Citi Simplicity® Card is a personal credit card designed for business owners who need to transfer a balance from another credit card. It features a 0% introductory annual percentage rate (APR) on balance transfers for 21 months and purchases for 12 months. While it comes with no annual fee, it doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus or ongoing rewards.
If you wish to compare one credit card over another, choose a maximum of three credit cards on this page and click Add to Compare to view the details in a side-by-side comparison.
Citi Simplicity® Card
BEST FOR:
Startups who need a lengthy 0% APR period fund business expenses
Intro APR
0% for 12 months
Regular APR
19.24% to 29.99% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Good - Excellent
- Citi Simplicity® Card doesn’t offer any rewards for its new and existing cardholders.
Pros
- One of the longest 0% APR periods available
- $0 annual fee
Cons
- No rewards for new and existing cardholders
- Cannot build business credit
- Flexible payment due date: You can choose your preferred due date at the beginning, middle, or end of the month. In addition, you have the flexibility of paying either the full balance or just the minimum payment due every month.
- Mastercard® Identity Theft Protection program: If you’re a victim of identity theft, this can help you resolve the matter.
- Zero liability protection: Zero liability protects you against unauthorized charges on your account. You won’t be responsible for a charge that you didn’t authorize.
- No additional fees: Citi® does not charge additional fees, such as late fees or penalty rate, on the Citi Simplicity® Card.
Intro APR
0% for 12 months
Regular APR
19.24% to 29.99% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Good - Excellent
- Citi Simplicity® Card doesn’t offer any rewards for its new and existing cardholders.
Pros
- One of the longest 0% APR periods available
- $0 annual fee
Cons
- No rewards for new and existing cardholders
- Cannot build business credit
- Flexible payment due date: You can choose your preferred due date at the beginning, middle, or end of the month. In addition, you have the flexibility of paying either the full balance or just the minimum payment due every month.
- Mastercard® Identity Theft Protection program: If you’re a victim of identity theft, this can help you resolve the matter.
- Zero liability protection: Zero liability protects you against unauthorized charges on your account. You won’t be responsible for a charge that you didn’t authorize.
- No additional fees: Citi® does not charge additional fees, such as late fees or penalty rate, on the Citi Simplicity® Card.
When evaluating personal credit cards for businesses like the Citi Simplicity® Card, we first considered the introductory and ongoing APR. After which, we check if the card offers introductory and ongoing rewards and its standout features, such as purchase protection and extended warranty.
Grading Criteria | Card Score | Highest Possible Score |
|---|---|---|
Introductory APR | 35 | 35 |
Ongoing APR | 28 | 35 |
Features | 8 | 10 |
Ongoing Rewards | 0 | 10 |
Introductory Rewards | 0 | 10 |
Total Score | 71 | 100 |
Who the Citi Simplicity® Card Is Best For
- Those who don’t need to earn rewards: It doesn’t have introductory and ongoing rewards on purchases.
- Those who need to pay an existing credit card debt: It offers a 0% APR on balance transfers for 21 months from the date of the first transfer, which is a much longer period than what other credit cards offer. That’s why this personal credit card made it to our roundup of the best business credit card balance transfer offers.
See our recommended alternatives below if this card isn’t the best fit for your business.
Citi Simplicity® Card Rewards
Citi Simplicity® Card doesn’t offer any rewards for its new and existing cardholders. However, you can take advantage of the long introductory 0% APR period on both purchases and balance transfers to help you pay off your credit card debt. Additionally, this is the only Citi card that has no late fees, no penalty rate, and no annual fee.
Citi Simplicity® Card Features
Convenience
- Flexible due date: Pay your bill on any available due date at the start, middle, or end of the month. In addition, you have the flexibility of paying either the full balance or just the minimum payment due every month.
- Digital wallets: This lets you shop with confidence in millions of online stores, within apps, and in-store. Using a digital wallet, you can speed through checkout and continue to enjoy all the benefits that come with this card.
- No additional fees: Citi® does not charge additional fees, such as late fees or penalty rate, on the Citi Simplicity® Card.
Protection
- Zero liability protection: This protects you against unauthorized charges on your account—you won’t be responsible for a charge you didn’t authorize.
- Mastercard® Identity Theft Protection Program: If you’re a victim of identity theft, this can help you resolve the matter.
- Automatic account alerts: You can set up automatic account alerts to remind you about your balance levels, payments due, and when you go over your credit limit. You can be notified either by email or on your mobile phone.
Support
- 24/7 customer service: Cardmembers have access to 24/7 customer service if they have any concerns related to their credit card. Call the number on the back of the card and say “representative” to access help from a live rep.
Citi Simplicity® Card Fees
APR
- Introductory: 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months from the date of account opening; 0% APR on balance transfers for the first 21 months after a transfer was made within four months from the date of account opening (with a minimum interest charge of no less than 50 cents).
- Ongoing, balance transfers and Citi Flex Plan: 19.24% to 29.99% variable—adjusts with the prime rate
- Cash advance: 29.99% variable—adjusts with the prime rate
Fees
- Annual: $0
- Balance transfer: An introductory balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer will apply if you made a transfer within the first four months after account opening. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer (whichever is greater) will be applied.
- Plan fee (fixed finance charge): Monthly fee of up to 1.72% will be applied based on the Citi Flex Plan duration
- Foreign transaction: 3% of each purchase transaction in United States dollars
- Cash advance: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
- Returned payment: Up to $41
Your due date is at least 23 days after the close of each billing cycle.
If you intend to transfer $10,000 in credit to your Citi Simplicity® Card, and this transfer went through within the first four months from the date of your account opening, then you’ll incur a balance transfer fee of $300 (3% of $10,000). To avoid being charged interest on this transfer, you’ll need to pay around $490 per month for 21 months.
- Online: Log in to your online account, click “Make a Payment,” and choose how much to pay, when to pay it, and where the payment will be coming from. You can also set up AutoPay for automatic payments to be deducted monthly on your due date.
- Citi Mobile®: You can also pay through the mobile app, which is available for iOS and Android users.
- Phone: Call (800) 950-5114 or the number found on the back of your card, enter your card information, and then follow the prompts to make a payment. If you’re outside the US, call collect at (605) 335-2222.
- Mail: Send either a check or money order (but not cash) to the following address:
PO Box 9001037
Louisville, KY 40290-1037
- Overnight Delivery/Express Payments: Send your check or money order (but not cash) to the following address:
Citibank Express Payments
6716 Grade Ln.
Bldg. 9, Ste. 910
Louisville, KY 40213
- Nearest Citibank ATM: Go to the nearest Citibank ATM, which accepts cash payments of up to $3,000 per monthly credit card account. Visit Citibank’s location finder page to find one near you.
Citi Simplicity® Card Alternatives
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
BEST FOR:
Those wanting to earn up to 3% cash back on selected spending categories
Intro APR
0% intro on purchases for 12 billing cycles
Regular APR
18.24% - 27.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
- Introducing the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® the card that gives back on all your eligible business needs.
- Earn $750 in cash back. Just spend $6000 on the Account Owner's card in the first 180 days of opening your account.
- Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations (transactions of $200 or less)*, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs).
- 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases.
- Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center.
- No limit on total cash back earned.
- Redeem Cash Rewards right away or save them for later. Cash Rewards do not expire as long as the account remains active.
- Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Pros
- 0% purchase APR for 12 months
- $0 annual fee
- U.S. Bank ExtendPay® Plan feature
Cons
- No 0% APR on balance transfers
- Charges balance transfer and foreign transaction fees
- MasterRental car rental collision damage waiver: When you rent a car using your U.S. Bank credit card, you’re covered in case of accident or theft on all rentals made worldwide. Coverage is primary, which means you won’t need to use your personal auto insurance or accept the insurance offered by the rental agency. Coverage is capped at $50,000.
- Purchase assurance: U.S. Bank may repair or reimburse for items purchased with your U.S. Bank business credit card that are damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase. Coverage is limited to $1,000 per loss, up to $25,000 per year, per account. Lost items and items left out of reach that others can see are not covered.
- Extended warranty protection: U.S. Bank will double the manufacturer’s warranty up to an additional one year from the expiration of warranties of five years or less. An item with a six-month warranty would be backed for an additional six months, for example. The issuer will replace the item or reimburse you up to the amount charged on your U.S. Bank card up to $10,000.
- U.S. Bank ExtendPay® Plan: Pay off your eligible balance over time with this feature without interest—just pay a small monthly fee
Intro APR
0% intro on purchases for 12 billing cycles
Regular APR
18.24% - 27.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
- Introducing the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard® the card that gives back on all your eligible business needs.
- Earn $750 in cash back. Just spend $6000 on the Account Owner's card in the first 180 days of opening your account.
- Earn 3% cash back on eligible purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations (transactions of $200 or less)*, office supply stores, cell phone service providers and restaurants (*excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs).
- 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases.
- Earn 5% cash back on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Rewards Center.
- No limit on total cash back earned.
- Redeem Cash Rewards right away or save them for later. Cash Rewards do not expire as long as the account remains active.
- Earn an annual $100 statement credit for recurring software subscription expenses such as FreshBooks or QuickBooks.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Pros
- 0% purchase APR for 12 months
- $0 annual fee
- U.S. Bank ExtendPay® Plan feature
Cons
- No 0% APR on balance transfers
- Charges balance transfer and foreign transaction fees
- MasterRental car rental collision damage waiver: When you rent a car using your U.S. Bank credit card, you’re covered in case of accident or theft on all rentals made worldwide. Coverage is primary, which means you won’t need to use your personal auto insurance or accept the insurance offered by the rental agency. Coverage is capped at $50,000.
- Purchase assurance: U.S. Bank may repair or reimburse for items purchased with your U.S. Bank business credit card that are damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase. Coverage is limited to $1,000 per loss, up to $25,000 per year, per account. Lost items and items left out of reach that others can see are not covered.
- Extended warranty protection: U.S. Bank will double the manufacturer’s warranty up to an additional one year from the expiration of warranties of five years or less. An item with a six-month warranty would be backed for an additional six months, for example. The issuer will replace the item or reimburse you up to the amount charged on your U.S. Bank card up to $10,000.
- U.S. Bank ExtendPay® Plan: Pay off your eligible balance over time with this feature without interest—just pay a small monthly fee
When To Consider the U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®
- You wish to earn cash back rewards: This card lets you earn up to 5% cash back on selected spending categories.
Other Benefits
- $750 cash back after spending at least $6,000 within 180 days from the date of account opening
- 0% introductory period on purchases for the first 12 billing cycles
- $0 annual fees
Its long 0% introductory period on purchases and balance transfers and cash back rewards are why this card is our leading fuel card for small businesses and one of our best business credit cards for balance transfers. Check our guide to the best U.S. Bank business credit cards for more options.
Emburse Spend Card
 Emburse Spend CardBEST FOR: Earning unlimited cash back rewards | |
|---|---|
Spending Limit | Load Limit |
|
|
Costs | |
| |
When To Consider the Emburse Spend Card
- You do not want to incur credit card debt: As a business prepaid card, your business transactions will come from the funds that you load into your Emburse account, assuring you that you will not incur further debt.
- You want to earn fixed-rate rewards: This card lets you earn unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases.
Other Benefits
- Load funds through automated clearing house (ACH) transfer or connect any United States bank account using the account and routing numbers to transfer funds
- Set amount restrictions depending on your business needs
- Track real-time expenses, categorize vendors, and approve or reject transactions
Despite the card not allowing you to make ATM withdrawals, it is our top business prepaid card and one of our best business credit cards with no personal guarantee.
First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured Mastercard®
First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Card
BEST FOR:
Secured credit lines of as much as $100,000
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
APR: 25.99% variable
Annual Fee
$39
Credit Needed
Very Poor to Good
- While FNBO does not offer any rewards for their new and existing cardholders for this card, you can still earn rewards through Mastercard Easy Savings®, where cardholders are able to save on purchases with automatic rebates from over 40,000 participating merchant locations available.
Pros
- Available for those with very poor to good scores
- Can set credit limits from $2,000 to $100,000
- Offers free management reports
Cons
- With annual fee
- Charges foreign transaction fee
- No introductory and ongoing rewards
- Requires a security deposit of 110% of the credit limit required
- TurboTax discount: Get a discount of up to $20 on TurboTax federal products when using First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured Mastercard®.
- QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Self-Employed discount: Receive either a 30% off of a 12-month subscription on QuickBooks Online (Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, or Advanced) or a 30% off of a 12-month subscription on QuickBooks Self-Employed. This is applicable only to new QuickBooks Online customers.
- Free management reports: First National Bank of Omaha provides free management reports to help track expenses, monitor spending, note tax deductions, prepare tax filings, and predict costs easily.
- Zero liability: FNBO guarantees that you won’t be held responsible for any fraudulent charges made with both your card and account information.
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
APR: 25.99% variable
Annual Fee
$39
Credit Needed
Very Poor to Good
- While FNBO does not offer any rewards for their new and existing cardholders for this card, you can still earn rewards through Mastercard Easy Savings®, where cardholders are able to save on purchases with automatic rebates from over 40,000 participating merchant locations available.
Pros
- Available for those with very poor to good scores
- Can set credit limits from $2,000 to $100,000
- Offers free management reports
Cons
- With annual fee
- Charges foreign transaction fee
- No introductory and ongoing rewards
- Requires a security deposit of 110% of the credit limit required
- TurboTax discount: Get a discount of up to $20 on TurboTax federal products when using First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured Mastercard®.
- QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Self-Employed discount: Receive either a 30% off of a 12-month subscription on QuickBooks Online (Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, or Advanced) or a 30% off of a 12-month subscription on QuickBooks Self-Employed. This is applicable only to new QuickBooks Online customers.
- Free management reports: First National Bank of Omaha provides free management reports to help track expenses, monitor spending, note tax deductions, prepare tax filings, and predict costs easily.
- Zero liability: FNBO guarantees that you won’t be held responsible for any fraudulent charges made with both your card and account information.
When To Consider the First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured Mastercard®
- You want to rebuild or establish your business credit: This secured business credit card lets you build your credit, increasing your chances of getting an unsecured business credit card.
Other Benefits
- Receive credit limits ranging from $2,000 and $100,000 (multiples of $50)
- Save up on purchases with rebates being offered by the Mastercard Easy Savings®
- Get protection from unauthorized transactions
While you need to make a security deposit of 110% of your requested credit limit, the chance of getting a high credit limit is why the card is our best secured business credit card and one of our leading small business credit cards.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
While small business credit cards could function similarly to personal credit cards, there are two major things to consider:
- Credit reporting bureaus: Personal credit cards report to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion and will affect your personal credit score if there are changes made to your credit limit, credit usage, and payment history. On the other hand, small business credit cards usually report to business credit bureaus and will have little impact on your personal credit score.
- Credit limits: While both cards consider your personal credit score and creditworthiness, most banks would need to consider both personal income and business revenue for your small business credit cards when determining your credit limit. On the flip side, personal credit cards only note your personal income for your credit limit.
It will take between two and 21 days to process balance transfers.
Your credit limit with Citi Simplicity® Card could go as high as $5,000, depending on your credit history, income, and existing debts.
Bottom Line
Citi Simplicity® Card is an excellent option if you don’t need to earn rewards and want to pay existing credit card debts. It offers an interest-free financing option of 0% on purchases and balance transfers and doesn’t charge annual fees. However, it doesn’t provide any rewards for new and existing cardholders and won’t help you build your business credit.
