Is the Citi Premier Card a good first time credit card?

The Citi Premier credit score requirement is 700 or higher, which means applicants need at least good credit for a decent shot at approval. If you’d like to know where you stand, you can check your credit score for free, right here on WalletHub.

The average American will likely find it difficult to meet the Citi Premier credit score requirement, as many people have lower credit scores. But an applicant’s score is only one factor in the approval process. Citi will also consider other things like the person’s income, existing debt load, recent credit inquiries, number of open accounts and more.… read full answer

The Citi Premier’s credit score requirement is in line with the requirements for most other Citi credit cards, though there are a few that are easier to get, such as the Best Buy Store Card.

The easiest Citi card to get is the Citi® Secured Mastercard® because it is the only one that will accept applicants with limited credit (less than 3 years of credit history). This card requires a $200 refundable security deposit but has a $0 annual fee. It also helps build credit history with monthly reporting to all three major credit bureaus… read full answer (TransUnion, Equifax and Experian).

More info regarding Citi credit cards score requirement

Aside from the Citi Secured, nearly all other Citi credit cards require good credit or better (a credit score of 700+) for good odds of approval. Some of these cards include the Citi Double Cash Card or the Citi Premier® Card.

However, there are a number of store cards that also make it among the easiest Citi cards to get. Citi store cards require at least fair credit (a credit score of 640+) for approval. But purchases are limited to the affiliated merchant or its website. The Best Buy® Store Card and the Shell Gas Card, for instance, are among the many store cards that also have a full-fledged co-branded version on either the Visa or Shell Credit Card network, which can be used anywhere the network is accepted. Those cards aren’t as easy to get as the store versions, as they require at least good credit.

Here are some of the easiest Citi cards to get:

The Citi Secured is open to applicants with limited credit (less than 3 years of credit history). It has a $0 annual fee.

The Best Buy Store Card requires fair credit or better (a credit score of 640+). It has a $0 annual fee. Earns 2.5 points per $1 spent on Best Buy purchases.

To get the Shell Gas Card, you need fair credit or better (a credit score of 640+). It has a $0 annual fee. Offers savings: 30¢ per gallon (up to 35 gallons) on your first 5 Shell fuel purchases made by 6/30/2023, after that 10¢ per gallon (up to 20 gallons) every time you fill up, 10% Shell rebates on your first $1,200 Shell non-fuel purchases (per year).

The Sears Store Card requires fair credit or better (a credit score of 640+). It has a $0 annual fee.

The easiest Citi cards to get come with limitations. They offer low minimum credit limits, high interest rates and few rewards and benefits. And with the Citi store cards, beware of deferred interest promotions. Deferred interest means that there’s 0% interest as long as the balance gets paid in full by the end of the promotion. If it’s not paid in full, Citibank charges interest on the original purchase amount from the date of purchase, at the card’s regular APR.

It may also be beneficial to look outside of Citibank to some of the easiest cards to get from other issuers. Aside from lenient approval requirements, some of these also offer rewards and have annual fees as low as $0. And they report to the three major credit bureaus. So, if you use them responsibly, you'll be able to build or rebuild your credit and have future access to some of the best Citi credit cards, or other excellent options from different issuers.

The Citi Premier® Card annual fee is $95. The card’s annual fee is higher than the average annual fee among new credit card offers right now. It’s not the only fee you need to worry about with the Citi Premier® Card, either.

Citi Premier® Card Fees

• Annual Fee: $95
• Cash Advance Fee: 5% (min $10)
• … read full answerForeign Transaction Fee: 0%
• Balance Transfer Fee: 5% (min $5)
• Max Late Fee: $41

Keep in mind that an annual fee is a common charge with high-tier rewards cards. This card offers 60,000 points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. Plus, you can earn 1 - 3 points per $1. So, Citibank charges an annual fee for this card to help offset the cost of these perks.