Citi’s Thank You Network: All credit card reward points are not equal

Stephen — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:20:20 +0000

Not that you don’t already know that credit card companies are sneaky. I generally prefer Chase over Citi for their rewards. Why?

First of all, I can get a $50 check for my 5000 reward points at Chase.

Second, a $50 gift card at citi’s ThankYouNetwork is 6000 points. That means if you currently get 1% back, you aren’t really. You are getting less than one percent back in rewards. You are getting 5/6ths of a point every time you pay a dollar on their credit card, because its costs 6000 points to redeem a $50 gift card.

Is there anyway around this? Yes, only redeem your points for gift cards that are in the 1/100 dollar/point ratio:

Thank You Network Gift Cards with 1/100 dollar/point ratio:
1/100 dollar/point ratio

$100 WaldenBooks’ Gift Card
$100 Macy’s Gift Card
$100 Eddie Bauer Gift Card
$100 Sears Gift Card
$100 JCPenney Gift Card
$100 Dillard’s Gift Card
$100 Overstock.com Gift Card
$100 Chili’s Grill & Bar Gift Card
$100 Bennigan’s Gift Card
$100 Romano’s Macaroni Grill
$100 Applebee’s? Gift Card

You can even get a discount on the $100 Lands’ End Gift Card and the $100 L. L. Bean Gift Certificate, they are only 9,000 points each. If you go with a lower amount, you aren’t getting your full points worth.

I really wish the $50 Panera Card was 5000 points or that there was a $100 option. Chase has the $50 Panera Card for only 5000 points.

Llama and Lamb :: Personal blog of Rachel and Stephen » credit_card

Citi’s Thank You Network: All credit card reward points are not equal