Citibank is offering a Citi Secured MasterCard that is linked to a certificate of deposit account. This card is for people looking to build their credit and the credit limit on the card is equal to the amount you place in the CD. The CD acts as insurance in case you default on a payment. The thing is that the CD has a yield that’s way higher than most CD rates. The current APY is 4.07%. The minimum deposit is $200 and the maximum is $25,000.
If you’re looking to repair your credit and want a great CD rate you should jump on this deal. This rate was set last year and the people at Citi probably just forgot about it, but the yield is amazing on this account. The card does come with an annual fee of $29, which is nothing in you throw $25,000 into their CD.
There’s an online application for the card that needs to be mailed in along with your check to open the CD. You can find the application here.
If you want to open a regular CD at Citi, they’re currently offering a 2.25% APY 18 month CD. Citi also holds lots of local bank deals so you should be sure to check with your local Ciitibank branch. Citibank is FDIC insured. Looking for a jumbo CD rate?
Hi,
Do you think that this offer is still good today ?
I just applied and was assured the is still good. 9/5/09. Great deal
Yes, this is also still good 10-19-09 and it is tied to a credit card app.
Offer still good as of today (11/23/09). Thanks people, I found it on this site, very good deal right now. Can open it online or in any citi-bank branch, which is what i did.
All the info above is correct, plus no minimum use on the card, which has a poor 13.49% rate on it, so you dont have to use it unless your really need it to build your credit. Its an 18 month CD and the 29$ per year fee for the card is prorated.
Regular 24 month CD at citi was 2%.
@carl
Do not let Citibank make a fool of you like they did with me. They took my money and limited my credit limit to $2000 dollars for the first 60 days even though they had assured me I will have access to the full amount I deposited ($7500). I told them that this is not mentioned in the application or the website or even the tiny print of the terms and conditions, they told me to go screw myself and that they won’t fix this. They are the worst financial institution and have the least competent employees. Everyone I know have had problems with Citibank.
I was in Citi withdrawing money on 10-30 to move to a higher online savings account. The bank manager recommended this card for the CD rate. I have excellent credit, don’t know if he knew that or he didn’t ask. I don’t know that I will get one, but it seems worth a shot?
I have also read they run a hard check on your credit report for this card.
I don’t care about that as I am not trying for any loans right now, but something to keep in mind if you are.
Also, a $29/yr fee applies, so over the 18 months you will have to pay twice most likely. Still, the max is $5,000 to put in, at the offered rate 4.07% I’ll still come out far ahead of any other cd out there.
I have two of these at the max $$.(18mo.4.07%) Coming due in a few months —I’ll keep the money there / renew if the rate is still up. Otherwise I will cash out the cd’s and cancel the cards —HOPEFULLY without any issues from citibank/ citicard.
I have not used the cards -never intended to. The only charges I’ve had is the $29 yearly fees.