As expected, Citi has launched a new premium credit card called the Citi Strata Elite.
Signup Bonus
- Signup for a new Citi Strata Elite card and get 80,000 points after spending $4,000 within 3 months.
The word on the street is that there is a 100,000 points version of this in Citi branches, and that it might even be possible to get an Citi banker to email you a link. The 100k offer is right now showing an end date of 7/31/25.
As always, there is no widely available referral link program with Citi, and so it’s just the regular online public offer or possibly something special in Citi branches, as mentioned.
The fine print indicates that this product runs on its own timeline for signup bonus purposes, and you can the signup bonus even if you were approved for another Citi card:
Bonus ThankYou® Points are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi Strata Elite℠ account in the past 48 months or if you converted another Citi credit card account on which you earned a new account bonus in the last 48 months into a Citi Strata Elite.
Card Details
- $595 annual fee
- $75 for each Authorized User
- There is $145 annual fee discount if you have Citigold or Private Client relationship with the bank ($200k+)
- Citi Private Clients get the entire $595 waived for the first year
- No foreign transaction fees
- Card is a Mastercard. It’s the the first World Legend Mastercard.
- Points transfer to American Airlines, JetBlue, Virgin Atlantic, Cathay Pacific, Eva Air, Choice Hotels, The Leading Hotels of the World and others.
Card Benefits
- $300 Annual Hotel Benefit – Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of 2 nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.
- $200 Annual Splurge Credit – Every calendar year (January 1 through December 31st), earn up to $200 in statement credits on your choice of up to 2 of the following brands: 1stDibs, American Airlines (exclusions apply), Best Buy, Future Personal Training, and Live Nation (exclusions apply). Remember to activate two Splurge merchants.
- $200 Annual Blacklane Credit – Every calendar year, earn up to $200 in statement credits when you book with Blacklane, a premium global chauffeur service. Earn up to $100 on Blacklane purchases January through June and up to $100 July through December.
- Priority Pass Select membership – Enjoy complimentary access to 1,500+ airport lounges worldwide. Annual membership fee valued at $469. (Restaurants not included, unfortunately.)
- American Airlines Admirals Club Lounge Access Passes – Every calendar year, receive 4 Admirals Club Citi Strata Elite Passes for access to nearly 50 Admirals Club lounges (over $300 in value). Inside each of the nearly 50 lounges, you can enjoy a selection of snacks, complimentary cocktails, personal travel assistance and more.
- $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Application Fee Credit – Receive a statement credit, up to $120 every four years, as reimbursement for your application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
Points Earning
Card earns Citi ThankYou points:
- 12x points per dollar spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com
- 6x points per dollar spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com
- 6x points per dollar spent at restaurants on Citi Nights purchases, Friday and Saturday from 6 PM – 6 AM ET
- 3x points per dollar spent at Restaurants any other time
- 1.5x points per dollar spent on All Other Purchases
Our Verdict
The details here are mostly what was rumored. The math makes more sense for someone who is CitiGold and pays just $450 (and obviously for Private Client who gets the first year fee waived). For the rest of us who are paying the $595 annual fee, it’s going to depend on a lot of how you value the $300 hotel credit and $200 Splurge credit. The latter should be pretty valuable given Best Buy American Airlines, and Live Nation options.
Given that the hotel and Splurge credits are per calendar year, you can double dip in the first year (and possibly triple dip if you get the card in December). I’d say it’s a good deal for the first year with the signup bonus and doubling up on the credits. Beyond that, it’ll depend on how you value the benefits and points categories.
