Citi® Secured Mastercard®

Rewards

Category	Rate	Type	Cap
All Other Purchases This card does not offer a rewards program; it is designed for building credit.	0x	Points	No cap

Benefits & Protections

Benefit	Category	Value / Coverage
Credit Building The Citi® Secured Mastercard® helps cardmembers build a credit history when used responsibly, as payment activity is reported to the three major credit bureaus.	Financial	—
Flexible Payment Due Date Cardmembers have the flexibility to choose a payment due date that works best for them.	Financial	—
Free FICO® Score Access Cardmembers can access their FICO® Score for free online.	Financial	Free access
No Annual Fee The Citi® Secured Mastercard® does not charge an annual fee.	Financial	$0 Up to $0
Account Alerts Cardmembers can set up email or text alerts to stay informed about their account activity, such as when a payment is due or a large purchase is made.	Security	—
Citi Identity Theft Solutions If a cardmember becomes a victim of identity theft, Citi will provide assistance to help resolve the issue.	Security	Assistance provided
Zero Liability Protection Cardmembers are not responsible for unauthorized charges made with their Citi® Secured Mastercard®.	Security	Full protection

Interest Rates

Purchase APR 28.24% Variable

Balance Transfer APR 28.24%

Cash Advance APR 29.99%

Min. Interest Charge $0.5

Fees

Annual Fee $0 — No Annual Fee

Authorized User Fee Free

Foreign Transaction Fee 3%

Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Cash Advance Fee Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.

Late Payment Fee Up to $41

Returned Payment Fee Up to $41

Approval & Eligibility

580 Recommended minimum FICO · Range 580–669

300 Poor 580 Fair 670 Good 740 Very Good 800+ Exceptional

Approval Difficulty Easy

Credit Profile Fair

Approval Odds Good

Pre-Qualification Not available

Student Eligible Yes

Co-Applicant Not allowed

Business Eligible No

Credit Limit Range $200 – $2,500

Issuer Rules & Restrictions

Maximum Cards per Issuer

You can hold up to 5 cards from this issuer simultaneously.

Shutdown Risk Triggers

Failure to make timely payments, defaulting on the account, suspicious or fraudulent activity, manufactured spending (less common due to low limits but still a risk), rapid accumulation of credit across multiple issuers, or misrepresentation on the application.

Cliff Effect Rules

Citi is known for its '24-month rule' and, for certain card families (e.g., ThankYou points cards), a '48-month rule'. These rules generally state that you are ineligible to receive a sign-up bonus on a new card if you have opened or closed a card of the same product family within the last 24 or 48 months, respectively. As the Citi Secured Mastercard typically does not offer a sign-up bonus, this rule does not directly impact its application. However, it is a critical issuer rule to be aware of for future applications for other Citi credit cards that do offer bonuses.

International Friendly

May have limitations for international use.

Additional Issuer Rules

The Citi Secured Mastercard is designed for individuals looking to build or rebuild their credit history. Eligibility requirements for 2026 include being at least 18 years old, having a valid U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), a U.S. mailing address, and a U.S. bank account. Approval is contingent upon providing a security deposit, typically ranging from $200 to $2,500, which will become your credit limit. This card does not offer a sign-up bonus. While specific application velocity rules (e.g., 1/8, 2/65) are more relevant for unsecured cards and bonus eligibility, applicants should be aware that Citi generally monitors new account openings across all its products.