Citizen’s Bank Mastercard 5% Cash Back Through March 31 (Branch Only – Northeast US)

The Offer

No direct link, offer available in-branch only (CT, DE, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT)

  • Citizen’s Bank is offering an introductory offer on their Cash Back Mastercard to earn 5% cashback on all purchases through March 31, 2020.

The Citizen’s Bank Cash Back Plus Mastercard generally earns 1.8% back on all purchases. With this introductory offer, you’ll earn an extra 3.2% on all purchases for a total of 5% cash back.

 

Our Verdict

This offer is being advertised at Citizen’s Bank branches, and has been available since at least last week. Not sure how long it’ll last. Judging from various readers who’ve sent this in, it appears to be available at all Citizen’s Bank locations, but again, it requires a physical branch location and can not be done online.

5% for 4-5 months is pretty sweet, especially if you have large purchases to make, e.g. for the holidays or your upcoming tax bill. There doesn’t appear to be any limit to the 5% earn, though we don’t know how generous the bank is with credit lines which could hinder the ability to make large purchases. Update: some readers have gotten $500 credit limit from Citizen’s Bank in the past 🙁

Hat tip to readers Max, AR, Michael and PF
    Chuck
  • On November 8, 2019, 11:15

View Comments (104)

    • Cash Spent: $36222.40
      1.8% already earned: $652.02
      3.2% credited 04/15: $1159.12
      Total 5% cash back: $1811.14

    • total spent: ~$48K
      cashback received: ~$864 (@1.8%)
      cashback expected by 05/31: ~$1536 (@3.2%)

      Too bad I chickened out and didn't cycle CL.

          • Yes, it showed up right where 1.8% used to be. I also received a congratulatory email that showed my exact total spend, amount I had received @1.8% and amount they now paid @3.2%.
            I am pretty sure soon you will get too, they may be sending out in batches.

          • @guest_838558 My Citizens stimulus check arrived today. Got the full amount I expected. Couldn't be more elated by the timing of this and the entire card promo!!!

          • @guest_838703 Congratulations! that's awesome. Looks like you made the most of it, at least based on the DPs posted here. I am glad it worked out well for you.

            Now the question is what to do with this card, and how to avail the next opportunity if they run the promo again in November. Do you know whether this recent promo was for new customers only or did the existing customers got it too? If it was for new customers only then I wonder if we close the account now we may be eligible for another round in November.

          • I believe the promo was for new cardmembers, but I could be wrong. No idea if they'll run the promo again, my guess is no as they probably see by the numbers that it didn't help them all that much. Personally I'll just be keeping the card and using it for certain purchases I don't want on my Citi Double Cash card. Happy to give them some business for the time being to reward them for this promotion as long as it benefits me.

        • Thanks, Sam, crossing my fingers over here. Haven't seen any reason why they won't honor it, so I think we're good.

  • I think they have shut me down. Haven't used the card for a week, today an organic $40 purchase got declined. Called the number on the back of the card, guy from their fraud dept. said the transection wasn't declined due to fraud alert but rather the card has been blocked by "the bank" even before this attempted purchase. He said the bank will notify me soon about card status. I still have access to the online account but I suspect they are going to shutdown the card.

    • This is the first time my CC with any bank has ever been blocked so I don't have any experience dealing with this situation. I don't how what's a appropriate strategy here; should I just wait for their decision or should I keep trying reaching out to them. Looking for help from experienced folks @guest_838703. @guest_838529

      • Wish I had words of wisdom. I talked to the fraud department when my big Simon purchases weren't going through on multiple days, and they were super helpful. They ended up whitelisting that merchant for me so the big transactions would go through and didn't even ask questions about what the purchase was. Very friendly. I personally wouldn't think it was a complete shutdown based on what you've experienced. You've tried using the card at other times for normal transactions? And have you tried calling the fraud department again and ask to speak with a supervisor about the issue?

        • @guest_838703 Thanks for your reply. Yes, I have tried small regular purchases with different merchants but none went through as of this afternoon. Haven't called them since Friday, will try tomorrow during business hours and will try to get to the supervisor.

          The possible trigger for red flag may be maxing out the card limit, or it may be due to the reason that a few days ago P2 was returning some items to a merchant that she had purchased with Citi credit card, but during return process she inadvertently inserted the citizen's credit card into the card reader. So, the merchant "refunded" the funds to my citizen's credit card (have been posted to account) that were actually purchased by the Citi card. I am thinking that may have raised a red flag in the system and led to the card freeze. Who knows....

          • @guest_838558 Please report back. From the sounds of it, the card is just locked. I've maxed out my credit limit a few times over, I really don't think you're shut down. Just probably locked until they ensure the card is still in your hands. It's a smaller bank, so if it was a bigger bank they probably would have called you by now to sort it out. Best of luck.

          • @guest_838703 Thanks for encouraging me to talk to CS, which I did. They kept transferring me from Joe to Nancy to Vivaan for 50 minutes until I was finally connected to the supervisor. She put me on hold for a couple of minutes and came back with the news that the card was blocked due to a glitch on their end. She unlocked the card, was extremely polite, and apologized for the inconvenience which, being a thoroughly gentleman, I accepted. This was a couple of days ago. I did 2 small organic test purchases which cleared and posted fine today. In fact, I received a reminder email today that promo 5% is expiring 03/31, so I just bought $10K from Simons and it went through. GL to both of us and others on the same boat!

          • @guest_838558 Great news! I hadn't heard from you in days so figured it was a no go, or you drowned. They all seem super nice and polite at this bank which I like, and I laughed out loud at the email reminder I got as well. Yes, I won't forget, I promise. I just did $10k at Simon this week and pulled a double-prepay trick last time so I can do another $10k this weekend. I've been applying the 1.8% CB to my account instantly in hopes that if there is a clawback/shutdown that they won't legally be able to remove statement credits. I feel about 75% sure the 3.2% CB won't be a problem based on my volume.

          • Yep, I have been applying 1.8% CB to my account too. I think we will get the remaining 3.8%. I am not spending crazy anyway...just aiming for $2-2.5K CB in total.

          • Just wanted to update on my spend. I should be at around $70k in spend by the end of the month... not bad for a $10k limit and only 4 months. If all goes as planned and I get the additional 3.2% cashback, I'm looking at $3,500 in cashback. Very happy with the result if they pay out the 3.2% without any hassle.

    • Still no update from the bank. Still have access to online account but unable to make purchases with CC.

  • imo this is way too risky to try to max out and do any kind of ridiculous MS on. the smart thing to do would be try to get maybe $1000 total and hope they dont notice. if you try to be a big fish and do something that stands out, someone will likely notice and you will be out a lot of money. wells fargo did it to me back when they offered the 5% at drug stores for the first 6 months, just arbitrarily shut me down and took away the cash back. i think there will be a lot of sad posts come May

    • @guest_838988 your comment totally makes sense....but with 5% CB, $1K Simon cards, Safeway VGC deals, liquidation opportunities without MOs....Man its too hard to resist!

      • liquidation opportunities without MO eh? are you just talking about the commonly known bluebird/serve, plastiq, etc or do you have some 0 cost secret couch ms method

    • @guest_860780 How did you find out about shutdown? I have almost maxed out my credit limit. This morning my account was showing $50 as available credit, just logged into the account and it shows available credit is zero (I did the math, including pending transection, and I should still have $50 available credit). Also, about five days ago I made 2 payments totaling ~$12K but both are still showing as "payment hold" under my transections. I think they might have shut me down.

      • @guest_838558 Citizens takes about a week for your payments to clear and the available credit to return. You weren't shut down based on this information alone.

        • Thanks for your input @guest_838703 , hopefully you are right!
          I wasn't planning on maxing out but just couldn't stop myself. Did $7K in MS along with $5K organic spend and there goes the monthly limit. The only good thing is I didn't cycle the credit. If I survive this time, I think going forward I will probably use ~80% of CL.

          • I did my full CL the first statement. Going to try to cycle at least once per cycle. Can't resist. Good luck to us both.

    • How did you do >$50k in volume in such a short time without MS?

      What was your credit limit and were you cycling your credit?

  • I just got shut down. Had $1000 or so cash back, meaning they just stole $2700 or so. I'm quickly opting out of Binding Arbitration, And you should to.

    RIGHT TO CANCEL OR OPT OUT OF THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT
    You may opt out of this Arbitration Agreement to resolve any claim or dispute by arbitration.
    To opt out of this Arbitration Agreement, you must send us written notice of your decision
    within forty-five (45) days of the opening of your Account or of receiving the Arbitration
    Agreement for the first time. Such notice must clearly state that you wish to cancel or opt
    out of the Arbitration Agreement section of this Card Agreement. It should include your
    name, address, Account name, Account number and your signature and must be mailed to
    Credit Card Services – Arbitration, P.O. Box 7092, Bridgeport, CT 06601. This is the sole and
    only method by which you can opt out of this Arbitration Agreement. Your exercise of the
    right to opt-out will not affect any remaining terms of this Card Agreement and will not result
    in any adverse consequence to you or your Account. You agree that our business records
    will be final and conclusive evidence with respect to whether you cancelled or opted out of
    this Arbitration Agreement in a timely and proper fashion.

  • Applied in branch last week. Instant approval, received the card today. $12K CL. My score is ~790, 6/24. I thawed only Equifax knowing that they pull only this CB, and sure enough they did. Luckily, only 2 inquiries in the last 12 months with this CB. Hoping for an easy $2K provided my BBs survive the shutdowns.

  • Finally got my online access and made a test purchase at the mall. My small test tracked as shopping and I see the 1.8% cash back in my account already. :)

      • Thanks for the tip. Called in on my drive to Simon and successfully set cash advance limit to $0.

        • I tried to buy a $500 VGC (recent Safeway deal) but transection didn't go through, they locked my card. Had to call and re-activate it. Next day, tried again and transection went through. Simons is next. I am thinking of $10K per month for first two months, then maybe ramp it up for last two months.....hope Simons keep extending their $1K deal until then. Lets see…

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