An update to the Citi churning rules

I have often said that one of the best ways to get a lot of points is through the concept of credit card churning (aka signing up for a bunch of credit cards for increased signup bonuses).  It should probably go without saying, but I’ll say it anyways – DON’T SIGNUP FOR CREDIT CARDS JUST BECAUSE SOME GUY ON THE INTERNET SAYS TO.  Only go as fast as you understand what you’re doing.  If you’re looking to start, I recommend beginning with the end in mind – pick where you want to go and only THEN sign up for the cards that can help get you there

Different banks (and sometimes even different cards within a different bank) have different rules for when and how often you can apply for cards.  These rules change all the time and sometimes they’re published and sometimes it’s just our best guess based on who does and does not get approved.  For instance, the Chase 5/24 rule is not anything specifically published by Chase, but instead just a pattern that folks have noticed.

An update to the Citi credit card churning rules

I keep a list of the current credit card churning rules and best practices, and I have recently updated it with a change to the Citibank credit card churning rules. Doctor of Credit broke the news last week that most Citibank cards now include language similar to the following

Hilton HHonors Bonus Points offer is not available if you have had a Citi^® Hilton HHonors^™ Visa Signature^® Card account that was opened or closed in the past 24 months

Previously, that language only excluded if you opened or closed the card within the past 18 months.  While the extra 6 months is a bummer, it is still better than the Chase (5/24) or American Express (once per lifetime) churning rules.