Citi Flex Pay expanded to Amazon, offers 0% APR in time for Prime Day

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Installment plan services, such as Affirm and Afterpay, have become increasingly popular – especially during the pandemic.

However, consumers with eligible credit cards may have access to an excellent alternative to third-party “buy now, pay later” programs – in the form of issuer offerings like Pay It Plan It® from American Express and Citi’s Flex Loan.

See related: Use a Citi Flex Loan to free up cash against your credit limit

Those with a Citi credit card now also have more flexibility when shopping on Amazon. On Aug. 3, Citi announced a new Citi Flex Pay feature that will allow cardholders to finance Amazon purchases. Using the new option, cardholders will be able to pay large purchases over time using their credit card and save on interest.

“We’re thrilled to announce that eligible existing Citi cardmembers who have made a recent purchase on Amazon using their Citi card and have a cart of $100 or more now have the option to seamlessly finance their Amazon purchase through Citi Flex Pay … at point of sale,” Citi said in a statement.

On top of that, cardholders with eligible Citi cards participating in Prime Day (Oct. 13-14) and pre-sales leading to it can enjoy paying 0% APR for up to 24 months in a new limited-time offer.

See related:  A complete guide to Amazon financing and payment plans

How Citi Flex Pay works on Amazon

To use Citi Flex Pay when shopping on Amazon, use your eligible Citi credit card as your payment method at checkout. You’ll be able to opt into equal monthly payments in the order summary or payment method menu.

So far, Citi Flex Pay offers the following options for a payment plan:

• Three equal monthly payments on purchases of $100 or more with a 6.74% promo APR
• Six equal monthly payments on purchases of $149 or more with a 6.74% promo APR
• 12 equal monthly payments on purchases of $300 or more with a 6.74% promo APR
• 18 or 24 equal monthly payments on purchases of $600 or more with a 6.74% promo APR
• 36 or 48 equal monthly payments on purchases of $1,200 or more with a 8.74% promo APR

Additionally, through Oct. 14, you can pay over time at 0% promotional APR up to 24 months with your eligible Citi card – just in time for Prime Day.

See related: Amazon Prime Day: How cards can save you even more

Note that when you use this feature, the total purchase amount will be deducted from your available credit, but only your monthly payment amount will be due at the end of each billing cycle.

If you’re earning rewards with your Citi credit card, you’ll also be rewarded when using Citi Flex Pay. Additionally, you can use your ThankYou points when you choose equal monthly payments through Pay with Points.

Should you use Citi Flex Pay when shopping on Amazon?

If you’re planning a large purchase on Amazon, having an option such as Citi Flex Pay on your credit card can be useful. By using the feature, you get a convenient installment plan with no application, no credit inquiries, no incremental fees and a lower APR than your card’s standard purchase rate. All of this gives Citi Flex Pay an advantage over many third-party installment plan services.

At the same time, it might be a good idea to stay mindful of your credit utilization. Since Citi deducts the total purchase amount from your available credit, your credit utilization rate will go up. If you’re considering a more expensive payment plan and planning to apply for more credit while still paying your purchase off, make sure your utilization will stay under 30% to prevent damage to your credit.

Still, for shorter payment plans with lower purchase amounts, Citi Flex Pay can be an excellent option that offers a predictable payback plan and low APRs. The seamless experience makes the feature convenient to use, and multiple payment plan options will help you ensure you get the terms that work for your budget.