Citigroup this year puts together its hierarchical credit card lineup, offering consumers three options.
But what is behind the name and what should the applicant know before sending the application?
One, one Citi tier ℠ card (See Rates and Fees) Ideal for beginners for transferable points. Middle level Citi Layer Premier® Card (See Rates and Fees) Ideal for travelers who want to build Citi Thank you for reward points balance. and premiums Citigroup Elite Card (See rates and fees) It is a reliable option for luxury travelers loyal to Citi.
There are many reasons why you want to get a tiered credit card, including being able to collect one of the most valuable transfer reward currencies for TPG, which is valued at 1.9 cents based on our September 2025 valuation. You can use these points for cash back, gift cards or travel, booking through Citi Travel or transferring to loyal partners.
Which stratum card is right for you? Let’s go into details to help you decide.
Compare Citi Class Cards
Before we elaborate on the benefits of each card, let’s cover the basics.
| card | Welcome offer | Annual fee | Transfer ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strata | From the first three months of opening an account, earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 after purchasing. | $ 0 | 1:0.7 |
| Prime Minister of the Stratigraphic | From the first three months of account opening, earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of purchase. | $95 | 1:1 |
| Strata elite | From the first three months of account opening, you spent $4,000 in the first three months of purchase and earned 80,000 bonus points. | $595 | 1:1 |
Like most reward credit cards, these welcome offers a majority of the first year value of each card. So it’s important to remember these and apply for a card when the bonus is high.
With Strata Premier and Strata Elite, we recommend transferring your thank you points for maximum value. When you transfer to a partner like Air France-KLM Flying Blue, American Airlines Aadvantage, or Wyndham Rewards, you get a 1:1 transfer rate. This means that if you are transferring 1,000 thank you points, you will get 1,000 points or miles in the program you transfer to.
The grade-free class did not unlock a 1:1 transfer ratio. So if you transfer 1,000 thank you points, you can only get 700 points or miles in the partner program. Therefore, we do not recommend transferring thank-you points from class.
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Of course, you can put Citi Thanks Points together an account (like Chase Ultimate Rewards), but you need to make sure you have a premium card like Strata Premier, Strata Elite, or CitiPrestige® card to unlock the entire 1:1 transfer rate.
Information about Citi’s reputation has been independently collected by Goint Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Citi Points Transfer to American Airlines Now: How Long Does It Take?
Class: Rewards Travel Beginners
If you have updated your travel points, please apply Strata It’s a good starting point. This card is not ideal for experienced reward travelers, but it is a great learning tool for those who enter the hobby.
Top allowance
this Strata An excellent introduction to your thank you points. Since the card does not charge an annual fee, additional privileges are limited.
However, the bonus categories for these strata list a card that is unfamiliar:
- Every 5 o’clock spent on attractions, car rentals and hotels booked through Citi Travel
- Spend 3 points per dollar at an electric car charging station, buy gasoline, select shipping and supermarkets
- Spend 3 points per dollar on qualified self-select category (you can change it every quarter)
- Spend 2 points per dollar at a restaurant
- Every dollar spent on all other purchases
The self-selected categories are:
- Barber shops, cosmetics shops and hair salons
- Fitness Club
- Live entertainment
- Pet Supplies Store
- Select Stream Service
Points transferred from the formation to the loyal partner are at a ratio of 1:0.7, so this is not a card to use with the partner. However, if you want to add a premium thank you for earning your cards or redeem your point of view in another way, this card is a great option.
This strata is best for cardholders who…
- Don’t want to pay the annual fee
- Redemption via Citi Travel or Cash Back Thank you for pointing out (no Transfer to partners)
- Often spend multiple categories
To learn more, read our full review of class.
Related: When (and why) you should downgrade from Citi Tier to Citi Tier Card
Prime Minister of the Strata: Frequent Traveler
Middle level Prime Minister of the Stratigraphic It’s the best choice for travelers who want to earn points quickly and redeem them at high value.
Top allowance
and Prime Minister of the Stratigraphicit is easy to collect thank you points and redeem their value.
The card has a long list of bonus categories that many people tailored to frequent travelers:
- 10 cents per dollar for hotel bookings in attractions, car rentals and hotels booked through Citi Travel
- 3 per dollar for air travel, electric car charging stations, purchase of gasoline, other hotels, restaurants and supermarkets
- Every dollar spent on all other purchases
The hierarchy prime minister can also book annual hotel benefits through Citi Travel $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees). This credit helps offset the card’s $95 annual fee.
The stratigraphy Prime Minister is the best choice to unlock the entire 1:1 thanks point transfer ratio with Citi’s loyalty program partners as it charges the lowest annual fee for this benefit.
The Prime Minister of the Formation is best for cardholders who…
- Maximize bonus categories
- Transfer the thank you points to the partners
- Want to pay a moderate annual fee
To learn more, read our full comment on the Class Prime Minister.
Related: I’m not for sale in the class elite – but the stratigraphic prime minister may become my new wallet staple
Elite Strata Elite: Luxury Traveler
this Strata elite Best for an organized spender, who can track multiple credits for senior travelers.
Top allowance
this Strata elite Packaging helps offset its $595 annual fee.
The first is its earning rate, tailored to earn more money on travel and dining:
- 12 o’clock per dollar for attractions, car rentals and hotel bookings through Citi Travel
- Spend 6 points per dollar on flights booked on Citi Travel
- Spend 6 o’clock in restaurants, including restaurant delivery every Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. Eastern Time every Friday and Saturday (3 a.m. to buy restaurants every day and hours away)
- Spend 1.5 points per dollar
If lounge access is preferred and you are flying with OneWorld Alliance members, the Strata Elite is a great option. That’s because cardholders receive four Admiral Club clubs in each calendar year with a Citigroup Elite Pass and free priority pass option.
The card also comes with many stated credits, such as annual hotel benefits of $300 per year, splurge credit of $200, Blacklane credit of $200, and global admission fee of $120 or TSA Precheck every four years.
The key to getting the most out of class elites is organization. Remember to use statement points and maximize Citinights cardholders will get the most value.
Class elites are best for cardholders…
- Take advantage of quality discounts
- Use statement credit
- Value lounge access
To learn more, read our full review of the elite of the class.
Related: Is the Citigroup Elite worth the annual fee?
Should you hold multiple hierarchical cards?
Having multiple tier cards has multiple benefits, especially if you want to enhance your ability to thank you points.
For example, you can combine bonus categories to earn more points. use Strata Spend in categories not covered Prime Minister of the Stratigraphicsuch as a fitness club or pet supply store, while swiping out class premieres for travel and hotels.
this Strata elite In the time covered by Citinights, benefits like lounge access, valuable statement points and bonus rewards are added.
Of course, being smart and organised is the best way to make sure you make the most of these three cards, especially since the annual fees of Strata Premier and Strata Elite Earlite.
If keeping up with the sound of details is overwhelming for you, it might be equally beneficial to choose one or two cards from the Strata series.
Related: Maximize Citigroup III Ifecta
Bottom line
When it comes to Strata, , , , , Prime Minister of the Stratigraphic and Strata eliteyou need to consider how you want to redeemed the rewards, how much you want to track how much you want to pay to state credit and how much you want to charge for annual fees.
As always, welcome quotes and money-making rates play a big role. Weigh all of these factors to determine which card is best for your lifestyle and travel habits.
Apply here: Strata
Apply here: Prime Minister of the Stratigraphic
Apply here: Strata elite
