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At the moment, the sign-up bonus on Citi Premier is one of the best deals on the market. Unfortunately, getting approved for the card is no easy feat, as I’ve found out recently
I still don’t know if the credit analyst made up the whole rule of “no new credit inquiries within the last five days”. But one thing is clear: Citi is looking for a semi-pristine credit file, and having a high credit score isn’t going to cut it anymore.
That’s understandable because if they are going to dangle such a juicy carrot in front of a customer, they want that customer to stick around. So, if you are after Citi Premier, you better be strategic when it comes to your application timing. I don’t think we will ever know the exact approval formula (and I’m not sure it even exists), but you want to ideally have no inquiries in the last few months and very few new accounts within the last few years to even have a shot.
As for me and my husband, we are giving up on Citi Premier for now. I’ve tried and failed a few times, so I’m moving on.
The other decent Citi offers
This isn’t as good of a deal as Citi Premier, but Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite MasterCard is certainly worth considering. The offer was a bit higher in the past, but 50k AA miles is still nothing to sneeze at. You have to spend $2,500 in 3 months, which is very doable for normal folks like myself.
Keep in mind that bonus miles are not available if you have received an American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles for a new Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select account in the past 48 months. If you had the business version of the card, that shouldn’t preclude you from qualifying. Both cards pay us commission if you feel inclined to support the blog.
According to these terms, my husband became eligible as of August 1st. So, after getting a few denials on Citi Premier, I’ve decided to roll the dice on Platinum Select card. Unfortunately, we didn’t get an instant approval, but it wasn’t an instant rejection either. A few hours after application, I got a robocall telling me that my husband needs to verify some personal details. From my past experience, I knew that it most likely meant eventual approval.
Unfortunately, my husband hates these type of phone calls with a passion. And I can’t blame him. But since he already got a credit hit on his report, it had to be done. I dragged my feet on it for few days, hoping that the application would magically be approved on its own. No dice.
Off to making that phone call.
The bizarre Citi identity verification process
So, I figured that the whole thing would take 15 minutes max. But nope. First, we had to wait on hold for about 30 minutes. After getting connected to a credit analyst, the grilling began. She didn’t really ask my husband why he wants this card or why he has so many recent credit inquiries.
All the questions had to do with verifying his identity. After spending about ten minutes and annoying the heck out of him, she still wasn’t done. She told him she had to hang up and call him on his cell phone. OK. She did just that, but he couldn’t hear what she was saying.
So, she hung up and called again, this time was a success. Identity confirmed. You would think he was applying to work at CIA. Throughout the whole process, I was concerned my husband would just give up on the whole thing. But he was a trooper. I absolutely have to be very selective about asking him to deal with this sort of nuisance. So, he is good for about six months or so.
Was it worth it?
Ask me again when I have a chance to use these miles! To be honest, AAdvantage program has been a very pleasant surprise. Just a few years ago, I didn’t think much of it. However, they have eliminated award re-deposit penalties, which is a huge win. Also, you can score some pretty good mileage deals on certain routes. And of course, business-class redemptions (like JAL) are still an excellent deal.
Will the program go the revenue route in a not so distant future? It’s possible, even likely. Even so, I’m confident that I will get at least $500 in value out of those 50k miles. It’s obviously not as good of a deal as Citi Premier, but it’s a pretty decent consolation prize.
Plus, applying for this card gave me a chance to test out my theory that Citi has different approval criteria on its various cards.
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Author: Leana
Leana is the founder of Miles For Family. She enjoys beach vacations and visiting her family in Europe. Originally from Belarus, Leana resides in central Florida with her husband and two children.
I got denied for the same reason as Seth — they said I had too much unused credit overall (not just at Citi). I mean, they aren’t wrong, but they have never cared before. Recent inquiries didn’t matter at all as I too am about 3/24. I called but they said it was not open to reconsideration.
@Flyernick It is an odd reason for denial, for sure. Citi has definitely changed. That’s why I’ve decided to apply for AAdvantage Platinum card while I still can, despite the fact that the bonus was higher in the past. A bird in a hand…
Solution: Marry someone with a very rare first name like I did. She has never called 🙂
@Travelbloggerbuzz I will keep this in mind when I get ready to choose my next husband!
I was just smiling reading your blog. My husband is a very reluctant 2nd player in this game. He does love the benefits though and, when I selectively ask him to “make the call,” he is usually ok with it. As long as I explain what is going to happen and I make the call and wait on hold. 😉
@Tricia For my husband, it depends on the mood he is in at the time. I try not to bring it up when he is super tired because it can potentially cause an argument. I really don’t want this hobby to ruin my marriage. 😉 Plus, he is a bit of a hermit and doesn’t like interacting with people, period.
I’m chuckling about your husband because it’s the same with mine! I dread asking him to call credit card companies twice a year! He despises it 😂
@Tammie Yep. To be honest, I hate it too. But I approach it as something that has to be done, like getting groceries or meds. Sadly, he doesn’t view it that way!
I had a similar experience. I’m only 3/24 and hadn’t gotten bonus for Premier in several years. I called reconsideration and was told I had too much unused credit, and that I couldn’t move credit from my Double Cash. Oh well….
@Seth I was told I couldn’t get Premier since I’ve applied for another card (CSP) in the last five days. I tried again in a month, and got an email that I have too many credit inquiries. I didn’t bother calling that time. You win some, you lose some. I’m not worried about it, though might try again in a few months.
Instantly approved, 12K credit line. 832 Experian, 3/24, and 3 inquires/hard pulls in the last 6 months. 3 Other cards with them with no closures within the last 5 years, and a 22 year card history with them. It seems if you have a long term relationship and don’t have a history of closing lots of cards, you stand a better chance.
@Eds183 Congratulations on your approval! What you said makes a lot of sense. Im sure that having long history with Citi and not closing accounts helps. In the past that wasn’t really necessary, but times have changed.
Instant approval for me, too. Like @Eds183 am also a long-term customer with 5 other Citi cards, 4/24.
@Pam Congratulations! And thanks for providing the details on your credit history. That’s very helpful.
It’s not just Premier, it”s all their cards. I tried to get a Custom Cash card. Instant denial. So I called and they said” no way”
Jim, I probably should have said YMMV. Citi bank has always been a weird one. Many of their policies have no rhyme or reason. I do think applying for Citi Premier invites extra scrutiny compared to other cards.