The Citi Premier Card is still one of the best starter cards out there, combining a stellar intro points bonus and some strong spending categories into a fair $95-a-year package.
To grab the (limited time) bonus of 80,000 points, you’ll need to spend $4000 in the first three months of opening the card. The bonus alone is worth almost $1400 when transferred to a travel partner, and with 3 X points per dollar on restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, hotels, and airfare, there’s ample opportunity to build on your points balance.
Pros
Strong 80,000-point intro worth up to $1400
Excellent earning opportunity in high spend categories
$100 off on a stay of $500 or more
Points are highly transferable with 16 travel partners
World Elite Mastercard protections
Cons
No premium perks
$95 annual fee