Many City Tier Premier cardholders have started receiving emails alerting them that the value of cashback redemptions will be decreasing.
Email Update
In August, several City Tier Premier cardholders were informed via email that there would be changes to the redemption process for their cards.
The email states that, effective 08/24/25, the cashback redemption value through the Citi Strata Premier rewards program will undergo changes. Current cashback value: 10,000 appreciation points redeemable for $100. New cashback value, effective 08/24/25: 10,000 appreciation points redeemable for $75. Cardholders can still redeem their appreciation points at the current value until 08/23/25, after which the new rates will go into effect. For other options, points can be redeemed for various rewards like flights and hotel stays, or for gift cards from popular brands. You can visit the Citi website to explore these possibilities.
Key Observations
Initially, there was a thought that this issue might not affect those using the City Strata Premier and City Double Cash Card jointly. However, at least one reader with the associated account has reported receiving the email.
It was considered that perhaps only those with the Strata Premier card would be impacted, as the emails seem to be directed specifically towards them rather than double cash cardholders. It raises questions about the consistency of rewards across the board, especially for those expecting 1 cent per point for their cashback.
As of now, it appears this adjustment affects only Strata Premier cardholders and is specific to redemptions tied to that card. For instance, one user mentioned they have a City Prestige card and have not seen such communication. Given that this card is designed to offer cashback, it might indicate that its rewards still retain their value per point.
There’s a bit of uncertainty surrounding what the situation will look like come August. My gut feeling is that those without a City Cashback card linked to gratitude points are likely those facing the most significant impact from this change, especially for cashback redemptions.
Despite that, it’s typically more advantageous to transfer those rewards to Citi’s Transfer Partners for booking trips, which can yield better value. If travel is your main goal for using Citi Points, then this change might not even be a concern for you. Still, I always like to have that safety net—some assurance that points can be redeemed for cash if needed.
It’s interesting to note that not every Strata Premier cardholder has received this email yet. It remains a mystery whether the notifications are being rolled out gradually or if certain cardholders are simply unaffected for some reason.
