New Citi Strata Card: Is This No Annual Fee Cash Back Credit Card Worth It?
Citi has quietly replaced its popular Rewards Plus card with the new Citi Strata card. This rebrand brings meaningful changes that could impact your wallet strategy, especially if you’re a current Citi Rewards Plus cardholder. This new card won’t launch until summer 2025, and will be an expansion on the new Strata family of cards (similar to Chase Sapphire or Capital One Venture)
If you’re hunting for a no annual fee cash back card with solid rewards, the Citi Strata credit card deserves consideration. But is it actually better than its predecessor? Let’s dive in.
What is the Citi Strata Card?
The Citi Strata card targets everyday spenders who want straightforward rewards without annual fees.
Key features include:
- Welcome bonus: 30,000 ThankYou points after spending $1,500 within 3 months
- 5% cash back on Hotels, Car rentals, and Attractions booked through Citi Travel
- 3% cash back on Grocery, Gas/EV, and Select transit
- 3% cash back on Self-Select Category: Fitness clubs, Select streaming services, Live entertainment, Beauty stores/Barber shops/Hair salons, or Pet supply stores
- 2% cash back on Dining
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months
- Annual fee: $0
This positions it as a simple cashback option for families spending heavily on groceries, gas, and transit. While you can redeem your earnings for cash back, you can also pair the card with the Citi Strata Premier card to open up transfers to travel partners.
How It Compares to Citi Rewards Plus
The transition from Rewards+ brought some notable changes:
What’s new:
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What’s the same:
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What’s gone:
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For most people, the Citi Strata card offers genuinely better value, especially the grocery category boost for typical household spending. Existing Citi Rewards+ cardholders will be converted to the Citi Strata on July 20, 2025.
Is It the Best Credit Card for Groceries and Gas?
With 3% back on groceries and gas, with no cap on quarterly or yearly spending like some cards, the Citi Strata credit card competes with established no annual fee options, such as:
- Amex Blue Cash Everyday: 3% on groceries, 1% on gas
- Capital One Savor: 3% on groceries, 1% on gas
- US Bank Altitude Go: 2% on groceries, 2% on gas
The Citi Strata’s strength is its earning rates on common spending categories, paired with its flexible 3% self-select category. If you spend equally on groceries and gas, maximizing that 3% rate becomes easier.
The Bottom Line
For someone who spends consistently on groceries and gas without wanting to juggle rotating categories, this card provides meaningful value. The 30,000 points welcome bonus (worth at least $300) sweetens the deal for casual credit card users or those looking to pair this card with others or build a Citi trifecta to maximize earnings on category spend.
The Citi Strata card delivers solid value in the no annual fee cash back credit card space. It’s not revolutionary, but it succeeds at being straightforward and rewarding for everyday spending.
Related articles:
- Citi Rewards+ Card rebrands as Citi Strata Card – The Points Guy
- Citi Strata Card Review – Upgraded Points
- New Citi Strata Card To Replace Rewards+ Card – Doctor of Credit
Editor’s note: Opinions shared in this article are solely the author’s and do not represent the views of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other organization. The content has not been evaluated, approved, or endorsed by any of the mentioned entities. These are our recommendations but it isn’t financial advice. We may receive a commission if you click through any of the links in this article.
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