Citi vs Chase

[Flooded_Genesis]

So, I'm a newbie to the credit game and I'm learning how to apply and when to apply for credit cards to build up my CC portfolio. However, I've been interested in both Citi and Chase cards for a while now and based on some youtube videos and forums, it seems most people are split on which is better to have? 

Also, I wanted to know which is possibly easier to obtain? I know Chase has the 5/24 Rule which I think most bank have something similar to it, but in terms of value, for a newbie, which card would be the most beneficial to add now? Although, I have have heard of a lot people with similar financial situations being denied by Chase and Citi.

Which would you choose? and why?

#CitiAAdvantage #ChasePrestige

[Anonymous]

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@Flooded_Genesis wrote:

So, I'm a newbie to the credit game and I'm learning how to apply and when to apply for credit cards to build up my CC portfolio. However, I've been interested in both Citi and Chase cards for a while now and based on some youtube videos and forums, it seems most people are split on which is better to have? 

Also, I wanted to know which is possibly easier to obtain? I know Chase has the 5/24 Rule which I think most bank have something similar to it, but in terms of value, for a newbie, which card would be the most beneficial to add now? Although, I have have heard of a lot people with similar financial situations being denied by Chase and Citi.

Which would you choose? and why?

#CitiAAdvantage #ChasePrestige

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It's not as if the two banks offer identical credit cards, so, as usual, we would need to know more, such as where you spend and what sort of rewards are needed.  A particular chase card will make a lot of sense for one group, a different chase card for another, whereas a particular citi card would be great for a third.

[Flooded_Genesis]

So, I'm currently looking at the Citi AAdvantage and Chase Prestige. My wife and I travel alot throughout the year and so, I want to find another travel rewards card that would give us either miles or points that could be used in the future. But also something that can be used as a good everyday card.

[chrisw1968uk]

I have the Citi Double Cash, which was my daily driver until I got the Chase Amazon Card - both have decent limits and interest rates, but I do a lot of shopping on Amazon and that 5% back is adding up quite nicely

[Anonymous]

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@Flooded_Genesis wrote:

So, I'm a newbie to the credit game and I'm learning how to apply and when to apply for credit cards to build up my CC portfolio. However, I've been interested in both Citi and Chase cards for a while now and based on some youtube videos and forums, it seems most people are split on which is better to have? 

Also, I wanted to know which is possibly easier to obtain? I know Chase has the 5/24 Rule which I think most bank have something similar to it, but in terms of value, for a newbie, which card would be the most beneficial to add now? Although, I have have heard of a lot people with similar financial situations being denied by Chase and Citi.

Which would you choose? and why?

#CitiAAdvantage #ChasePrestige

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Never heard of this card. There is a Citi Prestige Card.

[NRB525]

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@Flooded_Genesis wrote:

So, I'm currently looking at the Citi AAdvantage and Chase Prestige. My wife and I travel alot throughout the year and so, I want to find another travel rewards card that would give us either miles or points that could be used in the future. But also something that can be used as a good everyday card.

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The Citi Aadvantage card makes sense if you fly American Airlines often. If not, not so good. 

If you want to go for any Chase card, the important questions begin with "how many of your cards were opened in the last 24 months?" The next statement is, don't apply for any other card until you sort out any Chase ideas.  

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a decent travel card, but requires a $5k starting limit. 

The Citi Prestige has some wider earnings categories including groceries, so in my view may be better than CSP. 

[Loquat]

Citi has removed the Prestige card from their line up and from what I’ve read, you can’t product change to it either. This card may very well be gone for good, only time will tell. As of late there hasn’t been any sign of a relaunch.


The closest you’re going to get to the Prestige earning structure is the Citi Premier, and there’s an argument to be had about it being a better overall card than the Prestige anyway.

[KJinNC]

OP, do you mean the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

I think that might be a more versatile card than AAdvantage. If choosing between those two for general travel needs, I'd go with the CSP, unless you fly American a lot.

More generally comparing the two banks' card lineups, Citi has more cards I find interesting, but they have few if any with directly comparable reward structures, so it's going to depend mainly on your spending needs.

One thing I will add is that if you might want a Chase card at some point, I'd get it before getting any other cards. You could potentially get a Chase card, then in a few months, also get the Citi card. Chase has a rule called 5/24, that means if you have opened five or more cards in the past 24 months, Chase will automatically reject you for that reason alone.

Other than that rule, I don't think Chase cards are especially difficult to get, any moreso than other major bank cards such as Citi.

JMO, good luck!

[Loquat]

@Flooded_Genesis Do you live in an AA dominated space or hub?  If not, that is a good enough reason to not mess their their card unless you're chasing a SUB.  And if that is the case then Barclays offers an AA card that has a very nice sub given the almost nothing you have to do to get it.  

If you do live in a hub them there's an argument to be made for having their card.  

I am in an AA hub and while I'm usually against any sort of spending on an airline card, my AA cards are the exception because as of late, actually even before the pandemic, AA start playing games with their award space making transfer to BA almost useless.  However when they did that they start ramping up their own web specials which can only be booked using their miles. 

Because of such, I spend regularly on my AA cards because their miles are hard to earn unless you're actually spending money to fly with them.  Time will tell if the ThankYou Points to AA will stick around...if it does then I'll back off a lot on the spending on my AA cards...but I'm also worried that if it the options to transfer TYPs to AA sticks around then AA will probably have a looming devaluation.  

[NRB525]

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@Loquat wrote:
Citi has removed the Prestige card from their line up and from what I’ve read, you can’t product change to it either. This card may very well be gone for good, only time will tell. As of late there hasn’t been any sign of a relaunch.


The closest you’re going to get to the Prestige earning structure is the Citi Premier, and there’s an argument to be had about it being a better overall card than the Prestige anyway.

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I meant to refer to Citi Premier. I never liked the similar naming of the Citi AF cards and haven't had either yet.