Citi Custom Cash Card Review: An Owner-Operator’s Dream?

The Citi Custom Cash Card is primarily a consumer rewards credit card, but it can be a smart alternative for owner-operators and independent fleet drivers who aren’t eligible for traditional fleet cards (or just want a card for both personal and business refuelling in one place).

With no annual fee, it offers a dynamic rewards system that automatically gives you 5% cash back on your top spending category (up to $500 per billing cycle) plus 1% on all other purchases, along with bonus travel rewards via the Citi Travel portal.

In this review, we’ll cover where you can use the Citi Custom Cash Card, its fee structure and rewards, and how it compares to dedicated fleet cards so you can decide if it’s the right fit for your business needs.

What Does the Citi Custom Cash Card Offer?

Accessing a dedicated fleet card isn’t always an option for many fleet operators, especially those operating as sole proprietors or small business owner-operators.

By contrast, the Citi Custom Cash Card is a consumer rewards product, but its versatile rewards and straightforward benefits can make it an attractive alternative to traditional fleet cards for managing business fuel and expense purchases.

Here’s what else you need to know about the Citi Custom Cash Card before we dive into this full-length review.

Citi Custom Cash Card Pricing and Fees

Citi’s Custom Cash Card has straightforward pricing and fees compared to some fleet cards:

• No annual fee: This card’s zero monthly costs make it a cost-effective choice, especially attractive for small business owners and independent drivers who need to manage tight budgets.
• Introductory APR: 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, offering breathing room for financing or consolidating expenses. Following the intro period, a variable APR of 18.24%–28.24% applies based on your credit profile.

Does the Citi Custom Cash Card have any hidden fees?

While not hidden as such, Citi Custom Cash Cards do have a few transaction fees and other costs to consider, detailed within their terms and conditions documentation:

• Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 5% of the transferred amount (whichever is higher).
• Cash advance fee: Either $10 or 5% of the cash advance amount (whichever is greater).
• Foreign transaction fee: 3% per foreign purchase, so if your routes take you international (or you make related business purchases overseas), factor this in.
• Late payment fees: Up to $41, so, as with most cards, timely payments are key to avoiding fees and maintaining a good credit standing.
• Returned payment fee: Up to $41 if a payment is returned.

Citi Custom Cash Card Rewards and Benefits

While this is not a traditional fleet card, we found the Citi Custom Cash Card has several financial perks.

Earning and redeeming rewards

With Citi’s Custom Cash Card, cash back is accrued in the form of ThankYou Points. For every dollar spent in your top eligible category (up to $500), you earn five points per dollar. All other spending nets you one point per dollar.

With each point valued at approximately $0.01 when redeemed as cash back (via statement credit, direct deposit, or check), the rewards structure is both simple and valuable. For instance, if your top spending category was fuel at gas stations, you’ll earn $25 in cash back (5% of your total spend).

Handily, unlike many rotating bonus cards, there is no need to sign up for specific categories. The card works automatically in the background to capture your best rewards scenario every cycle.

According to our research, users appreciate the convenience of dynamic rewards, especially when compared to cards that impose fixed calendar-based bonus periods like the Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it Cash Back cards, which require you to actively enroll each quarter (or wait for the calendar-defined period) to earn elevated cash-back in that category.

Are there any other rewards with the Citi Custom Cash Card?

For those whose top spend might fall in travel-related categories, Citi offers an additional boost. You can book hotels, car rentals, or attractions through the Citi Travel portal and earn an extra 4% back. This benefit, valid through June 30 2026, can raise your effective cash-back rate considerably for qualifying expenses.

Is the Citi Custom Cash Card good value?

The Citi Custom Cash Card proves to be a solid value option for consumers who want the convenience of an automated rewards system without the complexities of rotating bonus categories.

While the 5% rate applies only up to the first $500 spent each billing cycle, which might limit rewards for extremely high fuel spenders, the flexibility to earn the best rate based on your personal spending patterns, paired with no annual fee and a compelling introductory offer, makes it particularly attractive for everyday use.

Owner-operators or fleet drivers can spend without much thought, as they’ll be getting cashback either way. Ultimately, if you value a simple, adaptable approach to cash back that adjusts to your lifestyle, this card stands out as a competitive and cost-effective choice.

Citi Custom Cash Card Features, Security Controls, and Additional Benefits

By being a personal credit card with potential gas rewards rather than explicitly a fuel card for business use, there are few benefits that you are unlikely to get with alternative top fuel cards.

Digital and contactless payments

The card is equipped with a contactless chip, making payments swift at the pump, in-store, or anywhere digital transactions are accepted. This helps reduce wait times and provides a hygienic alternative to swiping or inserting a card.

The Citi Custom Cash Card also integrates seamlessly with popular digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. This allows you to store your card details on your smartphone and make secure tap-to-pay transactions, which is especially useful when you’re on the move as an owner-operator.

By comparison, fuel cards often require you to upload receipts and gas expenditure, digitally sign, and/or input a code for use. While that’s helpful for an owner who has given out multiple fuel cards for drivers, owner-operators or fleet drivers, someone using a personal card should appreciate the speed and convenience of not having to do this, particularly when frequently refueling or making small business-related purchases.

Real-time account alerts and mobile management

Using Citi’s dedicated Citi Mobile App, you can receive real-time notifications for transactions, upcoming payments, and balance changes. This instant visibility can help you catch any errors or unauthorized charges early, which can be critical when managing both personal and business finances on one card.

Users can set up email or SMS alerts to monitor spending thresholds or unusual account activity, too, so that you can always stay on top of your expenses even if without any data or sitting at a desk away from your phone.

Security controls and fraud protection

To help protect your finances, Mastercard ID theft protection (since this is a Mastercard-backed option) means this card offers ongoing monitoring for suspicious activity on your credit profile. If any anomalies are detected, you’re alerted promptly, on top of the notifications just mentioned.

Should your card information be compromised, Citi’s policy protects you from unauthorized purchases. This zero-liability ($0) assurance means that even if your card is lost or stolen, financial losses shouldn’t impact you.

In the event you misplace your card or suspect fraudulent use, you can quickly lock the card via the mobile app without disrupting recurring transactions. This gives you an extra layer of control without halting essential payments.

Flexibility in payment and spending management

Instead of a one-size-fits-all due date, Citi allows you to choose a payment due date that aligns best with your cash flow. This is valuable for small business owners whose income streams may be more irregular.

The free, regularly updated FICO score gives you continuous insight into your credit health, which is important when you use your credit card for both personal expenses and business capital needs.

You’ve also got detailed transaction reports and digital statements available through the Citi Mobile App to help consolidate your expenditures. While not as granular as traditional fleet expense management systems, these features are sufficient for owner-operators needing a straightforward way to track spending without additional software.

How Do You Apply for a Citi Custom Cash Card?

As stated, the Citi Custom Cash Card is designed primarily for personal use, so its application requirements focus on individual creditworthiness rather than business documentation. This makes it especially attractive to owner-operators or independent fleet drivers who don’t currently qualify for a traditional fleet card. Here’s what you need to know before you apply:

• Age and residency: You must be at least 18 years old (21 in certain states like Puerto Rico) and a US resident.
• Credit profile: A strong credit history is important. Applicants typically need good to excellent credit (680 to 850), so it may help to review your free FICO score before applying.
• Identification: Be prepared with personal details such as your name, address, Social Security Number, and income information to help Citi assess your creditworthiness.
• Single Account Policy: Citi issues one Citi Custom Cash Card account per person. Previous new account bonuses or recent conversions (in the past 48 months) may affect bonus eligibility. You can get another Citi card, however, if it’s not the Custom Cash Card.

Online application process

Citi has streamlined the application process. We can explain it in four steps:

1. Visit the Citi application page: Navigate to Citi’s Custom Cash Card application portal.
2. Complete the application form: Fill in your personal information, including details about your employment and annual income.
3. Review and consent: Carefully review the terms and conditions, including rewards program details, introductory APR offer, and applicable fees, then confirm your identity as prompted.
4. Submit and receive a decision: Once you hit “Apply Now,” the application is processed almost immediately; if additional documentation is needed, you will be notified.

How long does it take for approval and card delivery?

For most qualified applicants, the approval process is swift. An instant online decision (less than one minute, according to Citi) means you can start benefiting from the card’s rewards program quickly. Should additional documents be required, Citi’s support team will contact you to complete the process.

Once approved, you can expect your Citi Custom Cash Card to arrive by mail within a few business days.

How Does Citi Custom Cash Card Compare to Competitor Fuel Cards?

Without context of what other fuel card providers can offer your fleet, it’s difficult to understand just how competitive the Coast Card is. Here’s a topline comparison of the key features you need to know before I provide specific comparisons with two of our top-rated options.

Acceptance and network reach

Traditional fleet cards are built for business fuel expenditures and often operate within a dedicated network. For example, the Coast Card leverages Visa’s network, allowing acceptance at virtually any location that accepts Visa. Fleet cards like those from WEX or Comdata are designed specifically for fuel purchases, and often include partnerships with major truck stops and gas chains to reflect similarly near universal usage. However, many fuel cards are restricted to their name-sakes stations, such as Shell’s Fleet Cards, which has a US-wide network of around 13,000 stations.

In contrast, the Citi Custom Cash Card is a consumer-grade Mastercard, accepted anywhere Mastercard is processed, offering truly universal acceptance since it’s a credit card, not a fleet card. This provides the convenience of using a single card for all purchases, even beyond refueling, without any narrow network restrictions. This broad acceptance can be a boon for owner-operators who handle both fuel and a range of other business expenses.

Rebates and cashback

Fleet cards typically deliver fuel-specific rebates. For instance, the Coast Card provides location-based fuel rebates that can range from $0.01 per gallon at any station to as much as $0.10 per gallon at select partner stations.

Cards from companies like WEX or Comdata offer similar tiered rebate structures, which tie savings directly to fuel consumption, though WEX has much lower rebate maximums of $0.03 per gallon. Comdata offers between $0.07 and $0.25 per gallon, however, which is one of the highest potential rebate rates on the US market, according to our research.

If we take the Coast Card as an example, we can calculate the break-even point between that option and the Citi Custom Cash Card. If we assume fuel costs around $3.50 per gallon for the Citi card, and assume that we are always refueling at a $0.10 per gallon location with Coast, we can determine that:

• For monthly fuel usage below around 308 gallons: The Citi Custom Cash Card (5%/1% cash back) offers better rewards.
• For usage above about 308 gallons: The traditional $0.10 per gallon rebate becomes superior.

For smaller, owner-operated fleets, the Citi card translates to a simple benefit: if you spend $500 on fuel in a billing cycle, you get $25 back. And with our example, that’s spending less than 308 gallons per month (or per billing cycle).

In fact, if we compare to WEX’s $0.03 per gallon rebate, the difference is even starker. Regardless of your monthly fuel volume, the Citi Custom Cash Card always provides a higher effective return on fuel spending compared to a simple $0.03 per gallon rebate.

While this 5% cash back can be attractive, it is not volume-based like fuel rebates from fleet cards, which will be more appealing for large businesses that spend more on fuel. In essence, the Citi card is best suited for drivers with lower fuel volumes or those who value simplicity, rather than large businesses where fuel rebates scale with consumption.

Pricing, fees, and interest

Fleet cards often incorporate a fixed monthly fee (for example, the Coast Card charges $4 per active card) and sometimes other fees tied to usage or late payments. These fees are offset by the potential for substantial fuel rebates, especially if your fleet consumes large quantities of fuel monthly, as discussed above.

The Citi Custom Cash Card comes with no annual fee, which makes it a cost-effective choice for owner-operators. Moreover, it offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. This can provide breathing room for managing cash flow if you need to finance higher fuel costs or other expenses. However, since the Citi card is designed for general consumer spending, interest charges will apply to unpaid balances after the introductory period.

How We Review Fleet Cards