topic Re: Upcoming TYP cashback nerf for Strata Premier in Credit Cards

Upcoming TYP cashback nerf for Strata Premier

coldfusion — Mon, 19 May 2025 18:53:56 GMT

Citi just sent out an email - as of 8/24/25 they are changing the cashback valuation of the Strata Premier from $0.01 per TYP to $0.0075 per TYP.

As of yet unknown if the nerf is specific to the Strata Premier or if other TYP-earning cards will also be impacted.

Re: Upcoming TYP cashback nerf for Strata Premier

Patient957 — Mon, 19 May 2025 20:00:23 GMT

If it's just CSP, it's not a huge nerf. It's basically discouraging CSP to be used for cash back, which almost nobody does anyway.

If it also applies to the pure cash back cards, it's a huge nerf, and it will make those cards FAR less competitive. The CCC becomes 3.75% CB, and the DC becomes 1.5%.

Since they would have to also change the name to the "Almost Double Cash," I seriously doubt this nerf applies to pure CB.

Edit to add: But wouldn't this create 2 different classes of TYP that then could not be combined? Seems messy.

Re: Upcoming TYP cashback nerf for Strata Premier

redpat — Mon, 19 May 2025 20:17:29 GMT

No different than Amex MR being .60 for cash. It's a travel card meant for point transfers for getting greater than 1 cent value. Most wouldn't care about the change.

Re: Upcoming TYP cashback nerf for Strata Premier

G2244 — Mon, 19 May 2025 21:09:06 GMT

Over on reddit, they are reporting that this is for *all* Citi cards. So something like a Citi Custom Cash could still get 5x Thank You Points but they would only be worth the equivalent of 3.75% cash back when you go to redeem.

Not saying this is true or makes sense, but people are reporting back after speaking with Citi reps.

Re: Upcoming TYP cashback nerf for Strata Premier

Patient957 — Mon, 19 May 2025 21:11:54 GMT

@redpat wrote:
No different than Amex MR being .60 for cash. It's a travel card meant for point transfers for getting greater than 1 cent value. Most wouldn't care about the change.

The difference is Amex doesn't use MR for its CB products, whereas Citi uses TYP across both CB and travel, complicating the nerfing of TYP, and very likely creating customer confusion.

Re: Upcoming TYP cashback nerf for Strata Premier

Patient957 — Mon, 19 May 2025 21:18:18 GMT

@G2244 wrote:
Over on reddit, they are reporting that this is for *all* Citi cards. So something like a Citi Custom Cash could still get 5x Thank You Points but they would only be worth the equivalent of 3.75% cash back when you go to redeem.

Not saying this is true or makes sense, but people are reporting back after speaking with Citi reps.

That would be big news.

FWIW, they are still advertising the CC and DC as 5% and 2% cash back. So if true, we're officially in bait and switch territory.

This is potentially as big a nerf as Smartly, if not bigger.

USB: "NERF!"

Citi: "Hold my beer."

Re: Upcoming TYP cashback nerf for Strata Premier

G2244 — Mon, 19 May 2025 21:36:36 GMT

They advertise several credit cards as cash back but in the terms it actually says the following with the underline from me:

Summary of the Citi Custom Cash® Card Terms and Conditions

Unless you are participating in a limited-time offer, you will earn:

5 ThankYou Points for each $1 you spend in your highest spend category each billing cycle up to the first $500 spent in that category. After the first $500 spent in that category during the billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou Point for each additional $1 you spend. (See below for more information on the highest spend category.)
1 ThankYou Point for each $1 you spend on purchases (excluding purchases made in your highest spend category as described above and transactions that do not qualify as purchases that earn Points as described below).

They go on to say later in the terms of the card:
Point Value May Vary. The value of a Point may vary depending on the Reward for which it is being redeemed. We have a right to change the "Point to dollar" conversion rate for Rewards at any time.

My guess is their lawyers told them the are good as the "5% Cash Back" is just marketing... Speculating here

Re: Upcoming TYP cashback nerf for Strata Premier

simplynoir — Tue, 20 May 2025 03:20:40 GMT

Presuming it's language tied to just the Strata Premier for now til I read otherwise. Their advertising of the Custom Cash and DC cards as examples would have to change otherwise unless the verbiage in their rewards changes to go with it. Wondering if they'll restrict transfer of any points tied to the SP to DC/CC/etc. as a way to block the loophole for cashout options.

Re: Upcoming TYP cashback nerf for Strata Premier

crystal626 — Tue, 20 May 2025 04:01:44 GMT

If they spread this to all their cards I'll probably get rid of the Custom Cash and Rewards+. I will keep my Double Cash for the virtual numbers but if a better card comes along with them, I'll axe that too. I have been unhappy with Citi for a long time because of their overzealous fraud department putting me through the wringer every time I add the card to mobile wallet and it will no longer be worth the hassle if I'm not getting 5%+ from the Custom Cash anymore.

Re: Upcoming TYP cashback nerf for Strata Premier

NoHardLimits — Wed, 21 May 2025 21:52:09 GMT

Bloggers are reporting that Strata Premier and Prestige cardholders are the ones impacted by the cash back nerf. However, those who also hold a true cash back card (like Double Cash and Custom Cash) will be able to combine their points into one TYP account and still redeem at 1 cent per point.

(Update: Workaround) Citi Reducing Citi Strata Premier ThankYou Rewards Cashout Offer (From 1¢ To 0.75¢ Per Point) - Doctor Of Credit

Re: Upcoming TYP cashback nerf for Strata Premier

Patient957 — Wed, 21 May 2025 23:04:20 GMT

@NoHardLimits wrote:
Bloggers are reporting that Strata Premier and Prestige cardholders are the ones impacted by the cash back nerf. However, those who also hold a true cash back card (like Double Cash and Custom Cash) will be able to combine their points into one TYP account and still redeem at 1 cent per point.

(Update: Workaround) Citi Reducing Citi Strata Premier ThankYou Rewards Cashout Offer (From 1¢ To 0.75¢ Per Point) - Doctor Of Credit

This makes sense. To fully nerf cashback would be to essentially kill off their most popular products and would have led to a massive reduction in swipes for Citi. They would be nerfing their own profits.

A change to only the CSP is smallest of nerfs. Nobody cares.

Re: Upcoming TYP cashback nerf for Strata Premier

ptatohed — Wed, 21 May 2025 23:58:28 GMT

It's not unlike the Rewards+ which, by itself, only redeems TYPs for cash at 0.5 cents each. When the R+ card is linked to DC or CC, the R+ earns TYPs equal to 1.0 cent each.

Re: Upcoming TYP cashback nerf for Strata Premier

Follower — Thu, 22 May 2025 13:23:38 GMT

@ptatohed wrote:
It's not unlike the Rewards+ which, by itself, only redeems TYPs for cash at 0.5 cents each. When the R+ card is linked to DC or CC, the R+ earns TYPs equal to 1.0 cent each.

I just looked up your post about how to do this and am calling Citi today!

Re: Upcoming TYP cashback nerf for Strata Premier

Follower — Fri, 23 May 2025 14:34:24 GMT

@Follower wrote:
I just looked up your post about how to do this and am calling Citi today!

...and since I just read here that all the Rewards+ roundup and rebate features are going away in two months — never mind.

Re: Upcoming TYP cashback nerf for Strata Premier

Zoostation1 — Mon, 26 May 2025 17:03:13 GMT

@Patient957This is one reason (as if I didn't have enough already lol) why I've avoided the Amex MR cards since there are no links to CB cards. One of the reasons I like using my Capital One duo is because Savor (old $95AF version) gets the largest chunk of my spend in most months and while I often move my rewards over to VX, I highly value that flexibility to cash out on Savor at 1cpp if I don't have upcoming travel planned.

Nonetheless, the Citi changes won't impact me since I'm blacklisted for good.