Sign Up Offers

[mistabgeez]

I'm currently in the garden for now, but I am planning to step out in a month or two to add a couple of cards. I am interested in the Citi Forward card because I eat out on a daily basis and could rack up some nice points. The latest sign up bonus I have seen is $100 for a $650 spend. Its not a bad deal, but I received $300 back on a $500 spend for my Freedom card last November.

Is anyone familiar with any of the offers that different creditors may have on the horizon? Are there any creditors who usually offer substantial variations in sign up bonuses during the end of the year?

[bribro]

Has Citi offered any targeted offers for Forward card in the past?

[maiden_girl]

I wouldn't waste an HP on Citi Forward. They seem to be denying everyone lately.

[flowfaster]

I would wait for the holidays.

[mistabgeez]

I have not received any personally. The reason it appeals so much is that I eat out very often and the thank you points can be used as a credit on my student loans. I looked at the upromise card but the biggest benefit of that card is the online shopping. Chase and Discover offer better deals in my opinion for many of the things I buy online.

Was just wondering if I should pull the trigger now or garden a little longer in case a better offer comes along. I've never dealt with Citi and was unsure if they may have a better sign up offer near the end of the year.

[Anonymous]

Citi Forward is great for those who eat out often and shop on Amazon (counts as a bookstore). I have not seen an offer higher than $100 but the long term rewards on the card outweigh its modest sign up bonus. My only gripe with Citi is that they have been slowly lowering the value of ThankYou points. As of this month, rewards in bonus categories are roughly 2.5% cash back (statement credit), 4.2% (Amazon gift card), and 5% (student loan credits). The student loan credits are not easy to redeem since you have to do it over the phone. I used to get statement credits when it was closer to 3.3% but now opt for Amazon gift cards.

[mistabgeez]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Citi Forward is great for those who eat out often and shop on Amazon (counts as a bookstore). I have not seen an offer higher than $100 but the long term rewards on the card outweigh its modest sign up bonus. My only gripe with Citi is that they have been slowly lowering the value of ThankYou points. As of this month, rewards in bonus categories are roughly 2.5% cash back (statement credit), 4.2% (Amazon gift card), and 5% (student loan credits). The student loan credits are not easy to redeem since you have to do it over the phone. I used to get statement credits when it was closer to 3.3% but now opt for Amazon gift cards.

---

Truthfully, Citi was not on my radar at all. I heard that their Thank You points were not very valuable and I already have a set of cash back cards. But since the quarters have changed on Freedom purchases, I am not getting 5% on any restaurant visits. The Forward card kept coming up when I looked around, and after learning about the student loan credit it is looking like a better opportunity than anything else out there for me.

Another posted said you give Citi the account number and they send the check directly to the student loan company. Is it more complicated than that? I sure hope not. I'm definitely looking Forward to having my large appetite help reduce my student loan debt.

[flowfaster]

In my opinion I would app for the citi card with the best sign up bonus, then PC to the Forward or dividend card down the road.  That is if citi allows one to PC like Chase does.  Chase still wont PC my Amazon card though.

[ccnewcc]

---

@flowfaster wrote:

I would wait for the holidays.

---

why the holidays?  Is this the historically most generous time of the year for sign up bounes?

[jsickz32]

i have the foward and the rewards are meh...if you spend 650 in 3 weeks and sign up for online statements you get 10k points but thats only worth 50 in cash money or statement credit. i eat out every single day and lately being only making around 2000-2200 points monthly. not that great to be honest.