What are the best Citi Secured promotions?

The best secured card that graduates to unsecured is Bank of America Custom Cash Secured Card. Bank of America periodically reviews accounts for possible graduation and it reports to all 3 major credit bureaus. With this card, you also get 3% cash back in a category of your choice, 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 spent quarterly in the 3% and 2% categories combined), and 1% back on all other purchases.

Best Secured Cards That Graduate to Unsecured

When your secured card graduates to an ... read full answerunsecured card, your credit line no longer needs to be secured with collateral. So when you graduate, the initial deposit you made to open the account will be refunded. You may get to keep the same physical credit card, or you may be migrated to another one. Either way, you’ll keep the good credit history you’ve earned with your secured card.

You need a credit score of at least 700 to get a Citi credit card in most cases. That means applicants for Citi credit cards need at least good credit to be approved. But it really depends on which card you’re after. Some Citi credit cards require higher scores, and one accepts applicants with limited credit history.... read full answer

Here are the Citi credit score requirements:

• Limited History: For those with little or no credit history, the Citi® Secured Mastercard® is a good option. A refundable security deposit of $200 is required. It doesn’t give any rewards, but it does come with a $0 annual fee and can help you build credit.
• Fair credit (640-699): With fair credit, you have a good shot at getting one of Citi’s various store cards. These cards can only be used at their associated store.
• Good credit (700-749): Good credit opens you up to some of Citi’s more attractive credit card offerings. You can get one of the best cashback cards on the market – the Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer. Some other good options include the Citi Simplicity® Card, the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card and the Citi Rewards+® Card.
• Excellent credit (750 and up): You’ll be eligible for all of Citi’s cards with a score in this range, assuming your income and other information check out. But the only excellent-credit-only option is the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi (cash back oriented, offering 1 - 4% cash back on different spending categories).
• Other requirements: It takes more than just a good enough credit score to get Citi credit card approval. In particular, you need enough income to pay the monthly bills, along with your existing debts. You’ll also need a valid Social Security number (or ITIN) and a U.S. mailing address.

If you’re not sure which Citi credit card you’ll be able to qualify for, it’s easy to get pre-qualified for a credit card online. Citi might also send a pre-qualified credit card offer to potential customers. But while this increases your chances of approval, it does not guarantee it. If you have received such an offer, visit Citi’s web page and enter your invitation code and last name to apply.

Also, keep in mind that applying for a Citi or any other credit card triggers hard inquiries and can temporarily lower your score - the more inquiries over a short period of time, the more damage to your score. So, it’s best to know where you stand before applying for any credit card. You can check your credit score and track your progress for free, right here on WalletHub.

Some rewards credit cards give new cardholders extra points, miles, or cash back after they make their first purchase or spend above a certain amount within a specified period of time or for some other reason.

There is no rule that prohibits you from opening a credit card just to get its initial bonus and then cancelling it once you've met the conditions of the particular offer and have either received a check or traded your points/miles in for a free hotel night or plan ticket. Taking advantage of a lucrative initial bonus every once in a while is actually a great way to add to your savings or pay down existing debt, provided that you aren't forced to overspend in order to qualify and you aren't planning to take out a loan in the next six months or so. Each time you apply for a credit card, your credit standing takes a temporary hit, which could end up costing you much more than the initial bonus is worth via a worse interest than you'd normally qualify for.... read full answer