Best Citi business credit cards of July 2024
“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
BLUEPRINT
Updated 12:40 p.m. UTC July 9, 2024
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If you’re a small business owner, a business credit card can help you earn rewards on your business spending and keep things separate from your personal spending. The best Citi business cards offer a swath of benefits to small businesses when used wisely.
Citi® offers two business credit cards, the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® * The information for the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. and the Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi * The information for the Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. . Although both cards are co-branded, they can offer solid rewards for small businesses, even ones that don’t spend substantial amounts per year.
Here are our selections.
Best Citi business credit cards
- Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®* : Best Citi business card for American Airlines flyers.
- Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi * : Best Citi business card for Costco shoppers.
Why trust our credit card experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 2 cards analyzed.
- 5+ data points analyzed.
- 5-step fact-checking process.
Best Citi business card for American Airlines flyers
Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®
Best Citi business card for Costco shoppers
Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi
Compare the best Citi business cards
Earn 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening
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Why this card made the list
For small businesses that regularly travel on American Airlines, the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® * The information for the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is a solid option. This card offers many of the perks frequent flyers appreciate, like your first checked bag free for you and up to four companions, preferred boarding and small businesses can get authorized user cards for employees at no additional cost.
- Annual fee: $99, waived for the first 12 months.
- Rewards: 2 miles for every $1 on cable and satellite providers, select telecommunications merchants, eligible American Airlines purchases, car rentals and gas stations and 1 mile per $1 on other purchases. Also earn 1 loyalty point for every mile earned.
- Welcome bonus: 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first four months of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: 0%.
Why this card made the list
The Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi * The information for the Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. by Citi has impressive earning potential and travel insurance coverage for a no-annual-fee card. Although a Costco membership is required for eligibility, cardholders get bonus cash back on not just Costco purchases but gas, dining and Costco purchases.
It’s important to note that you’ll need patience to receive the cash back, as it comes in the form of an annual credit card reward certificate once your February billing statement closes.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year then 1% thereafter, 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases, 2% cash back at Costco and Costco.com and 1% cash back on all other purchases. A Costco membership is required to apply.
- Welcome bonus: None.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
Methodology
Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. Factors we considered included:
- Business cards issued by Citibank.
- Attributes of the cards.
How to choose a business credit card
There are a few different features any small business should consider before applying for a business credit card.
- Fees: Most credit cards that charge an annual fee will come with additional benefits. However, you should analyze your spending habits before applying for a business card to see if these benefits outweigh the cost.
- Rewards: Choose a card with bonus categories that align with your spending habits to maximize your earning potential.
- APR: If your small business needs to finance a large purchase, getting a card with a 0% introductory APR could be helpful to avoid interest. Similarly, you might opt for a card with a lower standard variable APR if you think you might occasionally carry a balance.
- Perks: When deciding on a business credit card, consider any benefits you would use, like travel insurance coverage, flight benefits or purchase protection.
- Business benefits: Many business credit cards come with helpful features such as employee cards that allow for individual credit limits or integration with common expense management tools.
Is a business credit card right for me?
Even an individual proprietor or side gig is worthy of its own credit card. A business credit card allows you to easily separate business and personal spending and can simplify things when it’s time to pay taxes.
Businesses with multiple employees Bestcan benefit from authorized user cards which let employees that each have their own credit card number and you can set individual credit limits for each authorized user.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Citibank is the fourth largest bank in the country, with a widespread presence across the country. This makes the bank a reliable option for small businesses who like to do their banking in person at a Citibank. However, Citi’s credit card offerings are geared toward specific consumers (Costco shoppers and American Airlines loyalists), so Citibank might not be ideal for every small business.
Business credit cards work similarly to personal cards. Citibank will do a hard pull on your personal credit report when reviewing your application for a business credit card. This can lead to a temporary decrease in your credit score.
Citibank offers multiple business checking account options, but you do not need to have a Citibank business account to open a business credit card from Citi. There are four different CitiBusiness checking accounts that can be opened with just $1, but each charges a monthly maintenance fee. The fees are waivable, however, to do so you’ll need to maintain an average balance of between $5,000 and $10,000, depending on the account.
It’s important to note that you have to visit a Citi branch in person to open a business checking account; this cannot be done online, unlike applying for a Citi business credit card which doesn’t require an in-person visit.
Citi will consider several factors when reviewing your application. For both of Citi’s business credit cards, it’s recommended to have excellent credit. One is not easier to get approved for than the other, as it all depends on the specific application.
*The information for the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® and Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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