Citi Cashback Card
Earn 8% cashback on petrol & ride-hailing services and 6% cashback on groceries & dining
Citi Cashback Card Overview:
The Citi Cash Back Credit Card is a dependable cashback card that is ideal for household expenses. It provides 8% cashback on private hire/taxi and petrol, and 6% cashback on dining and groceries purchases. There is a S$800 minimum spend required each month, and cashback is limited to S$80 per statement month. This is suitable for those searching for a hassle-free card since the rebates earned will be automatically credited as cashback.
Eligibility & Fees:
- Minimum Age: 21 years old
- Minimum Annual Income: S$30,000 (locals/PRs); S$42,000 (foreigners)
- Annual Fee: S$196.20 (incl. 9% GST), first year waived. After that, remember to apply for an annual fee waiver
Key Benefits:
- Get 8% cashback on Petrol and local private hire/taxi
- Get 6% cash back on Dining at restaurants and cafes daily, worldwide
- Get 6% cash back on Groceries at supermarkets and grocery stores daily, worldwide
- S$800 minimum spend per month
- Capped at S$80 per statement month on all categories
- Up to 20.88% fuel savings at Esso and Shell and 8% cash back at other petrol stations worldwide. Watch my Tiktok video here on best cards for petrol.
- The cash rewards you accumulate on eligible purchases have no expiry date, however you need to redeem it in blocks. See “Frequently Asked Questions” below.
What Qualifies For Cashback:
Category | Earn Rate | MCC | Transaction Description |
Dining | 5.8% + 0.2% = 6% cashback | MCC 5811 (Caterers) MCC 5812 (Eating Places, Restaurants) MCC 5814 (Fast Food Restaurants) | Not required |
Petrol | 7.8% + 0.2% = 8% cashback | MCC 5541 (Service Stations) MCC 5542 (Automated Fuel Dispensers) | Not required |
Grocery | 5.8% + 0.2% = 6% cashback | MCC 5411 (Grocery Stores, Supermarkets) | Not required |
Private Commute | 7.8% + 0.2% = 8% cashback | MCC 4121 (Taxicabs and Limousines) | GRAB, COMFORT/CITYCAB, GOJEK, CABCHARGE ASIA, TADA, RYDE, TRANSCAB, PREMIER TAXIS, STRIDES TAXI |
Other Spends | Nil |
Here’s a sample illustration of spending vs cashback:
Category | Spend | Base Cashback (0.25%) | Bonus Cashback | Total Cashback |
Dining | S$500 | S$1.00 | S$29.00 | S$30.00 |
Groceries | S$330 | S$0.66 | S$19.14 | S$19.80 |
Petrol | S$220 | S$0.44 | S$17.16 | S$17.60 |
Private Commute | S$150 | S$0.30 | S$11.70 | S$12.00 |
Other Spends | S$300 | S$0.60 | – | S$0.60 |
Total | S$1,500 | S$3.00 | S$77.00 | S$80 |
Before the update on 1 April 2024, it is ideal to spend your card on groceries to maximize the most out of your Citi Cashback card with the current 8% cashback rate. However, after 1 April 2024, it is best to use other credit cards that give out higher cashback rates such as Maybank Family & Friends Card which offers 8% cashback for ALL grocery merchants. Although, if you spend grocery shopping on specific merchants like Giant & Cold Storage, DBS YUU and UOB One Card can be used since it offers up to 18% cashback and 8.33% cashback rate respectively.
How to Best Optimise it:
Best Used on Petrol or Private Commute Category To Receive Maximum Cashback:
- At a total spend of S$1,000 on ‘petrol’ or ‘private commute’ category, you will receive the maximum cashback of S$80. Also, you can get up to 20.88% fuel savings at Esso and Shell.
Audz’ Optimal Spending Strategy:
Category | Spend | Base Cashback (0.2%) | Bonus Cashback | Total Cashback |
Petrol or Private Commute | S$1,000 | S$2.0 | S$78 (7.8%) | S$80 |
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Good For Large Groceries Spending
- Alternatively, you could use this card for groceries if you spend a lot on groceries. At a spending of S$1,333.33, you will receive the full cashback of S$80. This card could be a good card for those who spend a lot on groceries at different supermarkets. It is one of the cards that I recommended in my Best Credit Cards for For Grocery Shopping post.
What to Avoid:
Exclusion List:
MCC | Description |
6529 | Quasi Cash – Remote Stored Value Load – Financial Institute |
6530 | Quasi Cash – Remote Stored Value Load – Merchant |
6534 | Quasi Cash – Money Transfer – Member Financial Institution |
6540 | Non-Financial Institutions – Stored Value Card Purchase/Load |
7349 | Cleaning and Maintenance, Janitorial Services |
7511 | Quasi Cash – Truck Stop Transactions |
7523 | Parking Lots, Parking Meters and Garages |
7800 | Government-Owned Lotteries (US Region only) |
7995 | Betting, including Lottery Tickets, Casino Gaming Chips, OffTrack Betting, and Wagers at Race Tracks |
4829 | Wire Transfer Money Orders (WTMOs) |
4900 | Utilities – Electric, Gas, Water, and Sanitary |
5199 | Nondurable Goods(Not Elsewhere Classified) |
5960 | Direct Marketing – Insurance Services |
6012 | Financial Institutions – Merchandise, Services, and Debt Repayment |
6050 | Quasi Cash – Financial institutions, Merchandise, Services |
6051 | Non-Financial Institutions – Foreign Currency, Money Orders (Not Wire Transfer), Stored Value Card/Load, Travelers Cheques, and Debt Repayment |
6211 | Securities – Brokers and Dealers |
6300 | Insurance Sales, Underwriting and Premiums |
6513 | Real Estate Agents and Managers – Rentals |
8211 | Elementary and Secondary Schools |
8220 | Colleges, Junior Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools |
8241 | Correspondence Schools |
8244 | Business and Secretarial Schools |
8249 | Vocational and Trade Schools |
8299 | Schools and Educational Services(Not Elsewhere Classified) |
8398 | Charitable and Social Service Organizations |
8062 | Hospitals |
8651 | Political Organizations |
8661 | Religious Organizations |
9211 | Court Costs Including Alimony and Child Support |
9222 | Fines |
9223 | Bail and Bond Payments |
9311 | Tax Payments |
9399 | Government Services(Not Elsewhere Classified) |
9402 | Postal Services – Government Only |
9405 | U.S. Federal Government Agencies or Departments |
9754 | Quasi Cash – Gambling – Horse Racing, Dog Racing, State Lotteries |
5993 | Cigar Stores and Stands |
Is it Worth it:
Advantages:
- High 8% cashback on private commute (like Grab, Comfort Taxi etc) and petrol
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Disadvantages:
- Min. monthly spend of S$800 required to earn bonus cashback.
- S$80 combined cashback cap across all categories.
- Lowered groceries cashback from 8% to 6% from 1st April 2024 onwards
Frequently Asked Questions:
How to redeem cashback: Your cashback will be credited to your card account each month on your billing date, in increments of S$10. For it to be credited to your account, you must have at least $50 in cashback by that date. Any amount below $50 or not in $10 multiples will carry over to the next month.
Final Thoughts:
All things considered, the Citi Cash Back Card is a great option for anyone searching for an easy way to accrue cashback rewards on their everyday purchases. This card has you covered whether you’re a foodie who enjoys going out to eat, a working young adult who takes private hire cars to get around, or someone who drives their own car who needs to fill up with gas.
💳 Credit cards change their T&Cs every so often and it is difficult to stay updated. That’s why I created a Telegram Broadcast where you can receive timely bite-sized updates to get the most out of your spending.
💡 We believe in always paying our credit card bills on time and in full. It is only by doing that, can we fully maximise our credit card benefits.
