What happened
Doctor of Credit reports a new Citi Strata application pop-up that tells some pre-qualified applicants they cannot receive the welcome bonus. Citi recently moved Strata bonus eligibility to once per lifetime, ending the old 48-month cycle.
Applicants can proceed without a bonus or cancel. The warning just rolled out and may not show on every application. Not seeing it does not mean a bonus will post.
Holders who used to wait 48 months for another Strata bonus can now be blocked for life. Doctor of Credit notes American Express uses a 5-6 year window. The new pop-up may show how Citi defines a lifetime.
Former Strata holders should watch for that pop-up and treat any bonus as unpaid until it actually posts.
- Numbers
- 48 months: former signup-bonus eligibility window
- 5-6 years: American Express lifetime bonus window cited for comparison
- Takeaway
- If you have had a Citi Strata card before, watch for the ineligibility pop-up and do not count on a bonus unless you actually receive one.