Double Cash card is a good alternative for people who wish to earn 2X points per dollar on all purchases. While this card offers 1% cash back when you make purchases and an additional 1% back when you make payments, the cash back you earn comes in the form of ThankYou Points. That essentially means you earn up to 2X ThankYou Points per dollar.

Which Credit Cards Earn Citi ThankYou Points?

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Rewards Rate
Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals...
APR
20.49% - 28.49% variable
Annual Fee
$95
Recommended Credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
Citi Double Cash® Card

Rewards Rate
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash b...
Annual Fee
$0
APR
18.49% - 28.49% variable
Recommended Credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)
Citi Rewards+® Card

Rewards Rate
Special offer: earn 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spen...
APR
17.99% - 27.99% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Recommended Credit
670-850 (Good to Excellent)

How Citi ThankYou Points Compare to Other Credit Cards

The Citi ThankYou Rewards program offers fairly average value compared to other popular credit card rewards programs. Transfers to most airline and hotel loyalty programs take place at a 1:1 ratio. In some cases, people with Citi Prestige (no longer available) and Citi Premier cards get better value than others when they transfer Citi ThankYou Points.

Although the redemption method plays a role in the value you get for your ThankYou Points, the same also holds true with most other rewards programs.

Citi Points Value vs. Other Cards
Credit Card Issuer
Average Value

Citi

0.5 cents to 1 cent per point

American Express

0.5 cents to 2 cents per point

Chase

1 cent to 1.5 cents per point

Capital One

0.5 cents to 1 cent per mile

Bank of America

0.6 cents to 1 cent per point

Discover

1 cent per mile

Wells Fargo

1 cent per point

How Much Are Citi Points Worth for Cash Back?

The value of ThankYou Points, when redeemed for cash back, depends on the Citi card you use. For example, you get 1 cent per point if you have the Citi Double Cash or the Citi Custom Cash Card and redeem your points in the form of a check, a direct deposit or a statement credit. With the Citi Rewards+ Card, cash back redemptions come with a value of 0.5 cents per point.

Citi Points Value vs. Other Cards: Cash Back
Credit Card Issuer
Average Value

Citi

0.5 cents to 1 cent per point

American Express

0.6 cents per point

Bank of America

0.6 cents to 1 cent per point

Chase

1 cent per point

Capital One

0.5 cents per mile

Discover

1 cent per mile

Wells Fargo

1 cent per point

If you’re wondering how to redeem Citi ThankYou Points for cash back, you need to start by logging in to the ThankYou.com platform. Then, under Cash Rewards, choose whether you wish to receive your cash back as a statement credit, direct deposit or check by mail. Opting for this redemption method might work well for you if you receive a value of 1 cent per point. If you only get 0.5 cents per point, you may want to consider choosing a different method.

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BEST CASH BACK CREDIT CARDS

For those interested in Citi cards that are not part of the ThankYou Points program, the Costco Anywhere Visa Card is an excellent no-annual-fee cash back card for Costco members. You get 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases globally (including at Costco) on combined spending of up to $7,000 each year. All other Costco and Costco.com purchases come with 2% cash back. Spending on eligible travel purchases and at restaurants will earn 3% cash back. You earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.

How Much Are Citi Points Worth for Gift Cards?

When you redeem your ThankYou Points for gift cards, your points will be worth 1 cent per point in most cases. Some popular brands you can choose from include Adidas, Airbnb, Banana Republic, Gap, Lowe's, Macy's, Nike, Sears and Wendy's. Citi also offers gift cards on sale from time to time, through which you get better value.

Citi Points Value vs. Other Card Issuers: Gift Cards
Credit Card Issuer
Average Value

Citi

1 cent per point (except cards on sale)

American Express

0.5 cents to 1 cent per point

Chase

1 cent per point, unless through a promotional offer

Capital One

0.5 cents to 1 cent per mile

Bank of America

0.6 cents to 1 cent per point (depending on the card you have)

Discover

Cannot redeem miles for gift cards

Wells Fargo

1 cent per point

Redeeming ThankYou Points for gift cards is fairly straightforward. Once you log in to the ThankYou.com platform, select the gift cards you wish to purchase and add them to your cart. Then, pay for them using your ThankYou Points.

How Much Are Citi Points Worth for Travel?

If you redeem your ThankYou Points for flight tickets, hotel stays, cruises or car rentals through the Citi ThankYou Travel Center, you get a standard value of 1 cent per point.

Citi Points Value vs. Other Cards: Travel
Credit Card Issuer
Average Value

Citi

1 cent per point

American Express

0.5 cents to 1 cent per point

Chase

1 cent to 1.5 cents per point (depending on the card you have)

Capital One

1 cent per mile

Bank of America

1 cent per point

Discover

1 cent per mile

Wells Fargo

1 cent to 1.5 cents per point

Redeeming ThankYou Points for travel purchases requires that you log in to the ThankYou.com platform. Then, you may look for flights, hotels, cruises or rental cars based on your requirements. If you don’t have enough points to pay for a booking, you may pay the remainder using cash.

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BEST TRAVEL CREDIT CARDS

While not linked to the ThankYou program, the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard is a great travel card. It charges a $99 annual fee, which you don't have to pay for the first year. Spending $2,500 on purchases in the first three months earns you a bonus of 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles. Restaurant, gas station and eligible American Airlines purchases come with 2X miles per dollar. You get 1X miles per dollar on all other purchases. You pay no foreign transaction fees when you use this card outside of the U.S.

How Much Are Citi Points Worth for Transfer Partners?

Transfers to most Citi ThankYou transfer partners take place at a 1:1 ratio. However, the actual value you get for your points depends on the partner you select. While it’s possible to get a value of more than 2 cents per point in some cases, depending on which loyalty program you transfer your points to and how you redeem them via that program, a value of 1 cent to 2 cents per point is typical.

Citi Points Value vs. Other Cards: Transfer Partners
Credit Card Issuer
Average Value

Citi

1 cent to 2 cents per point

American Express

1 cent to 2 cents per point

Chase

1 cent to 2 cents per point

Capital One

1 cent to 2 cents per mile

Bank of America

Does not have transfer partners

Discover

Does not have transfer partners

Wells Fargo

1 cent to 2 cents per point (only for the Bilt Mastercard)

Once you log in to the ThankYou.com platform, select the Points Transfer option under Travel. Choose the transfer partner to initiate your transfer. You need to transfer points in increments of 1,000, although this does not apply when you transfer points to the Sears Shop Your Way program. In addition, you cannot transfer more than 500,000 points in one go. Bear in mind that not all partners provide the same value. Some of your top options include Avianca LifeMiles, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Etihad Guest.

How Much Are Citi Points Worth for Shopping?

When it comes to how to use Citi ThankYou Points for shopping and the value you receive in return, the worth of your points may vary slightly based on the partner you select. On average, you may expect to get 0.8 cents per point through the Shop with Points option.

Citi Points Value vs. Other Cards: Shopping
Credit Card Issuer
Average Value

Citi

0.8 cents per point

American Express

0.5 cents to 1 cent per point

Chase

0.8 cents to 1 cent per point (unless through promotional offers)

Capital One

0.8 cents to 1 cent per mile

Discover

1 cent per mile

Wells Fargo

1 cent per point

There are a few different ways to use Citi ThankYou Points for shopping. If you wish to use your points to shop at Amazon.com, you need to add your Citi card to your Amazon account first. This is also the case if you want to use your points while checking out using PayPal. Using your points at Walmart or CVS to cover $10 of an in-store purchase requires that you use your Citi card. This is also the case if you plan to redeem your points for fuel purchases at Shell or BP Amoco.

With merchants such as Best Buy and 1-800-Flowers.com, you need to pay for your purchase using your Citi card first. Citi charges the card the entire amount and then provides a statement credit in lieu of your points.

How to Earn More Points From Citi

An easy way to earn bonus Citi ThankYou Points is to get a Citi credit card linked to this rewards program and meet its spend-based requirement. For instance, you may earn 60,000 bonus points if you use your new Citi Premier Card and spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that you might not qualify for a welcome bonus if you’ve held the same card in the preceding 24 months.

Adding an authorized user to your card allows you to earn points faster. Additional cards linked to a Citi card that earns ThankYou Points also earn points. However, bear in mind that you’ll be liable to pay for all charges made using authorized cards.

While not all cards let you earn ThankYou Points, a few other rewards cards from Citi are worthy of your attention. For example, the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Mastercard is an excellent no-annual-fee option for earning AAdvantage miles. And the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is ideal for frequent American Airlines flyers who wish to get premium benefits.

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MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

Citi ThankYou Points are valuable transferable rewards earned on Citi cards. However, it’s important to evaluate Citi’s transfer partners to see if they fit with your typical travel habits. These partners are primarily international brands, so be sure to check this before applying.
Brett Holzhauer, contributing expert for MoneyGeek

Earn Points Through Citi Partner Merchants

Unlike some credit card rewards programs that let you earn points/miles through partner merchants, the Citi ThankYou Rewards program does not. However, some of its cards let you earn points faster through bonus categories such as travel, dining, drugstores, supermarkets, home improvement stores, gas stations and live entertainment. Cards that fit this bill include the Citi Custom Cash Card, the Citi Rewards+ Card and the Citi Premier Card.

Buying Points From Citi

You may buy ThankYou Points in increments of 1,000. Each set of 1,000 points costs $25, so you end up paying 2.5 cents per point. That is more than the value you typically get for your ThankYou Points. In addition, when redeeming a reward, you might be able to pay for any deficit in points with cash. As a result, you need to look at the value you get when you purchase ThankYou Points in advance.

About Citi ThankYou Rewards

Citi runs the ThankYou Rewards program for eligible credit cardholders and consumer checking account holders. However, only checking accounts enrolled in the program before July 18, 2022, continue to earn ThankYou Points.

If you have a Citi credit card linked to the ThankYou Rewards program, you earn points every time you make a purchase. Depending on your card, you may earn points faster by spending on bonus categories.

There is no maximum limit to the number of points you may earn with a Citi credit card. The expiration policy of ThankYou Points varies based on the card you have. If you’re wondering how to keep Citi ThankYou Points from expiring, it’s best that you keep using your Citi card from time to time to keep your ThankYou Rewards account active.

While there are different ways to redeem Citi ThankYou Points, they’re typically worth the most when transferred to an airline partner. Bear in mind that there is no official Citi ThankYou redemption chart that you may turn to when it comes to calculating their worth based on different redemption methods.

One noticeable drawback of the ThankYou Rewards program is that it does not allow you to earn points through partner merchants.

How We Determined the Value of Citi ThankYou Points

MoneyGeek experts have taken a close look at how the value of Citi ThankYou points changes based on different redemption methods. They have also conducted in-depth market research to determine the worth of your points.

Other Questions You May Have About Citi ThankYou Points

Everyone's preferences and spending habits are different. Learning the answers to other commonly asked questions about how much Citi ThankYou Points are worth based on various factors might help you decide how best to use them and, ultimately, if this rewards program is right for you.

Can I use my Citi points for someone else?

Can I use my Citi points to buy something else?

Can I convert my Citi ThankYou Points to cash?

Are there any additional fees when transferring ThankYou Points to transfer partners?

When do my Citi ThankYou Points expire?

Can I transfer my Citi ThankYou Points?

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About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.


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