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Citi Forward® Card for College Students

Snapshot of Card Features:

  • No Cosigner required
  • 5 ThankYou® Points for every $1 you spend at restaurants and on entertainment; 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
  • APR reduction on purchases when using credit wisely
  • 100 ThankYou Points each billing period that you pay on time and stay under your credit line.
Intro AprBalance TransferOngoing APRAnnual FeeCredit Needed
0%13.99%-23.99% (Variable)13.99-23.99%(Variable)$0*Excellent - Good
 

Our Expert Review

Rates & Term Details

See the online Citi credit card applications for details about terms and conditions.

What is a Schumer Box?
A Schumer Box includes the following rate and term information for all credit cards:

  • Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for purchases (or interest rate)
  • Other APRs - interest rates for balance transfers, cash advances, default, etc.
  • Variable rate information (if applicable)
  • Grace Period
  • Finance calculation method
  • Finance Charges
  • Annual Fee (if applicable)
  • Other fees - transaction fees, balance transfers, cash advances, late payments, over-limit, etc.

Important
Always read the terms and fees disclosure provided by the credit card issuer on their site before applying. The issuing bank's terms may include more detailed or updated information than presented here.

Notes
*View Citi Forward® Card for College Students card rates, fees, rewards and other important information.


November, 2012

Most student credit cards reward students just for spending money with their accounts but the Citi Forward Card for College Students gives cardholders extra rewards for responsible account management. This is a smart way to encourage good credit habits, especially for students who are just learning how to manage new financial responsibilities.

Benefits

The Citi Forward Card for College Students offers Identity Theft Solutions services, which can be useful if you become a victim of identity theft. They'll help determine whether other accounts have been compromised, help you to place fraud alerts, counsel you on filing the necessary police reports and provide you with an identity theft tool kit.

Rewards

The Citi Forward Card for College Students offers a strong rewards program consisting of Thank You points. For good behavior - stay under your credit limit and pay on time 3 billing periods in a row - you get up to a 2% purchase APR reduction. Other Thank You points are comparable to many rewards programs. See card issuer for details.

Balance Transfers

Zero percent annual percentage rate for all balance transfers. A 4 percent balance transfer fee with a $5 minimum will apply during the introductory period. After the intro period ends, balance transfers will be subject to a variable 13.99%-23.99% APR.

Rates

The Citi Forward Card for College Students offers an introductory 0% APR on purchases for seven months. Keep in mind that a standard variable APR applies to the balance that remains from the promotional period and for purchases made afterward. That APR can also be increased if you make a late payment or go over your limit. This card is typical of student-geared credit cards in that the APR is higher, so it's best to pay your balance in full each month or keep it to a minimum. There is no annual fee but there are fees for foreign purchases, balance transfers and cash advances.

Who Should Apply

This card is for college students, which includes those who have not had credit card or loan histories longer than 3 years, or who have only been an authorized user on their parent's account.

Credit Standing

Good credit or better. Generally, that means a credit score of 700 or higher.

About Credit.com's Credit Cards and Prepaid Cards:

You may be able to build, rebuild, or reestablish your credit history by making on time monthly payments to all creditors and by maintaining all your balances under the credit limits. From premium reward cards to accounts that help you rebuild your credit, we have the credit card for you! If your future goals include owning a home, buying a car, owning your own business, or traveling, having a credit card can be an excellent first step. With credit card services from leading issuers like American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citibank, Discover, First PREMIER® Bank, HSBC Bank, IBERIABANK, MasterCard, Simmons First and Visa, you can find the best credit card for you at Credit.com.

The key to success with credit cards is to know how to use them to your advantage and not to get caught up in the traps that lurk behind the benefits. Credit.com offers many kinds of credit card benefits, from airline and gas rewards to cashback cards, and the first step is filling out a credit card application online. You can also apply for specialty credit cards, such as student credit cards or business credit cards. Credit.com also offers credit cards for the United Kingdom and Canada.

In addition to credit cards, Credit.com offers three other card options that can provide excellent choices for people with less-than-perfect credit: Prepaid cards from Mastercard and Visa allow you to load money onto the card and then use it like any other major credit card. They require no credit approval and carry the same fraud protection as the regular cards. But fees can be high, so be sure to shop carefully for a prepaid card.

Secured cards require you to open a bank account and deposit funds in a bank account (security deposit) in case you can't pay the bills. You'll get a major credit card you can use anywhere those types of cards are accepted. Shop carefully for a secured card to avoid costly fees.

Debit Cards issued under the Visa card or Mastercard name can be widely used and carry fraud protection. But if your card number is stolen and used, you'd want to find out immediately. Otherwise, you could bounce checks. One strategy: Have two checking accounts and associate your debit card with the one with the small balance. Just transfer the purchase amount into the account before you buy something with the card.

  

*For complete information, see the terms and conditions on the credit card issuer's web site. Once you click to apply for this card, you will be directed to the issuer's website where you may review the terms and conditions of the card before applying. While Credit.com always strives to present the most accurate information, we show a summary to help you choose a product, not the full legal terms - and before applying you should understand the full terms of products as stated by the issuer itself.

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The Pros and Cons of Prepaid Cards

Prepaid cards offer the convenience of a credit card without the difficult approval process or risk of getting into debt. These cards work a lot like a gift card, you will have to load the account with cash (direct deposit is usually available) before you can use it for a purchase

Prepaid cards are not credit cards; you cannot spend more than the balance you have deposited and you will not be charged interest for your spending. The prepaid account will not be reported to the credit bureaus as a credit card.

Pros:
Cons:

Fees and charges can vary significantly between different prepaid credit card offers. Be sure to read the fee schedule for the prepaid credit card before you apply.


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