Introduction

Continuing our series on downgrade options, this week we’re focusing on Citi credit cards. Below, we outline the rules you need to know before downgrading your Citi card and provide a comprehensive list of downgrade options available for each card.

Citibank Downgrade Rules You Need to Know

• Timeframe: You must have your Citi card open for at least 12 months before you are eligible to downgrade it.
• Personal to Business: Downgrading from a personal card to a business card, or vice versa, is not allowed.
• Annual Fee Refund: If you downgrade or close your Citi card within 60 days after the annual fee is posted, you’ll receive a full refund. Downgrading or closing after 60 days will result in a prorated refund (though some cardholders report issues with refunds after 30 days).
• Losing Rewards: If you downgrade a Citi card that earns ThankYou points to a card that doesn’t, your ThankYou points will expire after 60 days. Make sure to downgrade to another Citi card that earns ThankYou points to avoid losing them.
• Multiple of Same Cards: Citi allows you to hold multiple of the same cards. You can even downgrade to a card you already have.

Citi Downgrade Options

Here’s a complete list of downgrade options for Citi credit cards:

• Citi Prestige ($495)
• Downgrade to:

    - Citi Strata Premier℠ Card ($95)  - Citi Rewards+® Card ($0)  - Citi Custom Cash® Card ($0)  - Citi Double Cash® Card ($0)  - AAdvantage MileUp Card ($0) (Note: ThankYou points will expire after 60 days)  - Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi ($0, requires Costco membership) (Note: ThankYou points will expire after 60 days)

  • Citi AT&T Points Plus Card ($0) (Note: ThankYou points will expire after 60 days)
• Citi Strata Premier℠ Card ($95)
• Downgrade to:

    - Citi Rewards+® Card ($0)  - Citi Custom Cash® Card ($0)  - Citi Double Cash® Card ($0)  - AAdvantage MileUp Card ($0) (Note: ThankYou points will expire after 60 days)  - Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi ($0, requires Costco membership) (Note: ThankYou points will expire after 60 days)

  • Citi AT&T Points Plus Card ($0) (Note: ThankYou points will expire after 60 days)
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® ($450)
• Downgrade to:

    - Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® ($99)  - Citi Rewards+® Card ($0)  - Citi Custom Cash® Card ($0)  - Citi Double Cash® Card ($0)  - AAdvantage MileUp Card ($0)  - Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi ($0, requires Costco membership)

  • Citi AT&T Points Plus Card ($0)
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® ($99)
• Downgrade to:

    - Citi Rewards+® Card ($0)  - Citi Custom Cash® Card ($0)  - Citi Double Cash® Card ($0)  - AAdvantage MileUp Card ($0)  - Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi ($0, requires Costco membership)

  • Citi AT&T Points Plus Card ($0)
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Business™ World Elite Mastercard® ($95)
  • Unfortunately, this card cannot be downgraded.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: Can I downgrade my Citi card after I get the bonus?
• A: You can't downgrade the card until after 12 months. But why downgrade immediately? You've already paid the annual fee, so you might as well enjoy the benefits for the full year.
• Q: Do I get to keep my rewards if I close my Citi card?
• A: If you close or downgrade to a non-ThankYou card, your points will expire after 60 days unless transferred to another eligible card.