How to Redeem Your Credit Card Reward Points

Earn points on purchases with certain Citi credit cards and then redeem those points for rewards.

Our credit card reward points are here for you to redeem where you wish: on travel, shopping, food, or even for cash.

Redeem rewards for certain online purchases, gift cards, statement credit, direct deposit, check by mail, travel, including airfare, or even redeem your credit card rewards to make a charitable contribution. When you accumulate points on a Citi credit card that’s geared towards your spending habits, you can maximize the amount of points you can earn to redeem for rewards.

There are different credit cards that earn more points in a particular category, so find the card that’s best suited to your lifestyle. Keep reading to learn how to redeem your credit card reward points.

Redeem your reward points to shop online

With Citi's rewards redemptions, the more you shop, the more points you’ll earn to redeem for future spending with select retailers. For example, Citi’s ThankYou® Points let you redeem reward points by putting credit card points earned from that credit card towards your next purchase with select retailers. You can redeem rewards for a variety of items big and small, such as kitchen appliances, a TV upgrade, or a new luggage set. The more you use your Citi credit card to pay for everyday items, the more credit card points you will accumulate.

Redeem your reward points for gift cards

Redeem rewards points for your choice of gift cards from a variety of popular department stores, , restaurants, hotels, retail shops, and more. Gift cards give you the flexibility to spend your points later at the retailer of your choosing.

Use points on airfare and hotels

Redeem your credit cards points for travel, including airfare and hotels. It’s important to first understand the basics of this type of rewards redemption because the cost of travel can change depending on the season. With premium credit cards, you can earn more points on purchases to redeem for your trip.

There are many options when you choose to redeem points for travel rewards. For example, you could transfer your ThankYou Points to a variety of participating loyalty programs including airlines, hotels, and retail or you could decide to use the travel rewards feature at www.thankyou.com and redeem your points for flights, car rentals, or hotels. Do your research and find the best travel rewards options for you.

Other ways to use reward points

Donate your rewards points to charity

Citi is proud to enable cardmembers to support charities with ThankYou Points. You can redeem points to make charitable contributions directly through our rewards redemption platform.

If you have unused credit card points or points that would otherwise go toward something you don’t need, making a charitable contribution instead is a great way to do good with your credit card reward points.

We offer this rewards redemption option in specific denominations, so please note that there may be a point minimum for your charitable donation.

Pay down your balance

Reduce your credit card balance by redeeming credit card points for a statement credit and keep from paying your balance entirely out of pocket.

Get cash reawards for your points

You can also redeem credit card points for cash. Points redeemed for cash rewards make it easy for you to do what you want with your cash, like pay off pay monthly bills, deposit into an interest-accruing account, or save some extra cash for a special occasion.

Watch for bonus offers

Be sure to look out for bonus credit card reward offers. Your card issuer may occasionally offer additional points for spending on your existing credit card during a specified time period. These offers can vary. For example, the offer could award bonus points for spending at least a specific amount, making purchases on certain categories such as restaurants, or making purchases at specific retailers within the offer period.

Whether you shop with your points at select retailers, redeem them for cash, or take advantage of any of the other ways to redeem, you can accumulate more points to redeem when you take advantage of select bonus offers.

Ways to redeem reward points

To redeem ThankYou Points with Citi, go to www.thankyou.com and choose the products to add to your cart. When you’re ready, you can place your order from your cart.

You can also redeem your rewards by calling the ThankYou Service Center at 1-800-THANKYOU (1-800-842-6596) or 859-283-8016 outside the U.S.

When shopping at participating online retailers such as Amazon.com®, BestBuy.com® or 1800flowers.com®, you can use your points as a payment option at checkout. Depending on the retailer, you can use your points to cover your whole purchase, part of your purchase, or to get a statement credit.

How to maximize credit card reward points

If you want to maximize the amount of points you earn on your credit card, you should look at what your card’s reward structure is. When you see what categories of purchases your card offers the most points for, you can try to use your card for those specific purchases. For example, if one of your cards offers more points for gas stations, you could try to use that card whenever you visit a gas station.

Keep in mind, though, that you should try to pay your statement balance off in full by the due date each month to avoid interest charges on revolving balances. Interest charges can easily cancel out the value of the points you earn on purchases.

Some cards also have bonus offers that reward additional points if you spend a certain amount on the card within a specified period of time after account opening. This can be a great way to gain additional points on a new credit card.

Looking for a rewards credit card that’s just right for you? Start your search with Citi credit cards.

Disclosure: This article is for educational purposes. It is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice and is not a substitute for professional advice. It does not indicate the availability of any Citi product or service. For advice about your specific circumstances, you should consult a qualified professional. 

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