5 benefits of using the Citi Rewards Card

Singaporeans are spoilt for choice when it comes to credit cards. At any point in time, there are several card issuers vying for your business. If you spend a little time to understand the privileges that different cards offer, it is possible to identify a card that allows you to earn a substantial amount in rewards and even save on your regular shopping bills.

The Citi Rewards Credit Card is an outstanding example of the best that Singapore’s banks have on offer. It is designed to provide card members with the ability to accumulate large numbers of rewards points for their day-to-day shopping.

Citi has entered into arrangements with numerous retail outlets across the island. These tie-ups enable card members to earn rewards points at a stepped up rate and, in many instances, to get additional discounts on their purchases.

Best of all, the Citi Rewards Card is free for the first year. The basic card’s annual fee of S$192 is waived for new card members. In addition to this, you can get two supplementary cards for family members without paying any charges.

So, what are the best features of the Citi Rewards Card?

 

1. 10X rewards on clothes, shoes, and bags

The Citi Rewards Credit Card gives you a certain number of Citi Dollars every time that you use the card. You earn these Citi Dollars, which are also referred to as “rewards points” for buying eligible items.

What exactly are eligible items? The amount that you spend on your Citi Rewards card is divided into three categories. Here’s what you can earn by using your card to make payments against each of these categories.

• Zero rewards – when you pay under the terms of an “Equal Payment Plan,” you don’t earn any rewards points. Similarly, taking a cash advance from an ATM does not qualify you for rewards points/Citi Dollars. Balance transfers, interest payments, and annual card membership fees also do not qualify.

• 10X rewards – This is one of the chief benefits of the Citi Rewards Card. When you buy clothes, bags, and shoes, you are entitled to 10 rewards points for every S$1 that you spend.
  Shopping in Singapore as well as overseas would earn you 10X rewards points. Additionally, your online purchases from shopping websites whose main business is shoes, clothes, and bags, also get you rewards points at this higher rate.

• 1 Citi Dollar for each S$1 that you spend – you earn the regular rate of rewards points/Citi Dollars for all your other purchases. This category includes expenditure charged to your Citi Rewards Card for food and beverage, travel, online gaming sites, airline tickets, and insurance.

• From now to October 31, when you shop at Zalora, you can also receive 20X rewards (20 points or 8 Miles for every S$1 spent), on top of receiving 20% off with the code ’20CITIREWARDS’ for a minimum spend of $120.

 

2. Using your rewards points

It is possible to adjust your purchases against the Citi Dollars that you have accumulated. When you are shopping at a participating outlet, you can present your Citi Rewards Credit Card and ask for your rewards points to be instantly adjusted.

The facility of paying with the rewards points that you have accumulated is available at Expedia, Lazada, Qoo10, Grab, and Esso. For every S$1 that you are required to pay the merchant, 420 points will be deducted from your accumulated balance.

Another option is to redeem your rewards points for shopping vouchers. Citi has tied up with hundreds of retail outlets across 12 categories. These include department stores, electronics retailers, shopping malls, and fashion stores.

The following is a representative list of outlets for which you can obtain shopping vouchers.

 

Retail outlet	Rewards points/Citi Dollars required	Value of shopping voucher
OSIM	8,400	S$20
Marks & Spencer	21,000	S$50
TANGS	8,400	S$20
Leica	21,000	S$50
Levi’s	21,000	S$50
SHAW THEATRES	4,200	One movie ticket
Velocity@Novena Square	12,600	S$30

 

You can see a complete list of outlets and the rewards points/Citi Dollars that you require to obtain their shopping vouchers here.

There are two important conditions that you must remember about the rewards points that you accumulate.

First, the points are valid for a period of five years from when you first get your new card. After five years, a new “Citi Dollar Period” will start and the points that accrue to you in this time-frame will be valid till this 5-year period ends.

What if you earn some points at the end of a five-year period? You have three months to utilise these. After the expiry of this 90-day period, your rewards points will be cancelled.

Secondly, you cannot use Citi Dollars to make payment against the minimum amount that is due to the bank every month. Your rewards points will be credited to you only if you pay your dues promptly.

 

3. Savings on petrol

Source: Shutterstock

Your Citi Rewards Credit Card can earn you a discount of at least 14% when you purchase fuel at an Esso or Shell station. At Esso, the discount of 15% is calculated as follows:

• 5% Esso site discount

• 5% Esso Smiles Card discount

• 5% Citi Rewards Card discount

To get this discount, you need to have a Smiles account with Esso. After you enroll, you can simply link your Citi Rewards Card to your Smiles account. You can get a Smiles account by completing an application at any Esso service station. Subsequently, you can get the discounted price by using your Citi card.

The discount process is similar at Shell, except the Citi Rewards Card discount is just 4%.

 

4. Earn a Citi Rebate in addition to rewards points

Citi Rewards Credit Card members can earn a rebate of up to 10% on purchases made at over 300 locations in Singapore. The list of participating outlets includes Starbucks, Subway, and Sheng Siong.

These Citi Rebates are valid for an indefinite period and can be used to offset your next purchase at participating merchants. Remember that this benefit is different from the regular rewards points program. You will continue to earn rewards points/Citi Dollars in addition to getting Citi Rebates.

Here is a partial list of retail outlets that offer a Citi Rebate:

• Dunkin’Donuts – 5% rebate

• Starbucks – 10% rebate with a minimum spend of S$10

• Sports Connection – 5% rebate

5. Free travel insurance

In a major benefit, Citi Rewards Credit Card members get complimentary travel insurance if they book their airline tickets using their Citi card. The benefits that this facility provides include a S$1 million coverage for accidental death and permanent disablement.

You also get medical coverage for a sum of S$40,000. Smaller amounts are payable for baggage loss, baggage delay, flight delay, and trip cancellation. It is important to activate your travel insurance prior to leaving for your trip.

 

A good card for everyday use

The Citi Rewards Credit Card comes with a host of attractive features. Using it regularly can result in the accumulation of a large number of Citi Dollars. You can use these for your regular shopping or save them for a large purchase.

Unlike other banks, which have rewards points that expire in a limited period, Citi’s rewards points can remain valid for up to five years.

 

Disclaimer: All credit card information is accurate at time of writing and should only be used as a reference. For the latest promotions, benefits, and terms and conditions, please refer to the respective credit card companies’ websites.

(By Ravinder Kapur)

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