Credit score needed for the Citi Rewards+ Card

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The Citi Rewards+® Card can be a great way to rack up valuable Citi ThankYou points. Not only do you earn 2 ThankYou points per dollar at supermarkets and gas stations (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1 point per dollar), but you can also earn points when you redeem. The Citi Rewards+ card gives you 10% points back on ThankYou points that you redeem, up to a maximum of 100,000 ThankYou points per year. But in order to take advantage of these benefits, you’ll need to have the right credit score.

In order to be confident when you apply for the Citi Rewards+ card, know your credit score and what you likely need before you apply.

What credit score is needed for the Citi Rewards+ card?

Unlike some issuers, Citi does not publish exact guidelines for what credit score you need for the Citi Rewards+ card. However, it is typical that you’ll need a good or excellent credit score for most rewards credit cards. A FICO score between 740 to 850 is excellent, and a score between 670 to 739 is considered good. So if you’re looking for the best odds to be approved for the Citi Rewards+ credit card, you’ll want to make sure that your credit score is 670 or higher. If your credit score is lower than 670, you may not be approved for the Citi Rewards+ card.

What can I do if my application is denied?

The first thing you’ll want to do if your Citi Rewards+ card application is denied is determine the reason for the denial. Typically, Citi will send you a letter in the mail with a denial notification. In this letter, it will let you know the reason or reasons for the denial. If you don’t want to wait for the official letter, you can also call up Citi to see if your application was approved or denied. Some common reasons for a credit card application denial include low income, low credit score, a limited credit history or negative information on your credit report.

If your Citi Rewards+ credit application was denied due to information on your credit report, you should review your credit report to ensure its accuracy. Citi will let you know that you’re eligible for a free copy of your credit report and how to access it. You’ll want to carefully review and fix any errors in your credit report, both for this application and any future credit inquiries.

If you receive notice that your Citi Rewards+ credit card application was denied, you can try calling the Citi reconsideration line. You might have better luck talking to a credit analyst on the phone if the algorithm denies you initially. This is especially true if there is inaccurate information on your credit report or extenuating circumstances. You may be able to plead your case and explain why you would be a great Citi Rewards+ customer. It may not change anything, but it can be worth a shot – especially if you’re close to being approved.

How can I improve my score to get this card?

You should never apply for a card that you know is out of your score range since the hard pull on your credit will cause a small dip in your score. However, if you thought you were close, and the reason you weren’t approved for a new Citi Rewards+ card is because of a low credit score (or you have your eye on this card and already know you need to boost your score a bit first), you can take a few steps to improve your credit score.

The absolute best thing that you can do to improve your credit score is to pay all your debt obligations as scheduled. That means paying your mortgage, credit card and other bills in full every single month. You can also:

• Regularly look at your credit report. If there is any incorrect information or errors, make sure to report them to the credit bureau right away.
• Lower the balances on your revolving credit accounts (like credit cards). This will increase your credit utilization ratio, which is one of the biggest factors that makes up your credit score.
• Use services like UltraFICO or Experian Boost. These services look at accounts that typically don’t show up on a credit report like utility or cellphone bills.

Bottom line

The Citi Rewards+ credit card is a solid credit card with no annual fee and a modest sign-up bonus. You’ll get bonus points at supermarkets and at gas stations, and it’s one of the only credit cards that will round up the points you receive for each purchase to the nearest 10 points.

To get this card, you should have decent odds of approval with a credit score that’s in the good to excellent range. That means a credit score of at least 670 – if your credit score is below that, you’re likely to be better off working on improving your credit score first. The best way to increase your credit score is to reliably pay all your bills in full each and every month. Raising your credit score will improve your odds of being approved for the Citi Rewards+ or other credit cards, giving you access to better interest rates and financing options.