Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
This card is for paying down a balance, not for earning. Transfers made within 4 months of opening get 0% for 21 months; purchases get 0% for 12 months. There is no annual fee. The caveat: no rewards program, so once the balance hits zero this becomes a backup card.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- 21 months of 0% intro APR on balance transfers, among the longest available
- 12 months of 0% intro APR on purchases
- Lower 3% intro transfer fee when you move balances within 4 months
- No annual fee, so the payoff plan costs nothing to hold
- Regular APR starts at a comparatively low 16.49% Variable
- Free FICO score and ID theft protections
- Annual fee: $0
- Intro purchase APR: 0% for 12 months
- Intro balance transfer APR: 0% for 21 months; transfers within 4 months of opening
- Regular purchase APR: 16.49% - 27.24% Variable
- Balance transfer fee: either $5 or 3% intro in the first 4 months, then either $5 or 5%
- Cash advance APR: 29.74% Variable; fee either $10 or 5%
- Penalty APR up to 29.99%; late payment fee up to $41
- Foreign transaction fee: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
- Rates and offers verified on the issuer's website on August 27, 2026 and may change. See the issuer's pricing and terms for current details.
- You carry high-interest card debt and need almost two years to clear it at 0%.
- Your payoff math beats the 3% intro fee within a month or two of avoided interest.
- You want a large planned purchase interest-free for a year.
- You should skip it if you want rewards: the Double Cash pays 2% and still gives 18 months at 0% on transfers.
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card Review
The Diamond Preferred is a debt tool, not a rewards card. This review covers the 21-month transfer window, the fee math on moving a balance, and what the card is worth after the intro periods end.
How You Earn
This card has no rewards program by design. Its value is interest avoided, not points earned.
- A $5,000 balance at 25% APR costs about $100 a month in interest; 21 months at 0% redirects that to principal
- The 3% intro transfer fee on $5,000 is $150, typically recovered in the first two months
How You Redeem
There is nothing to redeem. Treat the intro windows as the payout.
- Divide the transferred balance by 21 to set the monthly payment that reaches zero
- Set autopay above the minimum to protect the intro rate
Benefits and Protections
The support features are basic but cost nothing.
- Free FICO score access
- Mastercard ID Theft Protection
- Citi Quick Lock
- Choose your payment due date
- Citi Entertainment access
Who This Card Is For
This card fits one situation: real debt that needs a long runway. It rewards a plan, not spending. Once the balance clears, keep it open for credit history and move daily spending to a rewards card.
- Debt consolidators with 670-plus credit
- Planners financing one large purchase
- Anyone who values months over miles
Comparison
| Feature | Citi Diamond Preferred | Capital One VentureOne | Amex Blue Cash Preferred |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 | $0 | $0 intro first year, then $95 |
| Welcome Offer | None | 20,000 miles after $500 in 3 months | As high as $300 after $3,000 in 6 months |
| Rewards Rate | None | 1.25X miles everywhere | 6% U.S. supermarkets, capped; 3% gas and transit |
| Intro APR | 0% for 12 months purchases; 21 months transfers | 0% for 15 months, purchases and transfers | 0% for 12 months, purchases and transfers |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars | None | 2.7% of each transaction |
| Best For | Longest payoff runway | Miles plus intro APR | Groceries plus intro APR |
Issuer Comparison
| Feature | Citi Diamond Preferred | Citi Double Cash | Citi Strata Premier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 | $0 | $95 |
| Welcome Offer | None | $200 after $1,500 | 60,000 points after $4,000 |
| Rewards Rate | None | 2% on everything | 3X on travel, dining, groceries, gas |
| Key Credits | None | None | $100 annual hotel benefit |
| Best For | 21-month 0% transfers | Cash back plus 18-month 0% transfers | Travel points |
Reader results for this card
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Reader reports, not issuer data. Not a prediction of your result. Ranges only, reviewed before publishing.