It is hard to get some Citibank credit cards, particularly Citicards that require a good to excellent credit score of 700 or higher. Citibank also requires you to have an SSN when you apply online, and you need enough income to afford the monthly bill payments. Fortunately, Citibank also has credit card options for people with limited or fair credit, which means you can find a Citi credit card if you're just starting out or looking to build credit.
The easiest credit card to get from Citibank is the Citi® Secured Mastercard®, which is available to people with limited credit. This card has an annual fee of $0.
Citi Credit Score Requirements
If you meet the credit score requirement and a few other requirements, it becomes easier to get a Citibank credit card. As with all credit cards, you’ll need to have a steady income and be at least 18 years old. You’ll also need to have an SSN, ITIN, or passport.
This answer was first published on 10/21/21 and it was last updated on 04/25/24. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.
FAQs
Citi credit cards are hard to get because most require good to excellent credit, which means you need a credit score of 700+ for good approval odds. There are a few Citibank credit card options for people with lower credit scores, but they are not as rewarding as those with higher credit score requirements.
Is it hard to get approved for a Citibank credit card? ›
Most cards offered by Citi require a good to excellent credit score—670 to over 800. The cards with such requirements are some of the most rewarding cards offered, but there are options if your score is not quite at that level.
What is the easiest Citibank credit card to get approved for? ›
Citi® Secured Mastercard® is an option for customers with little or no credit history and can help you build your credit when used responsibly. Unlike a debit card, Citi® Secured Mastercard® is a real credit card that helps build your credit history with monthly reporting to all 3 major credit bureaus.
Why would Citi deny a credit card? ›
One of the first and foremost reason for rejection is if the credit card applicant has low credit score. Any bank, when it gets a loan or credit card application will pull out the individuals credit score which is available with the number of credit bureaus operating in the country.
What credit score does Citibank use? ›
What score model does Citi use and why is the score range different from others? There are various score models available in the marketplace. The FICO® Score we deliver is based on data from Equifax using the FICO® Bankcard Score 8 model. This model has a FICO® Score range of 250-900.
What is the minimum salary required for Citibank credit card? ›
Citibank does not have a specific minimum salary requirement for its credit cards, though applicants must report an annual income sufficient to make a card's minimum payment every month. Citibank is one of several major credit card issuers that do not publicly disclose a specific salary or income requirement.
What is the most difficult Citi card to get? ›
The most difficult Citi card to get is the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, since it's their only consumer card that requires excellent credit to qualify. You also need to join Costco if you're not already a member and earn enough income to afford monthly payments on the card.
Does Citibank give instant approval? ›
Citibank gives instant approval on its credit cards, but only some of the time. Instant approval always is possible when applying for a Citibank credit card online, though getting approved for an account immediately is never guaranteed.
Which bank approves a credit card easily? ›
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is our top pick for easiest credit card to get because it's geared toward those with limited/poor credit. It offers great rewards and charges a $0 annual fee. Plus, Discover will conduct monthly account reviews after seven months to see if you qualify to get your deposit refunded.
What is the starting limit for Citibank credit card? ›
The Citi Double Cash® Card credit limit is between $500 and $50,000, with $500 being the default minimum credit limit and $50,000 being the highest limit reported by cardholders. Citi doesn't disclose an official maximum, but a good credit score and enough income will likely get you a high limit.
No, Citibank does not have a 5/24 rule, which means Citibank will not automatically reject an application just because you've opened five or more credit card accounts during the past 24 months.
How long does Citi take to approve a credit card? ›
How Long Does Citi Take To Approve Credit Cards? Citi's card application processing time frame is normally within 30 days, though they may give you a decision much more quickly. If you don't hear back within this period, it means that your application may need to be reassessed.
What is the Citi 6 inquiry rule? ›
Also, Citi is known for automatically rejecting applications for anyone who has had more than six hard inquiries on your credit in the past six months. Data points exist of folks sliding by, so we won't call this a rule necessarily. But if you see something about “Citi's 6/6 rule,” this is what it refers to.
Are Citi credit cards hard to get? ›
In fact, it's one of the easier top credit cards to open. You can qualify for it with fair credit (a FICO® Score of 580 to 669). Most of the best credit cards require good to excellent credit.
Does Citibank do a hard pull? ›
Citi more than likely will make a hard inquiry upon your credit report when evaluating your application for a credit account. If you remain in good standing with Citi, it will likely help your chances of getting approved for an additional card, but this doesn't guarantee you won't see another hard inquiry.
What is the minimum credit limit for Citibank? ›
The usual Citibank credit card limit is $200 to $2,000 at a minimum, depending on the card. The Citi Double Cash® Card has a $500 minimum credit limit, for example, while the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card has a minimum credit limit of $2,000. Citibank doesn't publicly disclose any maximum credit limits.
Does Citi do a hard pull for credit application? ›
Each time you apply for a new credit card, the issuer will perform a hard inquiry. Hard inquiries can lower your score by a few points.
