These credit cards are reward cards with free insurances. Platinum card has five insurances while Signature has six. Minimum income apply. These are the best fee free credit cards I can find to date: no annual fee + 0% BT offer + reward points(1.25/1.5 per $) + comprehensive insurances. Enjoy.
Edit: this has been extended to the end of March or July 2014.
Depends on how many Qantas points you have in your account. If none, then maybe just sit on the Citi points until such time as you want to transfer to Velocity (or Krisflyer).
Why don't you find out and enlighten all of us.
personally. it's never worth it to pay 50 bucks and get QFF.
for every dollar you spend on signature card = 1 Krisflyer point for Singapore air is better in my case anyway.
Alright guys, just did some research on their website for converting points to various frequent flyer programs (Note: this is if you do not opt to pay $49 for the Qantas FF program and stay with Citibank's rewards program)
Link: https://www.citibank.com.au/AUGCB/ICARD/condyn/getEntry.do?f…
Velocity Frequent Flyer (Virgin)
Citibank Rewards Credit Card - Select Signature and Citibusiness cardholders:
1.5 Citibank reward points = 1 Velocity point, redemptions must be in multiples of 15,000 Citibank reward pointsCitibank Rewards Credit Card - Platinum, Classic, Citibank Gold (Visa) Credit cardholders:
2 Citibank reward points = 1 Velocity point, redemptions must be in multiples of 20,000 Citibank reward points
Krisflyer (Singapore Airlines)
Citibank Rewards Credit Card - Select Signature and Citibusiness cardholders:
1.5 Citibank reward points = 1 KrisFlyer mile, redemptions must be in multiples of 15,000 Citibank reward pointsCitibank Rewards Credit Card - Platinum, Classic, Citibank Gold (Visa) Credit cardholders:
2 Citibank reward points = 1 KrisFlyer mile, redemptions must be in multiples of 20,000 Citibank reward points
So in summary (TL;DR),
For the Signature Rewards CC:
$1 spend = 1.5 Citibank rewards points = 1 KrisFlyer mile = 1 Velocity point
For the Platinum Rewards CC:
$1 spend = 1.25 Citibank rewards points = 0.625 Krisflyer miles = 0.625 Velocity points
So doing some quick maths, we can deduce the following:
With the signature, you earn 20% more Citibank rewards points for every dollar you spend
With the signature, your Citibank rewards points are worth 60% more than if you had a platinum card
i.e. For a dollar spent, the difference in points earning rate is 20% between the cards. When it comes to converting Citi points for frequent flyer points, the difference is 60%.
how about access to lounge at airport for signature holder. only for card holder or can bring partner in?
you get two vouchers to use per year, believe you could use them both at the same time if you want.
yeah you can use them at the same time. normally one is a form of a voucher and another one is just pay on credit card and they waive that charge. Must be some sort of agreement that Visa and Banks where visa pays for one and Bank pays for one.
Anyway, you can use both at the same time.
I thought I could bring a partner in with my comp pass, filled out the visitor pass at the lounged and they didn't take any money from me.
Later I found out that I was charged something like $USD25 for my partner's entry on my card. Complaining didn't do anything to reverse the charge.
Its Priority lounges pass which is in Melb and Cairns international airport for Australia.
I am getting really edgy having read about all the approvals you guys got - I applied Tuesday morning, sent in the paperwork and am still 'conditionally approved'. They rang me to clarify the day after. But then I heard nothing. I rang up to check the status but can't get a straight answer out of them.
Is anyone else still stuck in 'conditionally approved' limbo?
I think the term is 'ozbargained'… they are still chewing through, don't worry.. they will get to you.
I called up and they said that it is waiting for the final approval which could be within the next few hours.
A little later I got an email saying that it had been approved. I would call 13 24 84 and chase it up. I suspect I got the squeaky wheel treatment and jumped the queue by calling up
I applied the card on Tuesday night, and tonight (Thursday) I already received and activated and used my new fee free Signature card! I am existing customer so they waived checking my ID/salary documents and sent me the card straight away! 2 days is a record!
Was it the Platinum or Signature?
I've been a citi signature card holder for years. Everything I've read in this thread rings true.
I don't regret joining. I've earned thousands in rewards. I usually use points for gift cards (Coles gift cards appear to be the best for now).
I don't know why, but citi reminds me of dell. If you tell their support staff to stop talking crap, you get transferred - and get better service ;)
Would someone tell us about the points earn on this eg, I heard it was 4 pts per dollar on o/seas purchases as long as charged in NOT Aussie $$?
they're quite explicit: http://www.citibank.com.au/global_docs/pdf/MCG12231.pdf
International Spend means any Eligible Transaction made with a merchant who tells us they are located in a country outside Australia.
https://www.citibank.com.au/aus/credit_cards/cards_signature…
International: 4 reward points per $1 spent
obvs not for qantas.
But then when you buy internationally, you get slogged with the currency conversion fee, so is it really worth it?
possibly - it's marginal and up to you figure out how much the points are worth to you.
I didn't even need to fax my deets through and my credit card arrived yesterday :D
Are you an existing customer? I have had no dealings with them before this.
Nope, first time dealing with Citibank. Already using the card for my main spending :D
I can confirm, i got "Conditionally approved" and received my card.
Unfortunately i sent of my documents just 3 hours before via fax :/
Cheers - I won't bother sending anything unless I haven't received the card in two weeks' time. Priority Pass and $1 - 1 point FF rewards free for life is just too hard to pass up.
That's strange. I am still in limbo. Dammit!
Just more info:
Applied for Platinum (woes of under 75k) card without the balance transfer option on Tuesday, received it Thursday.
I received one automated email notifying me i was conditionally approved pending documents to be sent.
I did call them up on the Thursday morning and the guy mentioned the card would be there soon (up to a week). He was confused as to whether i needed to send the doco's (he said, send them anyway)
Does anyone know how strict they are with the minimum income?
By the looks of it, you just say how much they need to hear, then wait for the card to turn up without sending the docs.
Not really, many people have to send in their payslips.
they said they did ring my HR department
Well.. lol
Unfortunately, your recent application for a Citibank Citibank Rewards Credit Card - Signature has been declined.
I guess it's because I already have a Signature card, however I wanted the free annual fee. :(
I guess it's because I already have a Signature card
No. It's because you have 13 CCs already lol
I guess it's because I already have a Signature card
Yeah, it might have counted against you on your credit report, particularly if your existing Visa Signature has a high credit limit.
Now you need to invert your avatar and give them the thumbs down
Guys, did anyone here do a balance transfer?
I'm kind of confused with it, I'm looking at the signature card and they're saying that BTs are 0% p.a. for 6 months, but when I look at their BT terms and conditions it states:
If you have interest free days on your account you will not get the benefit or be eligible for any interest free days on purchases unless you pay the Closing Balance in full (including any BTs) by the statement due date for two consecutive months.
So does this mean I won't be able to get any interest free days unless I pay off the BT in full? So what's the point of the 6 months free balance transfer? :S
One more thing while I'm here:
I have a 28 degrees card with a 5k limit. Now would I be able to balance transfer 12k (max 80% of 15k credit limit they give you for BT) onto my 28 degrees and then take out the 12k without any penalties/withdrawal fees etc? Or is my 28 degrees 'capped' at 5k and they won't accept me putting on anything over the 5k limit? :S
Note there's a 1% fee for BTs. This is still good value even if you intended on siphoning it into a savings account for 6 months (and outstanding value if you're trying to pay down an accumulated credit card debt), but still not free.
Well I was going to use it to offset 12k on my home loan, but I'm unsure whether I'd be able to put it on my 28 degrees and withdraw it to put onto my home loan account.
I just called to activate the card and asked for Cheque to Self. Was told it's the same rate as BT, nothing mentioned about 1% fee. This is much better than doing the BT since the cheque can be deposited into a bank account directly.
What it says is if you use the card for purchase, you'll get charged interest for the purchase amount (55 days interest free won't be applicable until you pay off full balance)
EDIT: you still have to pay minimum balance each month to get 0% interest free on BT
So wait, my understanding is:
- Do 12k balance transfer, keep 12k in offset account and pay back without penalty after 6mths
- Use credit card as normal for purchases etc and still have 55 days interest free to pay off goods without paying any interest?
Are you saying that if I take out a balance transfer, there's no point using my CC for everyday normal things because I'll have to pay interest on them immediately? (i.e. forego the 55 days interest free period)
Correct. When doing BT, it's better not to use the card at all until you pay off the full amount.
Also don't forget to pay the minimum balance each month!
Thanks for clearing that up dustynn, much appreciated :)
Apparently, you can also do "Cheque to Self" instead of BT. Not sure if it works for this card.
They called my employer this morning. my application has been approved and didnt have to send any pay slips, etc.
PS: I have a citibank plus account.
i got the card in my mail, how do i do the transfer balance? i did requested this in the application but i dont see anything in the pack, just credit limit etc.
call them
Yep, we've Ozbargained Citibank. Just received an SMS:
Thank you for your application for a CITIBANK SIGNATURE CARD.
Due to the overwhelming response to our offer, we are experiencing some delays with our processing time.
We thank you for your patience and we will be contacting you shortly.
Long live OzBargain!
Overwhelming response can be only due to ozbargain. It was supposed to be till December 30. Congrats everyone. >13500 clicks and 320 votes.
Supposed to be till Dec 31st.
Also some people may have clicked more than once. Hence the discrepancy.
320 people clicking it 4 times = 1280 times or so.
Received the same SMS. Hopefully wont be too long and hopefully they wont get funny about it and bump people off.
Still amazed businesses dont understand the power of the Internet.
Same. Got that SMS. More waiting, I guess.
Agree with Glados. Hope they don't get cold feet and decide to decline people to limit numbers.
Having checked my credit file (therefor leaving a record) i'd be livid if they pulled back from existing applications.
Likewise. I am guessing no one will hear anything else today so, will have to wait until they start up again Monday.
After receiving that SMS at 3:25pm today, an email came through at 7:10pm saying I'd been approved, and the PIN and card were on their way to me.
So hang in there guys. Hopefully the wait won't be too long.
I got two of those smses. 3:46 and 4:20 pm. Still waiting.
Just got a 'thank you for your application for a platinum card' email asking me to send in ID/payslips etc.
I applied for a Signature (with the income to match). I take it this email means I've been knocked back from it? I've already sent in information, are they asking me to resend it? It dosent even say i've been approved!
Its as clear as mud.
Their system is not consistent. Some people also got email requesting additional info although they have already been approved.
Check your status here: https://www.citibank.com.au/global_docs/check_app_status.htm
Those that just got the Signature card and info in the mail…does it mention the priority pass access 2X per year?
As per the Citibank Signature T&C's, you sign up for your Priority Pass membership at http://www.prioritypass.com/citibankaus/
By the look of it Citibank will send you an "Invitation Code" that you enter at the above url.
also it's 1 free visit at a time, you must pay for any additional people to join you
Card arrived today. No documents or verification were submitted. Very loose checking.
Lol, strange, they were quite stringent on my application for signature.
Still haven't been approved yet, been like 3 days.
My salary and everything was well above the 75k limit.
Got my Signature card and info today. Hopefully the additional card for my wife would arrive soon. Has anyone received their additional card already ?
then you need to pay fee for your wife card?
No..additional card fee is Zero
I think their strategy is to get as many people on board as possible in time for the Christmas season, then make a killing in interest out of those that overspent lol
So why wouldn't other banks follow the route ?
Too busy screwing us in other ways.
lol
I feel like they're messing with the wrong people.
How does the insurances of signature card stands up to NAB's premium card ? Has anyone done a research on this ? Say maybe the travel insurance (domestic) might be a little bit better than Citi's
For new existing Citibank customers, I opened a Citibank Saver Package end of last month which includes a Citibank Plus, Online Saver and Platinum Credit Card. I went into one of their branch and brought all the supporting documents with me and the account was opened less than a week the credit card arrived later.
When I saw this offer no fee free for life, I decided to call them to apply the Signature Credit Card over the phone. I was told I am unable to apply for the Signature card until 9 months have pass since I first open the Saver Package.
I decided to write/email them to the General Enquiry/feedback section after log into Citibank online, to complain. The Customer Service got back to me and say they will upgrade my new/existing Platinum Credit Card to the no gee free for life. Great, but I still want the Signature card.
Note : sending an “email” thru their website (after log in to Citibank) can be very frustrating, you cannot use ,.<>?/*-+,,";; etc and when the Customer Support reply to you, their email include @citibank : ; etc.. So it makes it difficult to reply to their email. If you accidentally included one of those characters, it can boot you out of their website and you will need to log back in again. Very frustrating after having to log back in a number of times.
until 9 months have pass[ed]
note that citi does seem pretty strict about this rule (only one card application each 9 months), so I don't really like your chances.
you cannot use ,.<>?/*-+,,";; etc and when the Customer Support reply to you, their email include @citibank
hilariously you used to not be able to use '$' in their shitty message system either, which is a little frustrating when trying to discuss "money" with a "bank".
Mine has just been approved as a new customer for the signature card.
was called twice to verify my additional income and follow up on the documents to support the additional income.
then 5 mins later got the approved email.
I'm below the $75000 pa but would prefer the signature card more, do think it would be a good idea to fudge up my numbers and apply for signature instead? I've read an some comments here saying citi doesn't check everything. I've been a customer for about a year and a half, with an online saver and plus account, with very little money in them. Do they still need to check id docs and everything still for existing customers?
Well I did not made up my income so I cant comment on that. On existing card limit I did not include the $19k from westpac which I am going to cancel.
I also declared only $350k mortgage loan instead of total $780k as effectively they are joint mortgage so I am only declaring my portion.
good luck !
Next is to find out if the extended insurance and travel insurance will still claimable if I cancel my existing westpac card.
Anyone knows?
That's what I'm unsure about with my existing CBA card. I purchased tickets to USA to take advantage of the travel insurance but not sure if it'll be void if I cancel the card now.
Easier to just call the insurance provider and find out?
Pretty sure it's not. The card used must be current. Just keep it until after you travel.
Yes, can keep the old card till after your travels. Then cancel. In the meantime, use your Citibank card as your primary card. Sorted….. that's unless the annual fee of the old card is due before you return from your travels….
sigh I have just paid my $250 annual fee for the Westpac card back Oct-13. So I guessed I have to stick to it for the next 12 months (trip will be in Mar-14)
I just got my Citi Sig card - and it is specified $0 annual fee so long I hold on to Sig card. Supplementary card is coming.
Limit is $20k.
Was asked if I want BT - I did not opt for it and can call back within 30 days for 80% i.e. $16k (can ask for cheque to self)
Kinda tempting - can save $380 in offset account for 6 months; but then I am going to buy laptops and camera before the trip.
You could always check to see how much separate travel insurance is (eg: with Travel Insurance Direct or someone), as I am 99% sure that the CC fee is pro-rated, so you should get around $220 back?
Travel insurance is pretty cheap, and could be less than the pro-rated fee ;)
Thanks for the advice.
Well I charged the whole trip (separately) to 3 separate countries for the whole family (wife + kid)
i spoke to one of their approval staff and my understanding is if you already have a citibank credit card with a credit limit of 15k with citibank you can call up the approvals dept and request upgrade to this no fee for life signature card even though you don't earn 75k. also said that this offer might be extended past dec 31 which will be great as i have to wait 6 months which is only 5 days short before i can do another credit limit increase. does anyone know what is the maximum pre approval credit limit % increase you can usually do every time? last time i was offered only about 33.3% preapproval increase. Also does anyone know if you can simply combine two citibank credit cards into one single limit so that you meet the 15k rule?
How does one reach the approvals department? I satisfy those requirements and was gonna apply for the signature this week.
Re: Priority Pass
"The Citibank Signature Primary Cardholder will receive 2 complimentary lounge visits each year. For all additional visits and for all guests visits, a fee of US$27 per person per visit will be charged to your Citibank Signature card."
Looks like you can't take a guest in for free, which is annoying…
Bummer, looks like I'll have to ditch the gf and go solo then, save $27 and lots more lol
I think there are some lounges that let you have complimentary guests. This is a lounge policy, not a Priority Pass policy
Anybody tried to get a complimentary guest into ones in Melbourne International via Priority Pass?
no lounge in sydney, in australia only gold coast and melbourne!
Cairns and Melbourne
oh! no :(
Just get your gf to also apply for a card, then you can use the lounge twice (inbound/outbound).
That only works if your gf/bf/partner also meets the minimum income requirement…
Got approved for Platinum instead of Signature even though my earnings were over $75k (not by much) and i only declared that i only had $3k on my current credit limit. Only other credit check in the past 12 months was with a phone company that I passed.
I'm a bit dissapointed but I guess the whole 15k limit thing was scaring me.
Any other approval stories?
Guys, is it better to pay $50 and get QFF points on this card or pay nothing and get 1.5x Citi points?
I heard someone mention something about using Citi points for Virgin flights, but not sure. Could someone enlighten me please?