Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Citi is a TPG advertising partner.
If you’re considering applying for a credit card, you’re probably wondering whether the current sign-up bonus is worth it.
Welcome offers can change frequently, and it can be hard to know whether the current offer on a card provides the value you’re looking for. There’s no easy answer to precisely when is the best time to apply for a card, but it does help to know what a card has offered in the past when evaluating the current offer.
We’ve rounded up the offer history on the most popular cards from Citi to help you find the best time to apply for each card.
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Best Citi credit card sign-up bonuses
Card
Best welcome offer we’ve seen
When to apply
Citi Premier® Card
Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases with your card within the first three months of account opening.
When the bonus offer is 80,000 points or higher.
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.
When the bonus offer is $200 cash back or higher.
Citi® Double Cash Card
Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months.
If there is any cash-back welcome offer.
Citi Rewards+® Card
Earn 25,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within three months of account opening. Plus, earn 5 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel Portal through June 30, 2024.
When the bonus offer is 20,000 points or higher.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 within the first four months of account opening.
When the bonus offer is higher than 50,000 miles.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,500 within the first three months of account opening.
When the bonus offer is higher than 50,000 miles.
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,500 within the first three months of account opening.
When the bonus offer is higher than 50,000 miles.
The information for the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Citi Premier® Card
JOHN GRIBBEN/THE POINTS GUY
The Citi Premier card earns 3 points per dollar on gas purchases, dining, groceries, and air and hotel travel. With its simplified model and array of airline transfer partners, the Citi Premier makes earning points for travel hassle-free.
Approximate date
Offer
Value*
June 2023 to now
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases with your card within the first three months of account opening.
$1,080
April to June 2023
Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases with your card within the first three months of account opening.
$1,350
January to April 2023
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases with your card within the first three months of account opening.
$1,080
July 2022 to January 2023
Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases with your card within the first three months of account opening.
$1,440
December 2021 to July 2022
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases with your card within the first three months of account opening.
$1,080
October to December 2021
Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases with your card within the first three months of account opening.
$1,440
March to October 2021
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases with your card within the first three months of account opening.
$1,080
*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.
When to apply for this card: When the bonus offer is 80,000 points or higher.
Learn more: Citi Premier credit card
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
THE POINTS GUY
With the Citi Custom Cash, you’ll earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle, on up to the first $500 spent, and 1% cash back thereafter. You’ll also earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. This card launched in mid-2021.
Approximate date
Offer
Value*
June 2021 to now
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.
$200
*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.
When to apply for this card: When the bonus offer is $200 cash back or higher.
Learn more: Citi Custom Cash credit card
Citi® Double Cash Card
THE POINTS GUY
The Citi Double Cash Card takes all of the stress and complication out of credit card rewards with a simple (yet lucrative) 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases and straightforward cash-back redemption options.
Approximate date
Offer
Value*
November 2022 to now
No welcome offer
N/A
August to November 2022
Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months.
$200
2014 to August 2022
No welcome offer
N/A
*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.
When to apply for this card: If there is any cash-back welcome offer.
Learn more: Citi Double Cash credit card
Citi Rewards+® Card
JOHN GRIBBEN/THE POINTS GUY
Every purchase on the Citi Rewards+ Card rounds up to the nearest 10 points. Even a $2 coffee will earn 10 points, which can really stack up over time.
Approximate date
Offer
Value*
April 2023 to now
Earn 25,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within three months of account opening. Plus, earn 5 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel Portal through June 30, 2024.
$250+
October 2022 to April 2023
Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 on purchases with your card within the first three months of account opening.
$200
April to September 2022
Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 on purchases with your card within the first three months of account opening, plus 5 points per dollar on a bonus category (travel or restaurants) for $6,000 of spending in the first year.
$200+
July 2021 to April 2022
Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 on purchases with your card within the first three months of account opening.
$200
May to July 2021
Earn 15,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 on purchases with your card within the first three months of account opening.
$150
*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.
When to apply for this card: When the bonus offer is 20,000 points or higher.
Learn more: Citi Rewards+ credit card
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
THE POINTS GUY
The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select‘s perks include access to preferred boarding, no foreign transaction fees and a free checked bag on domestic flights, making it an excellent choice for anyone who flies American Airlines regularly.
Approximate date
Offer
Value*
May 2023 to now
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 within the first three months of account opening.
$885
April to May 2023
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 on purchases in the first four months of account opening.
$1,328
July 2022 to April 2023
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 within the first three months of account opening.
$885
June to July 2022
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 within the first four months of account opening.
$1,328
June 2019 to June 2022.
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 within the first three months of account opening.
$885
April to June 2019.
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 within the first three months of account opening.
$1,062
March to April 2019
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 within the first three months of account opening.
$885
November 2018 to March 2019
Earn up to 50,000 bonus miles: Earn 40,000 miles after spending $2,000 in the first three months and an extra 10,000 miles after spending a total of $6,000 in the first 12 months.
$885
May to November 2018
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 within the first three months of account opening.
$1,062
February to May 2018
Earn 30,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 within the first three months of account opening.
$531
November 2017 to February 2018
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 within the first three months of account opening.
$1,062
*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.
The information for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
When to apply for this card: When the bonus offer is higher than 50,000 miles.
Learn more: Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select credit card
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
THE POINTS GUY
The Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is the elite card in the AAdvantage lineup. Cardholders enjoy a complimentary American Airlines Admirals Club membership, a value that more than makes up for the card’s $450 annual fee.
Approximate date
Offer
Value*
December 2022 to now
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 within the first three months of account opening.
$885
October to December 2022
Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,500 within the first three months of account opening.
$1,416
October 2021 to October 2022
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 within the first three months of account opening.
$885
August to October 2021
Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 elite qualifying miles after spending $5,000 within the first three months of account opening.
$885
July 2019 to August 2021
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 within the first three months of account opening.
$885
*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.
When to apply for this card: When the bonus offer is higher than 50,000 miles.
Learn more: Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
THE POINTS GUY
The CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard is an excellent card for businesses with employees that frequently fly American Airlines. Its perks include a free checked bag on domestic flights, preferred boarding and the potential to earn a companion certificate.
Approximate date
Offer
Value*
August 2020 to now
Earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first four months of account opening.
$1,151
May to August 2020
Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first four months of account opening.
$1,239
March to May 2020
Earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first four months of account opening.
$1,151
October 2019 to March 2020
Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first four months of account opening.
$1,239
July to October 2019
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 within the first three months of account opening.
$1,062
April to July 2019
Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first four months of account opening.
$1,239
*Bonus offer value is based on TPG’s valuations and not provided by the credit card issuer.
When to apply for this card: When the bonus offer is higher than 50,000 miles.
Learn more: Citi/Business AAdvantage Platinum Select credit card
Bottom line
When you’re considering applying for a Citi card — or any card — you’ll want to determine whether its sign-up bonus provides substantial value.
Use our other offer history guides as a reference point as you evaluate the pros and cons of signing up for cards from the major issuers:
The best time to apply for these popular travel credit cards
The best time to apply for these popular American Express credit cards
The best time to apply for these popular Capital One credit cards
The best time to apply for these popular Chase credit cards