Citi Forward Cardholders To Be Product Changed To Citi ThankYou Preferred (Comes With $50 Spending Bonus)

December 18th, 2017 update: Cardholders are receiving e-mails/mail outs informing them that they will also receive a $50 bonus once you activate the new card and spend $500 through April 30th, 2018. Hat tip to reader @ArtKGreen

Update: Looks like the $50/$500 bonus is targeted as not all cardholders are receiving it (e.g some are receiving the packet with the other details but no mention of the bonus)

November 1st, 2017: Reddit user MsTuffsy waas told that Citi Foward cardholders will be converted to Citi ThankYou Preferred on January 3, 2018. The Forward card hasn’t been available for new applications for some time, it used to offer 5% categories (restaurants, movies, music and books purchases) but these were removed on June 4th, 2016. The card still gives you 100 ThankYou points every month if you pay your bill on time, so there will be some value lost there.

The product conversion shouldn’t reset the 24 month clock for Citi ThankYou point sign up bonuses, as long as this product change does not result in a new account number.

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devyanks90
devyanks90 (@guest_572856)
March 22, 2018 06:41

Received my $50 credit on the $500 spend yesterday. Met the spending requirement on 2/11.

daniel
daniel (@guest_575827)
March 30, 2018 11:09

I got the $50 too. Now, I’m wondering if anyone has tried applying for another TY card bonus to determine whether or not this conversion has reset the 24mo clock?

Madison
Madison (@guest_550201)
January 12, 2018 12:43

For future reference – keep a copy of all the paperwork. I was denied the bonus on another card for less than 24 months. However, I faxed in the paperwork showing it was a forced conversion and they granted it.

Pat
Pat (@guest_553187)
January 22, 2018 16:29

I cannot remember if I received the offer and when I called Citibank today, they claimed NO ONE had received such an offer –both the first line rep and supervisor Jasmine. Clearly untrue. Anyone have a way to follow up on this?

Trigger08
Trigger08 (@guest_557780)
February 5, 2018 18:47

I didn’t think to save the mailer with the $50 for $500 spend promo. Now when I contacted Citi through the secure messaging option to confirm the details they said they don’t show my account as having been solicited for the offer, so I should mail in a copy… Oh well.

ET
ET (@guest_560863)
February 15, 2018 16:49

I actually eventually got someone to pull up the offer after having the same issue. I asked them to look under the Forward card, and indeed it was there. The representative told me the offer was still attached to the Forward account, and presumably everyone else was looking at the Preferred account.

ET
ET (@guest_560797)
February 15, 2018 14:14

Yup, got the same story from them. Like no one has even heard of the offer. Not something Citi sends out supposedly. They made it sound like they thought I was making it up.

I’ll check later for the offer letter, but if I can’t locate it, I’m going to stop using the card and defer my business elsewhere.

Ian
Ian (@guest_550164)
January 12, 2018 11:11

I initiated a live chat with Citi customer service, as I was curious when I would receive my new card to start spending towards the $50 statement credit with $500 spend. I received some interesting information from customer service agent Ayush; I’d be curious to hear if others get the same response.

A slightly modified version of our live chat conversation is below; Ayush’s first message is in response to my initial question asking about when the new Citi ThankYou Preferred card would be sent out:

Ayush at 9:55, Jan 12:
The card will started dispatching from 18th of January, so most probably you might receive the card by the first week of Feb
Ayush at 9:55, Jan 12:
Don’t worry you can still keep on using the present card. Even online
You at 9:56, Jan 12:
Okay. Can you confirm for me that the $50 bonus cash back on $500 spend offer on my Citi ThankYou Preferred card is only valid when I activate and use the NEW card?
Ayush at 9:57, Jan 12:
I’ll be glad to check that for you
Ayush at 9:59, Jan 12:
Yes, You are absolutely right To qualify for the offer, you will need to spend $500 on your Citi ThankYou Preferred card within the first three months of activation
You at 10:01, Jan 12:
Oh, so I have three months after activation to spend the $500? The information I received in the mail said I had until April 30, 2018. Which is the correct time frame?
Ayush at 10:02, Jan 12:
April 30th 2018 is the time frame by which the forward card will be completely discard, however this offer would be considered from the date you activate the new card

Andy
Andy (@guest_549281)
January 9, 2018 22:40

Got a notification from my bill pay that a Citi card number has changed. Soooooo close to the 24 months.

J.
J. (@guest_542164)
December 27, 2017 20:15

If the new card will reset the 24 months clock, should I apply for a new ThankYou Prefer card if I never had one?

Anonymous
Anonymous (@guest_539594)
December 21, 2017 13:58

I did not receive the 50/500 in the mailer. I called and complained enough that other customers had gotten the offer. I spoke with a rep, then Account Manager from the Phillipines and then Account Manager in the US. The US-based Account Manager offered me $50 in a statement credit for being upset enough with them.

leon
leon (@guest_537980)
December 18, 2017 23:43

Yes, I did NOT receive the 50/500 in the mailer. Also says my account number WILL change.

jeff
jeff (@guest_537899)
December 18, 2017 21:56

50/500 must be targeted. i got the same mailer today w/o the special offer just a larger mastercard logo in its place.

SF
SF (@guest_537780)
December 18, 2017 19:11

I got this card when it was 5x dining / books / entertainment and included Amazon.com… It was so good back then. I almost entirely stopped using it when they took that off, except for a charge every few months to keep it active.

It looks like the only transfer partner I can get with this card is TrueBlue? And at a rate of 2:1 too? That’s so abysmal. Can anyone confirm if there are any other transfer partners? Would be nice to be able to transfer to LifeMiles.

Can
Can (@guest_537762)
December 18, 2017 18:49

Received an mail says the account number WILL change. Does it mean it will reset the 24 months clock?