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We’ve long been fans of the both the Citi Double Cash and Custom Cash cards; the Double Cash because of its ability to earn uncapped 2x Citi ThankYou points on all spend and the Custom Cash because of its 5x earnings on your largest category of spend each billing cycle.
Five years ago, Citi tanked the extended warranty on its cards at the same time that it took away almost all of the travel protections from its “travel” cards. This year, Citi has been restoring some of those perks and it’s now added a 24-month extended warranty benefit to both the Double Cash and Custom Cash cards.
The Cards
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20K Points ⓘ Non-Affiliate 20K points after $1500 spend in the first 6 monthsNo Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. Recent better offer: Expired 9/13/22 - 20,000 points after $750 spend in first 3 months FM Mini Review: This is a great card to have and hold for a single category where you spend no more than $500 per month as it represents an excellent return without rotating categories to track. Earning rate: 5x on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1x thereafter. Eligible categories: Restaurants, Gas Stations, Grocery Stores, Select Travel, Select Transit, Select Streaming Services, Drugstores, Home Improvement Stores, Fitness Clubs and Live Entertainment. ✦ 1x on all other purchases Base: 1X (1.45%) Travel: 5X (7.25%) Dine: 5X (7.25%) Gas: 5X (7.25%) Grocery: 5X (7.25%) Other: 5X (7.25%) Card Info: Mastercard issued by Citi. This card imposes foreign transaction fees. See also: Citi ThankYou Rewards Complete Guide |
| Card Offer and Details |
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20K points ⓘ Non-Affiliate $200 cash back after spending $1.5K in first six months. Note: $200 is awarded as 20,000 ThankYou® Points.No Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. FM Mini Review: 2X rewards for all spend with no annual fee makes this card a winner. Earn 2X everywhere and redeem for the equivalent of 2% cash back or 2X ThankYou points. Pair with the Premier or Prestige card to make points transferrable to airlines. Click here for our complete card review Earning rate: 2% cash back everywhere (1% cash back for each purchase + 1% when paying your credit card bill for that purchase). ✦ For a limited time: Earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi TravelSM Portal through 12/31/24. Base: 2X (2.9%) Card Info: Mastercard World Elite issued by Citi. This card imposes foreign transaction fees. Noteworthy perks: 1X when you make a purchase + 1X when you pay for those purchases See also: Citi ThankYou Rewards Complete Guide |
Quick Thoughts
After spending too long exiled in a benefit desert, Citi seems to understand that its cards would be much more attractive if it brought back some of the purchase and travel protections that are now common with its competitors.
Earlier this year, it reinstated some travel protections to its flagship “travel card” at the same time that it rebranded it from the Citi Premier to the Citi Strata Premier. Now, it’s also bringing back warranty protection on the Double Cash and Custom Cash.
While this is a relatively minor thing, the lack of industry-standard purchase and travel protections were a black mark on a credit card portfolio that had otherwise desirable earnings rates and transfer partners. Hopefully, the trend continues.
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For the past couple years, bank-wide, Citi has been going through major realignment. My sense is that new leadership is in each of its major groups and they’ve each had time to lay out plans. And, my sense is that the reinstatement of travel and other protections is a prelude to bigger things. Strata Lounges, the Strata Elite card, etc.
Recall earlier reports that Citi had surveyed its high-end clients about credit cards. They do not want the Amex slice-and-dice approach to cards and spending categories. They do want a single silver bullet card that is a catch-all. We shall see. I’m hopeful.
My understanding is that the new extended warranties on these cards are for double the manufacturer’s warranty. So, a one-year manufacturer’s warranty would give you one additional year via those Citi cards.
However, it is also my understanding that the Citi Rewards+ card gives two extra years of extended warranty even for a one-year manufacturer’s warranty. Which is why I keep the card, as it offers a superior extended warranty as compared to almost anything else out there.
That’s right it’s not a straight guaranteed 24-month warranty extension. It’s more complicated than that and depends on what the original warranty is. This article should be updated with relevant details to match FM high standards of specificity and detail.
Would you suggest possibly product changing into one of these cards from a different no annual fee card?