Citibank Clear Platinum Credit Card

• Very good 0% p.a. for 6 months on balances rolled over from another credit card.
• Cheaper annual fee and interest rates than many platinum level credit cards.
• Complimentary international travel insurance.
• Free purchase cover and extended warranty.
• Interest rates on balance transfers revert to the higher cash rate after the promo period ends.
• It doesn’t let you earn rewards points with any airlines.

How does the Citibank Clear Platinum Credit Card compare against a credit card of the national average?

		Purchase Rate	Cash Adv Rate	Annual Fee	Bal. Transfer Rate	Bal. Transfer Rate Period
	Citibank Clear Platinum Credit Card	11.99%	21.74%	$49	0%	6 months
	The Average Credit Card	16.84%	21.27%	$89	2.04%	7 months

Methodology: The Scorecard is based on the interest rates and fees from 307 credit cards from 52 banks and credit unions to give a national average on an ongoing basis. Introductory promotional rates are not included in the calculation.

Disclaimer: The data presented in the Scorecard is intended to be a guide. Some factors may affect data accuracy. We try to present accurate and fresh data, but it is possible that our database may not include every credit card on the entire market and that products may change without us being notified.

The Citibank Clear Platinum credit card is ideal for customers looking for a cheap and simple credit card that rewards your spending, which is actually somewhat of a rarity. If you are looking for a card you can use for every day purchases when the monthly budget is a little stretched, this card is a fantastic option, with low rates and fees combined with some complimentary extras to help further the saving.

Pros

A fairly straightforward offer, the Citibank Clear Platinum credit card comes with a low $49 p.a. annual fee for the first year, helping to save you money, rising to $99 p.a. in subsequent years. The standard ongoing interest charged on purchases is a low 11.99% p.a., which will save you a lot of money when compared to other cards. One thing’s for sure, the Citibank Clear Platinum credit card is cheap!

However, it’s the balance transfer offer that sets the Citibank Clear Platinum card apart from other credit cards offered by major banks. New applicants can get 0% p.a. on balance transfers for a period of 6 months, which is a rate seldom found with other cards. With such a low rate balance transfer offer, you can save a lot of money in terms of interest, get your finances into shape and pay your debt back faster.

On top of the excellent purchase interest rate, the Citibank Clear Platinum card comes with free purchase cover and extended warranty. This can be very useful, particularly for large, expensive purchases. In the event of a dispute over the refund of a faulty item, the card provides customers with a little extra security, helping to provide peace of mind when buying an expensive investment such as, say, a new set of furniture or white goods for your home.

This card comes with very generous credit limits from $8,000 to $60,000, subject to status, which is an additional bonus for those looking for more credit than others.

On top of its affordability, this offer comes with a 24 hour personal concierge service that cardholders can call on to help with tasks like booking into a hotel, arranging flights and airport transfers, reserving a restaurant table, etc. For those customers looking for a few extras, the card comes with access to the CitiWorld Privileges rewards program which can provide huge discounts on a wide range of products and services.

Lastly, Citibank Clear Platinum cardholders can take advantage of complimentary travel insurance and transit accident insurance that covers you and any immediate family travelling with you on a ticket purchased using your account.

Cons

An uncomplicated product means fewer frills and extras, and so with this card, you can’t direct earn rewards such as frequent flyer points and discount shopping options as you can with other cards. Extras like that, however, often drive the price of having an account up, so a no-nonsense card like this can be the cheapest option for some.

The main advantage of the Citibank Clear Platinum card is its low purchase interest rate. However, the 21.74% p.a. cash advance rate on the card is quite high, so this is not ideal for customers looking to access cheap cash on credit. Whilst the card has a low annual fee for the first year, this later reverts to a higher annual charge later on.

Complimentary travel insurance, whilst a money saving feature, may not be as rock solid as a standalone travel insurance policy from a specialist. Also, if you don’t travel regularly and don’t make use of the included travel insurance, you’re basically paying for a service you don’t really need, or even want.

Conclusion

Citibank’s Clear Platinum credit card is an excellent deal with its uncomplicated nature, low annual fee and low rates on both balance transfers and purchases. If you are out to find a quick, simple and cheap credit card, this could be the one for you!