Citi rounded out its lineup of Strata bank cards this yr, giving shoppers three choices to select from.
However what’s behind the names, and what ought to candidates know earlier than sending of their functions?
For one, the Citi Strata℠ Card (see charges and costs) is right for rookies to transferable factors. The mid-tier Citi Strata Premier® Card (see charges and costs) is superb for frequent vacationers trying to construct their stability of Citi ThankYou Rewards factors. And the premium Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see charges and costs) is a strong choice for luxurious vacationers loyal to Citi.
There are a number of causes you’d need to choose up a Strata bank card — together with the flexibility to gather considered one of TPG’s Most worthy transferable rewards currencies, valued at 1.9 cents apiece per our September 2025 valuations. You should use these factors for money again, present playing cards or journey, booked by Citi Journey or transferred to loyalty companions.
Which Strata card is best for you? Let’s get into the main points that can assist you resolve.
Evaluating the Citi Strata playing cards
Earlier than we element the advantages of every card, let’s go over the fundamentals.
| Card | Welcome provide | Annual payment | Switch ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strata | Earn 30,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. | $0 | 1:0.7 |
| Strata Premier | Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. | $95 | 1:1 |
| Strata Elite | Earn 80,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. | $595 | 1:1 |
As is the case with most rewards bank cards, these welcome presents present the vast majority of every card’s first-year worth. So, it is essential to maintain these in thoughts and apply for the cardboard when the bonus is excessive.
With the Strata Premier and Strata Elite, we advocate transferring your ThankYou factors to obtain most worth. Once you switch to companions akin to Air France-KLM Flying Blue, American Airways AAdvantage or Wyndham Rewards, you’ll obtain a switch ratio of 1:1. This implies in the event you had been to switch 1,000 ThankYou factors, you’d obtain 1,000 factors or miles in this system you are transferring to.
The no-annual-fee Strata doesn’t unlock a 1:1 switch ratio. So, in the event you transferred 1,000 ThankYou factors, you’d obtain simply 700 factors or miles within the companion program. Due to this, we do not advocate transferring ThankYou factors from the Strata.
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In fact, you may pool your Citi ThankYou factors in a single account (like you may with Chase Final Rewards), however you may need to make sure you’ve a premium card, just like the Strata Premier, Strata Elite or Citi Status® Card, to unlock the complete 1:1 switch ratio.
The data for the Citi Status has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Associated: Citi factors now switch to American Airways: How lengthy does it take?
Strata: Award journey rookies
When you’re newer to incomes factors for journey, making use of for the Strata is an effective place to start out. The cardboard is not ideally suited for knowledgeable award vacationers, however it’s an honest studying device for these simply entering into the passion.
High perks
The Strata offers a superb introduction to incomes ThankYou factors. As a result of the cardboard would not cost an annual payment, extra perks are restricted.
Nonetheless, the Strata options a formidable listing of bonus classes for a no-annual-fee card:
- 5 factors per greenback spent on sights, automotive leases and accommodations booked by Citi Journey
- 3 factors per greenback spent on electrical car charging stations, gasoline purchases, choose transit and supermarkets
- 3 factors per greenback spent on an eligible self-selected class (which you’ll change every quarter)
- 2 factors per greenback spent at eating places
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
The self-selected classes are:
- Barber retailers, beauty shops and hair salons
- Health golf equipment
- Reside leisure
- Pet provide shops
- Choose streaming companies
Factors from the Strata switch to loyalty companions at a 1:0.7 ratio, so this is not the cardboard to make use of with companions. Nonetheless, if you wish to complement with a premium ThankYou points-earning card or redeem your factors in one other approach, this card is an effective alternative.
The Strata is finest for cardholders who …
- Do not need to pay an annual payment
- Redeem ThankYou factors by Citi Journey or money again (not transferring to companions)
- Spend continuously throughout a number of classes
To be taught extra, learn our full evaluation of the Strata.
Associated: When (and why) it is best to downgrade from the Citi Strata Premier to the Citi Strata Card
Strata Premier: Frequent vacationers
The mid-tier Strata Premier is your best option for vacationers who need to earn factors shortly and redeem them at a excessive worth.
High perks
With the Strata Premier, it is simple to gather ThankYou factors and redeem them for glorious worth.
The cardboard encompasses a lengthy listing of bonus classes, with many tailor-made towards frequent vacationers:
- 10 factors per greenback spent on sights, automotive leases and accommodations booked by Citi Journey
- 3 factors per greenback spent on air journey, EV charging stations, gasoline purchases, different accommodations, eating places and supermarkets
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
The Strata Premier additionally offers a $100 annual lodge profit on stays booked by Citi Journey of $500 or extra (excluding taxes and costs). This credit score helps offset the cardboard’s $95 annual payment.
The Strata Premier is the best choice for unlocking a full 1:1 ThankYou level switch ratio to Citi’s loyalty program companions because it costs the bottom annual payment for this profit.
The Strata Premier is finest for cardholders who …
- Maximize bonus classes
- Switch ThankYou factors to companions
- Need to pay a modest annual payment
To be taught extra, learn our full evaluation of the Strata Premier.
Associated: I am not bought on the Strata Elite — however the Strata Premier would possibly develop into my new pockets staple
Strata Elite: Luxurious-minded vacationers
The Strata Elite is finest for premium vacationers who’re additionally organized spenders and might maintain observe of a number of assertion credit.
High perks
The Strata Elite packs a punch to assist offset its excessive $595 annual payment.
First amongst these is its incomes charges, tailor-made to earn extra on journey and eating:
- 12 factors per greenback spent on sights, automotive leases and accommodations booked by Citi Journey
- 6 factors per greenback spent on airfare booked by Citi Journey
- 6 factors per greenback spent at eating places, together with restaurant supply companies on CitiNights℠ purchases, each Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to six a.m. Jap time (3 factors per greenback spent on restaurant purchases outdoors of nowadays and hours)
- 1.5 factors per greenback spent on all different purchases
If lounge entry is a precedence and also you fly with a Oneworld alliance member, the Strata Elite is a good alternative. That is as a result of cardholders obtain 4 Admirals Membership Citi Strata Elite passes every calendar yr and a complimentary Precedence Cross Choose membership.
The cardboard additionally comes with many assertion credit, akin to a $300 annual lodge profit, a $200 Splurge credit score, a $200 Blacklane credit score and $120 towards International Entry or TSA PreCheck each 4 years.
The important thing to getting essentially the most out of the Strata Elite is group. Cardholders who keep in mind to make use of up the assertion credit and maximize CitiNights will obtain essentially the most worth.
The Strata Elite is finest for cardholders who …
- Leverage premium perks
- Use assertion credit
- Worth lounge entry
To be taught extra, learn our full evaluation of the Strata Elite.
Associated: Is the Citi Strata Elite well worth the annual payment?
Must you maintain a number of Strata playing cards?
Having a number of Strata playing cards has a number of perks, particularly if you wish to supercharge your ThankYou level capabilities.
For example, you would mix bonus classes to earn extra factors. Use the Strata to spend in a class not lined by the Strata Premier, like health golf equipment or pet provide shops, whereas swiping your Strata Premier for journey purchases akin to air journey and accommodations.
The Strata Elite provides advantages akin to lounge entry, priceless assertion credit and bonus rewards at eating places throughout hours lined by CitiNights.
In fact, spending good and staying organized is one of the best ways to make sure you’re getting essentially the most out of holding all three playing cards, particularly for the reason that Strata Premier and Strata Elite cost annual charges.
If maintaining with the main points sounds overwhelming to you, selecting one or two playing cards out of the Strata household may very well be simply as advantageous.
Associated: Maximize the Citi Trifecta
Backside line
On the subject of choosing among the many Strata, Strata Premier and Strata Elite, you may need to think about the way you need to redeem your rewards, how a lot you need to observe your spending towards assertion credit and the way a lot you need to be charged in annual charges.
As at all times, welcome presents and incomes charges additionally play a giant function. Weigh all of those elements to resolve which card most closely fits your way of life and journey habits.
Apply right here: Strata
Apply right here: Strata Premier
Apply right here: Strata Elite
