Take Advantage Of Citibank Credit Cards
By: Morgan Hamilton
With a line of cards that's hard to beat in the credit card industry, Citibank has placed itself as one of the top credit card companies in the country. All of their cards come complete with interesting and enticing offers, and every consumer is certain to find one that meets their particular needs. There are student credit cards, business credit cards, and cards for general purposes such as purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances. It's this commitment to variety and incentive that had placed Citibank at or near the top of the credit card industry for the last ten years, and where it will surely be for the next ten. Right now, let's take a look at a few of the exciting cards Citibank has to offer, and decide which one might be right for your business or personal use.Citi Platinum American Express Card
The Citi Platinum American Express Card brings both the world of American Express and the world of Citibank together to create a rather exciting new card. With this card, featuring a $99 annual fee and 14.24% variable APR, you can earn rewards, get access to VIP airport lounges, receive companion air tickets, and earn a quick 15,000 bonus ThankYou points after only $300 in purchases. You can continue to earn these points at the rate of 5 per dollar for purchases made at supermarkets, drug stores, and gas stations. 3 ThankYou points can be earned per dollar on all other purchases for the first two years you have the card. As with many American Express cards, there are no preset spending limits. This is instead decided on an ongoing basis based on your payment history, credit report, and financial means.
Citi CashReturns MasterCard
The Citi CashReturns MasterCard offers quite the selection of tempting and interesting features. From the lack of annual fees to the low 10.99 % variable APR, the Citi CashReturns card is one of the brightest new credit cards on the market today. Instead of working toward rewards in the form of merchandise, this card allows you to get 5% cash back on all purchases for the first three months and then 1% after that period. Unlike some other cards, there is no limit to the amount of cash you can receive.
Citi PremierPass Card
With the Citi PremierPass Card, you are entitled to a 14.24% APR on all purchases and the card comes without an annual fee. The great thing about this card is the way you can earn points for miles flown on an airplane, making this the perfect card for those that travel a great deal. These points can be redeemed for flights, gift cards, electronics, and more.
About: Morgan Hamilton is an experienced Financial Adviser who has written a number of informative articles on the topic of Citibank Credit Cards. Visit find-cards-now.com to learn more about Citi Credit Cards.
Source: Ezinearticles.com
Citi Credit Cards: Why You Should Choose Wisely
By: Russ Nauta
Citi is one of the leading consumer credit providers in the US market. They offer a wide variety of rewards cards ranging from student-specific cards to their new Citi Simplicity Rewards Card which features no late fees. The average US consumer carries 3 credit cards. With the wide variety of Citi offerings, it would not be uncommon for one to want to carry three different cards from this issuer. However, this is not possible.Citi has a policy that each consumer may only carry a maximum of two of their credit cards. This fact is not very widely known by the US consumer. The problem arises because of decisions that many consumers have made in the past. Because credit card companies target college students, especially during their freshman orientation, many students receive a Citi card when they turn 18. These student cards typically have a higher APR than those cards available to older adults who have already established their credit. Still, most students carry these cards primarily because they are struggling for money and need credit for books, recreation, etc. even if this means paying a high APR. Five years later, the former student is enticed by another offer, let's say the Citi Platinum Select Card for example. They apply for this card because it offers a lower APR and higher credit limit.
Time goes on and the consumer has built-up their credit history by making timely payments etc. Now they are interested in a new offer that offers a rewards program, like the Citi Simplicity Rewards Card or the Citi PremierPass. They fill out the secure online application and are instantly rejected, even though they have very good credit. The reason why this occurs is because their social security number is on file in the Citi credit card system notifying that they already carry two other Citi credit cards.
Now there is a problem. It negatively affects the consumer's credit rating to cancel their student card which they've been carrying for years even though they are current on payments. Closing accounts is looked upon as negative credit activity. So, the only other option is to transfer the balance from the student card to another issuer, wait a few months, then re-apply for the Citi card that they originally wanted and transfering the balance from their new card onto that Citi card. This, however, is also a problem. If it appears on your credit report that you have been applying for several cards within a short timespan, especially when transfering balances, red flags go up.
The solution: Catch this problem early on. If you are carrying a card with a high APR, like a student card, transfer that balance on to the card that you want. Then you are only carrying one Citi card and you may apply for another card and get approved in the future, assuming there is an offer that entices you.
The other option, which negatively affects your credit temporarily, is to cancel both cards simultaneously, wait for a while and then apply for the Citi card that you would like to carry.
Option #3 is only specific to those with no current, or one current Citi relationship. Choose your new Citi card wisely. Make sure that the Citi card that you wish to carry is one that you would like to have for the long haul.
Russ Nauta is the senior writer and consumer credit information investigator for Credit Card Outlet, a leading online credit card information portal since 2004
Credit Card Outlet features instant approval credit cards, rewards cards, balance transfer cards and low APR cards from major issuing banks.
Credit Card Outlet also features several Citi rewards offers
About: This article may be reprinted with a published link back to http://www.credit-card-outlet.com. Source: Ezinearticles.com
