Citibank Clear Credit Card Review: Should You Apply?
ValueChampion Rating 
Pros
- Great for student/young adult budgets
- Good rewards at Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts and Subway
Cons
- Not suitable for salaries above S$30,000/year
- Lacks rewards on education and bills
Citi Clear Card stands out amongst other student cards for its great dining discounts and mile-earning potential. Students ages 18 and older can earn 1 Pt (equivalent to 0.4 miles) per S$1 spend, without any minimum income requirement. Cardholders also are privy to Citi Gourmet Pleasures, which offers extra discounts and savings with popular dining merchants. While there’s a S$29.96 fee (waived 1 year), added benefits can cancel out the cost.
Citi Clear Credit Card Features and Benefits
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Key Features:
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What Makes Citi Clear Credit Card Stand Out
Students who often dine out or prefer miles to cashback rewards can benefit from Citi Clear Card. Cardholders earn 1 point per S$1 spend, equal to 0.4 air miles (or about 0.4% cashback). Most alternatives just offer cash rebate. In addition, Citi Clear Card’s rewards rate is higher than several competitors’.
| Spend | Rate | Earned | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citi Clear Card | S$500 | eqv. 0.4% | S$2.00 |
| DBS Live Fresh Student | S$500 | 0.3% | S$1.50 |
| SC Manhattan S$500 | S$500 | 0.25% | S$1.25 |
Another benefit of Citi Clear Card is its great dining privileges. Cardholders have access to Citi Gourmet Pleasures, which offers return vouchers and up to 20% off at select restaurants. Cardholders can often enjoy everything from exclusive privileges at foodpanda to discounts at Michelin star restaurants like CUT by Wolfgang Puck. This range allows for day-to-day savings on food, as well as discounts for special occasions.
A downside to Citi Clear Card, however, is that several key expense categories are excluded from earning rewards. Bill pay and spend on educational institutions, transit, top-ups and more are not eligible to earn points. Young commuters and those paying for their schooling may prefer a card that does reward these kinds of payments, or that instead has a higher overall rewards rate.
Another thing worth mentioning is that Citi Clear Card has an annual fee of S$29.96, which is waived just 1 year. Alternative student cards do not have a fee. However, students who are likely to take advantage of the dining discounts can definitely benefit from Citi Clear Card.
How Does Citi Clear Credit Card’s Rewards Program Work?
Use our quick and easy-to-read guide below to learn how you can redeem card rewards.
- Spend is rewarded in Citi Dollars, redeemable as cash, miles or vouchers
- Citi Dollars expire 1 year after they are earned
- Citi Dollars can be converted in 25,000 points to 10,000 air miles (ie KrisFlyer, Asia Miles)
- There is a S$25 fee for each conversion of Citi Dollars to air miles
- All unused Citi Dollars are forfeited upon card account termination
Citi Clear Credit Card Rewards Exclusions
The following credit card expenditures are ineligible for cash back or rebate.
How does Citi Clear Credit Card Compare Against Other Cards?
- Pros
- Great for student/young adult budgets
- Good rewards at Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts and Subway
- Cons
- Not suitable for salaries above S$30,000/year
- Lacks rewards on education and bills
Read our comparisons of Citi Clear Card with other cards and learn what makes each card unique in their own way. We compare and contrast each card to highlight its uniqueness to help you identify the card that you need.
Citi Clear Card v. CIMB AWSM Card
- Pros
- Students, NSFs & low-income consumers earning less than S$30,000/year
- People with high spend on dining, entertainment, online shopping & telco
- Individuals interested in discounts & deals in Indonesia and Malaysia
- Cons
- Individuals who earn more than S$30,000/year
- People who tend to eat in, and prefer to shop offline
- Young adults looking for cashback on their utilities spend
While open to students and NSFs without income, CIMB AWSM Card is the only no-fee card on the market available to salaried employees who make less than S$30,000/year. Cardholders earn 1% rebate on dining, entertainment, online shopping & telco expenses and receive a S$500 credit limit. This card is great for first-time employees, but students with high dining spend can access greater merchant discounts with Citi Clear Card.
Citi Clear Card v. Maybank eVibes Card
- Pros
- Students & NSF earning less than S$30,000/year
- People looking for easy cashback on all spend
- Individuals hoping to avoid paying an annual fee
- Cons
- Young adults who’d prefer a card with EZ-Link functionality
Maybank eVibes Card offers the highest rebate of student cards on the market, with 1% flat cashback on all spend, with no minimum requirement. Cardholders must be existing tertiary students or NSF men, ages 18–30, and cannot earn S$30,000 or more per year. While there’s a S$5 quarterly service fee, it’s waived if the card is used once every 3 months. In addition, new cardmembers receive an Adidas wristwatch. Maybank eVibes Card is easy-to-use and a great match for students seeking no-fee cashback.
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Zoryana is a Senior Research Analyst at ValueChampion, who focuses on evaluating credit cards, savings and fixed deposits in Singapore. She holds a BA in Political Science and an MPA in International Finance and Economic Policy, both from Columbia University. Prior to joining ValueChampion, Zoryana worked in treasury management consulting.