topic Re: Citibank/Chase/One Card in Credit Cards

Citibank/Chase/One Card

AyaMai — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 02:04:18 GMT

Need just one best value card recommedation from each lender, your thoughts on the card you chose.

Re: Citibank/Chase/One Card

Hoben02 — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 09:16:57 GMT

If you are looking for travel rewards then the chase sapphire preferred/reserve. For citi that would be the citi premier

Re: Citibank/Chase/One Card

GApeachy — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 10:44:35 GMT

@AyaMai it really depends on your credit file and scores....plus income, dti, yada, yada, yada....that's why we say "YMMV".

So, to begin with, what are your scores looking like?

Re: Citibank/Chase/One Card

coldfusion — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 13:54:28 GMT

Citi: Custom Cash, since it isn't hard for most people to come up with a useful category they'll get 5% cashback from month-to-month.

Chase: tough call because of there's so much overlap between the Freedom Unlimited and Freedom Flex, but Unlimited gets the nod because of the mininum 1.5% cashback vs 1% on all purchases.

Re: Citibank/Chase/One Card

ptatohed — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 15:20:36 GMT

If you could bend your criteria a little and make it 2 cards from citi, I'd go citi Double Cash, citi Custom Cash, and Chase freedom Flex. This way you have 2 opportunities for 5% CB but never less than 2%.

Re: Citibank/Chase/One Card

Aim_High — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 18:57:52 GMT

@AyaMai wrote:
Need just one best value card recommedation from each lender, your thoughts on the card you chose.

Value is in the eye of the beholder .... errr ... I mean cardholder. Lol Like much on My FICO, it depends. For one, how is the consumer using and paying the cards? If ever carrying a balance, the lowest APR would be much more important than any other card rewards or benefits.

Assuming PIF, then the cardholder must define their priorities and preferences for rewards, such as cash back, general purpose travel points (UR or TY), hotel-specific points, or airline-specific miles.

Also, aversion to fees and the subjective value of added-benefits must be considered.

In all, there is no one answer. In my case with CITI and Chase, I erred on the side of high-AF travel cards because of the travel perks and redemption value, combined with the potential for high credit limits which I've found tend to be more readily-available on AF cards. So I have my $550 AF Chase Sapphire Reserve Visa Infinite (coupled with a no-AF Chase Freedom Unlimited, which increases my uncapped uncategorized accrual of URs from 1 per dollar to 1.5 per dollar.) And I have my CITI AAdvantage Executive WEMC with a (now) $595 AF. Some of our members such as @ptatohed, whom I know is Team Cash Back, would be aghast at $1,145 in AFs.

There are more mid-range travel choices available. I also like the CITI Premier card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, both with a $95 AF. These are great travel cards at the lower end of the travel card price range. There are also hotel-airline specific cards in this price range that I would recommend to loyalists in those brands with Chase (United, Southwest and more; Marriott, Hyatt) or CITI (American - Platinum Select card.)

If you are on Team Cash Back, and if limiting cards, I normally recommend an uncapped and uncategorized card over a capped card that earns limited high rewards in certain areas but lower rewards overall. So in that case, the CITI Double Cash (2%) and Chase Freedom Unlimited (1.5% everywhere plus 3% dining/drugstores and 5% on travel purchased through Chase.) This avoids the multiple traps of MCC limitations, spending caps, and calendar caps based on where a consumer's spending needs may fall. I personally think many of our members underestimate how much money they may need to spend on charges that don't fall into a neat category. While 5% on Citi Custom Cash sounds great, if you don't have other cards or aren't willing to juggle cards, that yield is quickly eroded by the 1% everywhere else.

Re: Citibank/Chase/One Card

AyaMai — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 02:47:33 GMT

@ptatohed wrote:
If you could bend your criteria a little and make it 2 cards from citi, I'd go citi Double Cash, citi Custom Cash, and Chase freedom Flex. This way you have 2 opportunities for 5% CB but never less than 2%.

Citi Custom Cash is what I lean for Citibank.

Re: Citibank/Chase/One Card

AyaMai — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 02:55:23 GMT

@Hoben02 wrote:
If you are looking for travel rewards then the chase sapphire preferred/reserve. For citi that would be the citi premier

Leaning to Chase Sapphire.

Re: Citibank/Chase/One Card

AyaMai — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 04:33:18 GMT

@Aim_High wrote:
@AyaMai wrote:
Need just one best value card recommedation from each lender, your thoughts on the card you chose.
Value is in the eye of the beholder .... errr ... I mean cardholder. Lol    Like much on My FICO, it depends. For one, how is the consumer using and paying the cards? If ever carrying a balance, the lowest APR would be much more important than any other card rewards or benefits.

Assuming PIF, then the cardholder must define their priorities and preferences for rewards, such as cash back, general purpose travel points (UR or TY), hotel-specific points, or airline-specific miles.

Also, aversion to fees and the subjective value of added-benefits must be considered.

In all, there is no one answer.   In my case with CITI and Chase, I erred on the side of high-AF travel cards because of the travel perks and redemption value, combined with the potential for high credit limits which I've found tend to be more readily-available on AF cards.   So I have my $550 AF Chase Sapphire Reserve Visa Infinite (coupled with a no-AF Chase Freedom Unlimited, which increases my uncapped uncategorized accrual of URs from 1 per dollar to 1.5 per dollar.)    And I have my CITI AAdvantage Executive WEMC with a (now) $595 AF.   Some of our members such as @ptatohed, whom I know is Team Cash Back, would be aghast at $1,145 in AFs.

There are more mid-range travel choices available. I also like the CITI Premier card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, both with a $95 AF. These are great travel cards at the lower end of the travel card price range. There are also hotel-airline specific cards in this price range that I would recommend to loyalists in those brands with Chase (United, Southwest and more; Marriott, Hyatt) or CITI (American - Platinum Select card.)

If you are on Team Cash Back, and if limiting cards, I normally recommend an uncapped and uncategorized card over a capped card that earns limited high rewards in certain areas but lower rewards overall. So in that case, the CITI Double Cash (2%) and Chase Freedom Unlimited (1.5% everywhere plus 3% dining/drugstores and 5% on travel purchased through Chase.)    This avoids the multiple traps of MCC limitations, spending caps, and calendar caps based on where a consumer's spending needs may fall. I personally think many of our members underestimate how much money they may need to spend on charges that don't fall into a neat category.    While 5% on Citi Custom Cash sounds great, if you don't have other cards or aren't willing to juggle cards, that yield is quickly eroded by the 1% everywhere else.

Value is in the eye of the beholder ... A true statement

Thank you for the detailed response, I am leaning to Chase Sapphire Preferred & Citi Custom Cash

Re: Citibank/Chase/One Card

GApeachy — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 06:21:42 GMT

@Aim_High is the Citi Custom Cash 5% cb maxed @ $500/month? Also, are utilities excluded?

Re: Citibank/Chase/One Card

GApeachy — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 06:29:58 GMT

@AyaMai wrote:
, I am leaning to Chase Sapphire Preferred & Citi Custom Cash

@AyaMai good luck with your apps👍. Would appreciate some fresh dp's regarding Chase Sapphire Preferred if and when you go for it. 👌

Re: Citibank/Chase/One Card

coldfusion — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 12:17:07 GMT

@GApeachy wrote:
@Aim_High is the Citi Custom Cash 5% cb maxed @ $500/month? Also, are utilities excluded?

Quote from Citi - earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter5% eligible categories: Restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, live entertainment

Re: Citibank/Chase/One Card

GApeachy — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 12:48:10 GMT

@coldfusion wrote:
@GApeachy wrote:
@Aim_High is the Citi Custom Cash 5% cb maxed @ $500/month? Also, are utilities excluded?

Quote from Citi - earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter5% eligible categories: Restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, live entertainment

Ty @coldfusion

Any thoughts about US Bank Cash+ VS? $2k/quarter with what appears to be broader categories.

Re: Citibank/Chase/One Card

coldfusion — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 13:06:01 GMT

@GApeachy wrote:
@coldfusion wrote:
@GApeachy wrote:
@Aim_High is the Citi Custom Cash 5% cb maxed @ $500/month? Also, are utilities excluded?

Quote from Citi - earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter5% eligible categories: Restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, live entertainment
Ty @coldfusion
Any thoughts about US Bank Cash+ VS? $2k/quarter with what appears to be broader categories.

I got my Cash+ specifically to use for utilities; I later picked up its fraternal twin Elan Max Cash Preferred through a local bank so that I could also reasonably leverage the Cash+ in-store Sporting Goods 5% category.

The only caveat with the Cash+ is with US Bank's x/12 sensitivity to inquiries and new accounts. They were historically known for $500 SL approvals but recent history seems to suggest that's become largely a thing of the past. Online CLI requests are soft pulls.

Re: Citibank/Chase/One Card

Aim_High — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 13:27:05 GMT

@GApeachy wrote:
@Aim_High is the Citi Custom Cash 5% cb maxed @ $500/month? Also, are utilities excluded?

Yes, @GApeachy to both.

I think the CITI Custom Cash can be a great niche card, especially for someone who chooses to play multiple rotating category cards and appreciates the rewards flexibility. It's also a solid core category card for gas, groceries, or dining as long as monthly spend is routinely under $500. For me, one problem lies in having to track category spending to make sure I do, and the monthly versus quarterly or annual caps found on other cards is trickier. I don't enjoy rotating categories, taking time to track spending progress, wondering how MCCs will code, or switching cards mid-cycle.

As far as categories, the others besides gas, groceries, or dining are things that I may not need to spend anything at all, or not close to $500, or sometimes much more than $500! My spend is inconsistent so the card may either be useless for those or insufficient.

All of the above, plus the ability to get an extra 1% on all baseline spending is why I would pick the Double Cash over Custom Cash if I were choosing one CITI card for Team Cash Back. It's just easier with less hoops and more flexibility.

Utilities are excluded. The best cards I know of for utilities are the US Bank Cash + and Elan Max Cash Preferred which both reward 5% up to a more manageable quarterly cap of $2,000.

5% eligible categories: Restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, live entertainment

Re: Citibank/Chase/One Card

GApeachy — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 13:29:05 GMT

@coldfusion & @Aim_High solid info.....ty both!

Re: Citibank/Chase/One Card

GApeachy — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 10:58:09 GMT

@coldfusion wrote:

The only caveat with the Cash+ is with US Bank's x/12 sensitivity to inquiries and new accounts. They were historically known for $500 SL approvals but recent history seems to suggest that's become largely a thing of the past.

I can confirm your stmt may indeed be correct in case other's see this:

8/10/23- sl $17k, apr (?) status 5/24, 3/12, 0/6

ty @coldfusion & @Aim_High for solid info on categories, mainly utilities.

Re: Citibank/Chase/One Card

MrDisco99 — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 18:04:49 GMT

Why only one from each?

Re: Citibank/Chase/One Card

AyaMai — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 03:12:54 GMT

@MrDisco99 wrote:
Why only one from each?

Have no desire to get more than onr from Citi, as for Chase a high possibility more than one. Have to wait more than 22 months to qualify for any card from both issuers.