Changes for City Tier Premier Card Holders
City Tier Premier cardholders received some disappointing news recently. A notification indicated that cashback redemption rates for ThankYou points would be reduced from 1 cent per point to 0.75 cents. This adjustment is set to take place on August 24, 2025.
This decision feels like a hit to what many consider one of the top travel reward cards out there. Yet, perhaps for some cardholders, the impact might not be as severe. Those who typically transfer points to travel partners in the Appreciation Program could find ways to adjust their strategies.
Email Notifications
Interestingly, not every Strata Premier cardholder seems to have received this email. Some, including others in the TPG community and myself, are still waiting on ours, while senior editorial director Nick Ewen has reported receiving it. It’s a little puzzling, honestly.
Right now, it’s surprising because, as far as I’ve seen, holders of other City cashback cards—like the City Double Cash® card—haven’t gotten any communication about this change. The Double Cash card offers an appealing cashback structure, allowing users to earn up to 2% on purchases. If the value of these points fluctuates, it could significantly alter the card’s overall appeal. But for the moment, nothing indicates such an immediate change.
What’s Next?
As it stands, the cashback redemption options for certain Citi Strata Premier cardholders have dropped by 25%. Regardless, you might still find it beneficial to transfer Citi’s appreciation points to various airline and hotel partners within the program. Options like Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer remain popular for many travelers.
From crowd-sourced insights provided by the TPG team, it seems that those without a City Cashback card linked to their Strata Premier accounts are experiencing this reduction. As we approach the August deadline, if you’re leaning towards cashing in those earnings, you might want to do so sooner rather than later.
Final Thoughts
This adjustment is certainly a setback for those who mainly utilize their rewards for cashback purposes. If you haven’t yet received a detailed email regarding this change, it would be a good idea to check your Citi account just in case there’s an update you missed.
Ultimately, it feels like another layer of devaluation for the City Strata Premier. It does raise questions about the future of City’s card offerings and whether there’s more change on the horizon. Only time will tell.
