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The Citi® Double Cash Card is a great cashback credit card that offers 2% back on every purchase without rotating categories or rewards caps. It’s ideal for people looking for consistent savings and are willing to pass up higher rewards rates for straightforward cash back.
With no annual fee and an 18-month introductory 0% APR period on balance transfers, the Citi® Double Cash Card is an affordable and straightforward credit card worth consideration for those looking to consolidate credit card debt.
Quick Review
The Citi® Double Cash Card offers a simple and concise list of cashback opportunities and other inviting features. The card is easy to use and save with, which means you’ll never be stuck trying to figure out how much cashback you acquired every month, or signing up for rotating categories. You can get:
- 2% back on all purchases (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay)
- $200 welcome bonus when you spend $1,500 in first 6 months
- 0% APR on balance transfers for first 18 months
- No annual fee
The 2% cashback is completely unlimited, and your savings are never capped or expire. While there are cards that offer higher cashback opportunities, many often limit the amount you can save or require you to track categories (like gas or groceries). The Citi® Double Cash Card has no category restrictions, making it ideal for someone with more general shopping habits and who isn’t focused on saving in specific categories.
The welcome bonus of $200 comes with a spending requirement of $1,500 in the first 6 months, which is a fairly easy threshold to meet. That means you’ll only have to spend $250 on purchases every month for the first 6 months to unlock the bonus. It also comes with a 0% balance transfer APR for the first 18 months, making it a good choice for someone looking to transfer debt from one credit card to another.
The drawbacks of the Citi® Double Cash Card include its potentially high purchase APR of 17.74%–27.74% (variable), the lack of an introductory 0% purchase APR, and limited cashback rates.
Citi® Double Cash Important Details
Basic Card Details
- Annual fee: $0
- Purchase APR: 17.74%–27.74% (variable)
- Rewards rate: 2%
- Welcome bonus: $200
- Grace period: 23 days
Additional Information
- 24 Hour Fraud Protection
- Access to The Lost Wallet® Service
- Free FICO® Score checks
- Citibank reports to the three major credit bureaus
Citi® Double Cash Feature Breakdown
Let’s break down the Citi® Double Cash Card’s key features to help you determine if this is the right credit card for you.
Fees
- Annual fee: $0
- Cash advance fee: $10 or 5% (whichever is greater)
- Balance transfer fee: 3% per transfer ($5 minimum)
- Late fee: Up to $41
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%
Interest Rates
- Purchase APR: 17.74%–27.74% (variable)
- Balance transfer APR: 17.74%–27.74% (variable)
- Intro balance transfer APR: 0% for 18 months
- Cash advance APR: 28.24% (variable)
- Penalty APR: Up to 29.99%
The Citi® Double Cash Card’s high interest rates make paying off the card’s charges on time essential. Otherwise, this could end up being a very expensive credit card to own.
It’s important to clarify that the introductory 0% balance transfer APR offer the Citi® Double Cash Card comes with is not the same as an introductory 0% purchase APR. If you have large upcoming expenses you wish to pay off over time, consider looking at card’s with a 0% APR period on purchases.
Rewards
The list of rewards for the Citi® Double Cash Card are short and sweet. The appeal for the card is its consistency and reliability, rather than the percentage you receive back after every purchase. Here’s how it works:
- Unlimited 2% cash back (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay)
That’s it! This cashback offer has no category restrictions, expiration dates, or spending limits. While many other credit cards may offer higher cash back rewards rates, they usually drop to 1% after you spend (and save) up to a certain amount every year. The appeal of the Citi® Double Cash Card’s rewards program is its dependability––regardless of where you shop or how much you spend.
The $0 annual fee also means there’s no pressure to spend up to a certain amount to make the card worth it.
Rewards Redemption
Cashback rewards can be redeemed at any time for any amount. The Citi® Double Cash Card utilizes ThankYou® Points to help you keep track of and redeem your savings.
You receive a ThankYou® Point for every dollar you spend. When you do the math, that means that 1 ThankYou® Point equals 1 cent. You receive an additional ThankYou® Point for each dollar you pay off on your balance. This means you get 2 cents/$1 after your bill has been paid.
Your points can be redeemed as a statement credit, deposit, check, gift card, travel purchases, or through Amazon’s Shop with Points service.
It’s important to note that the CitiBanks’ ThankYou® Points don’t have a one-to-one transfer ratio to other point systems. Be sure to check how much your ThankYou® Points are worth with a business before redeeming them.
Welcome Bonus
The Citi® Double Cash Card comes with a $200 welcome bonus, which is reasonable. The $1,500 spending requirement is also realistic, making this card a good choice for more modest spenders.
Cash Advance
A cash advance is when you use your credit card to withdraw money for an ATM or money order. While the Citi® Double Cash Card allows cash advances, it comes with a variable APR of 28.24%, and the cash advance fee is $10 or 5%, whichever is higher.
The interest rate and fee for cash advances on this card are incredibly high and could end up being quite expensive. Therefore, the Citi® Double Cash Card should only be used for card purchases, not for cash withdrawals. If you’re in need of cash, we recommend taking out cash with a debit card instead.
Balance Transfers
Balance transfers involve transferring debt from one credit card to another. They are particularly helpful when you need to pay off a card’s charges but don’t have the cash to do so yet.
The Citi® Double Cash Card offers an introductory 0% APR on all balance transfers for your first 18 months. This is ideal for people looking to pay off debt and interest that have piled up on a pre-existing credit card.
You will not receive cashback on any balance transfers.
Other Benefits
The Citi® Double Cash Card comes with a few additional benefits. Here’s what you can get:
- 24 Hour Fraud Protection
- Access to The Lost Wallet® Service
- Access to Citi Entertainment®
While the list of additional benefits is relatively short, the exclusive access to the Citi Entertainment® platform is very beneficial –– especially if you love attending concerts, live shows, comedy shows, and other entertainment events.
Citi Entertainment® gives its users access to Citi exclusive tickets, Citi preferred tickets, and early access to ticket sales. The platform is also an opportunity to learn about exciting events in your area.
Authorized Users
The Citi® Double Cash Card allows authorized users and makes it easy to add an additional user to your credit card through their online portal.
There is no age restriction for authorized users on the Citi® Double Cash Card, which makes it ideal for parents looking to add their teenagers onto their account to teach them about credit and kickstart their credit building journey./
However, as the primary cardholder, you will be responsible for paying off all of its charges. Therefore, you must have clear and honest conversations with any potential authorized users regarding how the card will be used and paid off. Remember, the interest rates on the Citi® Double Cash Card are high, so any late payments could end up being quite pricey.
Credit Reporting
Citibank reports to all three major credit bureaus, so you can use the Citi® Double Cash Card confidently knowing that all your credit history is being consistently reported. This will help you maintain a good credit report if you use your card responsibly.
Customer Service
If you want to speak directly to a representative regarding the Citi® Double Cash Card, you can do so using these contact numbers:
Credit Card Assistance
(800) 347-4934
Customer Service
(800) 374-9700
Should You Get the Citi® Double Cash?
FinanceJar verdict
We would recommend the Citi® Double Cash Card for anyone looking to consolidate credit card debt through a balance transfer. It’s also a good borrowing option for those looking for no-frills rewards at a low price point.
However, the competitive nature of the credit card industry means that cards with more attractive cashback offers are on the market, making the Citi® Double Cash Card slightly less appealing than it probably once was. If you want to earn cashback rates above 2% and are willing to monitor category-spending, keep searching for another card.
Who is this card for?
- Modest spenders looking for consistent savings: Given that there’s no annual fee and you only need to spend $1,500 to unlock the $200 bonus, the spending requirements on the Citi® Double Cash Card are relatively low. This makes it perfect for people looking to save consistently without having to spend a lot.
- People who love to attend events: The Citi® Double Cash Card’s access to Citi Entertainment® makes it ideal for people always on the hunt for a concert, live show, or other event to attend.
- Debt consolidators: If you have an overwhelming balance on another credit card that keeps racking up interest, it may be time to transfer that balance onto a 0% APR card. 18 months of no interest give you well over a year to pay off your debt after moving it to the Citi® Double Cash Card.
Comparable Cards
Here’s how the Citi® Double Cash Card compares to other cashback cards on the market.
