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Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card Review
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
LendingTree's Review
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Intro Purchase APR
0% intro APR for 12 months on Purchases
Intro Balance Transfer APR
0% intro APR for 21 months on Balance Transfers
Regular Purchase & BT APR
16.49% - 27.24% (Variable)
Is the the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card a good card?
If you’re overwhelmed by credit card debt and looking for a good balance transfer card to get some relief from interest charges, the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card can help.
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card offers one of the longest introductory APRs on balance transfers cards currently available. The card also offers an intro APR period for purchases, which can help you finance a large expense for over a year without incurring interest charges.
While the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card has a $0 annual fee, take note that a there is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. after that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5). You may want to consider other balance transfer cards that offer comparable intro offer terms but charge balance transfer fees of 3% or less.
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card doesn’t earn rewards, so it’s not a great card to keep in the long term. If you want a card that earns rewards, a rewards credit card or cash back credit card is a better fit.
Pros and cons
- Extremely long intro APR offer on balance transfers
- Solid intro APR on purchases
- $0 annual fee
- Expensive balance transfer fee
- High ongoing APR
- No rewards program
- Foreign transaction fees
- No sign-up bonus
- Few other benefits
Quick facts
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months and on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 16.49% - 27.24%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
- No Annual Fee - our low intro rates and all the benefits don't come with a yearly charge.
- Buy now and pay later. Split your payment for eligible purchases of $75 or more into a fixed payment with Citi® Flex Pay.
- Get free access to your FICO® Score online.
- Recommended Credit
Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretionGood / Excellent
- Special access to events through Citi Entertainment℠
- 24/7 customer service
- Choose your payment due date
- Automatic account alerts
Intro Purchase APR
0% intro APR for 12 months on Purchases
Regular Purchase APR
16.49% - 27.24% (Variable)
Intro BT APR
0% intro APR for 21 months on Balance Transfers
Regular BT APR
16.49% - 27.24% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0
Cash Advance Fee
5% of each cash advance; $10 minimum
Foreign Transaction Fee
3%
Balance Transfer Fee
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Benefits of the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
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Long intro APR on balance transfers
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card provides a generous intro APR of 0% intro APR for 21 months on Balance Transfers (then a 16.49% - 27.24% (Variable) APR applies). This is one of the longest introductory periods currently available for a balance transfer credit card, making the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card a good option if you need a long period to pay off a balance.
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Intro APR for new purchases
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card also features an introductory APR of 0% intro APR for 12 months on Purchases (followed by a 16.49% - 27.24% (Variable) APR). This can allow you to finance large purchases over time while avoiding costly interest charges.
This is a decent intro period for a purchase APR, especially if you’re searching for a card that offers a combination of balance transfer and purchase intro offers. However, other 0% intro APR cards exist, like the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card, offer longer intro periods on purchases and may be a better option if you want to spread out payments for a longer period.
Drawbacks of the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
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Sky-high balance transfer fee
When considering the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card, note that a there is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5). The average fee on balance transfers offers is around 3%, so you could end up paying much more overall (possibly over $100 in fees) with the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card compared to other cards.
As you can see from our estimates below, you can find cards with similar intro periods, like the BankAmericard® credit card, that can save you some money on a balance transfer.
Savings on a $6,000 balance transfer
Balance transfer fee Cost of balance transfer Estimated savings* BankAmericard® credit card 5% of the amount of each transaction $180 $1,180 First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard® $0 $0 $1,217 U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card An introductory fee of either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater, for balances transferred within 60 days of account opening. After that, either 5% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater. $180 $1,161 Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5). $325 $1,060 *We estimate how much the average cardholder might save on a $6,000 balance transfer, assuming the card’s intro period, average APR, a $300 monthly payment and subtracting any fees involved, compared to carrying the same balance on another card.
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High ongoing APR
If you do use the card’s balance transfer offer, plan on paying off the full balance before the introductory period ends to avoid costly interest charges. Once the intro period ends, an ongoing APR of 16.49% - 27.24% (Variable) will apply to any unpaid portion of the transfer.
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No rewards program
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card is a great tool if you’re focused on paying down a card balance. However, if you’re seeking to earn cash back or points on your spending, you’re out of luck with this card.
If you want to get rewarded for card spending, you’ll find plenty of balance transfer credit cards that earn rewards, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.
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Foreign transaction fees
The card carries a 3% foreign transaction fee on each purchase transaction after its conversion into U.S. dollars.
If you plan on traveling, consider keeping another card in your wallet to use for purchases outside of the U.S. For example, the may be a better option for travelers because of its lack of foreign transaction fees while still carrying a lengthy intro APR offer on balance transfers and purchases.
A balance transfer fee applies for promotional rates that Capital One may offer. -
Few other benefits
Beyond its intro APR offer, there’s little reason to carry the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card. The card offers few other benefits or perks. In comparison, you can find many balance transfer cards with rewards and benefits on top of their introductory offers. For example, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card features a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers (followed by a 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% Variable APR), up to $600 of cellphone protection, 24/7 Visa concierge service and access to Visa’s Luxury Hotel Collection.
Alternate to the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
*The information related to the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply
The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card comes with a 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers (followed by a 17.49%, 23.99%, or 28.24% Variable APR). This is the same intro period for balance transfers and a longer period on purchases as Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card.
Like the Citi card, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card has a $0 annual fee, but it also includes benefits like cellphone protection, 24/7 roadside dispatch and free FICO® score monitoring. With lower fees, a potentially equal intro APR offer and other perks, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card simply offers more value than Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card.
Compare the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card to similar cards
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | Intro Balance Transfer APR | Regular Balance Transfer Rate | Balance Transfer Fee | Intro Purchase APR | Regular APR | Recommended Credit Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card*
|
$0 | N/A | N/A | 0% intro APR for 21 months on Balance Transfers | 16.49% - 27.24% (Variable) | There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5). | 0% intro APR for 12 months on Purchases | 16.49% - 27.24% (Variable) | Good / Excellent | ||
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card*
|
$0 | N/A | None | 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers | 17.49%, 23.99%, or 28.24% Variable APR | 5%, min: $5 | 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases | 17.49%, 23.99%, or 28.24% Variable APR | Good / Excellent | ||
Discover it® Cash Back*
|
$0 | Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300. | 5% cash back at different places each quarter up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically | 0% Intro APR for 15 months | 17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR | 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)* | 0% Intro APR for 15 months | 17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR | Good / Excellent | ||
BankAmericard® credit card*
|
$0 | N/A | N/A | 0% Intro APR for 21 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days | 14.99% - 25.99% Variable APR on balance transfers | 5% of the amount of each transaction | 0% Intro APR for 21 billing cycles for purchases | 14.99% - 25.99% Variable APR | Good / Excellent |
*The information related to the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card, Wells Fargo Reflect® Card, Discover it® Cash Back and BankAmericard® credit card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms Apply.
Is the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card right for you?
For someone looking to save money on interest charges while paying down debt or financing a large purchase, the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card provides a lengthy intro APR on balance transfers and purchases. Because of its pricey balance transfer fee, though, another balance transfer credit card may be a better option to save money long term.
If you’re looking for more value and benefits from a card, the earns rewards while still allowing you to transfer a balance or make purchases without interest charges for a long period.
A balance transfer fee applies for promotional rates that Capital One may offer.
Frequently asked questions
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card can be hard to get for applicants with lower credit scores. You’ll need excellent/good credit to qualify.
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card is a plastic credit card, not a metal card.
The information related to the First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard® has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.
The information related to the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card, Wells Fargo Reflect® Card, BankAmericard® credit card, First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard®, U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card, Chase Freedom Unlimited®, Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card and Discover it® Cash Back has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.