The Offer
- Receive a signup bonus of 50,000 points after $5,000 in spend within 90 days of account opening on the City National Crystal Visa Infinite card.
There is a $400 annual fee which is waived for the first year.
Application Process
You’re only supposed to be able to apply for this card at a City National branch. Branches are located in NY, DE, GA, TN, NV & CA, with the vast majority found in California.
In the past, some people have reported in the past some below have been able to get around this by e-mailing/faxing their application. Most likely, you’ll have to go in-branch, but you might be able to apply even if you aren’t from their footprint states, so long as you show up in person. YMMV. Call (800) 773-7100 to inquire further.
City National also has a fixed focus on relationship banking with high net worth individuals, if you don’t earn a lot of money and aren’t in a profession that is expected to have a high salary after a few years, chances are you won’t be approved. Some say that you have to be a RBC client to be eligible to apply. YMMV.
They will most likely require the following to determine if you fall into one of these groups:
- W2 or 1099
- Previous three months bank statements
- Possibly, other verifications as well
Card Benefits & Points Value
City National Rewards Points can be redeemed for airfare with most carriers; you can use their airfare search tool to see how many points you need for a flight. It also seems like you can use them to book hotels and cruises. It seems like you’ll normally get around 1¢ per point in value or a bit more. There are also no blackout dates.
You can also redeem for various gift cards at slightly less than $.01 per point.
Other card benefits:
- Unlimited Priority Pass Select lounge access for two and their guests (e.g. one primary and one authorized user card + guests)
- $250 airline credit for eligible incidental charges per card per calendar year; each authorized user also gets the $250 benefit separately, up to three AUs (be warned they might send out a 1099-INT for this)
- $100 companion fair discount, this can be repeated
- $100 Global Entry Credit
- Crystal Card Concierge service
- Visit Infinite Benefits
- 12 free Gogo passes annually
Our Verdict
50,000 points isn’t quite the 100,000 points offered last time around, but still very generous given the benefits. Something tells me we won’t see a 100k offer again, being that last time they pulled it early.
In any case, it’s still a great deal. You’ll end up with $500 worth of travel + $250 eligible airline incidental charged per each card each calendar year + lounge access and other benefits. And the first year has no annual fee.
If you’re seriously considering this deal, it’s worth checking out our full review on this card first. And let us know if you had success applying via fax/mail/email, as has been the case in the past.
Hat tip to Slohokin on Reddit
BEWARE!!!
I was absolutely astounded when I learned – in my very first billing statement – the bank (City National, that is) for some unknown and unimaginable reason has the audacity, gall and arrogance to NOT allow you to deduct post-billing statement credits (i.e. valid returns or charge cancellations) against the balance due (from said billing statement.) I find this practice – which is contrary to what ALL my other banks allow!?! – deplorable, unethical, immoral, potentially illegal and certainly HIGHLY-UNCOMMERCIAL of the bank and because of this grossly-unfair practice, I will make a point to NOT use (nor renew) the card.
Now We’ve Added a Crystal Card Offer
100K Bonus Points – Opened Comm. Card/$15K spend first 90 days
+70K Bonus Points – Opened Crystal Card/$5K spend first 90 days
=170K Bonus Points – Together
•Clients “don’t” have to apply for both to receive either offer.
•Both offers are good until 3/31/17.
Thanks, Jake! Any online links?
FYI, the link above is dead.
However, I applied through my banker (currently have a checking account and Signature card with them), who proactively told me about a 70,000 point offer on the Crystal Infinite, and a 100,000 offer on the business (they call it Commercial) card.
Thanks, will look into this
Any more details on the Crystal Infinite offer? Spend requirements etc etc?
Meh. I have several CNB near me, am definitely their target audience but not going to bother jumping thru the hoops for a lousy 50K only to be given the hard sell for every scummy wealth management scam, er, program they can market to me.
I can add a data point that you need to be an existing client.
Spoke with a CNB manager in NYC (6th Ave branch) today and they confirmed that you have to be an existing client to apply for this offer.
Data point- did some leg work and this card requires 1) physically going into an RBC bank IN CANADA to open an account and then 2) opening a US account with that division.
Bottom line- unless you are going to be in Canada (or are already an RBC customer), this promo is not available to you.
EDIT- was able to apply for the card (10k credit limit) and was approved after I realized I couldn’t get the 50k bonus.
With the annual travel credit, I’ll probably just use the $250 credit every year for gift cards, or something.
@Ryan: Why couldn’t you get the bonus? Did you have it previously?
I am pretty sure meet all the criteria and i am located in NY, but going through the headache of going to a bank and giving all that info for 50,000 points + 5k spend seems a bit much. Maybe after i have exhausted all credit card offers and am really desperate…
I bank with City National. I was offered this card after their merger with RBC. I do not have an RBC relationship. (They seem to have kept City National seperate).
I posted this on flyertalk (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/26682648-post840.html) awhile back. You have to be an RBC client, which is different than a City client, even though they have merged. More specifically, it’s RBC wealth management.
Interesting