A Few Questions About Citi

[FrankenBeans]

I have a Citi Premier (or Strata now?) I've had it for two years this month. The inquiry falls off in May. 

I love the card, and it's my daily driver (usually). I usually pay off in full, but in the past, I've carried a small balance here and there for a month or two. I currently have about a $2k balance that I can either pay off in full, or transfer (preferred for a month a two). I recently moved, and it would be nice to free up some cash until I find a real job. 

I want to open a Citi Custom Cash, because I'm looking at the balance transfer, and I want the no interest for 15months. I've been pre-approved. 

Does it look bad to transfer my Citi Strata balance to another Citi card w/no interest? Will this be frowned upon? 

Also, I'm due for a CLI w/Citi Strata. Should I apply for the CC first, then ask for the CLI? I'm assuming yes as this would probably get me a larger CL with the CC? 

Anything else I should know about Citi? My scores are 770ish across the board. No baddies. Relationships with Amex, WF, Citi, Discover, Apple, and Synchrony. Citi and Amex have been very generous; Disco, Apple, WF haven't been so generous, so they don't get much usage (catch 22, I know, but...). 

[FrankenBeans]

Also...I am currently 0/6, 0/12, 2/24 (will be 1/24 on May 1st). 

[Kforce]

Most issuers won't let you BT from one card to another issued from same institution.

No experience with Citi for this, but I don't think what you wand is possible.

Maybe others will know for sure.

[JoeRockhead]

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@Kforce wrote:

Most issuers won't let you BT from one card to another issued from same institution.

No experience with Citi for this, but I don't think what you wand is possible.

Maybe others will know for sure.

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This is correct, you can't transfer balances from one Citi card to another Citi card.  If you're looking for another Citi card, I'd apply for the additional card first before you ask for a CLI on your existing card. 

[pip3man]

You cannot balance tranfer between accounts held at the same financial institution. Here's a workaround but it'll require a different account - transfer the Citi balance to another credit card at another bank (say Chase) then process your BT from that bank (Chase) directly back to CITI. This option maybe too costly when you factor balance transfer fees. 

[Remedios]

Meh, Citi lets you have funds deposited into checking.

Get that deposited, wait a month(ish) (one full statement cycle) then use money in your checking to pay off artist formerly known as Premier 

[markhs777]

I usually get 0% checks from the Strata as well to many others for 12 or more months. If possible use one if available and pay off the original. Much easier and  apply at your leisure for other cards if you desire.

[FrankenBeans]

How do you get 0% checks from Citi? 

Ughghghghgh, I guess my master plan isn't going to work since I can't BT w/in the same institution. 

I wonder if I have any offers with Disco. I guess I'll have to call them. I don't much care for any other BT banks. And, I don't want two new cards right now. I've been looking at cards for the last couple of months and really thought I'd come up with a divine plan. 

[Wandering]

@FrankenBeans 

You could still get the Custom Cash and then get something like the BankAmericard from BoA (As an example)

BankAmericard

0% Intro APR all purchases for 18 months and balance transfers (3% fee) made in the first 60 days

[FrankenBeans]

In other Citi news, about a week ago, I clicked on the "View My Rate" button for a Citi loan, because I was curious if they beat Amex's rate. I didn't know it was going to actually apply for a loan. I thought it would just take me to some more marketing where they'd tell me my rate and maybe how much I was pre-approved for (like Amex does). 

No, it applied for me. So, they turned me down (which is fine, because I don't want a loan right now, and I didn't think I was applying anyways). 

But I got the letter today, and the reasons make zero sense. The first line is "Insufficient information on or lack of student loan information" followed by "Current Available Credit," "Age of Bank Card Accounts," and "Age of most recently opened unsecured installment trade line" 

1. I have no student loans 

2. I have over 50k in available credit

3. I'll give them the age of accounts...I think it's around 7 years or less. 

4. It's been two years since my last personal loan 

I've never seen the student loan excuse before. I'm going to call them tmrw, but why would they pre-approve me for the Citi CC if they don't like my profile? And how much were they going to lend me in this denial? It never asked how much I wanted to borrow. It never even told me it was going to actually apply...I thot I was just going to see an APR with some pre-qual amt (again...like Amex does with their pop up ads for loans).