Update: Looks like this has been the case since at least 2016. I’m not sure why the 3x on grocery wasn’t listed on any of our reviews but it is now. Sorry about that!
City National Bank has made some minor positive changes to the Crystal Visa Infinite card.
- Card now earns 3x points per $1 spent on grocery store purchases (in addition to 3x on airline, hotel, taxi, limousine, rental car, train, bus, gas, restaurant, fast food and takeout food dining establishment purchases)
- Points can now be redeemed for hotel (previously only airfrare). Value seems to be similar to airfare (1¢ per point) but you can sometimes get slightly better value. One example is a hotel costing 16,500 points or $179 for the cash rate.
- Points can be redeemed for the following activities: custom tours, helicopter & balloon tours, day trips & excursions, spa tours, viator VIP & exclusive tours, multi-day & extended tours, shore excursions, theme parks, shows & concerts, water sports, food wine & nightlife. Seems to be a similar 1¢ per point in value
- Rewards Plus. I think this is just a shopping portal, rates don’t seem to be anything fantastic.
This card is definitely worth keeping long term due to how the airline credits work with authorized users so these additions are nice. I probably wouldn’t risk MSing a high amount of grocery store spend on this card, but that’s up to you.
