Citi Strata Premier card review: Full details

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The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees) is an under-the-radar gem with a phenomenal range of bonus categories. While Citi points aren’t as valuable as Chase or Amex points, the ability to earn 3 points per dollar on eligible travel and dining purchases for a modest annual fee is still a pretty great deal. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

* Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

The Citi Strata Premier Card is one of the best earners on a wide variety of everyday spending. It accrues 3 points per dollar with airlines, electric vehicle charging and gas stations, hotels, restaurants and supermarkets — an excellent slate of bonus categories for a card with a $95 annual fee.

And the points you earn with the Citi Strata Premier are among the most versatile rewards currencies, worth 1.8 cents each (according to TPG’s May 2025 valuations).

The recommended credit score for the Citi Strata Premier card is 670 or above.

If you’re there and are considering applying, here’s what else you should know about this card — and why you might want to apply now.

Related: The best Citi credit cards

The Citi Strata Premier is offering 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

According to TPG’s May 2025 valuations of ThankYou points at 1.8 cents apiece, this bonus is worth $1,080.

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This is the Strata Premier’s regular offer. The card has previously offered up to 80,000 points for new cardholders (no longer available).

The welcome bonus is not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi Premier or Citi Strata Premier account in the past 48 months. It is also not available if you have converted another Citi credit card account on which you earned a new account bonus in the last 48 months into a Premier or Strata Premier card.

Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions

Much of Citi Strata Premier‘s value proposition comes from its ability to earn bonus points in many categories without charging a hefty annual fee. As such, you shouldn’t expect an overwhelming number of perks.

However, there are several benefits of this card that can help you recoup your annual fee:

• $100 annual hotel credit: Enjoy a $100 credit once per calendar year for single-stay hotel bookings of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) made through the Citi travel portal.
• World Elite Mastercard benefits: As a World Elite Mastercard, the Citi Strata Premier confers several travel-related perks that consumers might not know about. These include a $5 monthly Lyft credit after taking three rides in a calendar month and access to the Mastercard luxury hotels and resorts portfolio for on-property perks like complimentary breakfast and room upgrades upon availability. Through the World Elite Mastercard program, you’ll also enjoy perks like cellphone protection and Global Emergency Services.
• Citi Entertainment: This program gives cardholders special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events — from concerts and sporting events to unique dining experiences and movie screenings — before the general public can buy them.
• No foreign transaction fees: Like any good travel card, the Citi Strata Premier allows you to travel freely without incurring a fee on international spending.

The Citi Strata Premier also helps you travel with ease of mind, providing the following travel protections:

• Car rental coverage
• Lost or damaged luggage
• Trip cancellation and interruption
• Trip delay

I always make sure to use the $100 annual hotel credit as it’s a sure way to offset the annual fee. However, apart from this, there aren’t many other benefits to take advantage of for substantial savings.

Related: Is the Citi Premier worth the annual fee?

The Citi Strata Premier‘s earning structure is where the card shines.

The card offers 10 ThankYou points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through the Citi Travel portal.

Cardholders also earn 3 points per dollar on purchases in the following categories, with no caps or annual limits:

• Air travel
• EV charging stations
• Gas stations
• Hotels
• Supermarkets
• Restaurants (including takeout)

The card earns 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

These earning rates are among the most impressive of any travel rewards card, especially considering the Citi Strata Premier’s affordable annual fee. This is my go-to card for gas purchases as it earns an unlimited 3 points per dollar, which lessens the sting of the high gas prices in California.

I also often use this card to earn bonus points at supermarkets because, unlike the American Express® Gold Card, there is no spending cap on this category.

Related: The 7 best credit cards with annual fees under $100

Citi ThankYou points can be redeemed for statement credits, cash back or gift cards. They can also be transferred to any of Citi’s partners (our recommendation).

You can redeem your ThankYou Points for travel directly through the Citi portal at a rate of 1 cent each, but that’s well below TPG’s May 2025 valuation of ThankYou points at 1.8 cents each. To get more value, you’ll want to take advantage of the option to transfer your points to Citi’s extensive list of transfer partners.

The Citi Strata Premier is also a top choice for travelers, thanks to its participation in the ThankYou Rewards program, which currently has one shopping, five hotel and 15 airline transfer partners.

While you’ll notice that many of the frequent flyer programs are those of international airlines, you can still book high-value (and easily redeemable) awards through them.

I find great value in several transfer partners, including Air France-KLM Flying Blue, which offers business-class flights for as few as 60,000 miles and the ability to add a stopover for free for as short as 24 hours to as long as one year. Last year, I transferred Citi ThankYou points to Flying Blue to fly in business class from Los Angeles to Dublin with a one-day stopover in Paris for 60,000 points.

Another transfer partner I have utilized is Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, which is a great way to book premium cabins on Singapore Airlines.

Related: Best ways to redeem Citi ThankYou points

As an affordable travel rewards card, the Citi Strata Premier has a few direct competitors that might be a better fit for you:

• If you prefer Chase cards: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) competes directly with the Citi Strata Premier with the same $95 annual fee. While Chase’s transfer partners (including United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt) might be more beneficial for many travelers, there are also some overlaps (like Singapore KrisFlyer and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club). For more information, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
• If you want a flat earning rate: Try the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. It also charges the same $95 annual fee, but this card earns a flat 2 miles per dollar on most purchases instead of offering bonus categories. For more information, read our full review of the Venture Rewards card.
• If you want added perks: If you dine out frequently, you might prefer the American Express® Gold Card. It has a higher earning rate of 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 per dollar) and at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar). It also comes with valuable credits that can more than offset the substantial $325 annual fee (see rates and fees). For more information, read our full review of the Amex Gold.

For additional options, check out our full list of the top travel rewards cards.

Despite a bevy of competitors, the Citi Strata Premier‘s long list of bonus categories and solid welcome bonus make it one of the most lucrative points-earning cards in its price range.

The wide range of ThankYou Rewards transfer partners makes this card compelling, especially for travelers who want the flexibility to redeem points with various loyalty programs.

It’s worth serious consideration if you’re partial to Citi or looking for a versatile travel rewards card to add to your wallet.

Apply here: Citi Strata Premier

For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here.