Citi Revamps Rewards Program, Allows Cardmembers To Pay With Points

Citi has announced a new feature that allows qualifying cardmembers to shop and receive real-time alerts to redeem their ThankYou Points for eligible purchases.

This new Pay With Points feature allows Citi Prestige, Citi Premier, Citi Rewards+ and Citi ThankYou Preferred cardmembers to redeem their ThankYou Points immediately for everyday purchases.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Mastercard to be the first major issuer to enable U.S. cardmembers to apply their points in real time when shopping and dining,” Mary Hines, head of customer engagement and innovation, Citi Branded Cards, said in a press release. “This unique offering is the latest in our journey to continuously offer the most convenient points redemption options for our valued ThankYou cardmembers.”

Starting next month, ThankYou members can choose to receive push notifications after an eligible purchase, or on a real-time, daily or weekly basis, as well as set a minimum dollar amount of a purchase to get an alert.

“We live in a digital-first world where consumers expect simple, seamless experiences in their day to day – including through their card rewards and loyalty programs,” added Chris Reid, EVP of services for North America, Mastercard. “Nearly 70 percent of respondents in a recent Mastercard survey said they would redeem rewards at the point of sale if given the chance. We are proud to partner with Citi to continue to evolve the consumer experience and keep rewards and benefits top of mind, ensuring we drive meaningful value for cardholders.”

Citi ThankYou cardmembers can also redeem their ThankYou Points for eligible purchases online, including pending transactions.

This launch follows other recent enhancements to Citi’s ThankYou Rewards Program, such as the addition of numerous Points Transfer partners, including Avianca LifeMiles and JetBlue TrueBlue, and new Shop With Points merchants, including Best Buy, Expedia and Amazon.