Citi 48-month bonus rule
For most Citi cards, you are not eligible for a welcome bonus on a card if you received a bonus on that same card within the past 48 months. The clock runs from the bonus receipt date, not the approval or closure date, and each card is judged independently. Note: the old 24-month family restriction no longer applies to major Citi cards; being an authorized user never blocks your own bonus. Strata Premier and Strata Elite are exceptions with their own lifetime rule.
Unpublished rule: the issuer does not publish this rule. It is documented by at least two independent guides below — treat it as a reported pattern, not a guarantee.
Key takeaways
For most Citi cards, you are not eligible for a welcome bonus on a card if you received a bonus on that same card within the past 48 months. The clock runs from the bonus receipt date, not the approval or closure date, and each card is judged independently. Note: the old 24-month family restriction no longer applies to major Citi cards; being an authorized user never blocks your own bonus. Strata Premier and Strata Elite are exceptions with their own lifetime rule.
Repeat applicants for Citi cards, including AAdvantage cards (48-month terms) and ThankYou cards. Strata Premier/Elite applicants should check the Strata lifetime page instead.
Who it applies to
Repeat applicants for Citi cards, including AAdvantage cards (48-month terms) and ThankYou cards. Strata Premier/Elite applicants should check the Strata lifetime page instead.
How to count
- Find the date you received the bonus on that exact card.
- Add 48 months: that is the earliest date a new bonus on the same card is possible.
- A product change pays no bonus and does not start the 48-month clock.
- Closing the card does not change the clock; only the bonus receipt date matters.
Calculator (estimate)
Enter the date you received the bonus on that card. The calculator adds the waiting period.
This page is general information. Issuer rules change without notice, and actual approval is decided by the issuer's underwriting. Read the terms on the card you are applying for before you apply.FAQ
Does the 48-month rule apply across different Citi cards?
No. Each card is judged independently: a bonus on one Citi card does not block a bonus on a different Citi card.
What happened to Citi's old 24-month family rule?
For major Citi cards it no longer applies: eligibility moved to the per-card 48-month rule. Older guides describing the family rule are out of date.
Sources
Non-issuer sources are secondary sources (independent guides). If a rule changes, the issuer's page governs. This page is general information. Issuer rules change without notice, and actual approval is decided by the issuer's underwriting. Read the terms on the card you are applying for before you apply. Page updated: November 3, 2026No bank login required