Citi Launches the Citi Strata Elite Credit Card

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 28, 2025--

Today, Citi announced the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card—a new premium credit card offering 12x points on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on the Citi Travel ® platform; 6x points on Air Travel booked on Citi Travel; 6x points at Restaurants, every Friday & Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. ET; and more travel, dining and entertainment benefits. Plus, with the Citi Strata Elite Card, cardmembers can unlock nearly $1,500 in value each year—with valuable lifestyle benefits cardmembers will want to use and even more perks for those who fly with American Airlines.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250728494474/en/

“The new Citi Strata Elite Card is the smart choice for savvy premium cardmembers who want to earn high rewards on travel and dining while still earning generously on every dollar spent,” said Pam Habner, Head of U.S. Branded Cards & Lending at Citi. “You shouldn’t need a math degree and a spreadsheet to track your credit card benefits! We have curated flexible lifestyle benefits that we know our customers will want to use—because we asked them what they value. And, this is the only branded credit card that has American Airlines benefits built right into the card.”

The Citi Strata Elite Card rewards cardmembers with ThankYou ® Points for the things they care about most, with the ability to earn:

With Citi Strata Elite, cardmembers can feel confident knowing they’ve chosen the card that can maximize their rewards earn. Citi Strata Elite cardmembers will also enjoy access to the following premium benefits and protections:

Valuable Lifestyle Benefits Cardmembers Will Want to Use
Citi research i found 75% of premium cardmembers indicate that customization—like opting for perks—is a very or extremely important part of the equation. Citi Strata Elite offers:

Even More Perks for Those Who Fly with American Airlines
In addition to being a Splurge Credit option, American Airlines has partnered with Citi to offer additional benefits:

“American is deepening its partnership with Citi to deliver even more benefits that combine the best of American and Citi’s rewards offerings,” said Scott Long, American Airlines Senior Vice President of AAdvantage. “We’re always looking for innovative ways to enhance our products and reward our customers for their loyalty. The new Citi Strata Elite Card provides Citi cardmembers an exciting opportunity to experience some of the fantastic benefits the AAdvantage program offers.”

Additional Premium Perks for Savvy Consumers

“We’re thrilled to introduce World Legend with Citi, a payment experience to meet people’s growing expectations of a payments card,” said John Levitsky, U.S. co-president at Mastercard. “Our new World Legend card tier will help deepen cardmember loyalty by offering elevated benefits, experiences and exclusive Priceless access in categories that people love—dining, entertainment, and travel.”

Protections for Peace of Mind
Additionally, Citi Strata Elite cardmembers will receive travel and shopping protections including trip delay protection, enhanced trip cancellation and trip interruption protection, lost or damaged luggage protection, MasterRental coverage, extended warranty and purchase assurance plus.

With access to nearly $1,500 in value and a suite of new benefits, the new Citi Strata Elite comes with a $595 annual fee and $75 annual fee for each authorized user ii.

Rewards for Citi Wealth Clients

Rounding out the Citi Strata Family of Rewards Credit Cards
The Citi Strata Elite Card and new Citi Strata℠ Card join the Citi Strata credit card portfolio, a range of products uniquely tailored to what cardmembers value most. Each of the cards—Citi Strata Elite, Citi Strata Premier ®, and Citi Strata—is designed to give cardmembers the flexibility to curate the life they envision for themselves.

Today, the Citi Strata Card—a rich enhancement of the former Citi Rewards+ ® Card—offers cardmembers increased opportunities to earn more points on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on Citi Travel, and at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations and on select transit purchases. Additionally, the new Self-Select category offers 3x points on an eligible category like fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, among others that speak to their personal desires, all at no annual fee iii.

The Citi Strata Card offers benefits that cater to cardmembers’ everyday routines and passions while helping them enjoy experiences now and in the future. With the Citi Strata Card, cardmembers can earn:

For more information on the Citi Strata credit card portfolio, visit www.citicards.com.

About Citi
Citi is a preeminent banking partner for institutions with cross-border needs, a global leader in wealth management and a valued personal bank in its home market of the United States. Citi does business in more than 180 countries and jurisdictions, providing corporations, governments, investors, institutions and individuals with a broad range of financial products and services.

Additional information may be found atwww.citigroup.com| X:@Citi| LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/company/citi| YouTube:www.youtube.com/citi| Facebook:www.facebook.com/citi

i Citi partnered with Material in June-July 2025 to conduct a poll of 1,000 adults ages 18+ who own at least one premium credit card (annual fee of $395 or more) and contribute to financial decision-making for their household. In addition, this survey included another 854 adults age 18+ who own at least one credit card, that is not a premium credit card and contribute to financial decision-making for their household.

ii Pricing for Citi Strata Elite Card: The variable APR for purchases and balance transfers is 21.24%-29.24% based on your creditworthiness. For Citi Flex Plans subject to an APR, the variable APR is 21.24%-29.24%, based on creditworthiness. For Citi Flex Pay Plans subject to a Plan Fee, a monthly fee of up to 1.72% will apply, based on the Citi Flex Plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the Transaction, and other factors. The variable APR for cash advances is 29.49%. The variable penalty APR is up to 29.99% and may be applied if you make a late payment or make a payment that is returned. Minimum interest charge - $0.50. Annual fee - $595. Annual fee for Authorized Users - $75. Fee for foreign purchases - None. Cash advance fee - 5% of each cash advance (min. $10). Balance transfer fee - 5% of each transfer (min. $5). Rates as of 07/27/2025.

iii Pricing for the Citi Strata Card: 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers from date of account opening; after that, the variable APR for unpaid promotional balances, new purchases, and new balance transfers is 19.24% - 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness. For Citi Flex Plans subject to an APR, the variable APR is 19.24% - 29.24%, based on creditworthiness. For Citi Flex Pay Plans subject to a Plan Fee, a monthly fee of up to 1.72% will apply, based on the Citi Flex Plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the Transaction, and other factors. The variable APR for cash advances is 29.49%. The variable penalty APR is up to 29.99%. Minimum interest charge - $0.50. Annual fee - $0. Fee for foreign purchases - 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase. Cash advance fee - 5% of each cash advance (min. $10). Balance transfer fee - intro fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum). Rates as of 07/27/2025.

Citi Strata credit card portfolio

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. forces in the Caribbean Sea have seized another sanctioned oil tanker that the Trump administration says has ties to Venezuela, part of a broader U.S. effort to take control of the South American country’s oil.

The U.S. Coast Guard boarded the tanker, named Veronica, early Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on social media. The ship had previously passed through Venezuelan waters and was operating in defiance of President Donald Trump’s "established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean,” she said.

U.S. Southern Command said Marines and sailors launched from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to take part in the operation alongside a Coast Guard tactical team, which Noem said conducted the boarding as in previous raids. The military said the ship was seized “without incident.”

Several U.S. government social media accounts posted brief videos that appeared to show various parts of the ship’s capture. Black-and-white footage showed at least four helicopters approaching the ship before hovering over the deck while armed troops dropped down by rope. At least nine people could be seen on the deck of the ship.

The Veronica is the sixth sanctioned tanker seized by U.S. forces as part of the effort by Trump’s administration to control the production, refining and global distribution of Venezuela’s oil products and the fourth since the U.S. ouster of Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise nighttime raid almost two weeks ago.

The Veronica last transmitted its location on Jan. 3 as being at anchor off the coast of Aruba, just north of Venezuela’s main oil terminal. According to the data it transmitted at the time, it was partially filled with crude.

The ship is currently listed as flying the flag of Guyana and is considered part of the shadow fleet that moves cargoes of oil in violation of U.S. sanctions.

According to its registration data, the ship also has been known as the Gallileo, owned and managed by a company in Russia. In addition, a tanker with the same registration number previously sailed under the name Pegas and was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for moving cargoes of illicit Russian oil.

As with prior posts about such raids, Noem and the military framed the seizure as part of an effort to enforce the law. Noem argued that the multiple captures show that “there is no outrunning or escaping American justice.”

Speaking to reporters at the White House later Thursday, Noem declined to say how many sanctioned oil tankers the U.S. is tracking or whether the government is keeping tabs on freighters beyond the Caribbean Sea.

“I can’t speak to the specifics of the operation, although we are watching the entire shadow fleet and how they’re moving,” she told reporters.

However, other officials in Trump's Republican administration have made clear that they see the actions as a way to generate cash as they seek to rebuild Venezuela’s battered oil industry and restore its economy.

Trump met with executives from oil companies last week to discuss his goal of investing $100 billion in Venezuela to repair and upgrade its oil production and distribution. His administration has said it expects to sell at least 30 million to 50 million barrels of sanctioned Venezuelan oil.

This story has been corrected to show the Veronica is the fourth, not the third, tanker seized by U.S. forces since Maduro’s capture and the ship also has been known as the Gallileo, not the Galileo.

Associated Press writer Ben Finley contributed to this report.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks with reporters at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks with reporters at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks with reporters at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks with reporters at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks with reporters at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a press conference, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks at a news conference at Harry Reid International Airport, Nov. 22, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill, File)