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Citibank is offering 50,000 AAdvantage miles to select customers who open up a Citigold checking account and meet certain requirements.
Offer Details & Terms
To get the bonus, simply visit the Citi website and input the special offer code 42ERCWNQU6. You must currently hold an AAdvantage Platinum Mastercard to be eligible. This offer expires on December 31, 2015 and requires you to spend $1K on the debit card within 60 days and perform a bill pay within two consecutive months. You can find the full offer terms here.
Note: There is also an offer for 50,000 ThankYou points.
Monthly Fee & Downgrade Options
The Citigold account does carry a $30 monthly fee that is waived the first 2 months. After the miles post you may be able to downgrade to a Basic Banking account where the fee is waived with a simple direct deposit and bill pay. You should also be able to close the account if you wish.
Fund With Credit Card
Citi does let you fund your checking account with a Visa or Mastercard up to $100K. To do so, you must either mail or fax in an authorization form. Doctor of Credit has collected a number of data points regarding which credit cards work without being charged a cash advance fee.
Possible 1099
Citi issues 1099s on accounts with a bonus exceeding $600. It is unclear how they value AAdvantage miles for this purpose. Recent 30K deals haven’t seemed to trigger a 1099, however 50K miles could.
Citi Prestige Cardholders
If you are a holder of the Citi Prestige card, opening a Citigold account should also lower your annual fee by $100 to $350.
For more detailed information and analysis, see this Takeoff With Miles post.
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Simply just needed to stress I’m just happy I happened onto your website!.
[…] Shawn @ FrequentMiler states that you need to currently hold an AAdvantage Platinum MasterCard to be eligible for this offer. The T&C shows it’s available to Citi AAdvantage credit cardmembers, so there’s no harm in applying with any Citi AAdvantage card in case it works. […]
I meant $1000 not $100
Does using your citi debit card to directly load $100 to serve count as a purchase?
Hi Shawn,
Do you think it’s ok to make the $1000 debit purchase requirement via gift cards? Or do you think this needs to be actual merchandise purchases to qualify?
Thanks and Happy Holidays
I bought a $1000 money order…hopefully that works. Waiting for the miles to post.
[…] Earn 50K AAdvantage Miles for Opening a Citigold Checking Account […]
Do you have to be targeted or can you just use the code?
I applied and got approved now i have to spend the 1000, under their terms and conditions i states cash back do not qualify as Citibank Debit Card purchases. if i go to Walmart and make a purchase of 50 and ask for 150 on cash back can the bank tell if i asked for cash back during my purchase?
I signed up online and was approved right away (Maryland). I filled out the credit card funding form but forgot to fax it in right away. I was reminded when I received the kit in the mail with both checks and the debit card. Didn’t even need to make the initial deposit to get both immediately.
I faxed in the credit card form and funded with 10K from my Citi AAdvantage card. No one called from the Citi banking side or the Citi Credit Card side and the charge went through. It was also coded as a purchase so I will hopefully have another 10K miles added to my account from that!
Hey, how did this pan out? Did the 10k count as a purchase on your citi aa card or cash advance? Thanks!
Fine print states that your AAdvantage credit card must be open and in good standing at the time the 50k miles are to be deposited. Just be aware…
If I already have a Citi checking account (though not a Citigold account) am I still eligible?
I applied under the AA. As an FYI to everyone they sent the kit which was only the checks. So I called the 800# after 2 weeks and they said I had to request the debit card but could only send me the ATM version now. They said the account had to be open for 30 days before I got the debit card. Has anyone else had this experience?
I got my debit card about a week after opening the Citigold account, and I didn’t have to call in. They just sent it automatically.
[…] Earn 50K AAdvantage Miles for Opening a Citigold Checking Account […]
If I currently have a Citi Checking account, do I have to close it first to get this offer? If I do have to close it, how long do I have to close it before applying for this offer?
I was looking to apply for citi exec with the 75k aa offer, then apply for a new CG account and fund it that way for the minimum spend. any data points if the promo for the CG will work even though its not a aa platnium?