Your Quick Answer_x000D_
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The Citi Custom Cash Card is a free credit card that gives you cash back on your purchases. It has one amazing feature: it automatically gives you 5% cash back on up to $500 spent in your top spending area each month. All other purchases earn 1% cash back. The “custom” part means the card is smart. You don’t need to sign up for anything or pick categories ahead of time. The card looks at where you spend the most money and gives you the best rewards there. It does all the work for you. This mix of high 5% cash back with no yearly fee and complete automation makes it special among credit cards. In this complete Citi custom cash card review, we will explain how it works, show you the spending areas that qualify, share tips to get the most value, and help you decide if it’s right for you.x000D
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How The Card Works_x000D_
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To get the most from the Citi Custom Cash Card, you need to understand how it works. The card’s main benefit seems simple, but the details help you earn the most rewards. The system is built for easy use, but knowing the rules makes sure you never miss out on cash back. We’ll explain the automatic earning system, the specific spending areas that get the bonus, and how to use the rewards you earn. This knowledge is the foundation for using this custom cash credit card effectively.x000D
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The Automatic 5% System_x000D_
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The “custom” in the Citi Custom Cash Card means it has a smart, automated rewards system. Here’s how it works step by step. During your billing cycle, you simply use the card for purchases. At the end of the cycle, Citibank’s computer system looks at all your completed transactions and puts them into preset eligible categories. It then finds the single category where you spent the most money during that time.x000D
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That one top category automatically earns 5% cash back. This bonus rate applies to the first $500 you spent in that category. Any spending in that category over the $500 limit, plus all spending in every other category, earns a flat 1% cash back.x000D
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This is the key convenience factor. Unlike rotating category cards that make you log in and activate new categories every three months, the Citi Custom Cash automatically adjusts. Your Citi custom cash category for earning 5% can be restaurants one month and grocery stores the next, all without any action from you.x000D
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Let’s look at a simple math example. Imagine in one billing cycle you spend $600 on groceries and $150 on gas.x000D
* The first $500 of your grocery spending earns 5% cash back: $500 x 0.05 = $25.x000D
* The remaining $100 of your grocery spending earns 1% cash back: $100 x 0.01 = $1.x000D
* Your $150 gas spending earns 1% cash back: $150 x 0.01 = $1.50.x000D
* Your total cash back for the month would be $25 + $1 + $1.50 = $27.50.x000D
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This automatic adjustment makes the Citigroup custom cash card an incredibly easy-to-use tool for getting the most rewards in a specific area of your budget.x000D
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Eligible Spending Categories_x000D_
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The 5% cash back is only given on purchases that fall into one of ten specific Citi custom cash eligible categories. Understanding what is included—and more importantly, what is left out—is important for planning your spending. Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) determine how a purchase is classified, so how a store codes itself is what matters, not just what you buy.x000D
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Here is the complete list of Citi custom cash card categories:x000D
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| Category | Includes Examples & Key Exclusions |x000D
| :— | :— |x000D
| Restaurants | Includes cafes, bars, lounges, and fast food. |x000D
| Gas Stations | Covers major gas station brands. Excludes fuel purchased at warehouse clubs, superstores, and convenience stores. |x000D
| Grocery Stores | Includes supermarkets. Excludes purchases at general merchandise stores like Target and Walmart, and warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club. |x000D
| Select Travel | Airlines, hotels, cruise lines, and car rental agencies. |x000D
| Select Transit | Includes subways, commuter rail, ferries, taxis, and rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. |x000D
| Select Streaming Services | Popular services like Amazon Prime Video, Apple Music, Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, Peacock, Spotify, and YouTube TV are included. |x000D
| Drugstores | National chains like CVS and Walgreens, as well as many independent pharmacies. |x000D
| Home Improvement Stores | Major retailers like Home Depot and Lowe’s, plus other hardware and garden supply stores. |x000D
| Fitness Clubs | Includes gym memberships and fitness center fees. |x000D
| Live Entertainment | Tickets for concerts, sporting events, theatrical productions, and amusement parks purchased directly from the venue or ticket seller. |x000D
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The most common confusion happens with groceries and gas. A purchase at a Walmart Supercenter or Target that includes groceries will not count as a grocery store and will only earn 1%. Similarly, filling up your tank at a gas pump located at a Costco or Sam’s Club will not qualify for the 5% gas station bonus.x000D
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Using Your Rewards_x000D_
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The rewards you earn with the Citi custom cash card are technically issued as Citi ThankYou Points. For cash back purposes, the conversion is simple and direct: every 1 ThankYou Point is worth 1 cent. This means 5,000 points equals $50 in cash back.x000D
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Citi offers several flexible ways to use your Citi custom cash card rewards:x000D
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* Direct Deposit: You can have your cash back deposited directly into a linked Citibank checking or savings account, or even a checking account from another bank.x000D
* Statement Credit: This is one of the most popular options. You can apply your rewards directly to your card’s balance, effectively lowering your bill.x000D
* Gift Cards: You can use your points for gift cards from a wide variety of retailers, often at the same 1 point to 1 cent value.x000D
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In our experience, using rewards for a statement credit is the most straightforward option. The process within the Citi online portal is easy to understand, and the credit typically shows up on the account within 2-3 business days. This simple and fast process adds to the card’s overall user-friendly appeal.x000D
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Getting the Most from Your 5% Rewards_x000D_
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Owning the Citi Custom Cash Card is one thing; using it to its full potential is another. While the card is designed to be simple, a few key strategies can transform it from a good card into an essential part of your financial toolkit. This is where you move from a casual user to a power user, making sure you consistently earn the maximum $25 in cash back each and every month. We’ve developed this guide based on extensive use to help you get the most value out of this custom cash back credit card.x000D
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Strategy 1: Focus Your Spending_x000D_
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The single most effective strategy for the Citi custom card is to dedicate it to one, and only one, spending category per month. This removes all guesswork and guarantees that your highest-spend category is the one you intended it to be.x000D
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Here’s a practical example of what to do and what not to do:x000D
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* Do This: Decide that this month, your Citi Custom Cash is your “Restaurant Card.” Use it for all your dining out, from morning coffee to weekend dinners. Use a different card for all other purchases like gas, groceries, and entertainment. This ensures your restaurant spending will be the highest category, locking in the 5% rate.x000D
* Not That: Avoid using the card for a mix of significant purchases. If you spend $300 on groceries, $250 on a home improvement project, and $200 on gas all in one month, you’ve created a race. Your grocery spend will win the 5% bonus, but you might have preferred to get 5% on the home improvement spend if you had another card that offered a better rate on groceries.x000D
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The biggest mistake we see is when a user plans to earn 5% on groceries all month, but then makes a large, one-time purchase like a $450 plane ticket. The “Select Travel” category will unexpectedly become the top spend, capturing the 5% bonus. Your entire month of grocery spending will then default to earning just 1%. By focusing spending, you control the outcome.x000D
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Strategy 2: The Pairing Power-Move_x000D_
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The Citi Custom Cash Card truly shines when it’s not the only card in your wallet. Pairing it with a high-yield flat-rate cash back card creates a simple yet incredibly powerful two-card system that covers all your spending with high reward rates and no annual fees.x000D
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The most logical partner is the Citi Double Cash Card, which offers an effective 2% cash back on all purchases (1% when you buy, and another 1% when you pay). This combination creates a strong Citi cash credit strategy.x000D
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Here’s how the pairing works in practice:x000D
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| Spending Type | Recommended Card | Reward Rate |x000D
| :— | :— | :— |x000D
| Top Monthly Category (e.g., Restaurants) | Citi Custom Cash Card | 5% (on up to $500) |x000D
| All Other Spending | Citi Double Cash Card (or other 2% card) | 2% |x000D
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With this setup, you are guaranteed to earn either 5% or 2% on every single purchase, with no exceptions and no annual fees. You use the Citi Custom Cash for your designated high-spend category (like gas or groceries) and the Double Cash for everything else. This simple system dramatically outperforms using a single card for all purchases and requires minimal mental effort once established.x000D
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Strategy 3: Manage The Spending Limit_x000D_
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The biggest limitation of the card’s 5% bonus is the $500 monthly spending cap per billing cycle. Earning 5% on $500 is fantastic ($25 back), but any spending over that limit drops to a non-competitive 1% rate. To be a true power user, you must manage this cap.x000D
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First, actively track your spending in your chosen 5% category. The easiest way to do this is by setting up spending alerts through the Citibank mobile app or website. You can create an alert to notify you when you are approaching the $500 threshold in a specific category. This simple step can save you from earning a poor rate on significant overspending.x000D
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Second, have a plan for what to do once you hit the cap. This is where the card pairing strategy becomes essential again. Once you receive your alert that you’ve hit $500 in your grocery category, for example, you should immediately stop using the Citi Custom Cash for groceries for the remainder of the billing cycle. Switch to your flat-rate 2% card for any subsequent grocery purchases. This ensures you continue to earn a competitive rate, rather than a meager 1%.x000D
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Who Is This Card For?x000D
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No credit card is perfect for everyone. The Citi Custom Cash Card offers exceptional value for certain types of consumers, but its specific structure means it will be less than ideal for others. A core part of our Citi custom cash card review is providing a transparent assessment to help you determine if this card aligns with your personal spending habits and financial goals. Answering this question honestly is the key to being satisfied with your choice.x000D
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Get This Card If…x000D
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* The Consistent Spender: Your budget has a clear and consistent winner each month. For example, if you’re a commuter who always spends the most on gas, or a family whose grocery bill is consistently their largest expense, this card is practically designed for you. It rewards your predictable spending pattern with a top-tier rate.x000D
* The Rewards Optimizer on Autopilot: You love the idea of maximizing cash back but hate the chore of tracking rotating categories, checking for new offers, and clicking activation buttons. The Citi custom cash card does all the heavy lifting, making it the ultimate “set it and forget it” card for earning 5%.x000D
* The No-Annual-Fee Enthusiast: You are building a collection of credit cards that provide high value without costing you a dime in annual fees. This card is a cornerstone of any no-fee rewards strategy, easily pairing with other cards to create a comprehensive earning system. The value provided by the Citi custom cash offer for new members, combined with no annual fee, is a powerful combination.x000D
* The Credit Card Beginner: If you’re new to the world of rewards credit cards, this is an excellent starting point. The concept is simple to understand: spend the most in one area, get 5% back. It teaches the valuable habit of strategic spending without the overwhelming complexity of some premium travel cards.x000D
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Skip This Card If…x000D
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* The High Spender: If you consistently spend well over $500 a month in a single category—for instance, if your monthly grocery bill is regularly $900—the cap will severely limit your earning potential. You would earn 5% on the first $500 ($25) and 1% on the next $400 ($4), for a total of $29. A card offering 3% on all groceries with no cap would earn you $27, a very similar amount with less hassle. For very high spenders, a card with a lower rate but no cap might be better.x000D
* The Scattered Spender: Your spending is spread very evenly across many categories each month, with no clear winner. If you spend $200 on gas, $200 on dining, and $200 on groceries, the card will pick one to award 5%, but you’d be better off with a flat-rate 2% card that gives you a solid return on everything.x000D
* The Simplicity Purist: You want one—and only one—card in your wallet for every single purchase. While the Custom Cash can be used this way, its 1% base rate is uncompetitive. A single flat-rate 2% card would be a better all-in-one solution for this type of user.x000D
* The Premium Travel Seeker: You’re looking for perks like airport lounge access, comprehensive travel insurance, hotel elite status, or the ability to transfer points to airline partners at high values. The Citi custom cash card is a pure cash-back card and offers none of these premium travel benefits.x000D
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How to Get The Card_x000D_
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Navigating the credit card application process can feel overwhelming, but taking a measured approach can increase your confidence and chances of success. For the Citi Custom Cash Card, the best path forward involves checking your eligibility beforehand. This section will guide you through the recommended steps, with a special focus on the highly valuable Citi pre approval process.x000D
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Step 1: Check Pre-Approval_x000D_
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Before you formally apply and trigger a hard inquiry on your credit report, your first move should always be to check for a pre-approved offer. A pre-approval, sometimes called pre-qualification, uses a soft credit inquiry, which does not affect your credit score. It’s a risk-free way to gauge your approval odds.x000D
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To do this, navigate to the official Citibank website and look for their pre-approval tool. You will often find links labeled “Check for Pre-Qualified Offers” or similar phrasing. Using the Citibank pre qualify tool is the smartest way to begin. The tool will ask for basic information like your name, address, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. It will then check its records to see if you are a good candidate for any of their cards. If you’re a good match, you may be shown a specific Citi custom cash offer. This is the best indication that you should proceed with a full application. We recommend always using the official Citi pre approval credit card tool directly on their site.x000D
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Step 2: Understand The Offer_x000D_
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If the Citi card pre approval tool returns a positive result, you will be shown a pre-approved credit card Citibank offer. This means that based on the initial information and soft credit pull, you are likely to be approved if you formally apply. A Citibank credit card pre approval or a Citi credit card pre approval is a very strong signal, but it is not a 100% guarantee of final approval. Your full credit report and other details like stated income will be verified during the final application.x000D
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As a general guideline, the Citi Custom Cash Card is typically recommended for applicants with good to excellent credit. While credit score models vary, this generally translates to a FICO score of 670 or higher. Having a score in this range, combined with a pre-approved offer, gives you the highest probability of a successful application. Checking for a Citi custom cash card pre approval is a crucial data point in your decision.x000D
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Step 3: Complete The Application_x000D_
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Once you have a pre-approved offer in hand and feel confident, you can proceed to the official application. This final step will require you to provide more detailed personal and financial information, including your full Social Security number and annual income.x000D
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At this stage, you must consent to a hard credit inquiry, which will be recorded on your credit report and can temporarily lower your score by a few points. This is a standard part of any credit card application. By using the Citibank pre-approval credit card process first, you are taking this step with a much higher degree of certainty. After submitting, you will often receive an instant decision within a minute.x000D
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Pros and Cons Summary_x000D_
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For a quick-reference guide, we’ve distilled the key findings of our review into a straightforward comparison. This table summarizes the primary strengths and weaknesses of the Citi Custom Cash Card, helping you weigh the decision at a glance.x000D
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| Pros 👍 | Cons 👎 |x000D
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| High 5% cash back rate in a top spend category. | $500 monthly spending cap on the 5% earnings. |x000D
| Automatic category adjustment with no enrollment needed. | Only 1% cash back on all other purchases. |x000D
| $0 Annual Fee for the life of the card. | Foreign transaction fees (typically 3%) apply. |x000D
| Attractive welcome bonus for new cardmembers. | Limited benefits beyond the Citi custom cash card rewards. |x000D
| Flexible rewards as redeemable ThankYou Points. | Can be suboptimal for those with very balanced spending. |x000D
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How It Compares_x000D_
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To fully appreciate the Citi Custom Cash Card’s unique position in the market, it’s helpful to compare it directly against its main competitors. Its primary rivals fall into two camps: other 5% rotating category cards and flat-rate 2% cash back cards.x000D
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vs. Rotating 5% Cards_x000D_
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Cards like the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Discover it® Cash Back also offer 5% cash back in categories that change. However, their mechanism is fundamentally different.x000D
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* Citi Custom Cash: The 5% category is automatically determined by your personal spending each month from a fixed list of ten options. It is customized to you.x000D
* Chase Freedom Flex / Discover it: The 5% categories are chosen by the bank and change every quarter (e.g., Gas Stations and Home Improvement in Q1, Grocery Stores and Fitness Clubs in Q2). You must log in and activate these new categories each quarter to earn the bonus.x000D
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The Custom Cash offers more flexibility and less work. The rotating cards, however, often allow you to earn 5% in multiple categories simultaneously during a given quarter, up to a combined quarterly cap (typically $1,500).x000D
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vs. Flat-Rate 2% Cards_x000D_
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Flat-rate cards, such as the Citi Double Cash Card or the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card, offer ultimate simplicity.x000D
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* Citi Custom Cash: This card is a specialist. It’s designed to give you an elite return in one specific area where you spend a lot of money. Its strength is its high peak earning rate of 5%.x000D
* Flat-Rate 2% Cards: These cards are generalists. They provide a very strong, above-average return on every single purchase, with no categories to think about. They are ideal for users who prioritize simplicity above all else or whose spending is too varied to benefit from a category card.x000D
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As we discussed in our strategy guide, these two card types are not necessarily competitors but are actually perfect partners. Using the Custom Cash for your top spend and a 2% card for everything else is the optimal strategy.x000D
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The Final Verdict_x000D_
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After a thorough analysis, our verdict is clear. The Citi Custom Cash Card is a uniquely powerful and valuable tool in the world of cash back credit cards. Its core identity is that of a specialized, high-performance engine for earning 5% cash back on your single biggest spending area each month, all with no annual fee. The card’s true genius lies in its automation, which removes the friction and forgetfulness associated with traditional rotating category cards.x000D
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The ideal user is a savvy, value-oriented consumer who can identify a dominant spending category in their budget and appreciates an automated rewards system. It is perfect for the person who wants to maximize earnings on their grocery, gas, or dining budget without the hassle of quarterly activations. The $500 monthly cap on 5% earnings makes it best suited for those with moderate, focused spending rather than ultra-high spenders in a single category.x000D
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For the right person, the Citi Custom Cash Card is not just another good card; it is an essential cornerstone of a modern, no-fee rewards strategy. When paired with a simple 2% flat-rate card, it creates a system that is tough to beat. We consider it a must-have for anyone serious about maximizing their cash back with minimal effort.
