Citi ThankYou Points 101: Intro

Earning and Managing TYP

Citi ThankYou Points (TYP) is a flexible and valuable rewards program, but many people overlook its potential. With the right credit card strategy, you can quickly accumulate TYP and redeem them for travel, cashback, or transfer them to airline partners for maximum value. This guide covers everything you need to know about earning and managing ThankYou Points efficiently.

1. Citi ThankYou Points Credit Cards Overview

The table below summarizes the Citi credit cards that earn ThankYou Points and their current welcome bonuses:

2. Introduction to TYP Points

• Points earned from different Citi cards can be combined into a single thankyou.com account, where the system will automatically use the soon-to-expire points first.

• Points generally do not expire, but closing or converting a card, or receiving transferred points from another person, may cause your points to expire within a set period.

• Citi Prestige is discontinued. Existing cardholders can continue using it, and if you have a Citigold account, the annual fee is reduced to $350.

• Important Warning for Cash Redemption Lovers! If you hold Citi Prestige, Citi Premier, Citi Custom Cash, or Citi Double Cash, TYP can be redeemed for cash at a fixed rate of 1 cent per point. ⚠️ Without these cards, TYP cash redemption drops to 0.5 cents per point, making it a poor option!

• If you hold a Citi Rewards+, you get a 10% rebate on redeemed TYP, up to 100k TYP per year, further increasing its value.

3. Expiration Rules for Closing or Converting a Card

Although TYP generally does not expire, there are specific conditions under which points may expire:

1. Points earned from a closed credit card expire in 60 days.

   • If you close a TYP-earning credit card, any points earned from that card must be redeemed within 60 days, or they will be forfeited.

2. Points from a converted card also expire in 60 days.

   • If you convert a TYP-earning card into a non-TYP card, points earned on the original card will expire 60 days after conversion if not redeemed.

3. Shared points expire in 90 days.

   

   • If you transfer ThankYou Points to another Citi ThankYou member, the recipient must use them within 90 days of receipt, or they will expire.

   • Shared points cannot be returned to the original sender or transferred again to another ThankYou member.

To prevent losing your points, consider the following options:

• Redeem all points before closing or converting a card.

• Transfer points to an airline or hotel partner if eligible.

• Downgrade instead of closing to a no-annual-fee TYP-earning card like Citi Rewards+ to maintain access to your points.

Check your expiration status at thankyou.com under My Account / Points Summary.

How to Get Started with ThankYou Points

1. Apply for Citi Premier® + Citi Double Cash® to ensure that all purchases earn at least 2x points.

2. If your spending is concentrated in a specific category, consider Citi Custom Cash® to maximize 5x points.

3. Combine all ThankYou Points accounts to make redemption easier.

4. Look out for Citi Checking account bonuses or limited-time promotions to earn extra points.

5. Avoid redeeming points for cash or statement credits—instead, aim for travel redemptions or high-value options.

👉 Next Article: Citi ThankYou Points 102: Redemption Guide