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The Citi Double Cash® Card, from our partner Citi, has long been a popular companion to Citi cards that earn ThankYou® points. But since Citi changed the earning structure a couple years ago and this card now earns ThankYou points on its own, it’s an excellent standalone card for people who want a no-frills, no-annual-fee card.
Adding a Citi Double Cash Card to your wallet could be hugely beneficial, but you might be wondering if you qualify for this card. Here’s everything you need to know about what credit score you need for a Citi Double Cash card and what to do if you don’t get approved.
Citi Double Cash® Card
- Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work Read the review
- APR19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$0
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Sign-Up Bonus
$200Cash Bonus
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.
The Citi Double Cash® Card, from our partner Citi, is among the top cards on the market for general spending. Forget the cards that offer 1% and 1.5% cash back. The Citi Double Cash Card offers you a whopping 2% cash back for all spending. Earn 1% back when you make a purchase and 1% back when you pay your account balance.
Overview
The Citi Double Cash® Card, from our partner Citi, offers attractive and uncomplicated cash back for people who value a flexible credit card reward program. The Citi Double Cash Card gives you the chance to earn 2% cash back on your purchases. You can receive 1% cash back when you make a purchase and an additional 1% cash back once you pay your bill.
Read the reviewPros
- No category bonuses to remember, unlimited 2% cash back on everything
- Earns ThankYou Points, which gives the potential to unlock valuable travel rewards
Cons
- Foreign transaction fees are applied
- Limited perks
Overview
The Citi Double Cash card is about as simple as any rewards credit card gets. It has no annual fee and earns a flat 2% cash back on all spending: 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay it back. These rewards are deposited into your Citi ThankYou account as points. You can then redeem them for cash back at a rate of one cent each or transfer them to one of more than a dozen airline and hotel partners.
Cardholders also enjoy a 0% intro APR offer on balance transfers for the first 18 months; after this offer concludes, a 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) APR applies based on creditworthiness. There is a 3% fee ($5 minimum) on balance transfers in the first four months. After that, the fee increases to 5%.
What Score Do You Need For a Citi Double Cash?
Citi requires a fair to excellent credit score for a Citi Double Cash card, which Experian defines as a range of 580-850. But to increase your odds of approval, you’ll want to be at least in the middle with a 700 credit score or higher. If you’re worried about your credit history not being up to par, you can take steps to boost your score before applying for a Citi Double Cash card.
Aside from looking at your credit score, Citi also considers your income when evaluating your application. Citi is generous with credit limits and in order to do that, customers need to demonstrate their ability to repay debt. Income is just one of the ways Citi makes that determination. Students and those who are unemployed will have a harder time getting approved for the Citi Double Cash Card.
Rules That Can Impact Approval
Citi has several rules that can impact whether you’re approved for a Citi Double Cash card:
- You can’t apply for more than one card every eight days.
- You also won’t be approved for more than two cards every 65 days.
So if you’ve taken advantage of the elevated welcome offer from the Citi Premier® card recently, time your Citi Double Cash application so it doesn’t fall within the 8- or 65-day window.
Compare Citi Credit Cards
| Credit Card | Intro Bonus | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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$200Cash Bonus
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 |
2%Cashback
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. |
Apply Now Rates & Fees |
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60,000Citi ThankYou Points
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou Points after making $4,000 worth of purchases during the first three months of account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,080 (60,000 Citi ThankYou Points * 0.018 base) |
$95 |
1X-10XPoints
10X total ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024. 3X -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels 3X -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets 1X -- Earn 1 Point on All Other Purchases |
Apply Now Rates & Fees |
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$200Cash Bonus
Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 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 |
1% - 5%Cashback
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. |
Apply Now Rates & Fees |
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$0Cash Bonus |
$0
Active Costco membership required |
1% - 4%Cashback
Earn 4% cash back on up to $7,000 in annual gas and EV charging purchases (and then 1% after), 3% back on restaurant and travel purchases, 2% back at Costco and Costco.com and 1% everywhere else. |
Apply Now Rates & Fees |
What to Do If Your Application Is Rejected
If your application for a Citi Double Cash Card is rejected, you have some recourse, depending on the reason. Review the letter from Citi and then call the reconsideration line. To make sure you’re well prepared, here are some of the most common rejection reasons and what to do about them:
- You credit history isn't strong enough: If Citi rejects you because of your credit history, check your credit and see if there’s anything you can do about it. Sometimes negative marks appear erroneously. If that’s the case, you can dispute them and provide evidence of removal.
- You don't qualify for more credit: This is probably the easiest rejection to work around if you have an existing Citi card. Ask a Citi agent to move some of your existing credit line to the new card. For example, if you have a $10,000 credit line on on Citi card, ask if the issuer will allocate $4,000 of it to the Citi Double Cash. In many cases, Citi will accommodate this request and approve you for a new card.
- You have too many recent inquiries with Citi: Try to find out if the credit inquiries span multiple banks or just Citi (because Citi won’t approve you for more than one card every eight days or more than two every 65 days). If there aren't many days between your applications, ask them to reconsider or wait it out and reapply when you’re outside of that restricted window.
- You have too many recent inquiries in general: If Citi cites too many inquiries across multiple banks, explain the reason for those applications. Maybe you’re starting a home renovation project and want to earn rewards on big purchases—or you’re building your credit history after years of having few cards. Cite your income, good credit history and habit of paying off your debt to assuage fears you're taking on too much debt, and you'll increase your approval odds.
Related Article
5 Reasons the Chase Sapphire Preferred Should Be Your Go-To Travel Card
Apply for a Different Card
If you can’t get approved for a Citi Double Cash Card for one of the aforementioned reasons, all is not lost. There are plenty of other 2% cash back cards offered by other banks.
If a welcome bonus is important, consider the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. It has no annual fee, earns unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases and offers a $200 bonus cash when you spend $1,000 within the first three months of account opening.
Recommended Cash-Back Credit Cards
| Credit Card | Rewards Rate | Intro Bonus | Annual Fee | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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1.5% - 5%Cashback
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. |
1.5%Extra Cash Back
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. |
$0 | Apply Now |
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2%Cashback
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. |
$200Cash Bonus
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. |
$0 |
Apply Now Rates & Fees |
|
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2%Cashback
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. |
$200Cash Bonus
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 |
Apply Now Rates & Fees |
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1% - 5%Cashback
Earn 5% cash back on your first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. It also offers you 2% cash back on your first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. |
$750Cash Bonus
Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening |
$0 | Apply Now |
If you want a 2% cash back card with the added flexibility of converting cash to points, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card might be a better choice. The card earns 2X miles on all purchases and 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. You can redeem miles at one cent each or transfer them to 16 airline and hotel partners for better value.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a $95 annual fee (Rates & Fees). In exchange, you get a 75,000-mile welcome bonus after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. Plus, you get the added flexibility of using points as either cash back or miles. The $95 annual fee is partially offset by a Global Entry or TSA Precheck application credit every four years. The card is also better for travelers since it has no foreign transaction fees (Rates & Fees) on purchases made abroad.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work Read the review
- APR19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$95
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Sign Up Bonus
75,000Capital One Rewards Miles
You can earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,350 (75,000 Capital One Rewards Miles * 0.018 base)
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a lot of value to both beginner and expert travelers. The upfront bonus and high ongoing rewards rate aren’t easy to beat, making the card a solid option for a large audience. Where it really shines is with the flexibility of the redemption process, though. You can redeem miles to cover past travel expenses, book travel through Capital One or transfer miles to any of Capital One’s airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Overview
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a lot of value to beginner and expert travelers alike. The card’s big upfront bonus and high ongoing rewards rate aren’t easy to beat, making it a solid option for a large audience. Where it really shines, though, is with the redemption process. When it comes to travel credit cards, it can be really challenging to find a way to use your rewards in the way you want.
With hotel and airline credit cards, for instance, you’re basically stuck redeeming your points or miles with the co-branded hotel or airline partner. And with some general rewards programs, you might get less value if you use your points or miles to book a flight versus a rental car or hotel.
With the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, though, you’ll get a lot of flexibility. Here are some of the top redemption options that are available: redeem miles to cover past travel expenses, book travel through Capital One or transfer miles to any of Capital One’s multiple airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Read the reviewPerks
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to premier culinary events, must-see music events and major sporting events
Pros
- Simple rewards and earning structure
- Ability to earn transferable points to use with travel partners
- Relatively modest $95 annual fee
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Cons
- Other travel cards offer higher rewards rates on certain spending categories
Is the Citi Double Cash Card Worth It?
The Citi Double Cash is definitely worth it if you want a no-annual-fee card. The card is a powerhouse when paired with the Citi Premier Card since you’ll earn 3X bonus points in valuable spending categories like groceries, gas, dining, and travel and 2X everywhere else.
But even if you don’t want to shell out the $95 annual fee for a Citi Premier, you can do very well having a Citi Double Cash card in your wallet. Earning 2X Citi ThankYou points (or 2% cash back) on every dollar spent is a hassle-free way to earn points without worrying about using the right card at any given merchant. If you’re after simplicity, the Citi Double Cash card is well worth it.
Recommended No-Annual-Fee Credit Cards
| Credit Card | Intro Bonus | Rewards Rate | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|
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$200Cash Bonus
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. |
2%Cashback
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. |
Apply Now Rates & Fees |
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1.5%Extra Cash Back
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. |
1.5% - 5%Cashback
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. |
Apply Now |
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$200Cash Bonus
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. |
2%Cashback
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. |
Apply Now Rates & Fees |
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20,000Points
Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value. Dollar Equivalent: $200 (20,000 Points * 0.01 base) |
1x - 3xPoints
Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases. |
Apply Now Rates & Fees |
Ariana Arghandewal
Ariana Arghandewal is a rewards travel expert and founder of Pointchaser, an online publication dedicated to rewards travel topics. She brings over a decade of experience writing about travel, points, miles and credit cards. Her expertise includes her roles as an editor for distinguished travel and finance publications such as NerdWallet, The Points Guy and FlyerTalk. She has also authored many articles featured in major financial news & travel channels like Forbes, U.S. News Weekly, Business Insider & Fodor’s Travel.
