Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology.

Citi Improves the Double Cash Card [Will Earn ThankYou Points]

Jarrod West's image
Jarrod West
Jarrod West's image

Jarrod West

Senior Content Contributor

461 Published Articles 1 Edited Article

Countries Visited: 21U.S. States Visited: 24

Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in o...

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

The Citi Double Cash® Card has long been a popular card among consumers thanks to its straightforward and unlimited cash-back earnings on all purchases and no annual fee. And now, this popular card is getting even better.

With today’s card, you can convert the cash-back earned from your Double Cash card to ThankYou Points to redeem with hotel partners, with access to airline partners only if you also have a premium Citi ThankYou card.

Coming soon, transferring cash-back to ThankYou Points will no longer be necessary — let’s take a look at what’s changing.

New Double Cash Card Changes

Citi Double Cash Card Changes
Image Credit: Citi

Starting March 28, 2022, all rewards earned from the Double Cash card will be earned in the form of Citi ThankYou Points. This means that by earning 2% cash-back on all purchases (1% when you buy, and 1% when you pay), you’ll be earning 1x ThankYou Points when you buy, and an additional 1x ThankYou Points when you pay. Of course, you’ll still have all of the same redemption options available to you, including being able to redeem your ThankYou Points at a rate of 1 cent per point in cash-back.

Further, for those who wish to keep using the cash-back option on this card moving forward, Citi is removing the $25 minimum for direct deposits and statement credits. This is another excellent change as it will allow cardholders to access their rewards to offset purchases whenever they’d like.

Boost the Value of Your ThankYou Points

On its own, the ThankYou Points earned on the Double Cash card can only transfer to Choice at a 1:1.5 ratio, along with JetBlue and Wyndham at a 1:0.8 ratio.

If you really want to get maximum value out of your Citi ThankYou Points, then your best option is to pair this card alongside a premium ThankYou Rewards card like the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card or Citi Prestige® Card (no longer available for new applicants). Holding either of those cards will give you access to all of Citi’s travel transfer partners, including airline partners, which is where you’ll get the most value when redeeming your points.

For instance, if you paired your Double Cash card with a Citi Strata Premier card, then you could earn ThankYou Points at the following rates:

  • 3x points per $1 on air travel and hotels (Citi Strata Premier card)
  • 3x points per $1 at restaurants (Citi Strata Premier card)
  • 3x points per $1 at gas stations (Citi Strata Premier card)
  • 3x points per $1 at supermarkets (Citi Strata Premier card)
  • 2x points per $1 on all other purchases (Double Cash card)

Hot Tip: Here’s a look at some of the best ways you can earn lots of Citi ThankYou Points!

Final Thoughts

Previously, those who held the Double Cash card needed to convert their cash-back rewards into ThankYou Points in order to transfer them to Choice or Wyndham, or pool them with one of their premium cards to access all 18 transfer partners.

But now, you’ll be able to save yourself a step as the card will exclusively earn ThankYou Points as of March 28, 2022. Better yet, you’ll no longer have minimum-redemption amounts to worry about either!

The information regarding the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Citi Double Cash® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information for the Citi Prestige® Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Jarrod West's image

About Jarrod West

Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.

INSIDERS ONLY: UP PULSE

Deluxe Travel Provided by UP Pulse

Get the latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts...

Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.

We respect your privacy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's privacy policy  and terms of service  apply.

Deluxe Travel Provided by UP Pulse
DMCA.com Protection Status