Key Points

• Automatically earn 5% cash back on your top spending category each month up to $500 spent with no annual fee.
• Best for everyday spenders who want high rewards without tracking quarterly category activations.
• Rewards are ThankYou Points that can be pooled with premium Citi cards for travel transfers.

Introduction

Tired of remembering to activate rotating bonus categories every quarter? The Citi Custom Cash Card takes a different approach: it automatically gives you 5% cash back on whatever you spend the most on each billing cycle. Whether that's groceries one month or gas the next, the card adapts to your spending patterns without any effort on your part.

With no annual fee and a solid welcome bonus, this card has quickly become one of the most popular options for everyday cash back. But is it the right fit for your wallet? Let's break down everything you need to know.

Quick Summary

Best For: Everyday spenders who want maximum rewards with minimum effort

Standout Benefit: Automatic 5% cash back in your top spending category monthly

Biggest Drawback: $500 monthly spending cap limits earning potential for high spenders

Current Offer: Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 in the first 6 months

Citi Custom Cash Card Overview

The Citi Custom Cash launched in 2021 as Citi's answer to rotating category cards like the Chase Freedom Flex. But instead of requiring you to remember quarterly activations, this card automatically tracks your spending and awards 5% cash back on your highest spending category each billing cycle.

The eligible categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment. That covers most everyday spending for the average household.

Here's what makes it interesting: your rewards are actually earned as Citi ThankYou Points, not traditional cash back. This opens up some valuable flexibility if you pair the card with other Citi products.

Welcome Bonus and Earning Structure

Current Welcome Offer

New cardholders can earn $200 cash back (20,000 ThankYou Points) after spending $1,500 in the first six months. That's just $250 per month, making it one of the easiest bonuses to achieve in the no-annual-fee category.

How You Earn Rewards

The earning structure is straightforward but powerful:

5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle, up to $500 spent ($25 maximum cash back per month)

1% cash back on all other purchases with no limit

Additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel (through June 30, 2026)

The beauty of this structure is the automation. You don't select categories or activate anything. The card simply tracks your spending across all eligible categories and awards 5% to whichever one you use most each month.

Real-World Earning Potential

Let's say you spend $500 on groceries in January, $400 on dining, and $300 on gas. Your grocery spending would automatically earn 5% ($25), while everything else earns 1%. The next month, if dining becomes your top category, it automatically switches.

Maximum annual earnings: $300 (if you hit the $500 monthly cap in a 5% category every billing cycle) plus unlimited 1% on other spending.

Why ThankYou Points Matter

Here's where the Citi Custom Cash gets more interesting than a typical cash back card. Your rewards are earned as ThankYou Points, which means if you also have a card like the Citi Strata Premier, you can pool your points and transfer them to airline partners like Turkish Airlines, JetBlue, or hotel programs like Choice Privileges.

Even without a premium Citi card, you can still redeem points for:

Cash back: 1 cent per point via statement credit, direct deposit, or check

Gift cards: 1 cent per point to over 100 brands

Shopping: Through Amazon or PayPal

Travel: Through the Citi Travel portal

This flexibility means you're not locked into one redemption method like you would be with pure cash back cards.

Key Features and Benefits

0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers

The card offers 0% intro APR for 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers. After that, the variable APR ranges from 18.24% to 28.24% depending on your creditworthiness. Note that balance transfers carry a fee of 5% of the amount transferred (minimum $5).

World Elite Mastercard Benefits

As a World Elite Mastercard, cardholders get access to:

Cell phone protection: Up to $800 coverage per claim ($50 deductible) when you pay your monthly bill with the card

Citi Entertainment: Access to presale tickets and exclusive experiences for concerts, sporting events, and more

Extended warranty: Adds an additional year to eligible manufacturer warranties of three years or less

No Foreign Transaction Fees? Not Quite

One downside: the Citi Custom Cash charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, making it a poor choice for international travel. Stick with cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture for trips abroad.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• No annual fee makes it a keeper card long-term with no cost to maintain
• Automatic 5% category selection means no quarterly activations or tracking needed
• ThankYou Points can be pooled with premium Citi cards for travel transfers
• Easy welcome bonus to achieve at just $1,500 spending in 6 months
• 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
• World Elite Mastercard perks including cell phone protection

Cons

• $500 monthly spending cap limits maximum 5% earnings to just $25 per month
• 3% foreign transaction fee makes it unsuitable for international travel
• Only one Citi Custom Cash allowed per person (can't stack multiple cards)
• May not maximize rewards if your spending varies widely month to month
• Cash back redemption value is lower than transfer value on premium Citi cards

How the Citi Custom Cash Compares

When comparing the Citi Custom Cash to other popular cash back cards, it sits in an interesting middle ground.

The Chase Freedom Flex offers rotating 5% categories with activation required, but you get a higher $1,500 quarterly spending cap (versus $500 monthly on the Custom Cash). If you're organized enough to activate categories and can spend $1,500 in a quarter within specific categories, the Freedom Flex might edge ahead. However, for most people, the Custom Cash's automatic system is more convenient.

The Citi Double Cash provides a flat 2% on everything with no categories to think about. It's simpler but offers lower earning potential on your top spending areas. The two cards complement each other well: use the Custom Cash for your highest spending category each month and the Double Cash for everything else.

The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards lets you choose a 3% category from options like gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement. You get 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. The advantage here is choice and control, but you're capped at 3% rather than 5%.

For those seeking maximum simplicity, the Capital One SavorOne offers flat 3% on dining, entertainment, streaming, and groceries with no caps or activation. Less earning potential in any single category, but zero mental overhead.

Who Should Get the Citi Custom Cash Card

Great Fit For:

• Everyday spenders who want to maximize one category per month without the hassle of quarterly activations
• People who already have a Citi Strata Premier or other ThankYou earning card and want to pool points for travel transfers
• Those whose top spending category naturally stays under $500 monthly (most households)
• Anyone looking for a simple, no-annual-fee card to round out their wallet
• Cardholders who value 0% intro APR periods for planned purchases or balance transfers

Not Ideal For:

• High spenders who regularly exceed $500 monthly in bonus categories (you'll hit the cap quickly)
• International travelers (that 3% foreign transaction fee adds up fast)
• Those who want consistent high earning across multiple categories without a cap
• People seeking premium travel perks like lounge access or travel credits
• Anyone who already maximizes other 5% cards and won't use this one regularly

Maximizing the Citi Custom Cash

Strategic Spending Tips

To get the most value from your Citi Custom Cash, consider timing large purchases:

Concentrate spending: If you know you'll spend $400 on groceries and $400 on dining in a month, try to push one category over $500 to maximize the 5% rate. Buy gift cards at grocery stores for restaurants you frequent, for example.

Track your spending mid-cycle: The Citi mobile app shows which category is currently your highest. If you're close to the $500 cap, you can adjust your spending to hit it.

Pair with other Citi cards: The real power move is holding this alongside a Citi Strata Premier. Pool your ThankYou Points and transfer them to travel partners for outsized value. Your Custom Cash earnings suddenly become airline miles worth 1.5-2 cents each instead of 1 cent cash back.

Use for recurring subscriptions: Set up automatic payments for streaming services, gym memberships, or other subscriptions in eligible categories. You'll hit $500 faster without thinking about it.

Common Questions About Category Tracking

The card determines your top category based on merchant coding, not what you think you're buying. A purchase at Target might code as "general merchandise" rather than "grocery," even if you only bought food. Warehouse clubs like Costco typically code as "wholesale clubs," not grocery stores.

The 5% category resets each billing cycle, so your top category in January won't carry over to February. This can work in your favor if your spending patterns vary seasonally.

Application Process and Requirements

Citi typically requires good to excellent credit for approval (FICO score of 670+). The application is straightforward and can be completed online in about 10 minutes. Upon approval, you'll receive an instant card number you can use right away for up to $1,000 in purchases while waiting for your physical card to arrive.

Important note: Citi will only issue one Custom Cash account per person, and you're not eligible for the welcome bonus if you've received one in the past 48 months. This is part of Citi's broader 48-month bonus restriction that applies across most of their cards.

Final Verdict

The Citi Custom Cash Card solves a real problem in the cash back space: getting maximum rewards without the mental overhead of tracking categories and activations. The automatic 5% system just works, making it easy to earn solid rewards on everyday spending.

Is the $500 monthly cap limiting? Sure, if you're a high spender. But for the average household, $500 per month in any single category is plenty. You're earning $300 annually in 5% rewards alone, plus unlimited 1% on everything else, all without paying an annual fee.

The card really shines when paired with other Citi products, particularly the Citi Strata Premier. Suddenly your "cash back" becomes transferable points worth significantly more for travel. But even as a standalone card, it's a solid addition to any wallet.

If you want high cash back rewards without the quarterly activation dance, the Citi Custom Cash delivers exactly what it promises. Check the current offer and see if this automated approach to cash back fits your spending style.

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