Deal has expired, view more City National Bank deals by clicking here.
Update 12/16/18: Deal is supposed to end tomorrow, worth picking up if you’re eligible and don’t already have the card.
The Offer
Direct link to offer, keep in mind you cannot apply online and must apply in branch
- Receive a signup bonus of 50,000 points after $5,000 in spend within 90 days of account opening on the City National Crystal Visa Infinite card.
- From September 17th until December 17th, 2018 they are offering an additional 25,000 points
Card Details
- Unlimited Priority Pass Select lounge access for two and their guests (e.g. one primary and one authorized user card + guests)
- $250 airline credit for eligible incidental charges per card per calendar year; each authorized user also gets the $250 benefit separately, up to three AUs (looks like you can do up to 4). View what does/doesn’t trigger the credit here
- $100 companion fair discount, this can be repeated
- $100 Global Entry Credit
- Crystal Card Concierge service
- Visa Infinite Benefits
- 12 free Gogo passes annually
- Available to U.S. Citizens only (resident was successful here)
- Bonus Points offer is limited to City National Bank clients and colleagues who do not currently have, and have not had within the 24 months prior to the date of application, a City National Bank Visa personal credit card account (this comes directly from an e-mail they sent announcing the offer).
- Read the full review here.
Our Verdict
This card has gone through a lot of different offers. When this card first launched it had a 100,000 point bonus, then 70,000 points, then it was 50,000 points and no annual fee, then 50,000 points with the annual fee and now finally 75,000 points with the annual fee. This card is still insane value due to the fact that authorized users also get their own airline credit and you can up to three of them. Because of that I will be adding it to our list of the best credit card bonuses, even though this isn’t the highest offer we’ve seen on this card.
Keep in mind it is difficult to get approved. You need to go in branch to apply branches are in: NY, DE, GA, TN, NV & CA, D.C., MN with the vast majority of branches in California [branch locator here]. They are also a very selective bank looking for high networth/income individuals (although some reports of people getting approved with lower salaries). You should also be able to apply in branch even if you don’t live in a state with branches. If you live near a branch or are planning to be near a branch at any stage I definitely think this card is worth applying for.
Hat tip to reader Chong786
Authorized users require SSN and hard pull?
DP:
Applied in NY branch on 6/12. Submitted financial statements and later on visa info.
6/17 Denied due to non-citizen/green card holder.
The hotel redemption was not great. Bellagio Las Vegas Expedia is pricing at $195/night, CNB reward require $19.8K points. In addition, just found out the CNB reward reservation now requires a $20 fee for cancelling an otherwise fully cancellable hotel reservation. They didn’t disclose anywhere on Terms of Conditions or at the time of hotel booking, only sneaked the fee in the FAQ page. https://www.scorecardrewards.com/tools/GlobalRepository/Documents/FAQs/FINAL_CNB_Travel_FAQs_10.03.2018.pdf
Does AU need a valid job or cab they be homemaker , students etc
The global entry / tsa application fee credit is now only one credit per account every 4 years. It is not one per card.
Pleasantly surprised that I received 75000 bonus points even though my application was approved after December 17th. Note that my application was submitted before 17th (December 14th). My banker was adamant at the time of application that I would only get the bonus points applicable at the time of approval (50000) and not at the time of applying (75000). I think everyone was told the same by their bankers.
DB: Even though you are supposed to get 3x on travel, travel agency MCC’s don’t count. I used it with Roomipay and even though it specifically says travel agency online, I received 1x. I disputed this and they showed in the T&C where that MCC wasn’t included.
Even Expedia was excluded from 3X. That is really weird.
How long did it take for bonus promo points to post after meeting spend? Do you have to wait the full 90 days?
It seemed to take a few weeks for my bonus to post after meeting the spend. Shouldn’t take full 90 days.
My bonus also posted pretty immediately after I hit the spend requirement.
Any idea if the $250 airline credit is by calendar year that the charge was made or is it when reimbursement takes place. If a charge is made today 12/28, on a authorized users card and not reimbursed until January will the 2019 airline credit still be available to use?
I had a AA giftcard of $250 purchased on 12/26, posted on 12/28. The credit posted on the statement next year on 01/03/19, but in details it said transaction date of 12/29/18.
Then I bought a southwest flight for $129 on 01/21/19, and got credited for it on 01/23/2019, so I believe its when the original transaction is posted, or when the credit is triggered, not by when the credit is posted.
I have a similar datapoint confirming. It’s based on the date the transaction posts, not the date the reimbursement hits.
My husband and I just got approved and have received our CNB Crystal Cards. We each applied separately in a branch in CA. He’s retired got approved based on his social security check, but he has a hefty ira balance and our home is paid off. I did not get approved and after numerous correspondence by email with our bank person, she suggested we file jointly. I am a homemaker with no income but we do have three rental houses (fully paid off). Applying jointly did it and we were approved, so we now have 2 accounts with 4 cards between us. I would suggest applying even if you don’t have enough income, but still have assets.