Citizens Launches New Premium Cash-Back Credit Card With Travel Credits

Updated: June 20, 2025, 2:52pm CDT

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Citizens SummitReserve Card Details
Final Thoughts

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Citizens Bank is stepping into the premium rewards card space — though its version earns cash-back rewards.

The new Citizens SummitReserve™ World Elite Mastercard^® offers up to 3% cash-back while also including some interesting travel perks, such as a standard Priority Pass membership and monthly travel credits. In addition, the annual fee will vary depending on your relationship with Citizens Bank, which we’ll discuss more below.

But does this new card live up to the premium label? Here’s what you need to know.

Citizens SummitReserve Card Details

Last week, Citizens Bank launched 4 new credit cards in its lineup. While the first 3 cards are tailored to building credit, saving on a low introductory APR, and cash-back rewards with no annual fee, respectively, our focus will be on Citizens’ answer to a premium credit card.

The Citizens SummitReserve card charges a $295 annual fee for new account holders. However, you may qualify for a $200 fee waiver — to drop down the annual cost to $95 — for customers with a no-fee Citizens Quest checking account. You may qualify for a complete annual fee waiver if you’re a Citizens Private Client checking account holder, which requires at least $200,000 in combined deposits and investments.

While the annual fee will vary depending on your relationship with Citizens, all cardholders earn unlimited 3% cash-back on dining, groceries, and entertainment (including streaming, ticketed events, museums, and sports venues) and unlimited 1.5% cash-back on all other eligible purchases.

When it comes to benefits, the Citizens SummitReserve card includes a standard Priority Pass membership, which typically costs $99 per year. This entry-level membership requires a $35 fee per lounge visit for both the cardholder and any guests.

The Club MCO Terminal A entrance — You can enter The Club lounges with a Priority Pass membership. Image Credit: Jessica Merritt

However, this card comes with 4 complimentary Priority Pass lounge visits annually, which the bank estimates as a “$140 value.”

Other benefits of the Citizens SummitReserve card include:

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee reimbursement
Up to $10 in Lyft credits per month (maximum of $120 annually)
Up to $10 in travel credits per month for eligible travel purchases (maximum of $120 annually)
$30 statement credit on your next ResortPass booking of $200 or more
Complimentary Soho Friends membership, which normally costs $130 annually and offers guest rooms at Soho House hotels at discounted rates, late checkout, and room upgrades
Metal credit card weighing in at 18 grams
No foreign transaction fees

Hot Tip:

Bank of America provides a unique program called Preferred Rewards for its banking customers. Your tier in the program — determined by your total investment and deposit balances — qualifies you for enhanced earning bonuses on certain credit cards, in contrast to Citizens, which is offering annual fee discounts.

Final Thoughts

The new Citizens SummitReserve card is underwhelming unless you’re eligible for a partial or full annual fee waiver. Its main appeal is the ability to earn 3% cash-back on dining and groceries and 1.5% on all other eligible purchases, which is great for those who prefer straightforward cash-back over points and miles.

That said, many other travel credit cards with competing annual fees offer greater overall value — and without relying on a coupon book-style benefits model.