Citi Cash Back Card Review 2019 – Get Rebates from Daily Dose of Expenses

citi cash back review card 2019 philippines

Do you have a sweet spot for rebates? The Citi Cash Back Card offers up to 6% rebate on supermarket purchases and more.

It’s recommended for day-to-day spending for moneysmart folks who love to receive rebates instead of rewards.

We explored the best cashback credit cards in the Philippines and listed down the highest cashback rates you can get if you apply for a new credit card.

As of this writing, if you apply for the Citi Cash Back card from now until October 31, 2019 and get approved, you’ll receive P5,000 worth of SM Gift Pass as your welcome gift.

So let’s take a look at what the Citi Cash Back card has to offer, as well as its terms and conditions. See if this card is truly a “daily dose of delight” as advertised.

Citi Cash Back Card Terms and Conditions

Annual Fee
  • Waived for the first year
  • P3,500 for principal cardholder 
  • P1,750 for a supplementary cardholder
Minimum Annual Income
  • P250,000 if you have no credit card
  • P180,000 if you already have a credit card for at least 6 months
Monthly Interest Rate 
  • 3.5%
Cash Advance Fee
  • P500 per withdrawal or 3% of the cash advance amount, whichever is higher
Late Payment Fee
  • P850
Overlimit Fee
  • P750 if you exceed credit card limit (effective June 1, 2019)
Card Replacement Fee
  • P400
Card Network
  • Visa

How does the Citi Cash Back Card work?

The Citi Cash Back Card is recommended for people who spend more on groceries and utilities. To get up to 6% rebate, you will have to use the card on spending categories such as fuel, drugstore purchases, dining, and more, and spend at least P10,000.

Take a look at this sample computation taken from the official Citibank website. The numbers are just examples and will not reflect on your statement of account.

[Source: Screengrab from Citi Cash Back Credit page, 08 Oct 2019]

A family of four – spending P15,000 on groceries and Meralco bills, and P10,000 on fuel, dining, and entertainment, will have a total cashback of P1,000 per statement month.

Again, the numbers will vary depending on your own actual spending.

You can receive up to P1,000 cash back per statement month, which is a total of P12,000 for the entire year.

In summary, you get these rebates as long as you meet the terms and conditions.

Cashback Spending Category Terms & Conditions
0.20% All supermarket and grocery spend Regardless of the amount
6% At least P10,000 spend on non-supermarket and non-Meralco purchases
0.20% Meralco bills Regardless of the amount
6% At least P10,000 spend on non-supermarket and non-Meralco purchases
0.20% Other spending categories (fuel, dining, entertainment, travel, drugstore purchases) Regardless of the amount

If you’re not living in Metro Manila, you might have some second thoughts about this card since the 2% rebate is tied with Meralco, which isn’t available in other provinces.

Ideally, this card is more suited to a family of 3-4 with a stable income, living in Metro Manila or in the suburbs, and has a monthly household expense of around P30,000.

If you’re just starting at work with an average of about P20,000-P25,000 salary, this card is not a good fit. You don’t want to end up overspending just to get the 6% rebate when there are other options for young professionals like you.

Just like the other Citibank credit cards, you can use this card with the #Love2Click promotions for online deals. Enjoy exclusive discounts at Zalora, Agoda, Booking.com and Winery Philippines, just to name a few.

What can you redeem from the Citi Cash Back credit card?

You can redeem rebates at a minimum of P1.00 and in increments. The rebates are then credited to your account.

To redeem cash credits, you need to log on to www.citibank.com.ph/thankyou or send an SMS, as long as you use the same mobile number you registered with Citi. Just follow the format, RWDSREDEEMLast 4 digits of your Citi and send it to 29480 (e.g. RWDSREDEEM 1234 CASH 100).

Keep in mind that the redeemed rebates are not considered payments to your card and can’t be used to offset your minimum amount due.

Other Options to Citi Cash Back Card

If you’re not satisfied with the Citi Cash Back card, there are other options that offer up to 5% rebate.

For example, the Eastwest EveryDay Titanium offers up to 5% rebate on essentials, but you also need to spend on other categories.

Security Bank Complete Cashback is a contender, too, because it offers five-tiered rebates of up to 5% on groceries, gas, utilities, shopping, and dining.

Eastwest Bank EveryDay Titanium – up to 5% rebate on essentials

You can get up to 5% rebate on essentials such as supermarket, fuel transactions, and drugstore purchases. It’s also ideal for families so you can manage your non-essential and essential purchases.

But to qualify for the 5% rebate, you need to spend at least P10,000 on other spending categories, such as hotel accommodation, dining, entertainment, and shopping for each billing cycle.

This card offers a monthly rebate cap of P1,000.

Security Bank Complete Cashback – up to 5% rebate on five spending categories

This cashback card offers up to 5% rebate on these five spending categories: 5% on supermarket purchases, 4% on fuel, 3% on utilities, 2% on dining, and 1% on shopping.

The good thing about this card is that for utilities, they are not just limited to Meralco bills. And you can get fuel rebates at participating gasoline stations nationwide, whether you gas up at Shell, Caltex or Petron.

Just like the EveryDay Titanium, this card has a rebate cap of P1,000 per month.

Aside from the rebates you earn, you also receive reward points. Earn 1 reward point for every P20 you spend. Use your accumulated points to redeem air miles, vouchers, and more.

So, what do you think of the Citi Cash Back card? Do you think it fits your daily needs and overall lifestyle? Let us know in the comments below!