Citibank Student Credit Card Review – Best for Dining Out

Of all the student credit cards on the market right now, Citibank’s Clear Student Credit Card is by far one of the best – especially for dining out. Cardholders get to enjoy a first year annual fee waiver, no minimum income restrictions and the potential to earn rewards points for every $1 spend. That said, customers will need to abide by a $500 card limit and the card’s dining-centric rewards program won’t suit everyone.

About Citibank Clear Student Credit Cards – How Does This Card Work?

The Citibank Clear Student Card is quick and easy to set up online. Unlike other cards, Citi’s lack of minimum income requirements and first year fee waiver mean students can set up their student card for free from the get-go.

Once you’re all set up, you can enjoy accumulating Citi ThankYou Points at a rate of 1X Citi Reward Point for every $1 spend on eligible spending. These points can be either redeemed online or offset against future purchases, just like other cards that offer more straightforward cashback. What’s more, Citi’s student card comes with no minimum spend requirement and no rewards points earnings cap – meaning you can reel in as many ThankYou Points as you like each calendar month.

Key Features of Citibank Clear Student Credit Cards

• Citi imposes no minimum income requirements on its Clear Cards – meaning virtually any Singaporean student can apply
• Customers can earn points at a rewards rate of 1x Citi ThankYou Point for every $1 spend – with no earnings cap
• Cardholders get access to discounts and deals at more than 1,000 restaurants
• Citi’s Student Card is available to students aged 18 and over from tertiary schools of all kinds
• Special offers are also available on other types of monthly spending, including with participating fashion and lifestyle brands

 Pros and Cons – Annual Fee Costs, Flexibility and More

 Pros

• Earning rewards at a fair rewards rate and redeeming your Citi ThankYou Points is quick and easy
• Low minimum income requirements when compared with similar financial products
• First year fee waiver is a great perk for cash-strapped students
• Exclusive access to Citi World Privileges program means customers get big discounts when eating out

 Cons

• Standard card limit of $500 may prove restrictive for big spenders
• Customers earn rewards instead of cashback, which won’t suit everyone
• Some key everyday spending categories are excluded from earning rewards
• Renewal fee will cost you $29.96 from the second year onwards

 Top Card Benefits – Annual Fee Waiver and More

• Rewards

Citi Clear Card customers can earn rewards points at a rate of 1 Citi ThankYou Point per $1 spend. These points can be either redeemed or put toward other purchases via the Citi Pay with Points scheme. Citi claims its rewards points can be used on over 300,000 hotel stays, flights, rental cars and other activities.

• Shopping

As cardholders get exclusive access to Citi’s renowned Citi World Privileges scheme, students can enjoy special shopping offers and discounts both locally and overseas. That said, you might want to double-check here which monthly spending categories are covered, as Citi’s reward program won’t suit every student’s tastes.

• Dining

Few student cards can match the Citi Clear Card for dining benefits. Customers can claim exclusive dining deals at more than 1,000 restaurants from across Singapore and use the Citi ThankYou Points they earn to put toward other food-related purchases. The Citi World Privileges scheme even entitles you to deals and discounts in up to 90 foreign countries, too – making this card great for gap year students.

•  Petrol and Transport

Credit cards that offer petrol saving perks are sure to guarantee favorable reviews. Sadly, however, the Citi Clear Card isn’t big on transport savings. Like many other youth-marketed cards, Citi’s benefits are much more geared toward dining and lifestyle rewards, which tend to play better with student cardholders who favour eating out, balance transfers and cash advances.

•  Annual Fee Waiver

Easily one of the top benefits of Citi’s Clear Card when compared to other similar products is its no-frills one year fee waiver. Customers pay nothing for the first year of using their card. This will increase to $29.96 the following year, but there is no quarterly service charge or confusing terms and conditions.

Citibank Student Card Versus Other Student Credit Cards

As you can see from our comparison table, credit limits are pretty inflexible between most student cards, but there’s a lot of variation to be found when it comes to card benefits and annual fee policies. While the Citi Clear Credit Card is the obvious choose for students who like to dine out between lectures, the DBS Live Fresh Card and the Maybank eVibes Card are better suited to customers who prefer cashback over reward points – with the former a particularly good choice for brand-conscious students.

That said, while Maybank also offers the most attractive annual fee waiver, Maybank customers will need to keep their card active to avoid being hit with quarterly service fees, which could prove frustrating. What’s more, Citibank customers will pay significantly less per annum in annual fees than DBS cardholders once their respective waiver periods end – and for some, Citi ThankYou Points will go a lot further than cashback, depending on what and where you like to spend.

Ultimately, which credit-based student product is best for you will depend on:

• The kinds of perks you are expecting
• Whether reward points or cash back is most important to you
• Your monthly spend habits
• Whether you can meet minimum income, age and other eligibility requirements

How to Apply for Citibank Credit Cards – Eligibility and Requirements

You can apply for your Citi Clear Card for students quickly and easily online here or by using the Citi mobile app. However, you will need to ensure you meet the following eligibility criteria – i.e. you must be:

• Aged 18 or over (guardian’s consent required for under-21s)
• A student at either NTY, NUS, SMU, SIM, SUTD, SIT, SUSS, ESSEC, GIST-TUM Asia, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, DigiPen, S P Jain, Tisch, UNLV, Nanyang Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, LASALLE-SIA, NAFA, EDHEC-Risk Institute or Sorbonne-Assas International Law School.
• A Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Not a pre-existing Citi Credit Card or Citibank Ready Credit customer (i.e. main cardholder)

On top of meeting these eligibility requirements, you must also be prepared to provide evidence of the following documents to support your application:

• NRIC
• Parents’ NRIC and signature (for under-21s)
• Matriculation Card copy

You can submit copies of the above documents to sgcardsales2@citi.com alongside your application, which can be completed and sent to Citi online here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Citibank Clear Student Credit Card 

1. What Alternative Cards Can Students Use?

Students might also want to consider the DBS Live Fresh Card and the Maybank eVibes Card, both of which offer similar features to this Citi product. Alternatively, the Revolut Debit Card might be another option – particularly for students who wish to travel abroad.

2. What Does the $500 Credit Limit Mean?

Put simply, a card limit is the maximum amount of money you can borrow on your card at any one time. If your card has a $500 card limit, you must not borrow any more than $500 at once, including in cash advances.

3. Do I Need to Meet a Minimum Income Threshold to Get a Citi Clear Card?

No, unlike other competitor cards, the Citi Clear Card has no minimum income limit, meaning any student aged over 18 is eligible to apply, assuming they meet Citi’s other terms and conditions.

Conclusion – Is the Citibank Clear Student Card Right for You?

If you like to hang out with your classmates at food halls and restaurants between lectures, the Citibank Clear Card may very well be your perfect credit card companion. Just be sure to keep in mind, that:

• Earnings potential with this card is restricted to redeemable Citi ThankYou Points rather than basic cashback
• You’ll need to log into your Citi Rewards portal to redeem and exchange your points as you earn
• While there’s no card fee for the first year, you’ll need to pay $29.96 inclusive of GST each year thereafter
• Students aged under 21 will need parental consent to apply, as well as a guardian’s signature and a copy of their NRIC
• Competitor cards from other top Singaporean banks might be better suited to your spending habits – so always compare the market before you commit – and don’t rule out personal loans or other products

Here at Instant Loan, we liked to keep our readers up-to-date with the latest news regarding credit cards and other financial products. We also offer a personal loans comparison service, that allows you to retrieve up to three personal loans quotes from licensed financial institutions absolutely free.