Question
:confused: Waived annual fee card of one:
Citi Premier Pass Elite Level card 75 value
Citi Diners Club Master card 95 value
If you were me, you will choice???
Answer
Premier Pass - Better if you charge lots of tickets to the card - so you can earn the miles flown from them. Double earning rate if you fly lots. BUT -beware of the $100K cap - if you are a high spender this is no good. Not real miles - so better availability - but very high redemption rates for premium cabins and little carrier choice.
Diners - The most flexible card for those wanting true FF miles. Earn and save.... When a trip come up and only one airline has award availability, hold your award, you can transfer to that airline. Lower earning rate because you can't count flight miles but lower redemption rates for premium cabins if you transfer to the right mileage programs. No mileage earning cap.
Answer
My choice has been neither--they both charge more than 1% on foreign purchases. Not worth the hassle and credit report ding of getting one.
Answer
Premier Pass - Better if you charge lots of tickets to the card - so you can earn the miles flown from them. Double earning rate if you fly lots. BUT -beware of the $100K cap - if you are a high spender this is no good. Not real miles - so better availability - but very high redemption rates for premium cabins and little carrier choice.
Diners - The most flexible card for those wanting true FF miles. Earn and save.... When a trip come up and only one airline has award availability, hold your award, you can transfer to that airline. Lower earning rate because you can't count flight miles but lower redemption rates for premium cabins if you transfer to the right mileage programs. No mileage earning cap.
I would go with Diners. Much more flexibility, greater acceptance with MasterCard conversion, Resturant Savings Program, and much more robust rewards program among a few of the better features than the Premier Pass.
Answer
Request both for free!
Is this is a theoretical question or did your CitiGold rep really put such a choice before you?
Their site still has no mention of Citi Premier Pass, here's what listed:
NO ANNUAL FEE CARDS
• The Citi® Platinum Select® / AAdvantage® World MasterCard® ($85 value), Citi® Platinum Select® MasterCard® and personal Diners Club® Card ($95 value) are available to CitiGold clients
• No annual fee for a Premium Citibank® / AAdvantage® Debit Card ($65 value)
Since they didn't list it yet, you don't know what your rights are, still you are a "premium" member for them so they should bend over, not you! Unless you have all three cards listed above for free, you might mention that they promise to waive $245 in annual fees and you don't use all of that.
P.S. I looked more than onece at Citigold, but never opened it for a single reason - they don't provide any discount brokerage services, paying $24.95 for trade is a throughback in early 90's and it negates everything else I could get out of CitiGold
Answer
I have just read the new brochure which says you can choose only one of the cards. I have been citigold for quite some time and have had several AA cards and Diner's with secondary users with fees waived. When I asked if the premierpass fee was now waived and could I get it in addition to the others, my bank said yes, - but just now I read the current literature. I just ordered a premierpass card to replace one of my AA MC with the available credit transferred to this card. I hope that they don't try to charge me the fee. I don't know what I would do if I had to choose. Your particular branch might have an option of approving more than one, and I certainly hope that I am grandfathered in . For those of you who don't like some of the package - you don't have to use those features. You don't have to use their brokerage services if you don't like their fees (I believe that it is cheaper if you do some things online). This account use to have a $125 fee, then down to $95, then eliminated completely. Each card has it's pluses, and if you don't have to pay for them, you are indeed foolish to not get them. Best to apply getting the bonuses that these cards offer, then after the miles post, call to say you were charged the fee when you aren't suppose to have one.
Answer
I know I get charged $9.95 if i do the trade online via there web page and $14.95 if i call the 800 number. Last time I made a stock purchuse was last month so I know online they still charge me $9.95 for sure. I have friends who are also Citigold customers who do and do not get stock trades for the same price as me. They also dont get both AA Credit card and Diner Club card waived. They get one or the other waived but not both. Other friends get both cards waived just like me. Citibank will waive more fees and lower you stock trades based on your account size. If you come in with barely 100K dont except to get anything more than what is printed on there list of benfits. On the other hand if you come in with 500K you can and will get tons of fees waived above what is printed in there list of benfits.
They waivie for me the AA Platinum Select Private Visa Card with $125 Anunal fee but it has no milage cap at all. I have charged over $200K a year on it and i dont have any status with AA and all my miles have posted without a problem. I know this card was discounted tho back in like 98 or so was only offered I think to Citigold customers. They also waive my diners club card which is $95 a year. On top of that they waive the $65 fee on my AA premire mastercard debit card.
I know with Citigold the advisory you deal with and the size of your account also matters. Citigold offically charges for outgoing wire transfer but the guy I deal with at the bank has always been able to waive the fee for me. He also has waived many other fees for me in the past that Citibank normally charges.
Answer
...... Waived annual fee card of one??:.......
Is it true? I just checked but all of my 3 cards (AAdvantage MC, AAdvantage Debit MC, & Diners) got no record of anual fees.
Answer
Choosing only one to have the fee waived is the new official policy. However, each does not ask about what other cards you have so the likelihood, if you apply independently of one another, get the bonus points, then call citigold and ask them to waive the fee, that it will happen. It shows up as annual fee 0, although in the past, it wouldn't be unusual for me to be charged, and I would have to call citigold to have it waived. Actually I have 1 visa and 2 MC's (
AAdvantage) and I have the fee waived on ALL of them.
Answer
To be a citigold member, can you upgrade your regular checking account or do you have to open a completely new account? Any benefits for doing either. Did you get any bonuses?
Answer
My belief is that it is a completely new account. You could keep your old account if you like and all accounts are linked for fee waivers so if you have a reason that you might have use of a second account, you can leave it open. Currently I am not aware of any bonuses - I think the perks they give you are bonuses enough - especially since it is now a fee free account.
Answer
Initially I opened a simple checking account to take advantage of $200 offer and then the same account was converted into a Citigold checking. Some extra paper work had to be done.
Answer
was the $200 offer for upgrading to the citigold account? So you were able to upgrade the existing account to citigold?
Also, you sure that when you are citigold member, all checking accounts are free of maintainance charges?
Answer
Nope. That was not for upgrading. Inital offer was to open a no fee no interest simple plain checking ac**** with a minimum of $200. Which I did but later realized the benefits of Citigold and asked them to change it to Citigold.
All accounts are free of any charges except that your combined balance has to be a total of 100,000 after six months of opening.
Answer
was the $200 offer for upgrading to the citigold account? So you were able to upgrade the existing account to citigold?
Also, you sure that when you are citigold member, all checking accounts are free of maintainance charges?
Yes all account are maintainace free. I keep a checking account just to pay all my medical bill and medical insurnace premium. I keep in the account between 100-300 always and transfer funds as need. I never been charged anything on my medical account not even for checks or using Quicken on that account. I get a seperate statement on that checking and a seperate year end statement just covering that 1 checking account. I just give that report to my accountant at the end of the year to figure out my tax deductions for my medical expensses based on that year end statement.
I can see that account online under my Citigold account. I also can see the balance and take out money with my Citigold Atm card at Atm machines. The statement says the account is called "Everything Counts" . Requirements for that account according to Citbank web page is either $10K in cash and investments or 25K in loans.
But again like i said in my first post Citibank will waive extra fee based on the size of your account. I do 1-2 International wire transfers a month and have never been charged 1 cent. They waive the fee on computer checks for me that is not normally waived either.
I have friends who I refered to Citigold back about 4-5 years ago when they gave you $200 Saks Gift card for each person who you refer who open an account with Citigold. Some of them have asked and where unable to get free computer checks or wire transfers but have extra Checking account for there children with no fees at all. Citibank can household accounts. I know my account is household with my parrent and my brothers account. I have had my account balance at times under 100K still not been charged anything either. As a matter of fact when I bought my new home 2 years ago my account balance went down to like 20K for 5-6 months I never got charged anything either.
Answer
Fees are waived for less than what is required for citigold - so if you have a citigold and meet those requirements, all your other accounts will be waived as well - Even your ATM fees at non-citibank atms are waived - the other bank might charge you, but citibank doesn't. That is how I first started banking at Citibank. A new branch opened near me - I believe that they were giving 10,000 AA miles for opening a checking account - I was going to Europe and wanted an international ATM card that didn't charge. Since European ATMs don't charge it was the best way to get cash. That may change with the new conversion charges on ATM withdrawals.
Answer
Fees are waived for less than what is required for citigold - so if you have a citigold and meet those requirements, all your other accounts will be waived as well - Even your ATM fees at non-citibank atms are waived - the other bank might charge you, but citibank doesn't. That is how I first started banking at Citibank. A new branch opened near me - I believe that they were giving 10,000 AA miles for opening a checking account - I was going to Europe and wanted an international ATM card that didn't charge. Since European ATMs don't charge it was the best way to get cash. That may change with the new conversion charges on ATM withdrawals.
OK and Citibank will refund me the fee's charged by other banks. I just call 800-756-1200 number and tell them I got charged 2.50 by Bank of America for taking out cash they will issue me a credit of $2.50. .
Citigold guide is what you get if you have around $100K. If you combined balance is much higher they will of coarse waive more fees or you give some other extra benfits. Like computer checks, free outgoing wires , cheaper stock trades, rebate non citibank atm fee's etc.
Answer
Is citigold offering any refer a friend program now?
Answer
There was some discussion on other thread (off the topic of that thread) that combines some good summary of CitiGold benefits that maybe benefitial to others on this CitiGold post. Focus on my posts and dgordon on Sept 2, 05 which covers quite a bit on many questions posted on this thread.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=390111
And to answer the new question, from what I know, there is no referal awards yet for US CitiGold....many in other countries do, e.g. Singapore.
Btw, thought about initiating this CitiGold thread a couple days back, glad someone did it....THANKS. This way CitiGold members can communicate and share some hidden benefits ! For those who think of opening one, welcome to CitiGold ! In my opinion, it is VERY VERY WORTH !!!!
Answer
Summarized anwers to questions.
1. During application, choose one credit card on the list or none, up to you. Once you become CitiGold and have other annual fee credit cards (Citi, of course), call CitiGold to have it/them linked to CitiGold, fees wil be waived. No limit number of cards as long as they are below 85 USD (or 95 for Diners club). I got my PremierPass Elite fee waived after one phone call.
2. 200 USD bonus for opening a regular checking account should still be available up until now, once that is opened, u can easily upgrade to CitiGold with some additional paperwork (there wasn't another bonus for this at the time I did mine last year and I don't think there is one now either). If you have no current account with CitiBank, opening a new one can be done online now (last year up until Q4, online application was not available).
3. Your IRA accounts can be included as part of 100K min requirements. This is a great deal since those who are even thinking of becoming a CitiGold members, should have at least or over 100K in their IRAs/401k at the moment. So 100K min requirement is a piece of cake on this particular case.
4. 250K mortgage is considered meeting min balance requirement.
5. 100K is a relationship based account, this includes checking, savings... Credit card "owed" balance is considered as part of total balance combined to meet 100K requirements. ADD to total balance, not SUBTRACT.
6. For those who think of opening CitiGold, take a look at the new "e-savings" account they have going on at the moment. This savings account gives you >3% APR (US residents only) while their conventional CitiGold Money Preferred Market is only 2.33%.
7. Checking is definitely fee free....again, this is relationship based, it looks at ALL accounts you have. As long as total is 100K, no problem (otherwise monthly service fee is 25 USD). I got mine below for the first time last month, no charge at all....this is good.
Any questions I missed?
Answer
In my most recent statement, there was an insert about applying for the AAdvantage card, getting 15K miles and having the fee waived for citigold. That is the first time that I have seen the miles offerred. In the past, I have applied for a card with a mileage bonus, and after getting my miles, and having the fee charge, then I have called citigold to have the fee waived. So they have made this positive change that you can get 15K bonus miles, so make sure for anything signing up for citigold, that you know you should get the 15K bonus miles.
Answer
In my most recent statement, there was an insert about applying for the AAdvantage card, getting 15K miles and having the fee waived for citigold. That is the first time that I have seen the miles offerred. In the past, I have applied for a card with a mileage bonus, and after getting my miles, and having the fee charge, then I have called citigold to have the fee waived. So they have made this positive change that you can get 15K bonus miles, so make sure for anything signing up for citigold, that you know you should get the 15K bonus miles.
This is actually the current promo for everyone when applying for an AA card (Platinum) to get 15K miles plus annual fee waived for 1st yr (although as CitiGold clients, we don't really care anyway whether the fee is free or charged as we get waived no matter what). I emailed CitiGold to confirm whether I can still get the bonus miles even though I had and closed the AA Platinum account 1-2 yrs ago, they said YES. So, I just applied for one yesterday.... :D
Answer
In my most recent statement, there was an insert about applying for the AAdvantage card, getting 15K miles and having the fee waived for citigold. That is the first time that I have seen the miles offerred. In the past, I have applied for a card with a mileage bonus, and after getting my miles, and having the fee charge, then I have called citigold to have the fee waived. So they have made this positive change that you can get 15K bonus miles, so make sure for anything signing up for citigold, that you know you should get the 15K bonus miles.
As a Citigold member, I already have my Citi PremierPass Elite ($75), Diners Club (95), my spouse Diners Club (another $95) fee waived. Do you think I can still apply and waive the fee for AAdvantage card after getting the 15k miles?
Answer
As a Citigold member, I already have my Citi PremierPass Elite ($75), Diners Club (95), my spouse Diners Club (another $95) fee waived. Do you think I can still apply and waive the fee for AAdvantage card after getting the 15k miles?
If you closed the card (AA Platinum) more than 6 months ago or never have the card, YES YOU CAN !!!!
Answer
6. For those who think of opening CitiGold, take a look at the new "e-savings" account they have going on at the moment. This savings account gives you >3% APR (US residents only) while their conventional CitiGold Money Preferred Market is only 2.33%.
What do you mean by e-savings account. This account is not advertized on their web site atleast?
Answer
What do you mean by e-savings account. This account is not advertized on their web site atleast?
It pops up here and there but not all the time. And if you choose to click "open a new account" it won't have the e-savings account available either. U have to call CitiGold and ask for the link (they will provide you a special URL), You can then apply from there, I already deleted my bookmark on this one otherwise I will provide it to you.
Answer
This insert was specifically directed to Citigold. In the past, citigold customers would lose out on the bonus miles if the card was checked off when opening the account, the implication being that having the fee waived made you ineligible. The same with Diner's Club. The first year I had it I paid the fee, the next year got a 5000 point retention bonus, then called tdo have the second year's fee waived. I was told that I wouldn't get points if the fee was waived. Also, secondary cards with Diner's Club are $35 not $95 (at least that is what it was when I first got those secondary cards).
Answer
Also, secondary cards with Diner's Club are $35 not $95 (at least that is what it was when I first got those secondary cards).
You are right. Secondary cards with DC are $35 but my wife applied not for secondary but her own independant card so that she can benefit from 12K points. I wanted this specially because her name will be reported to the credit beauru any ways and the fee will be waived so why not benefit from the points.
Answer
I assume then that she is a co-owner of the checking account. I was able to get secondary cards for members of my family who are not listed. When my daughter turned 18, I listed her on one of my citigold accounts (I have 2, 1 personal, 1 business), so that she could get a fee free AAdvantage card. I think if she had her own DC card, she would never get enough points on her own to amount to anything, and we don't use it much anyway.
Answer
It pops up here and there but not all the time. And if you choose to click "open a new account" it won't have the e-savings account available either. U have to call CitiGold and ask for the link (they will provide you a special URL), You can then apply from there, I already deleted my bookmark on this one otherwise I will provide it to you.
Finally! I was able to dig out this mysterious e-savings account. First I called Citigold which was of not much help. He told me to type in a url but that required a promotion code and the CSR was clueless. Thanks to google, I got the link and the code (http://citi.bridgetrack.com/cbol/05/eSavings/Default.htm?BT_TX=1&ProspectID=6E2E0EED5363463BADFE07CB018A745E)
To my surprise no Citibank branches are offering this account. It has to be online and has one of the best rates 3.25% APY. Right now ing direct gives you 3.30% APY. Question is why did'nt I know of it earlier :mad: Anyhow I canceled my stupid Money Market account (2.80% APY) and changed it to e-savings ;) Thanks to flyer Talk Forum and ofcourse kiam
Answer
...To my surprise no Citibank branches are offering this account. It has to be online and has one of the best rates 3.25% APY. Right now ing direct gives you 3.30% APY. Question is why did'nt I know of it earlier :mad: Anyhow I canceled my stupid Money Market account (2.80% APY) and changed it to e-savings ;) Thanks to flyer Talk Forum and ofcourse kiam
You are welcome. Not sure why the agent you talked to had no clue about the link (that is NOT acceptable for Citigold), anyway, glad you got it worked out. Btw, Emmigrant Direct gives you 3.5% (this is the highest so far) but you won't get to combine the balance (to meet min requirement for citigold).
I am curious why they don't make this offer fully commercialized as it is supposed to.... :confused: If on that day I did not happen to notice the pop up, I wouldn't have known.
Answer
I hope none of you are achieving CitiGold balances with cash in eSavings alone....
Because if you are, you are currently paying $500 annually for CitiGold due to lost interest. For example HSBC has a 3.75% online savings compared to Citi's 3.25%. See the dozens of banks beating Citi's abysmal rate here: http://www.fatwallet.com/t/52/437553/ Comparing to ING is laughable as we all know ING is no longer competitive with their rates.
$100K annually would be a $500 difference, more if you have more. Their Investment offerings are also extremely overpriced compared to online brokers. Personally I think Citigold only makes sense if you have your >$250K mortage with them. Otherwise you are paying for your perks... and aside from the fee waivers on the credit cards, I'm not sure what those perks are. No Citibank charges for using another ATM? Big whoop. Commerce bank will match that and raise them one by refunding fees charged at other banks too, with no limit, for holding a mere $2,500 with them.
I've looked at this product for some time, but I just don't see the value when the loss in interest or increase in trading fees is more than the fee waivers.
Answer
You are welcome. Not sure why the agent you talked to had no clue about the link (that is NOT acceptable for Citigold), anyway, glad you got it worked out. Btw, Emmigrant Direct gives you 3.5% (this is the highest so far) but you won't get to combine the balance (to meet min requirement for citigold).
I am curious why they don't make this offer fully commercialized as it is supposed to.... :confused: If on that day I did not happen to notice the pop up, I wouldn't have known.
Kiam: Emigrant is no longer king :) You can get up to 3.8% with Capital One, 3.75% with HSBC..... As for their not publicizing it? Search Fatwallet Finance for for citibank e-savings and you'll see how much Citi has bungled this account. Many people have yet to receive a dime of interest in 2 months due to account glitches. Citibank also doesn't show your current interest rate online - so they can lower it and you won't know until you get a paper statement or call. It's amazing they can run a bank with the level of incompetence there.
Answer
daveland you forgetting something very important yes HSBC pays 3.75% vs Citibank 3.25% chances are in you are in the highest tax bracket then the $500 in extra interest is reduced to only $265 after tax so the befints you get from Citigold might be better for you.
Now I have said this before and I will say it again. Citigold is run like any other bank analysis account. So the price you pay per stock trade is affect by 1. your Financial Consultant and 2. Your balance. Also if you balance is higher than 100K then you could get extra befints like free computer checks or rebates on all atm charges and free wire transfers.
I personally have my financial consultant buy for me 1 $100K 35 day muni floater which I use to maintain my balance requirement with. Currently it is paying 2.87% triple tax free or about 4.5% taxable equivilant. I have an e-cash account linked to my Citigold account which I leave my extra cash in till I move the money over to Smith Barney.
The way bonds and floaters work the commision is built into the yeild so if you buying them at par it does not matter where you buy them you going to get them for the same price. Just so you know the largest issuer of minu bonds in america is Citigroup so your chances of getting the bond or floater at par is higher with Citibank over any other institution that has to buy it on the open market or from Citigroup.
Now chaces are if you have $100k+ in cash you are in the highest tax bracket you would be better off putting your money into a tax free investment over a money market account anyways.
Any broker with half a brain can buy floaters for you or recommend a tax-free money market sweep account with a yeild of 2.25%+ today. Vangaurd California Tax Free money market account is paying 2.71% and is 100% liquid vs a floater. Smith Barney's tax free sweep account pay 2.47% which is a tax equivilent of about 4.1% which is not as good as Vanguard's but nets you more than any money market will.
Savings and Money Market account are only good if you not in one of the higher tax brackets.
Answer
I agree with daveland 100% regarding the above two posts. However it is not practical to maintain your account with the highest yied in the market. That way you will keep on jumping every 3 months like a grass hopper. The best move is ideally to park your cash in the highest yeald money market account but if not possible then one of the highest yealds. It is like a package. You go to your favorite supermarket where you think most of the prices are competitive and reasonable. Yet there will always be some items priced above the market average and yet you will still shop there as it is not practical to hop around every store.
In case of Citibank I do not pay any fee for checks, my Citi PremiumPass Elite CC fee of $75 is waived. Two of my DC CC fees which is $95 each is waived. Soon I will be applying for AAdvantage CC without fee. The list goes on. Bottom line is that if you consider everything in totality then the package deal in not bad as you think.
Answer
Finally! I was able to dig out this mysterious e-savings account. First I called Citigold which was of not much help. He told me to type in a url but that required a promotion code and the CSR was clueless. Thanks to google, I got the link and the code (http://citi.bridgetrack.com/cbol/05/eSavings/Default.htm?BT_TX=1&ProspectID=6E2E0EED5363463BADFE07CB018A745E)
To my surprise no Citibank branches are offering this account. It has to be online and has one of the best rates 3.25% APY. Right now ing direct gives you 3.30% APY. Question is why did'nt I know of it earlier :mad: Anyhow I canceled my stupid Money Market account (2.80% APY) and changed it to e-savings ;) Thanks to flyer Talk Forum and ofcourse kiam
Once you apply can you have it be "part" of your CitiGold package so it is linked on-line and on the monthly statements. And counts toward the CitiGold required minimum balances?
Thanks.
(Update - I tried the link and when I clicked "apply" it said the promo code expired).
Answer
here a valid E-savings link and promo code (http://citi.bridgetrack.com/cbol/05/eSavings/default.htm?Promo_ID=CD2F&BT_TX=1&ProspectID=22D554C19FC24661B75065DCE3D2E67C)
Answer
Once you apply can you have it be "part" of your CitiGold package so it is linked on-line and on the monthly statements. And counts toward the CitiGold required minimum balances?
Thanks.
(Update - I tried the link and when I clicked "apply" it said the promo code expired).
Yes it counts towards the Citigold required minimum balance. I did not use the link but I called the number and told them that I am Citigold which made things easy because they were able to pull up all my info. Otherwise if you apply online then you might have to type in all over again.
Answer
Yes it counts towards the Citigold required minimum balance. I did not use the link but I called the number and told them that I am Citigold which made things easy because they were able to pull up all my info. Otherwise if you apply online then you might have to type in all over again.
Just to make sure, please do call Citigold once the e-savings (and the new checking) is opened and CLEARLY SAY that you want this e-savings to be linked to your Citigold checking BOTH PRICING AND STATEMENT PURPOSES and want the new checking account to be closed.
It happened to me the first month of having an e-savings account being linked online to my CitiGold but not for statement and pricing purposes. Don't know why they did not do it properly at the first place.
For those comments on other higher yield accounts, e.g. Capital one and HSBC, I can't afford yet to have that many accounts opened and money spreading out all over the places. I want all in one place and CitiGold have demonstrated at the time my account was opened) to prove its "overall value."
Answer
Forgot to mention another great things about banking with Citi as Citigold in relating to the new ThankYou Program when banking.
1. Checking Account (CitiGold type)
2. Debit Card (linked to CitiGold checking)
3. Savings Account (of any type)
4. One CD
5. At least one online Bill Payment per month
6. Direct Deposit
7. Loans, Mortgage...etc
With all these activities (7+), you will get 1200 ThankYou points each month without doing anything else. Points can be combined with credit card ThankYou points when redeemed. If you are not Citigold, with 7+ activities, you will get much less points.
Points from spending on Debit Card is not included yet.
Answer
Thank you Kiam for all the helpful info regarding Citigold. You have done such a good job that by now Citibank owes you an icecream or a burger may be. ;) Surprisingly dgordon is suspeciously quiet. Like you she also comes up with all the latest on Citigold. I wonder how she is doing with e-savings account?
Answer
Well, I fell poor in such society :(
A lot of people here can afford to park 100K at 3.25% and happy with that, some others are arguing that one can get 50 basic points higher elsewhere.
Sorry, my money have to work harder than that, so I'd need to open conventional or IRA brokerage account. I did write about it in a parallel Citibank thread, but here's the scope - basic online brokerage fees are $24.95 per trade, while the average industry fee is somewhere around $10 even for small investors. Such fees kill off all perks described above for me - and for any equity investor.
It's been mentioned that Citigold does offer $9.99 online trades for some customers on the case-by-case basis, but I can't confirm it after talking to Citigold 5-6 times, neither can I move 100K blindly and then beg for reduced commissions. Why can't they just spell the rules ?
Answer
Well, I fell poor in such society :(
A lot of people here can afford to park 100K at 3.25% and happy with that, some others are arguing that one can get 50 basic points higher elsewhere.
I think you completely got it all wrong about us (citigold clients). I strongly believe NONE of us stupidly put 100K in that e-savings account thing. If any of us (citigold clients) do, I will be VERY disappointed as they really have no idea what to do with your money.
We have investments, IRAs,....etc in this account, and while we still have some cash left, why not put it in 3.25% savings (as CitiBank normally does not come up with this type of high yield savings that often).
In my opinion, I know HSBC and some other may offer higher interest in sacings account, but looking at overall package (free credit cards....etc), it has value.
Answer
It's been mentioned that Citigold does offer $9.99 online trades for some customers on the case-by-case basis, but I can't confirm it after talking to Citigold 5-6 times, neither can I move 100K blindly and then beg for reduced commissions. Why can't they just spell the rules ?
I said in the other thread i get stock trades for $9.99 but i also said very clearly that price you pay for stock trades is based on your combined balances with Citibank. Citibank will also household any and all of your family members to help you reach another lvl. NO if you open an account $100K you not going to get anything above the normal benfits which are printed very clearly on there web page $24.99 stock trades. if you look at your Citigold statement there is a section called pricing and benfits. ranges i have seen myself are
0-100K - In this range fees will kick in.
100K-250K Most fees are waived
250K-500K They will rebate all ATM charges even other banks fees
500K-1Milion $19.99 online stock trades must be set up by your advisor
1-2.5Milion $14.99 online stock trades must be set up by your advisor
2.5-5Milion $9.99 online stock trades must be set up by your advisor
Now if you have your account household with 3-5 relitives and each carries 200-300K mortage with Citibank you could get the 1-2.5mil pricing easy. Not sure where you live but in a place like Los Angeles it is not uncommen for people to carry mortages for 500K+ on there homes.
Like i posted on my other post still shocked by people that think HSBC is such a deal. You can buy what are called Muni Floaters that reset ever 7 day and have no fees or commsions. They are sold in $100K increments which in almost all states pay a tax equivilent yeild of over 4% and they are not subject to AMT. The only catch to this type of investment is that you are locked into the bond for 7 days. Think of it as a mini cd which if you redem before maturity you loose any and all interest. So no it not as liquid as a MM account but lets be honest 7 day liquidity is almost the same as a MM account.
Answer
Now if you have your account household with 3-5 relitives and each carries 200-300K mortage with Citibank you could get the 1-2.5mil pricing easy. Not sure where you live but in a place like Los Angeles it is not uncommen for people to carry mortages for 500K+ on there homes.
Do they require the same address for each person in order to qualify for one household account? What do you mean by relatives? Could that be Uncles and cousons?
Answer
Do they require the same address for each person in order to qualify for one household account? What do you mean by relatives? Could that be Uncles and cousons?
Well I am householded with my grandparrents/parrents/uncle and my brother and we dont live in the same house. But we all live in Los Angeles and have the same Citigold advisor. My other brother used to be householded with us but he moved to Las Vegas and he can no longer be householded. We where told they could only household immediate family so not sure if cousins would count or not.
Answer
I don't have an e-savings account, and I don't do ongoing trades with my account. I have my retirement accout there and have bought things I leave alone. But I will check into what allows for $9.99 trading as my Dad is bundled with my account and he has an account that just sits at a brokerage account. Thanks.
Answer
I don't have an e-savings account, and I don't do ongoing trades with my account. I have my retirement accout there and have bought things I leave alone. But I will check into what allows for $9.99 trading as my Dad is bundled with my account and he has an account that just sits at a brokerage account. Thanks.
I would talk to your advisor at your local branch. The people on the 800 number more or less can only do what your account is setup for but can not change any pricing for you at all.
Answer
Are there any signup bonuses going on for a new Citigold acct?
Answer
Not any more that I am aware of. Call directly and ask. Otherwise wait for a couple of months. They always come up with something every now and than.
Answer
[QUOTE=kiam]...Emmigrant Direct gives you 3.5% (this is the highest so far) ...QUOTE]
Just to correct some info posted a while back. As of Sept 20, 2005, Emigrant Direct gives 4% gauranteed until end of year.
Answer
Hi everyone, I just found this forum. Question about CitiGold. We had a regular Citibank account & upgraded. We opened our account in August & it has been a disaster. My debit card was denied while shopping despite high balances and checking plus availability. Sent us blue debit cards instead of the gold. None of our AA points have been posted - actually since before we upgraded- over 22,000. Checks are talking over a week to clear despite the fact that they should clear immediately due to our balances & checking plus. Our accounts are not linked properly despite numerous calls. An international check I deposited on 8/3/05 still hasn't cleared, even though family members had their checks cleared at the Bank of NY weeks ago. A letter is going in the mail tomorrow. We are going to ask for bonus AA points -- how many do you think we should request? Another question is when you opened your account did you receive some sort of "welcome package?" We've received nothing, and were never offered the AA credit cards that come with CitiGold. The only information I can gather is from their website. Any help!! Thanks.
Answer
Another question, why does the CitiGold statements come with 3 holes punched in the top? Did Citibank provide a binder to store the statements?
Answer
Another question, why does the CitiGold statements come with 3 holes punched in the top? Did Citibank provide a binder to store the statements?
Almost all brokerage statements come 3 hole punched.
Anyone know if I set up a billpay to myself from there web page for $5.00 a month will that count as i am using Citibank.com bill pay and get thoses Thank you points? I am using Quicken and not there web page for all my payments. I prefer Quicken because they dont debit the money from my account when checks are mailed. On merchants that dont take electronic payments and only accept checks they will mail a check drawn on my account money will not be debited till the checks clears vs I understand the bill pays from Citibank's own web page debits your account on the day check is mailed. I prefer to keep the float on my money and be able to see when the payee cashes the checks.
Trying to find a way to get the max 1200 points a month. Thank you
Answer
Caity - binders can be purchased at any office supply store. I'm glad that they went to this as it makes it easier. I used to punch the holes myself.
I have sent my daughter a $5 check to make sure I have online banking on one of my accounts. That account has automatic withdrawals, but that doesn't can't. I don't see why checks to yourself wouldn't count. They do not look at the payee.
Answer
Someone had asked a while back and cant find the post about if Citibank had any sign up bonus for Citigold. well i got an email today from Citibank so i guess you can sign up with this offer for 200 bucks and have your account switched over to Citigold once you get your bonus.
Citibank Promo Link (http://citi.bridgetrack.com/cbol/05/200_4/default.htm?PromoID=CD3J&BT_TX=1&ProspectID=E511882C435349FF8978660CEE35546D)
Answer
Someone had asked a while back and cant find the post about if Citibank had any sign up bonus for Citigold. well i got an email today from Citibank so i guess you can sign up with this offer for 200 bucks and have your account switched over to Citigold once you get your bonus.
Citibank Promo Link (http://citi.bridgetrack.com/cbol/05/200_4/default.htm?PromoID=CD3J&BT_TX=1&ProspectID=E511882C435349FF8978660CEE35546D)
I think that was me, though it doesn't help if you already have a Citi regular checking account, unfortunately. BTW, dolmar, YGPM
Answer
Anyone ever requested the Complimentary membership in Women and Company from Citigold? I noticed today that one of the benfits is "Special rates on auto and home owners' insurance through Travelers" Wondering if the discount is worthwhile? I know I am California and my home owners policy has with State Farm over the last 3 years has increased from just over 500 to just under 1100. Last year I shoped my rate around and cheapest was AAA but still was just under 1K so I just stayed with State Farm. Wondering if the discount is significant or not.
I going to call tommorow anyways to find out what the discount is you never know it could be 20-30% like AAA gives if you combine both Auto and Home owners under 1 policy. I got mercury for auto and there home owners policy is sub standard according to my own broker who had me go to another broker to buy my State Farm policy. So I assume he is telling the me the truth. Wonder also how good or bad Travelers policy is.
Thank you
Answer
I called Travlers Insurance today to find out about there rates. With Women and Company discount. My home Owners insurance would drops $563 a year with the same coverage as I have now with State Farm. Auto Insurance would drop a wooping $84 bucks but the $2 Million Umbrella would increase by $92. If i choose to just buy Home Owners insurnace from Travels and not Auto then my Home Owners policy would only drop by $362.
So I guess there is another benfit of Citigold as you can save some money on insurance. I am thinking of moving my Home Owners but not my car as I have been with Mercury for 10 years now and between the increase from umbrella there is really no savings at all. Also Travelers bills car insurance 1 year increments and charges an extra $12 a month if you dont pay in full vs Mercury bills you ever 6 months and if you pay it in full ever 6 months does not charge you an extrea fee.
I personally prefer to pay my car insurance in 6 month increments.
Answer
I am in LA and thnak you for sharing this info. Has shopped around for the current year in June and it was pain to do the insurance shopping. Will definitely try next June. Thanks again.
I called Travlers Insurance today to find out about there rates. With Women and Company discount. My home Owners insurance would drops $563 a year with the same coverage as I have now with State Farm. Auto Insurance would drop a wooping $84 bucks but the $2 Million Umbrella would increase by $92. If i choose to just buy Home Owners insurnace from Travels and not Auto then my Home Owners policy would only drop by $362.
So I guess there is another benfit of Citigold as you can save some money on insurance. I am thinking of moving my Home Owners but not my car as I have been with Mercury for 10 years now and between the increase from umbrella there is really no savings at all. Also Travelers bills car insurance 1 year increments and charges an extra $12 a month if you dont pay in full vs Mercury bills you ever 6 months and if you pay it in full ever 6 months does not charge you an extrea fee.
I personally prefer to pay my car insurance in 6 month increments.
Answer
When I asked about upgrading my Dad's everything counts account to citigold, I was told that it would have to be a whole new account - I think because of the brokerage component.
Answer
When I asked about upgrading my Dad's everything counts account to citigold, I was told that it would have to be a whole new account - I think because of the brokerage component.
Might want to call 800 number. I know people who have downgrade and upgrade back to Citigold without opening new accounts or having there account number changed on there checking account. If you father has a brokerage account linked to his everything counts account then that account might need to be changed.
Not sure about there current accounts but my Citigold Checking account which is over 15 years old is only 8 numbers. My brokerage account is same last 4 numbers of my checking account number + 2 numbers and a letter infront of the other 4 numbers. My overdraft line of credit on my checking account is same number as my checking account number. And my margin account on my brokerage account is the same number as my brokerage account.
So maybe Citigold requires the brokerage account to be somehow coded to Checking account to beable to sweep all cash in and out of each other.
Answer
Why don't they have something like Men & company or whatever that we, men, can take advantage of from being a CitiGold member?
Answer
At this point my Dad does not have a brokerage account, but we are wanting to transfer stuff over. I will call Citigold. Thank you.
Answer
Thank you for your good guidance. Indeed, his account can be upgrading to Citigold without applying for a whole new account and a new number. He has direct deposit with his social security and I really didn't want to mess with that. I took care of the process at the branch today after a phone call to citigold saying that it can be done. Thanks again.
Answer
Anyone catch the press release from B of A about the new lower online stock trades maybe Citibank will match there new online stock trading prices.
Link for new pricing (https://www.baisidirect.com/Static/SelfDirected/Commissions/commissions.html?sub=null&main=Fees)
if Citibank matched the pricing that would give all Citigold customers $5 online stock trades.
Answer
Summarized anwers to questions.
3. Your IRA accounts can be included as part of 100K min requirements. This is a great deal since those who are even thinking of becoming a CitiGold members, should have at least or over 100K in their IRAs/401k at the moment. So 100K min requirement is a piece of cake on this particular case.
Any questions I missed?
Is it only IRA or does Citistreet 401(k) count towards 100K total?
Answer
All retirement money in any form counts. Brokerage money counts. I think a home equity loan counts in some way ??? So, IRA, Keogh, 401K, stocks, bonds, all count (and of course, cash).
Answer
All retirement money in any form counts. Brokerage money counts. I think a home equity loan counts in some way ??? So, IRA, Keogh, 401K, stocks, bonds, all count (and of course, cash).
401K dont count towards balance requirements you can goto Citibank web page (http://www.citibank.com/us/cbna/citigold/eligible.htm)
It says very clearly that only IRA and certain Keogh count towards Citigold balance requirement.
Answer
401K dont count towards balance requirements you can goto Citibank web page (http://www.citibank.com/us/cbna/citigold/eligible.htm)
It says very clearly that only IRA and certain Keogh count towards Citigold balance requirement.
When you rollover 401k to a financial institute, which in this case CitiBank, isn't it converted to IRA by default (this has been what I always understood all along)? I was also told when I opened my citigold account a year ago that if I rollover my 401K, it will be considered part of my total balance requirements.
I actually plan to do this in May next year !!! If it is not counted, then I will be screwed and have to become a non-citigold... :(
Answer
When you rollover 401k to a financial institute, which in this case CitiBank, isn't it converted to IRA by default (this has been what I always understood all along)? I was also told when I opened my citigold account a year ago that if I rollover my 401K, it will be considered part of my total balance requirements.
I actually plan to do this in May next year !!! If it is not counted, then I will be screwed and have to become a non-citigold... :(
Look at the exceptions is says very clearly 401K are excluded towards the Citigold balance requirement. It is in small print under #3.
Not sure info about rollering over or converting 401K to IRA. But if you end up holding it as a 401K then it wont count. If it gets converted to normal IRA it should count.
Answer
This is what CitiGold replied. They said pretty clear that 401k account will be converted to IRA.... :cool:
--------------
Dear KIAM
Thank you for your message regarding the rolling over of your 401K to a Citibank IRA. You were informed correctly the first time. Your CitiGold IRA is considered toward meeting the $100,000.00. In regards to the type of account it will go into a Rollover IRA. Below is more information regarding 401k rollovers.
The first thing you would need to do is complete any closing forms required by your 401k administrator.
To have your money requested as transfer by Citibank, you would need to complete our IRA Transfer and Direct Rollover Form. Usually 401k companies would prefer to have their client complete closing paperwork which would then generate a check to be sent to you, however they will make the check payable to whomever you designate. In this instance, you would direct them to make the check payable to:
Citibank N.A.
FBO (for the benefit of) your name and either SS# or your Rollover IRA IMMA #.
Sincerely,
............................................
Answer
This is what CitiGold replied. They said pretty clear that 401k account will be converted to IRA.... :cool:
I dont know what the point of posting the email back here was. It stated the same thing I told you. If you hold it as a Citibank IRA it will count towards your Citigold balance requirement. I asked my Citibank advisory what benfits if any are there to converting a 401K into IRA.
The main benfit of having your assets in a 401K vs IRA is 401K get discounts on trades and management fees which is why Citibank does not count thoses assets towards CitiGold Balance requirement. Not all companies have agreements with Citigroup to have 401K with them. Alot of company will match contributions you make to your 401K plan while they will not match them into your IRA. 401K are allowed to invest in almost any type of investment while IRA are limited in the types of investments they are allowed to hold.
401K is actively managed retirement account while an IRA is a self managed account. If the company you work for has an agreement with Citigroup for a 401K it can be warped into your Citigold statement but will not count towards the balance requirement.
If you want a self directed retirement plan then converting it to an IRA might not be a bad deal. If you are going to actively manage your account and do a lot of stock sales or want a large selection of no load mutual funds then Citibank IRA is not right place to hold it. Citibank for the most part sells mostly Class A and Class B mutual funds. And there stock trades are not cheap either unless you have over $5MM in assets which if you cant make there balance requirements without converting your 401K to IRA it does not sound like you will. So your stock trades will be set at $24.99 which is on the high end for online brokerage houses considering Bank of America now charges $5.00 for stock trades when you have $100K or more in assets with them.
Answer
I dont know what the point of posting the email back here was. It stated the same thing I told you. .................
The point I was trying to make, didn't realize it wasn't clear, is that those who wish to rollover their 401k account (their accounts are not initially CitiGroup 401k account based) to their CitiGold have no choice but to accept that it will be converted to IRA type, and therefore, it is counted towards the min balance requirement. No one on here (even yourself) was certain how it is counted and what type of account it stays as after the rollover....so I posted the email to reconfirm that after the rollover, it got converted to IRA.
That's all.... :cool:
Answer
The point I was trying to make, didn't realize it wasn't clear, is that those who wish to rollover their 401k account (their accounts are not initially CitiGroup 401k account based) to their CitiGold have no choice but to accept that it will be converted to IRA type, and therefore, it is counted towards the min balance requirement. No one on here (even yourself) was certain how it is counted and what type of account it stays as after the rollover....so I posted the email to reconfirm that after the rollover, it got converted to IRA.
That's all.... :cool:
No Citigroup has 401K for a lot of larger companys. Even if your orginal 401K was not with Citigroup they might have an agreement for a 401K anyways. He told me a lot of the large unions jobs have agreements with 4-5 companys to handle there 401K for there members. Citigroup has Solo 401K even if your company does not has an agreement for a company sponsored 401K with Citigroup. The only way for it to count towards your Citigold balance requirement is for it to be converted over to an plain IRA. That is the point I was trying to make. The term "Rolling Over" means nothing more than convert.
You can "Roller Over" any type of tax deffered program into another. You choose to ask Citibank how you could qualify for Citigold and it seems the only choice you had was to "Roller Over" you 401K into a product that did qualify towards your balance requirement which might not be the smartest move in the longrun. You had alot of other choices if you wanted to move your 401K to Citibank except they would have not qualify towards your balance requirement.
Answer
I got a promotion in the mail today: new CitiGold accounts get $50 free and the referrer gets a spiff as well. PM me if you were going to signup for CitiGold anyway and we both win.
Mods: please delete if this is against posting guidelines but since it's mutually beneficial it seemed worth posting.
Answer
Forgot to mention another great things about banking with Citi as Citigold in relating to the new ThankYou Program when banking.
1. Checking Account (CitiGold type)
2. Debit Card (linked to CitiGold checking)
3. Savings Account (of any type)
4. One CD
5. At least one online Bill Payment per month
6. Direct Deposit
7. Loans, Mortgage...etc
With all these activities (7+), you will get 1200 ThankYou points each month without doing anything else. Points can be combined with credit card ThankYou points when redeemed. If you are not Citigold, with 7+ activities, you will get much less points.
Points from spending on Debit Card is not included yet.
Are you getting 1200 points for those 7? I am only getting 900, I was told that debit card/credit card does not count since they generate points by themselves while using it.
Answer
Are you getting 1200 points for those 7? I am only getting 900, I was told that debit card/credit card does not count since they generate points by themselves while using it.
i have been getting 1200 points for ever 1 year following products.
Citigold Checking
ATM - have to use it 1X per month(buy a coke at 7-11)
CD - $500 6 month cd @ 4.5%
Checking Plus(never used it 1X 0 balance)
E-savings account
Bill pay - send my self 5 check each month
Direct Deposit - move 5 bucks from ING in and out each month and it counts
Answer
The base amount has to do with checking and debit card (ATM). I don't think you actually have to use it as a debit card (use it period) to get credit for it. You DO have to make a bill payment each month. I have 2 citigold in which I am primary, and I am short one product on one of the accounts, so I get 900 points on that account. I have to get checking plus on it, then I will get the full amount. I have only 1 debit card and it comes out of my other citigold account, but I believe there are months where I have not used it and still gotten the 1200. I mainly use it at Sam't club since they don't take credit cards, and I have stopped making a trip to Wal-mart to get a gift card.
Answer
I have only 1 debit card and it comes out of my other citigold account, but I believe there are months where I have not used it and still gotten the 1200. I mainly use it at Sam't club since they don't take credit cards, and I have stopped making a trip to Wal-mart to get a gift card.
Why dont you make a trip to Wal-mart for gift cards? Atleast you earn some miles this way
Answer
I used to do it, and I might again, but when it requires a special trip, I've decided it isn't worth it. I get 1 thank you point for each $3 spent with the debit card, and it seems to count cash back in getting those points, so at least I get something.
Answer
You know there are other cards out there you can earn points for flying on any airline and no annual fee. There might be a transaction fee
Answer
You know there are other cards out there you can earn points for flying on any airline and no annual fee. There might be a transaction fee
I think you are missing the whole point. You get 1200 Thank you points just for banking with Citibank. Dont have to do anything really to get 1200 points a month.
I buy a $0.85 cent can of coke every month at 7-11. So in effect i am getting 300 points for less than 1 dollar.
Answer
I also have the premier pass card from Citibank and get Thank you points - 2 for each $1 spent at grocery stores and gas stations and charging any flight for anyone gives me points for the mileage - even on award travel. So without doing much, I have about 60,000 points. Also, the fee is waived because of citigold.
Answer
Are the banking points supposed to help transfer out held flight points? Seems the only way I get Flight points are by purchases on that credit card. When the 1200 banking points transfer, no matching flight points get applied. Is this correct behavior or should I call them?
Answer
They all get pooled into one account, if you go to their web-site and add sponsor accounts. When you redeem ( I have not redeemed yet), you would need as many flight points as non flight points. So If you had 15,000 flight points and only 10000 non flight points, you could not get a 25,000 airline ticket. However, if you had 12,500 non flight points, you could use 12,500 of your flight points to get a ticket. That is my understanding of how it works. Purchases on the card for things other than airline tickets are non flight points, as are points from other credit cards that give thank you points, and from thank you points you get from banking.
Answer
Are the banking points supposed to help transfer out held flight points? Seems the only way I get Flight points are by purchases on that credit card. When the 1200 banking points transfer, no matching flight points get applied. Is this correct behavior or should I call them?
I think they are doing it right.
There are credit card points, and there are banking points.
With banking points, when you earn them, they are transferred to your (hopefully pooled) TY Account each month. They are yours to use and don't need to be matched.
With credit card points, they will not transfer flight points from your credit card purchases to your TY account until that same credit card has earned an equal or greater number of purchase, bonus, and/or select spend points. Once you do that, all of those points are transferred to your TY account, and are thereafter simply called TY points - they are indistinguishable from each other or from the points you earned from banking, and can be spent however you'd like.
The requirement to match flight point with purchase/select spend/bonus points is only at the point of transfer from the credit card to the TY account.
Answer
They all get pooled into one account, if you go to their web-site and add sponsor accounts. When you redeem ( I have not redeemed yet), you would need as many flight points as non flight points. So If you had 15,000 flight points and only 10000 non flight points, you could not get a 25,000 airline ticket. However, if you had 12,500 non flight points, you could use 12,500 of your flight points to get a ticket. That is my understanding of how it works. Purchases on the card for things other than airline tickets are non flight points, as are points from other credit cards that give thank you points, and from thank you points you get from banking.
Does this mean if I actually wanted an award I could call and point out all the banking points in there that were not matched already by flight points and they will then move over flight points to equal what non-flight points I've earned?
Unless it works as psychtobe explained in which case I only get matches on that credit card's spending and not the banking points...
Answer
I have never gotten an award but my understanding is that they get pooled (if you haven't done that, I was suggest doing that) and that they would see that you have enough non flight thank you points. If right now you don't, I suppose you could try and see what happens. Perhaps someone else has actually gotten a ticket.
Answer
Does this mean if I actually wanted an award I could call and point out all the banking points in there that were not matched already by flight points and they will then move over flight points to equal what non-flight points I've earned?
Unless it works as psychtobe explained in which case I only get matches on that credit card's spending and not the banking points...
Banking points go directly into your ThankYou Points account.
Premier Pass/Chairman card purchase points are accrued on your card and then transfered from the card to your ThankYou Points account each month.
Flight points are accrued on your card, but do not transfer to your Thank You account unless you have enough purchase points. Therefore, banking points cannot help you "liberate your purchase points".
Answer
But the Premier Pass card has both flight points and non-flight points and they are combined with my two citigold account in a master account. The total given is for ALL points, but I imagine, somewhere in there they have a total of the flight points. ALL of my premier pass points (flight, and non-flight) get sent to the master account. Don't know how it all works in the end as I have never tried to get an award.
Answer
But the Premier Pass card has both flight points and non-flight points and they are combined with my two citigold account in a master account. The total given is for ALL points, but I imagine, somewhere in there they have a total of the flight points. ALL of my premier pass points (flight, and non-flight) get sent to the master account. Don't know how it all works in the end as I have never tried to get an award.
Are you are spending more than you are flying? Yes, they all get transferred to the same Thank You account. However the flight points don't get transferred to the Thank You account if you haven't spent enough on your card.
Answer
I know I get charged $9.95 if i do the trade online via there web page and $14.95 if i call the 800 number. Last time I made a stock purchuse was last month so I know online they still charge me $9.95 for sure. I have friends who are also Citigold customers who do and do not get stock trades for the same price as me. They also dont get both AA Credit card and Diner Club card waived. They get one or the other waived but not both. Other friends get both cards waived just like me. Citibank will waive more fees and lower you stock trades based on your account size. If you come in with barely 100K dont except to get anything more than what is printed on there list of benfits. On the other hand if you come in with 500K you can and will get tons of fees waived above what is printed in there list of benfits.
They waivie for me the AA Platinum Select Private Visa Card with $125 Anunal fee but it has no milage cap at all. I have charged over $200K a year on it and i dont have any status with AA and all my miles have posted without a problem. I know this card was discounted tho back in like 98 or so was only offered I think to Citigold customers. They also waive my diners club card which is $95 a year. On top of that they waive the $65 fee on my AA premire mastercard debit card.
I know with Citigold the advisory you deal with and the size of your account also matters. Citigold offically charges for outgoing wire transfer but the guy I deal with at the bank has always been able to waive the fee for me. He also has waived many other fees for me in the past that Citibank normally charges.
Private Bank customers have all wire fees waived. Oddly, the private bank is not able to waive DC annual fee.
Answer
To be a citigold member, can you upgrade your regular checking account or do you have to open a completely new account? Any benefits for doing either. Did you get any bonuses?
I got some bonus miles for signing up for the free AA debit card. Nothing else, though.
Answer
:confused: Waived annual fee card of one:
Citi Premier Pass Elite Level card 75 value
Citi Diners Club Master card 95 value
If you were me, you will choice???
Even with UA out of the miles plan, I'd still take DC for the lounge access. I've used it all over the place. The lounge in Dubai is especially nice, and EVA in Taipei is pretty good (although you have to be flying on EVA to use it). The ones in Nairobi are terrible. Too bad the LHR ones aren't available any more.
Answer
You can upgrade a regular checking account to a citigold. One person told me no, but she was misinformed, and my Dad's checking account was upgraded keeping the same number and not needing to mess with direct deposits.
The old rules didn't say just one, so I already have a DC card and 3 AA Advantage Cards. I applied for the premium pass card, got my 15,000 bonus miles, and when the fee appeared I called saying the fee should be waived because of citigold and it was. So, don't be afraid to apply for both cards.
Answer
Just thought I would let people know Citibank has brought back there sweep account feature for thier Citigold and CitiPrivate checking accounts.
The way there sweep now works is it maintains $500 in your checking account and sweeps the balance into one of the following MMF which you choose:
CitiSM Cash Reserves 4.50% (full taxable)
CitiSM U.S. Treasury Reserves 4.14%(state income tax expemted)
CitiSM Tax Free Reserves 3.14%
CitiSM California Tax Free Reserve 3.04%
CitiSM Connecticut Tax Free Reserves 3.10%
CitiSM New York Tax Free Reserves 3.22%
All these rates are current as of 7/11/06 and may change on a daily bais based on market conditions so they could go up or down.
And you are paid 1.01% on the $500 that is left in your checking account at all times.
Answer
Is this a choice, or will all money left in the checking get 1%
Answer
Is this a choice, or will all money left in the checking get 1%
It is an option you can choose to leave your checking account the way you have it now. Not sure why you would as current account pays the following rates:
$0-10K - .88%
$10-25K 1.01%
$25k+ 1.88%
And if you choose for example CitiSM U.S. Treasury Reserves which pays 4.14% and is state income tax exempt while not FDIC insured dont think anyone here can say US T-Bills have any real risk of default either. So assuming you maintain on average $25K the new sweep option pays more than 2X current checking account rate on same balance with little or no risk.
The only catch is balances over $500 are sweept and balance below earns 1%. If you pick one of the tax-free options and you are in one of the higher tax bracket and live in a high tax state like NY, CA or CT where they offer local muni funds your Tax-equivalent yield is over 5% so it even better than manually sweeping your own money into E-savings account which only pays 5%.
Answer
i have been getting 1200 points for ever 1 year following products.
Citigold Checking
ATM - have to use it 1X per month(buy a coke at 7-11)
CD - $500 6 month cd @ 4.5%
Checking Plus(never used it 1X 0 balance)
E-savings account
Bill pay - send my self 5 check each month
Direct Deposit - move 5 bucks from ING in and out each month and it countsI only have 6 products (exactly the same as yours except direct deposit) and looking for a 7th for the 1200 points/month . Does ANY electronic transfer in count as a direct deposit?
Answer
You could open a ready credit account - a line of credit, no charge if you never use it. Also, just having the debit card with your checking account gives you the first two - I believe even if you don't ever use it as a debit card. Or, a money market account also counts as a savings vehicle, even if you keep only a $1 in it. You only need 1 check payment to count. I forgot one month, and one citigold account got 300 less. I need to open a checking plus on that account in order to get the full 1200 points.
Answer
You could open a ready credit account - a line of credit, no charge if you never use it. Also, just having the debit card with your checking account gives you the first two - I believe even if you don't ever use it as a debit card. Or, a money market account also counts as a savings vehicle, even if you keep only a $1 in it. You only need 1 check payment to count. I forgot one month, and one citigold account got 300 less. I need to open a checking plus on that account in order to get the full 1200 points.Yes, I've got the CitiGold Checking, Debit Card, Savings, CD, Checking Plus, Bill Pay. Could do either Ready Credit or Direct Deposit for my 7th, but was wondering what exactly counts as Direct Deposit for Thank You points purposes.
Answer
I don't know and would like the answer myself. As a self-employed person, I don't get a "paycheck." I will ask when I go into the bank tomorrow. Whatever it might be, sounds quicker than getting checking plus on my one account that has only 6 items.
Answer
I don't know and would like the answer myself. As a self-employed person, I don't get a "paycheck." I will ask when I go into the bank tomorrow. Whatever it might be, sounds quicker than getting checking plus on my one account that has only 6 items.
Paypal or any other ACH transfer INTO the account should count (ING, etc). Does for my "The Citibank Account" account.
Answer
If I link a chairman card of Citigroup to Citigold account. Whether the annual fee would be removed (Actually)? Although they can remove all PP EL; DC; AA and PP biz card annual fee.
Answer
Are you are spending more than you are flying? Yes, they all get transferred to the same Thank You account. However the flight points don't get transferred to the Thank You account if you haven't spent enough on your card.
I can't agree with this. I definitely got much more flight points than purchase points and somehow ALL points have been transferred to my ThankYou account.
Answer
Is it possible that the RENEWED CD (automatically renewed) is not counted as one of the qualified activities for ThankYou points? Since when my CD was renewed 3 months ago, my points earned each month was reduced from 900 to 600. Other activities remain the same. Not sure why. Never bother calling them cos it is only 300 points difference....but just wondering.
Answer
Just a note in case it hasn't been posted. The new CITI-AMEX-AADVANTAGE credit card cannot be linked to CitiGold (which means annual fee cannot be waived), nor it can be linked to any ATM card for access purpose on CitiBank Online websote. As per what they said, the current system cannot support this new card to be managed online. Only Citi Card website can do so. A little disappointment to find this out. With many other great things their banking website can do, this new card cannot be addded/linked.
Answer
I notice that I can upgrade my existing Citi checking account to Citigold online. My question is after the upgrade, can I downgrade it back later? I have called Citigold reps and got very conflicting answers. Thanks.
Answer
I notice that I can upgrade my existing Citi checking account to Citigold online. My question is after the upgrade, can I downgrade it back later? I have called Citigold reps and got very conflicting answers. Thanks.
Do you need to post the same question 2X? Do think people are going to answer it faster then? Maybe try to post it 100X by that mentally and you will get an instant response.
Now as to question. Lets say I apply for a PPE card today. Annual fee will be billed day the account is opened. I get a Citigold account 6 months from now. No Citi will not refund the annual fee you paid 6 months ago. But if You apply today and open a Citigold account before the due date of the first statement then I am sure they will.
Answer
I notice that I can upgrade my existing Citi checking account to Citigold online. My question is after the upgrade, can I downgrade it back later? I have called Citigold reps and got very conflicting answers. Thanks.
I had a "Everything counts" account and I have managed to downgrade it to a regular EZ Checking account (very basic) since I have moved to BoA now..
So it is possible ..
KFlyer
Answer
I had a "Everything counts" account and I have managed to downgrade it to a regular EZ Checking account (very basic) since I have moved to BoA now..
So it is possible ..
KFlyer
Thanks. Did you need to call or visit a local branch for doing this? I called Citigold and they said I must come in to a local branch for downgrade. Since I don't have any branch locally it wouldn't be possible.
Answer
To be a citigold member, can you upgrade your regular checking account or do you have to open a completely new account? Any benefits for doing either. Did you get any bonuses?
I converted. There was some paperwork but the account numbers, checks, etc., all stayed the same.
Answer
just call the 800 number on the back of the card and the rep can take care of it right away. 300 is 300
Is it possible that the RENEWED CD (automatically renewed) is not counted as one of the qualified activities for ThankYou points? Since when my CD was renewed 3 months ago, my points earned each month was reduced from 900 to 600. Other activities remain the same. Not sure why. Never bother calling them cos it is only 300 points difference....but just wondering.
Answer
Thanks. Did you need to call or visit a local branch for doing this? I called Citigold and they said I must come in to a local branch for downgrade. Since I don't have any branch locally it wouldn't be possible.
No. I did not go to any branch. Just sent them an email requesting that and was done completely online ..
HTH
Answer
Hi Everyone!
Last week I upgraded my Citibank EZ Checking to CitiGold. I just received my CitiGold checks and AAdvantage Gold Color Debit Card. Here are a few questions I have:
1. Am I going to receive a "Welcome Package" with all exclusive phone numbers etc.?
2. How do I choose the personal financial advisor?
3. I don't have an AAdvantage number (I was with NW WorldPerks). Citibank was supposed to open an AAdvantage ac.... for me. But, I cannot find it anywhere in Citibank Online. The number is not printed on the ATM card as well. Do they print the AAdvantage number on the card?
4. Lastly, how can I apply for the AAdvantage World Master Card (or DC) so that fee is automatically waived? I thought there will be a link in online access, but I cannot find it.
Thanks. Appreciate the help,
Tintin
Answer
You can go to aa.com and immediately get a FF number. Also, you are best to apply for the 25K offer where you get 20K after your first $250 purchase, and 5K at your anniversary with your fee waived for that offer. After you get all your bonus miles, next year, when your fee appears but after you get your 5K miles (total 25K) then you would call the number on the card and explain that your fee should be waived because you are citigold. You can go into a convenient brance near you and ask for a financial advisor. The number you call is on your ATM card. If you have also signed up for the Thank you point program your ATM card should say, Thank you on the back. If it is the gold ATM card, it is that phone number. You then can see how many products you can sign up for to maximize your points. After getting your AAdvantage card, you might want to sign up for the premier pass card with their 15K offer. After you get the points and the fee shows up, you would call the number on the back of that card and tell them your fee is suppose to be waived because you are citigold. I use that card for purchased plane tickets (award tickets as well, groceries and gas only). Once established after the first time, it should be waived automatically. I do believe that you will receive a packet with the benefits, but you could also get it at your brance.
Answer
You cant be enrolled in both AA ATM card and Thank you points program for banking. It is either one or the other not both.
Answer
You can go to aa.com and immediately get a FF number. Also, you are best to apply for the 25K offer where you get 20K after your first $250 purchase, and 5K at your anniversary with your fee waived for that offer. After you get all your bonus miles, next year, when your fee appears but after you get your 5K miles (total 25K) then you would call the number on the card and explain that your fee should be waived because you are citigold. You can go into a convenient brance near you and ask for a financial advisor. The number you call is on your ATM card. If you have also signed up for the Thank you point program your ATM card should say, Thank you on the back. If it is the gold ATM card, it is that phone number. You then can see how many products you can sign up for to maximize your points. After getting your AAdvantage card, you might want to sign up for the premier pass card with their 15K offer. After you get the points and the fee shows up, you would call the number on the back of that card and tell them your fee is suppose to be waived because you are citigold. I use that card for purchased plane tickets (award tickets as well, groceries and gas only). Once established after the first time, it should be waived automatically. I do believe that you will receive a packet with the benefits, but you could also get it at your brance.
Hi! Thank you for so quick reply. Thanks for the tips on the credit cards. I will go for the 25K AA WorldMaster Card.
I got the Gold AA ATM Master Card. So, I think, I cannot enroll in the "Thank You" points (will be a double dipping).
Regarding the AA number, I think Citibank has already assigned me a number. I will call AA to find it out.
Is it possible to get the fee waived (or reduced) for the Carte Blanche card (Black DC)?
Thanks,
Tintin
Answer
I got the Gold AA ATM Master Card. So, I think, I cannot enroll in the "Thank You" points (will be a double dipping).
Regarding the AA number, I think Citibank has already assigned me a number. I will call AA to find it out.
Thanks,
Tintin
You can switch to Thank You Debit Card if you want but your AA Debit card will be cancelled. This can be done over the phone. You have to understand that Thank You Debit cards give you points ranging from 300 up to 1200 points per month for just having certain number of CitiBank products linked to your ATM card...e.g. debit card+checking, savings, CD, direct deposit, bill payment...etc With 7 products, you get 1200 points every months for just having those accounts linked.
Regarding eligible credit cards, once you link them to your online access (to your debit card), just send an email to CitiGold asking them to code your credit cards as CitiGold, this will automatically waive your subsequent annual fees. No need to wait until the fee shows up then call to waive.. One time deal to have it coded properly from the beginning, then no more worry about the fees.
Answer
Is it possible to get the fee waived (or reduced) for the Carte Blanche card (Black DC)?
Thanks,
Tintin
No they will not waive the annual fee or apply a $95 discount the annual fee of Carte Blanche card for Citigold customers. If you want the annual fee waived for this card or Chairman Card consider opening a private bank account with $20MM in assets or more.
Answer
To clarify - the gold ATM card that you get with your citigold account can be one that gives AA miles, OR, it can be a Thank You one - it will say thank you in the back. I switched to this because you can easily get thank you points with all your banking products. However, you are ALSO eligible for a fee waived AA credit card. I recommend waiting until your miles have posted just to make sure that they don't tell you that you aren't elgible for the miles because of the "free" fee card. Since this card has the fee waived for a year anyway, and the next bonus comes on your anniversery..... this is a different promotion on a credit card than before, so people may have experience that indicates that caution is not necessary. So...you can sign up for the thank you points program AND be a member of AA Aadvantage - it is just the ATM card that has to be the Thank you points in order to get credit in that program. Once established, I would then get the premier pass card as I described above. Good luck, and welcome to the club.
Answer
I have heard that the diner club card does not show up in credit report, which means there is no credit inquery. Can someone confirm this? What about the other fee waived cards with citigold?
THanks.
Answer
I have heard that the diner club card does not show up in credit report, which means there is no credit inquery. Can someone confirm this? What about the other fee waived cards with citigold?
THanks.
Just because a company does not report to credit bureaus does not imply that they do not do credit inquiries.
If you apply for a Diners card, they will check your credit. (They checked Equifax on me.) However, they will not report your activity to a credit bureau. This policy is subject to change. (They may report negative credit history, but I do not have experience with that.)
Answer
What about the other fee waived cards with citigold?
THanks.
Other fee-wiaved cards...e.g CitiPremier Pass, AA platinum Select, are reported on credit report both inquiry when applying and credit activity.
Answer
I have heard that the diner club card does not show up in credit report, which means there is no credit inquery. Can someone confirm this? What about the other fee waived cards with citigold?
THanks.In my personal experience, a Corporate Diners Club does not show up in one's credit report (I had 2 with 2 different employers), while a personal Diners Club does.
Answer
In my personal experience, a Corporate Diners Club does not show up in one's credit report (I had 2 with 2 different employers), while a personal Diners Club does.
My personal Diners Club reports every month even if I dont have a balance but I have had my Diners Club card for close to 20 years. And the fee is waived by the Citigroup Private Bank so not sure if that makes a differnce but I dont think so. If your Diners Club is not reporting maybe it some kinda of computer glitch who knows or it truely a benfits of Citigold which the private bank does not do for it customers.
Answer
My personal Diners Club reports every month even if I dont have a balance but I have had my Diners Club card for close to 20 years. And the fee is waived by the Citigroup Private Bank so not sure if that makes a differnce but I dont think so. If your Diners Club is not reporting maybe it some kinda of computer glitch who knows or it truely a benfits of Citigold which the private bank does not do for it customers.
Recently diners club experienced an issue due to a system change. They were inaccurately reporting credit information. As a result, they stopped reporting to credit bureaus temporarily. Check the Diners forum for more details. My personal card has never been reported.
Answer
Recently diners club experienced an issue due to a system change. They were inaccurately reporting credit information. As a result, they stopped reporting to credit bureaus temporarily. Check the Diners forum for more details. My personal card has never been reported.
So how is this a Citigold Benfit?
Answer
If I update my Citigold to EZcheck. Whether the Citicard would charge my fee of Premier Pass Elite and Diners Club charge card? Thank you.
Answer
So how is this a Citigold Benfit?
It's not a Citigold benefit. It's just how Diners works for the time being.
Answer
If I update my Citigold to EZcheck. Whether the Citicard would charge my fee of Premier Pass Elite and Diners Club charge card? Thank you.
You meant to say "downgrade" to EZCheck... Yes your credit cards will be charged when the upcoming annual fee is due because once u r no longer CitiGold, your cards will no longer be coded as CitiGold, and therefore, they are no longer fee-waived.
Answer
Does anyone happen to have a chairman card application or a copy of one? Any information or help would be appreciated. Feel free to pm me. Thanks.
Answer
You can switch to Thank You Debit Card if you want but your AA Debit card will be cancelled. This can be done over the phone. You have to understand that Thank You Debit cards give you points ranging from 300 up to 1200 points per month for just having certain number of CitiBank products linked to your ATM card...e.g. debit card+checking, savings, CD, direct deposit, bill payment...etc With 7 products, you get 1200 points every months for just having those accounts linked.
Regarding eligible credit cards, once you link them to your online access (to your debit card), just send an email to CitiGold asking them to code your credit cards as CitiGold, this will automatically waive your subsequent annual fees. No need to wait until the fee shows up then call to waive.. One time deal to have it coded properly from the beginning, then no more worry about the fees.
Answer
To clarify - the gold ATM card that you get with your citigold account can be one that gives AA miles, OR, it can be a Thank You one - it will say thank you in the back. I switched to this because you can easily get thank you points with all your banking products. However, you are ALSO eligible for a fee waived AA credit card. I recommend waiting until your miles have posted just to make sure that they don't tell you that you aren't elgible for the miles because of the "free" fee card. Since this card has the fee waived for a year anyway, and the next bonus comes on your anniversery..... this is a different promotion on a credit card than before, so people may have experience that indicates that caution is not necessary. So...you can sign up for the thank you points program AND be a member of AA Aadvantage - it is just the ATM card that has to be the Thank you points in order to get credit in that program. Once established, I would then get the premier pass card as I described above. Good luck, and welcome to the club.
I was told tonight by rep that I could have AA premium debit AND get the 1200 monthly debit points is this accurate??
Answer
Paypal or any other ACH transfer INTO the account should count (ING, etc). Does for my "The Citibank Account" account.
Do we have others who experienced this as well.
Is a ACH (paypal or HSBC direct e savings qualify as Direct Deposit transaction??
Answer
I was told tonight by rep that I could have AA premium debit AND get the 1200 monthly debit points is this accurate??No, that's not accurate. You can get AA miles OR ThankYou points, never both.
Do we have others who experienced this as well.
Is a ACH (paypal or HSBC direct e savings qualify as Direct Deposit transaction??I transfer $10 to and from a non-Citibank checking account every month, and that seems to count as a Direct Deposit for me (my 7th product).
Answer
[QUOTE=MiamiBeach;6692074]No, that's not accurate. You can get AA miles OR ThankYou points, never both.
But you do get TY points for your checking and CD's, etc., correct?
Answer
[QUOTE=MiamiBeach;6692074]No, that's not accurate. You can get AA miles OR ThankYou points, never both.
But you do get TY points for your checking and CD's, etc., correct?
nah, chix actually not correct.
you made the mistake of appying reasonable, logical and common sense intutition in drawing your assumption.
Remember we are talking about Citibank here:mad:
Only one CHECKING acct per citigold account allowed.
Only one ATM card for one checking account.
In order to get the monthly points based on relationship package and numer of produts services a month ( the 1200 a month max grid) your ATM card /debit card must also be TY points.
Also it gets worse.
you need to 'upgrade' to the free ty point network card.
the first issues will be regular. no monthly points. no ty points for debit use.
I wanted to sign up for a citigold package in response to a 20,000 ty points for $1500 deposit and 2 bills paid electronically monthly or direct depost monthy for six months.
I was told over and over again after wasting immense time and effort by different people in the chain of command at the branch as well as 800 # that I would NOT get the 20,000 points with the GOLD relationship. That in order to get the 20,000 points I had to open what they call a "blue" relationship and then upgrade!!!
Anyway, after about three weeks ( I did it november 30 th , last day of promo), I am really disappointed with citibank.
Answer
The application process was dreadful.
person after person was completely unresponsive , and not knowlegdeable.
I could go on and on.
Suffice to say Citi is not a culture of service and competence.
I regret getting the chairman card.
The more I see the marketplace the better American Express looks to me!!!
What you need to do is establish a 'seprate relationship package" FROM your citigold acct.
you need a blue relationship.
Look at "Access Checking".
comes with the option for an AAdvantage debit card.
you will have to pay $65 first. Then call 800 number and try to get it waived , refunded.
say you are citigold customer and it is suppose to be free.
BTW, I will not be following the above advice.
Citi is so bad that I have no intention of making them my bank just because the give you points.
That is penny wise and dollar foolish.
I really intended to try them in good faith.
well I did and I know they are not for me.
I will fufill the terms of promo and keep my bank.
I said I opened Nov 30.
But I must have been talking with them about citigold snice around Nov 10 th or so.
So I base my opinion on over a month.
Finallly, IMHO, the website is not great.
And This is their claim to fame!!!
The next dayACH pull from your other EXTERNAL accounts is limited to $1000!
and you had to have done a standard ACH pull 20 days before from that account.
I don't know about you, but a $1000 transfer is not something I would ever do.
If I want to wait 3 days for access to my own funds, I could go to a branch and deposit a check.
oh but that would cost citi money-- interacting with a human teller.
Its crazy, Citi does a hard credit pull --- AFTER LYING TO YOU THAT IT IS A SOFT pull -if you are a cc customer.
Besides a credit report, they actually verify info on the app.
I don't get it. Citibank treats EVERY new depositor as if they are a crook out to cheat citi.
I am puzzled by CIti business practices.
Answer
[deleted]
Answer
:mad:
I too have had a billion problems just opening up a Citibank account. Apparently when I opened it over the phone, they gave me an IL account, not a DC account, so my local branch couldn't find me in the system. Access to money's been blocked, I've gotten two different debit cards and different checking accounts, I've wasted hours on the phone trying to get the situation resolved.
I was planning on making Citi my primary checking account, but I have no desire to now.
Answer
hmmm.
Answer
I am a Citigold and my CD is maturing next month. Citi dropped their APY recently. e-Savings is now 4.75% (from 5.00%) and 6-months CD is at 5.00% (from 5.50%).
As a Citigold, can I get a higher rate? Can a personal banker help me here? I am in Chicago, IL.
Also, does CDs from Smith Barney count towards Citigold requirement of $100000 balance? Smith Barney is offering an APY of 5.15%.
Thanks,
Tintin