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Elizabeth is a personal finance writer specializing in credit cards, debt repayment, and small business. Her work has appeared on The Motley Fool, MSN Money, Yahoo! Finance, and Business Insider. She’s an avid credit card points collector and perpetual traveler currently living in Costa Rica.
Robin Hartill, CFP®, is The Ascent’s Head of Product Ratings and has worked for The Motley Fool since 2020. Her work has appeared in various national publications, including Yahoo! Finance, NerdWallet, Investopedia, CNN Underscored, MSNBC, USA Today, and CNET Money. She previously wrote The Penny Hoarder’s syndicated “Dear Penny” personal finance advice column. She is based in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Nathan Alderman has worked with The Motley Fool since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As The Ascent's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.
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Citi is an advertising partner of The Ascent.
Citi offers the Citi Simplicity® Card -- one of the few cards we've come across with no late payment fees, no penalty APR, and no annual fee. Even with those impressive perks, the main benefit of this card is its lengthy 0% intro APR. Here, you can read our full Citi Simplicity® Card review and decide if it's right for you.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Score
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 12 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 21 months
Regular APR
19.24% - 29.99% (Variable)
Rewards
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
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).
Lower intro balance transfer fee
This is one of our favorite cards for balance transfers. It has 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers and a discounted balance transfer fee for the first four months. That combo makes it one of the most generous balance transfer offers we’ve seen. Plus, you can choose from any available payment date. That way, you can set up automatic payments that are aligned with your paycheck.
Great intro APR
No annual fee
No late fees
No penalty APR
No rewards
Foreign transaction fee
No Late Fees, No Penalty Rate, and No Annual Fee... Ever
0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.99%, 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).
Stay protected with Citi® Quick Lock.
Full Citi Simplicity Card review
This credit card is a good fit for: Those looking to avoid fees while using a lengthy 0% intro APR to pay off purchases, credit card debt, or both.
Top perks
Long 0% intro APR offer
Citi Simplicity® Card offers one of the longest intro 0% APR periods among balance transfer cards, at 21 months. It also offers a 0%, 12 months introductory purchase APR.
No late fees
One of the most unique perks is that there are no late fees, ever. In fact, the Citi Simplicity® Card is the only Citi card with no late fees, penalty APR, or annual fees.
While you should always pay your bill on time, because late payments can still affect your credit, it's nice to know that you won't be charged if you do slip up and miss a payment.
No penalty APR
If you miss some payments, most credit card issuers will increase your interest rate to their penalty APR. Citi Simplicity® Card never charges a penalty rate, so your APR isn't at risk of increasing due to late payments.
No annual fee
When you're paying off debt, a credit card with no annual fee is a must.
Choose your payment due date
The Citi Simplicity® Card allows you to select a payment due date that works best for you. For example, you could set up your payments for right after you receive your paycheck, so you don't have to worry about running out of money before your payment is due.
Credit card comparison
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
20,000 ThankYou® Points
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Up to 2% cash back
2% cash back: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories
Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.
N/A
1% - 5% Cashback
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back
Up to $300 cash back
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
1.5% - 5% cash back
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases
Intro:
0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months
The balance transfer fee is 3% ($5 min) for first 4 months, then 5% ($5 min.). This means that if you transfer a $5,000 balance, you'll pay $150 in the first four months, or $250 afterward. This is a typical balance transfer fee, but it is a fee nonetheless.
No rewards
The card doesn't have a rewards program, which does reduce the card's luster after the 0% intro APR promo expires.
Foreign transaction fee
You will be charged a 3% foreign transaction fee on transactions made while outside the U.S.
The Citi Simplicity® Card offers a 0% intro APR for 12 months on new purchases. However, some credit cards offer a 0% intro offer on purchases for up to 21 months.
Find the best credit card for your needs
Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.
You should have good to excellent credit before applying, which means a FICO® Score of at least 670. That said, there are reports of people with scores in the mid-600s being approved for this card, likely because other income and current debt factors inform a credit decision as well.
The Citi Simplicity® Card is one of the best credit cards for those seeking to get out of credit card debt. You'll avoid interest temporarily for both balance transfers and new purchases. It doesn't offer a lot of additional perks and rewards, but it is designed to be more lenient than your typical credit card for folks who have trouble paying their bills on time.
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
FAQs
According to Citi, the minimum credit limit for the Citi Simplicity® Card is $500. However, credit limits above $10,000 have been self-reported by cardholders.
The Citi Simplicity® Card is a Mastercard.
It seems to be fairly easy to get approved for the Citi Simplicity® Card for applicants with good to excellent credit. However, as with any credit card, larger credit lines tend to be reserved for those with higher credit scores.
The Citi Simplicity® Card is good for people who are looking to pay off credit card debt with a balance transfer, as it offers a 0% intro period of 21 months on transfers. Because of its lack of rewards, the card isn't a great fit for those who aren't paying off a credit card balance.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Elizabeth Aldrich has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Robin Hartill has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Mastercard, Target, U.S. Bancorp, and Visa. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2025 $370 calls on Mastercard and short January 2025 $380 calls on Mastercard. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa.
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