Interest rates can quickly add up when you carry a balance on your credit card. One of the most common ways to address skyrocketing APRs is to transfer your balance to another credit card. By consolidating your high-interest balances from multiple cards to a card with a lower interest rate, you have the potential to save hundreds or thousands of dollars. Citi, a Forbes Advisor partner, offers different cards with varying interest rates and repayment terms.
Find the Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards Of 2024
Citi Balance Transfer Card Offers
Citi offers five cards for balance transfers, each with slightly different repayment terms and intro APRs. A couple of the cards offer rewards for purchases as well, meaning when you’re done paying off your balance transfer, you can continue to use the card to generate credit card rewards.
Citi Custom Cash® Card
The Citi Custom Cash® Card is a rewards and balance transfer card combined into one with a generous welcome offer and a long introductory APR rate. With a $0 annual fee and an introductory offer, you’ll save on high-interest charges from your other credit cards from day one. After the intro period, the APR ranges from 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable), depending on your creditworthiness. The fee to conduct a balance transfer is 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
On purchases, you’ll earn 5% cash back on purchases in a top eligible spend category up to the first $500 spent each billing cycle, 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025 and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Balance transfer offer: 0% introductory APR for 15 months from date of account opening on purchases and from date of first transfer for balance transfers completed within 4 months of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on creditworthiness. There is also a balance transfer fee of 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
Annual fee: $0
Citi Custom Cash® Card
The Citi Custom Cash is a great option for people looking to maximize cash back rewards without having to worry about activating or selecting bonus categories.
- No registration required to earn bonus rewards
- Cash-back categories are unique categories that other cards may not offer bonus rewards for
- Introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers
- No annual fee
- High balance transfer fee
- High foreign transaction fee
- Some everyday rewards categories are neglected
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.
- No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
- No Annual Fee
- Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.
Citi Double Cash® Card
The Citi Double Cash® Card offers a unique value proposition. When you charge purchases to your card, you’ll earn 1% cash back. Then when you pay off those purchases, you’ll earn another 1% cash back. That cash back is earned in the form of Citi ThankYou points, a flexible currency that can yield quite good value.
However, the Citi Double Cash doesn’t include an introductory APR offer on purchases, so if you select this card, it’s best to use it for a balance transfer. If you make purchases while you carry a transferred balance, you will incur interest on all purchases. However, the intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum within the first 4 months of account opening, is much lower than the Citi Custom Cash® Card, so it’s a better option in that regard.
Balance transfer offer: 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the standard variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on creditworthiness. An intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies to transfers completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, the fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Annual fee: $0
Citi Double Cash® Card
The Citi Double Cash card’s simple cash back structure and long-lasting balance transfer APR offer make the Citi Double Cash a favorite among those who want to set it and forget it. It offers a solid cashback rate on all purchases and 0% intro APR on balance transfers, all without an annual fee.
- Earn up to 2% cash back—1% when the purchase is made and 1% when payment is made on the account
- No cash-back cap—no limit on the amount of cash back that can be earned
- No annual fee
- Introductory APR period for balance transfers
- Foreign transaction fee
- Balance transfer fee
- Lack of benefits seen in other no annual fee cards
- No introductory 0% APR on purchases
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
Offering the longest balance transfer intro APR period available among Citi’s balance transfer cards, the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card grants plenty of time to pay off your high interest rate balances from other cards.
The balance transfer fee is 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum. So if you don’t need the full term, a card with a lower fee may serve you better.
Balance transfer offer: 0% intro APR for 21 months on eligible balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% - 28.99%. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies.
Annual fee: $0
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
No Rewards
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card does not offer rewards on purchases
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
18.24% - 28.99% (Variable)
Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Those looking to consolidate debt and pay it off over time will appreciate the long introductory offer on balance transfers. A $0 annual fee further enhances its frugal appeal. On the downside, this card is light on perks and comes with a heavy balance transfer fee.
- $0 annual fee
- Lengthy introductory APR offer on balance transfers
- 0% intro APR period for new purchases
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- No rewards program
- High variable APR when introductory period ends
- 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 18.24% – 28.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Get free access to your FICO® Score online.
- With Citi Entertainment®, get special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and more.
- No Annual Fee – our low intro rates and all the benefits don’t come with a yearly charge.
Citi Simplicity® Card*
The Citi Simplicity® Card* not only offers a comparable intro APR offer to the Diamond Preferred, but also doesn’t charge late fees, penalty rates or annual fees. If you’ve been hit with a late fee or seen your interest rates rise in the past, this card could be a viable option to help you avoid some of those fees.
What’s better, you’ll also save on your balance transfer fee: 5% of the amount of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
Balance transfer offer: 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.99%. There is an intro balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater, for transfers made within 4 months of opening the account. After that, a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies.
Annual fee: $0
Citi Rewards+® Card
A well-rounded card for purchases, benefits and balance transfer offers, the Citi Rewards+® Card is a solid option for your wallet. Cardholders earn 2 ThankYou Points per dollar at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 in spending per year and 1 ThankYou Point per dollar on other eligible purchases, plus 5 ThankYou® Points per dollar on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025. Add that to a generous welcome offer and a lengthy introductory APR period, and this card should be on your radar. Plus, you’ll get an intro balance transfer fee of only 3% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum within the first 4 months of account opening.
Balance transfer offer: 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of first transfer and on purchases from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 18.74% - 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness. An intro balance transfer fee of either 3% of each transfer or a minimum amount of $5 within the first 4 months of account opening applies. After that, the amount of each balance transfer will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5) applies.
Annual fee: $0
Citi Rewards+® Card
The Citi Rewards+® Card is an intriguing option as an everyday card for small purchases. In terms of rewards earnings, Citi rounds up all purchases to the next 10 points. Meaning, that a $3 purchase will earn 10 points. Earn additional rewards with a 10% redemption bonus each year (on up to 100,000 redeemed points) plus an increased earning rate on supermarkets and gas spending up to the annual $6,000 cap— with no annual fee.
- All purchases rounded up to the nearest 10 rewards points.
- 10% points bonus added to the first 100,000 points redeemed annually.
- No rotating categories to manage.
- Foreign transaction fee.
- Potentially high APR depending on your creditworthiness.
- High balance transfer fee
- Annual $6,000 spending cap on 2x points category.
- Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com
- Plus, as a special offer, earn a total of 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of first transfer and on purchases from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 18.74% – 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
- Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou® Points on All Other Purchases.
- The Citi Rewards+® Card – the only credit card that automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase – with no cap.
- No Annual Fee
How To Do a Balance Transfer With Citi
Citi doesn’t offer the option to do a balance transfer during the application process. Instead, once you’re approved for the card, it’ll show up in your Citi online account where you can continue the balance transfer process.
If you are an existing Citi card holder, completing a balance transfer is easy and only takes a few clicks. Once you’re logged into your Citi profile, choose the Payments and Transfers drop down from the top menu and choose Balance Transfers
A box will prompt you to start a balance transfer and remind you that no credit check is required to complete your balance transfer.
This will show a list of any Citi cards that allow a balance transfer. You’ll see the rates, repayment terms, and fees associated with that transfer. Simply choose the amount you’d like to transfer and authorize the applicable balance transfer fee to conduct the transfer.
Citi Balance Transfer Fees
The balance transfer fees vary with each different card, but generally speaking fall into two categories:
- $5 or 5%, whichever is greater
- $5 or 3%, whichever is greater
It is possible that from time to time current Citi cardholders will be presented with a special lower rate offer, but those offers vary periodically and are specific to each individual user.
Bottom Line
Citi has some compelling offers for balance transfers from 15 months up to 21 months, extending the chance to offset high interest charges for an extended period. Considering that all of these cards currently offer no annual fee, saving money is even easier along the way. Before opting for a balance transfer, make sure you crunch the numbers to determine the applicable fee and make a plan to pay off your balance within the introductory period.
Best Citi Credit Cards Of 2024
