Update: Looks like this is in a pilot program now. Reader @jonathonleguen was offered the following:
It looks like if you deposit $10,000 or more then you’ll get an additional 25% more miles on your card for the first $50,000 spent per year. In addition you get the followign:
- Deposit $10,000-$49,999.99 and get 1.01% APY and 20,000 bonus miles
- Deposit $50,000-$199,999.99 and get 1.25% APY and 40,000 bonus miles
- Deposit $200,000+ and get 1.5% APY and 50,000 bonus miles
Original post: Citibank plans to launch a high-interest online savings account called Citi Miles Ahead for their American Airlines credit cardholders. (CNBC)
- Exact interest rate unknown, but it’s being presented as a high interest account.
- Earn up to 50,000 American miles for signing up (presumably this will be tiered with high deposits earning 50k and lower deposits earning lower amounts).
- 25% boost on miles earned through the credit card (capped at the first $50,000 spent).
- Account will only be available in areas outside of Citi’s physical footprint.
- Account is only for Citi American Airlines credit cardholders.
We’ve known that Citi wants to launch a national digital bank, and they’ve already launched their Citi Accelerate savings account which offers competitive interest rates. The Citi Miles Ahead savings account sounds like it’ll be similar, but with special perks targeting American Airlines users.
This got marketed agressively to me via mail, email, and with prompts at citi login September and October of 2023. Seamed like a good deal with the 3.05% APY they were offering on top of the bonus of miles.
9/28/2023 Account Opened
9/28/2023 $10,001 (Opening Deposit)
1/5/2024 CITI MILES AHEAD 20,000 BONUS MILES posted AA. (Didn’t notice until 1/9/24, it likely was backdated.)
I saw this offer in my citi AA account but got ‘promotion not available’ error when clicking the apply link…oh well
I also saw this on my Citi account, but got the same error when trying to apply.
I signed up for this offer and deposited $10,000, i waited 6 months now they say they never sent me a postcard and I needed to keep the postcard if I got it. They will not honor this offer they targeted me with. Either way, I’m considering contacting an attorney to help making this a class action lawsuit. I know we are not the only ones being scammed by Citi. I’ve stopped using my AA card and trying to find an easy way to withdraw my funds… but Citi intentionally makes this difficult.
Chuck There is a new targeted offer appearing when I log into my citi account. (Both P1 and P2 can open the link. Maybe it is available to all AA card holders.) https://online.citi.com/US/ag/easyaddbank-deep/ph?PromoType=ECM_TIERED_MILES&product_list=citi_accelerate_savings&package=citimilesahead&Promo_ID=4ENS53D7XXINTR Eligibility So long as you are an Eligible Cardmember who has received a direct communication from Citibank inviting you to apply for the Citi Miles AheadSM offer (“Communication”), are at least 18 years of age, and furnish or have a valid Form W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification) or Form W-8BEN (Certification of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding and Reporting (Individuals)) on file with Citibank and are not subject to back-up withholding, you can participate in the “Citi Miles Ahead Offer”. Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World EliteTM Mastercard®, Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World EliteTM Mastercard®, Citi® / AAdvantage® Gold World EliteTM Mastercard® or American Airlines AAdvantage MileUpSM credit cardmembers are “Eligible Cardmembers.” Your Citi Miles Ahead savings account cannot be held in the Private Bank, or IPB to qualify for this offer. In addition, special title, fiduciary, estate, business, Retirement Accounts (including IRAs, SEPs, CESAs, money purchase pension plans, and profit sharing plans), and trust accounts that are not living trusts are not eligible for this offer. ‡ Required Activities If Eligible Customers open their Eligible Account by any other means than those described, they will not be enrolled in this Offer and will not be eligible for the Citi Miles Ahead Package Offer. Eligible Customers must satisfy all of the following “Required Activities”: First, enroll in the Citi Miles Ahead Savings offer between 7/18/2022 and 10/15/2022 (“Offer Period”). Eligible Customers can enroll online by clicking the call-to-action button and following the instructions for online account opening or by contacting a Citibank representative by phone and asking them to enroll you. Second, open a consumer Citi Miles Ahead savings account in the Citi Miles Ahead package as first signer (“Eligible Account”) at the same time and method as you enroll under the first step listed above. Customers must use residential address in AA, AE, AK, AL, AP, AR, AS, AZ, CO, DE, GA, GU, HI, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MP, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VI, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY or select markets in Florida and Illinois when applying for a Citi Miles AheadSM Savings account. Your new Citi Miles Ahead savings account and card account may only be used to fulfill the Citi Miles Ahead Savings offer once per offer period. Third, your Citi Miles Ahead Savings account and card account in the Offer must be open and in good standing from the time you open your Citi Miles Ahead Savings account until the time the applicable miles are credited. The Bonus Miles will be paid within 90 calendar days from the date you complete all Required Activities. Fourth, your New-to-Citibank Funds balance in your Eligible Account… Read more »
I opened the milesAhead savings account on January 11 and deposited $50K. The terms stated the money had to remain in the account for 60 days which it did. I even called to confirm in late march that I met the requirements. They are now refusing to award the miles because the money was not in the account for 90 days. I confirmed the terms stated 60 days with them but they will not honor their commitment.
I had the same exact problem. Do you have a copy of the terms and conditions? I also had them confirm that I had met the requirements. Even in chat. I might challenge that aspect of it.
Same scenario.
I remember it being 90 days but I’ll have to look to see if I can find the brochure or print out. I’m really close to my 90 days and want the miles and money back!
Anyone have a copy of both sides of the mailer they could post? I lost the one I received and am trying to battle Citi on this.
I opened mine on 1/21/21 and deposited 10k on 1/26. Still waiting on the miles. Via Chat said they said miles would be deposited by 4/26. Nope.
My 20K points finally posted on 6/15/21 after quite a few chats with Citi.I left 10K in the account since I opened it on 1/21/21 to be on the safe side.
I opened the Miles Ahead Savings account 6/20. I got an ATM card but never got credit card. Thought there wasn’t one. So kept seeing about 25% more miles. I called credit card number and they said you don’t get credit card with Miles Ahead. The other AA cards you use give you the extra miles. Really? No credit card for Miles Ahead account?
Well I got bitten by the stupid 30-day “deposit period” timing on this bonus. Submitted a complaint when I called in. Deposited my $10k for 70 days, but I didn’t wait 30 days from the account opening to start the 60 day count. Just make it a 90 day period! Ugh… Doubt I’ll get any of the bonus now. You win this round Citi…..
@Chuck, @William Charles – would be great to put warnings like this in the terms when you post these deals to remind us. TY!
Citi came back saying that I don’t qualify because the funds were not there for 90 days, which is inaccurate as the mailer specifically said 60 days:
The terms and conditions of Promotion 4ENS53D7XX are as follows:
Open a Citi Miles Ahead savings account in the Citi Miles Ahead package as first signer between 10/01/2020 and 12/31/2020.
Fund your account with a qualifying deposit within 30 days of account opening and maintain the balance until at least 90 days after account opening. Deposits eligible toward the acquisition bonus must be New-to-Citi bank. The deposit level at Day 30 determines the maximum bonus tier you can receive. Day 30 represents 30 days from the account open date. Day 90 represents 90 days from account open date.
If your deposit level drops between day 30 and day 90 after account opening, you will be eligible for the bonus tier that corresponds to the lowest deposit balance between Day 30 and Day 90.
Unfortunately, your account did not qualify for any tiers of the offer because your balance fell below $10,000.00 between day 30 and day 90.
We understand that this is not the resolution you had anticipated; however, Citibank needs to ensure that all of its customers meet the same terms and conditions to receive the promotion.
I got this account with 10k. In 2 months it will be a year. The only card I got was an ATM. I never had a credit card so I never got the extra miles. I guess I thought maybe the have branches here so I don’t get a charge card. Was I supposed to have one? Did everybody else get one?