Get high-value cash-back on your biggest monthly category without any enrollment hassles. The Citi Custom Cash® Card earns you 5% back in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle—automatically—up to $500 (then 1%), with no annual fee and a solid introductory APR. If simplicity and smart rewards matter to you, this card stands out.
🎁 Rewards Tailored to Your Spending Habits
- 5% cash back on up to $500 spent each billing cycle in your highest spend category, then 1% thereafter.
- Eligible categories include: Grocery stores, Restaurants, Gas stations, Streaming services, Drugstores, Home improvement, Fitness clubs, Live entertainment, Select transit, and select travel.
- 4% additional cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel℠, through June 30, 2026.
- Earn cashback as ThankYou® Points, redeemable for statement credit, direct deposit, check, gift cards, Citi Travel, or Amazon purchases—at a value of 1¢ per point when redeemed for cash back.
💸 Intro APR & Flexibility for Large Purchases
- Enjoy 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, allowing time to pay off big buys or transfer high-interest debt.
- After that, ongoing variable APR between 18.24%–28.24%, depending on creditworthiness.
- Balance transfer fee is 5% of each transfer (min $5), if completed within the first four months.
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%—best suited for U.S. domestic use.
🔧 Tools, Protections & Added Perks
- No annual fee and Zero Liability protection on unauthorized charges.
- World Elite Mastercard benefits: access to concierge services, ShopRunner membership, rental car and hotel discounts, monthly Lyft credit (when eligible), and more.
- Free FICO® Score access updated monthly, account alerts, choice of payment due date, and ability to lock/unlock your card via app.
- Add authorized users at no extra cost.
📄 Summary Terms & Smart Usage Tips
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Welcome Bonus | 20,000 ThankYou® Points (~$200 cash) after spending $1,500 in first 6 months |
| Rewards Structure | 5% on top category (up to $500/month), then 1% all others; plus 4% on Citi Travel bookings |
| Intro APR | 0% on purchases & balance transfers for 15 months |
| Ongoing APR | 18.24%–28.24% variable |
| Balance Transfer Fee | 5% (min $5) within first 4 months |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 3% |
💡 Smart Tip: Monitor your top spending category each month to maximize the 5% cashback on high-volume categories. Pairing this card with Citi Double Cash® can earn 5% where you spend most and 2% everywhere else—without overlap.
✅ Who Should Use It—and Who Might Skip It
Best for you if you:
- Prefer automated, no-hassle rewards that match where your money goes each billing cycle.
- Want a long intro APR to pay off large purchases or consolidate debt.
- Appreciate Contactless, mobile app management, and Citi perks without any annual fee.
Might look elsewhere if you:
- Spend more than $500 monthly in high-value categories—your rewards cap may limit returns.
- Prefer flat-rate cards like Citi Double Cash® for consistent rewards across purchases.
- Want travel-transferable points—Custom Cash earns ThankYou points, but only select Citi cards allow transfers to airline/hotel partners unless pooled.
🚀 How to Apply in Simple Steps
- Visit Citi’s official Citi Custom Cash® Card page on Citi.com.
- Use the Pre‑Qualification Tool to check eligibility via a soft credit check—no impact to your score.
- Complete your application online, providing basic personal and income information.
- Review terms carefully, then submit. Decisions are often delivered within minutes.
- Aim to spend $1,500 in first 6 months to earn your 20,000-point bonus.
- If doing a balance transfer, initiate it within the first 4 months to enjoy the 0% APR intro period.
✨ Final Take
The Citi Custom Cash® Card is ideal if you want to maximize cash back on your top monthly spending category—without enrollment headaches or annual cost. With a welcome bonus, long intro APR, zero fees, and automatic reward optimization, it’s a dependable, low-maintenance card for everyday value.
Apply today to start earning 5% back—automatically—wherever you spend most.
