Citi slashing cash back redemption on Strata Premier card

Citi Strata Premier℠ Cardholders have received some disappointing news, as reported by FrequentMiler.

Many cardholders received an email today notifying them that the cash back redemption value of their ThankYou points will decrease from 1 cent per point to 0.75 cents per point, effective August 24, 2025.

This change is a setback for one of the top travel rewards cards available; however, it may not greatly affect those who prefer transferring points to airline and hotel partners within the ThankYou rewards program.

Email Notification

Interestingly, not all Strata Premier cardholders received the notification. A number of us, including senior editorial director Nick Ewen, didn’t receive the email. Here’s a glimpse of its content.

This news is unexpected, but it follows another recent devaluation when Citi reduced the Emirates Skywards points transfer value last month.

Cardholders of other Citi cards, such as the Citi Double Cash® Card, have not reported receiving a similar notification.

This would be surprising since the Double Cash is marketed for earning up to 2% cash back through unlimited 1% cash back on purchases and an additional 1% upon payment. If its points were to lose their value of 1 cent each, the overall appeal of the card would shift drastically. However, there’s no indication this change will occur.

Moving Forward

Currently, the cash back redemption for some Citi Strata Premier cardholders is reduced by 25%, going from 1 cent to just 0.75 cents per point.

Nonetheless, cardholders can often gain more value from their Citi ThankYou points by transferring them to various airline and hotel partners, including Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, and Wyndham Rewards.

According to feedback from the Flying Frugal team, it seems only those without a linked Citi cash-back card to their Strata Premier account are impacted by this change for now.

If you regularly redeem your Citi ThankYou points for cash back, or occasionally do so, it may be wise to hold a card like the Citi Double Cash as a backup given this adjustment. Otherwise, ensure to make any planned cash-back redemptions before the August 24 deadline.

Conclusion

This adjustment is a notable setback for those favoring cash back redemptions of their ThankYou points. Even if you didn’t receive the email regarding the change, it’s prudent to review your Citi account for any updates.

Ultimately, this marks another devaluation for the Citi Strata Premier, leading one to wonder if Citi is preparing for a new card or an overhaul of their existing cash-back offerings.

Related: Best cash-back credit cards