Citi Strata Card: New No Annual Fee Card Replaces Citi Rewards+ Card

Citi has just announced plans to launch a new no annual fee credit card, which actually represents the rebranding of an existing card.

Basics of the no annual fee Citi Strata Card

Several weeks ago, Citi closed applications for the Citi Rewards+ Card, and now we know why. Citi plans to launch the Citi Strata Card, to replace the Citi Rewards+ Card. The expectation is that existing Citi Rewards+ customers will be converted to the card as of July 20, 2025, while new cardmembers will be able to apply starting later this year.

As Citi describes it, the card has been redesigned with simplicity, flexibility, and value, in mind. When it comes to the rewards structure, the Citi Strata Card will offer the following, in addition to standard World Elite Mastercard benefits:

• 5x ThankYou points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions, booked through cititravel.com
• 3x ThankYou points at supermarkets, on select transit, and at gas and EV charging stations
• 3x ThankYou points on an eligible self-select category of your choice
• 2x ThankYou points at restaurants
• 1x ThankYou points on all other purchases

Regarding that self-select category, the options include the following:

• Fitness clubs
• Select streaming services
• Live entertainment
• Pet supply stores
• Cosmetic stores, barber shops, and hair salons

As is standard for no annual fee cards in these collections, these Citi ThankYou points can only be transfered to the bulk of Citi ThankYou transfer partners in conjunction with a premium card, like the $95 annual fee Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (review).

How does this compare to the Citi Rewards+ Card?

For those curious how the new Citi Strata Card compares to the Citi Rewards+ Card that it’s replacing, the rewards structure is very different. The Citi Rewards+ Card offers:

• 2x ThankYou points at supermarkets and gas stations, on the first $6,000 spent every year (earn 1x points thereafter)
• Purchases on the card are rounded up to the nearest 10 ThankYou points
• Receive 10% of points back for the first 100,000 ThankYou points redeemed per year

As you can see, the new rewards structure is completely different than the old one, so it’s hard to compare the two. In terms of bonus categories, I’d say the Citi Strata Card is better. However, in terms of other perks (the rounding up feature and the 10% back on points), I’d say the Citi Rewards+ Card is better. Regardless, cardmembers won’t have a choice, since people will automatically be converted in the coming months.

It’s cool to see the Citi Strata “family” card lineup

What I find most exciting about this development isn’t the card as such, but rather, the bigger implications. It seems that Citi is finally starting to build a portfolio of ThankYou cards with the “Strata” branding, so I hope that trend continues.

Many people are familiar with the $95 annual fee Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (review), which is the current card in the Strata portfolio. There are lots of reasons to get this card, including excellent bonus categories.

For some time now, there have been rumors that Citi plans to introduce a premium version of the Citi Strata Premier, possibly marketed as the Citi Strata Elite, replacing the old Citi Prestige Card (which is no longer open to new applicants).

So while I have no inside knowledge here, and while nothing further has been announced, the way that Citi is structuring a portfolio of cards with the same branding makes me optimistic that this could finally become a reality. Here’s to hoping that there’s a business card in the mix as well, eventually!

Bottom line

Details have just been announced about the new no annual fee Citi Strata Card, which will be launching later this year, replacing the Citi Rewards+ Card. While many people will be unhappy to lose the Citi Rewards+, this seems like a pretty well-rounded no annual fee card.

Here’s to hoping that the next development is that we see the introduction of a more premium version of the card. Either way, there’s merit to the more consistent branding, so let’s see how this all plays out.

What do you make of the Citi Strata Card?