What credit score is needed for Citi ThankYou Preferred?

You need a credit score of at least 700 for 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

Below, you can see what Citi cards your credit score will allow you to pursue, along with other information about approval.

Citi credit score requirements:

• Limited History: For those with little or no credit history, the Citi Secured is a good option. A refundable security deposit of $200 is required. It doesn’t give any rewards, but it does offer a $0 annual fee and can help you rebuild your 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. Some examples of store cards issued by Citi that require at least fair credit are Office Depot Credit Card, Best Buy® Store Card and Goodyear Credit Card.
• 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 - Citi Double Cash Card - if you have at least good credit. Other cards that require at least good include Citi Simplicity Card, Citi Diamond Preferred and the Citi Rewards+ Card. And if you’re a frequent American Airlines flyer, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® also requires at least good credit while offering 2 miles / $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants and on America Airlines purchases (1 mile / $1 on all other purchases).
• 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 Credit Card (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 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 for 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.

You need a credit score of 700 or higher to get a Citi Diamond Preferred card; this means that you should have at least good credit for high odds of approval. Some people claim to have been approved for this card with credit scores as low as 685, but that is riskier, especially if you don’t have a high income compared to your major monthly expenses. Generally speaking, the higher your credit score is, the better your chances will be of getting approved for the Citi Diamond Preferred card.… read full answer

What you need to get a Citi Diamond Preferred: More info

Just remember that a 700+ credit score does not guarantee approval. Your score is important, but you will also need to provide proof of a steady income in order to qualify. Additional factors taken into account include your employment status and existing debts. Citi will also look at your housing payments and the number of open credit card accounts you have.

What you can get with a lower credit score:

If your current credit score doesn’t meet Citi Diamond Preferred’s requirements, consider spending a little more time rebuilding your credit before you apply. Or, you could apply for a credit card that’s easier to get.

The offers decent chances of approval and accepts people with limited credit. If you use the card responsibly, over time your credit score should rise to the point where you can apply for Citi Diamond Preferred and have higher odds of approval. Or, if your score is in the fair credit range, you could consider a card from another issuer, such as the Capital One Platinum Credit Card.