The Citi Diamond Preferred card is an excellent choice if you need to pay down a balance from another credit card. This no-annual-fee card offers a lengthy intro APR on qualifying balance transfers, a competitive intro APR for new purchases and a relatively low ongoing APR for cardholders with good to excellent credit.
Most Citibank credit cards are on the Mastercard network, including the Citi Simplicity® Card and the Citi Double Cash® Card, but Citi also has some Visa cards, such as the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi. Both Visa and Mastercard benefit from extensive worldwide acceptance.
In the debate of Visa card vs Mastercard, there is no definitive winner. Both offer extensive benefits, robust security, and widespread acceptance. The best choice depends on your individual needs and the specific perks offered by the card issuer.
Yes, it is hard to get the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card because it requires at least good credit for approval. Unless your credit score is 700 or higher and you have a lot of income, it will be difficult for you to get approved for the Citi Diamond Preferred.
What is the highest credit limit for the Citi Diamond Preferred card? The highest credit limit for the Citi Diamond Preferred card is over $10,000, according to multiple reports from cardholders on online forums.
The most difficult Citi card to get is the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, since it's their only consumer card that requires excellent credit to qualify. You also need to join Costco if you're not already a member and earn enough income to afford monthly payments on the card.
Your credit card number is unique to you and includes information used to identify your account, card and who it's issued by. The first digit indicates the provider: Mastercard numbers start with a 2 or 5. Visa card numbers start with a 4.
Benefits comparison: Visa vs. Mastercard. On entry level cards, there is very little difference between Visa and Mastercard, as both provide a similar suite of basic features. However, Mastercard includes impressive special luxury offers on its World and World Elite level cards, which can be attractive for big spenders ...
It's generally recommended that you have two to three credit card accounts at a time, in addition to other types of credit. Remember that your total available credit and your debt to credit ratio can impact your credit scores. If you have more than three credit cards, it may be hard to keep track of monthly payments.
The Costco Anywhere Card is a Visa® credit card. Earn cash back rewards with this Costco Citi card on every purchase anywhere Visa® is accepted. Learn more and apply online now for the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi.
Citi switched from Visa to Mastercard “as part of a larger effort to offer a more consistent experience,” according to the Citi website. The switch, which began in late 2020, applied to both new and existing cardholders with certain Citi credit cards.
While both card companies offer similar benefits, Visa generally extends more benefits for its lower-level credit cards than Mastercard does, which reserves the best perks for its premium cards.
The bottom line. The Citi Diamond Preferred is a solid balance transfer credit card option for those who want to avoid paying an annual fee.
The Citi Diamond Preferred Card is not a suitable choice for cash back or rewards hunters. It won't help you get into a fancy airport lounge or provide you with cellphone coverage.
With a Citi credit card, like the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card, Citi Premier® Card, or Citi® Double Cash Card, your minimum payment is equal to the full amount if your balance is under $41. If your balance is higher, you'll pay the greater of $41 or 1% of your balance plus interest and late fees.
Both Visa and MasterCard earn revenue through the payment processing fee. However, the method of charging fees differs. Visa charges the card issuer on a per-transaction basis or based on the card volume. Contrarily, MasterCard charges card-issuing institutions based on the percentage of global dollar volume.
There are 1.3 billion Visa credit cards in circulation worldwide and 1.1 billion Mastercard credit cards. Visa accounts for 37% of all credit cards in circulation, while Mastercard makes up 32% of all credit cards.
Although Mastercard and Visa cards are accepted almost everywhere in the globe, Visa cards have a few more advantages. Even with a Visa card at the most basic level, you can access advantages like stolen or lost card reporting, urgent card replacement, emergency cash disbursement, roadside dispatch, and zero liability.
If your bank switched a card from Visa to Mastercard, it was likely because they felt the features and benefits of Mastercard were better than those of Visa. For example, the issuer might take into consideration processing fees or network-level benefits like travel insurance or purchase protection.
Determining Credit Card Type by the First Four Digits
For example, Visa® cards always start with 4, Mastercard® starts with 2 or 5, and American Express® starts with 34 or 37. Discover® cards start with 6, while Diner's Club International® cards begin with 30, 36, 38, or 39.
A credit score of 670 or greater is recommended when applying for the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card, but scores in the excellent credit tier of 740 or higher have the best shot. Credit score requirements aren't hard and fast.
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
If you'd like to learn more about how we rank our cards, explore our ranking methodology here.
Citi will also serve you better if you're looking for a big bank with higher rates. Chase, however, may be a better option for you if branch accessibility and a great mobile app are a priority. If you're not impressed by either of these banks, consider our list on the top banks based on ATM fees.