What happened
Citi Strata application terms now refuse the welcome bonus if an applicant currently has or previously had that same Strata card, replacing the old 48-month eligibility window. Strata Premier terms also treat a past or current Citi Premier account as disqualifying.
The restriction appears to apply per Strata product, so a first-time bonus on each of the three Strata cards may still be available. A product change into a Strata card can block the bonus even when none was earned on the earlier card. Other Citi cards still display the 48-month rule, including AAdvantage products. Doctor of Credit notes it is not yet clear whether Citi changed only the public language or the systems that approve bonuses. The post says issuers with similar lifetime wording often still pay bonuses after several years.
ThankYou Points collectors who counted on reapplying after 48 months should treat remaining first-time Strata bonuses as scarce. Apply only if that Strata product has never been held and watch for data points on whether Citi denies repeat bonuses.
- Numbers
- 48 months: previous welcome-bonus eligibility window on Strata cards
- Who qualifies
- New-account bonuses on Strata cards are unavailable if you currently have or previously had the matching Strata account (and, for Strata Premier, a Citi Premier account); other card-history factors may also disqualify you.
- Takeaway
- Apply for a Strata card only if you have never held that product, consider waiting for a strong bonus, and watch for data points on whether Citi actually denies repeat bonuses.