My Citibank Citi Simplicity Credit Card Review

With all the perks you can get from a credit card, having no annual fee is probably one of the sought after benefits. And Citibank Citi Simplicity credit card is one of those. But is it really worth it? This Citibank Citi Simplicity credit card review Philippines edition will tell you whether it deserves to be one of the top credit cards in the Philippines. 

If you have no credit card but is planning to acquire yourself one, I highly suggest reading this guide to assess your readiness in holding a credit card.

Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links. Any sales made through such links will reward me a small commission – at no extra cost for you. Still, everything you read in this blog is based on my unbiased verdict towards the products or services mentioned.

My Verdict Towards Citi Simplicity Credit Card

Getting Citi Simplicity Credit Card is one of the best decisions I made so far. I love how it fully integrates with the Citibank mobile app.


Its mobile banking app is more than what I could ask for. Even better than the usual online banking apps I am using right now. I am really impressed by how they are able to reflect all my purchases in the app instantly. The eStatement is also delivered on-time.


On top of that, their online app allows me to lock/unlock my credit card! No transaction purchases will pentrate until I say so. This simply means I have full control over my card’s security. Isn’t that amazing?


I would definitely give a perfect five-star rating for Citi Simplicity if only the payment options are widely available. I hope they will include cashless payment options in mobile wallets like Paymaya, Gcash, and Coins.ph soon.

Different Citi Bank Cards

Before anything else, let me first lay all the types of credit cards Citibank has to offer. Citibank Philippines has four major types of credit cards particular for your needs:

---

1. Rebate Cards

Best for those who want to gain rebates in their purchases.

---

1.1. Citibank Cash Back Card

If you’re the one who basically pays all the bills and does the groceries for your family, this type should be the real deal for you.

---

1.2 Shell Citi Card

This card is perfect not only for car owners but also for public utility drivers who consume a hell lot of fuel.

---

1.3 Mercury Drug Citi Card

Must-have card for those who spend more for their health and wellness.

You can also enjoy a FREE Annual Physical Exam until June 30, 2020.

---

2. Travel Cards

Best for itchy feet who love to travel often.

---

2.1 Citi PrimierMiles Card

What I like about this card is it can chunk down expensive ticket purchases into small payments with 0% interest! Amazing, isn’t it?

---

3. Rewards Cards

Best for people who are fans of dining, entertainment, and online subscriptions.

---

3.1 Citi Prestige Card

I believe this card is for the elite ones who want to enjoy desirable rewards and privileged experiences during their travels.

---

3.2 Citi Rewards Card

If you’re a sucker for rewards, this card must be the one for you. You can use it anywhere with no cap on points earning.

---

3.3 Citi Grab Card

This is definitely a good news for Grab addicts! You can now enjoy rewards while paying for your favorite Grab services (GrabCar, GrabFood, GrabExpress, and GrabAssistant ).

---

4. Interest Back Cards

Best for frugal honeys who don’t want to pay for any annual fees.

---

4.1 City Simplicity+ Card

Apart from enjoying no annual fee FOREVER, Citi Simplicity also offers perks you can’t see in other credit cards.

---

About Citibank Citi Simplicity

Well, I’m pretty sure you’re wondering how Citi Simplicity differs from other Citibank credit cards apart from the brief overviews I mentioned above. Here are the other details you should know about Citibank Citi Simplicity+ :

Citi Simplicity Card Fees and Charges as of June 2019

Retail Monthly Effective Interest Rate	2%
Citi Cash Advance Monthly Effective Interest Rate	3.63% inclusive of the Citi Cash Advance Service Charge
Citi Cash Advance Service Charge	P500 or 3% if Citi Cash Advance Amount, whichever is higher
Minimum Amount Due	A. Your total amount due if it is less than or equal to P500; or B. The sum of the items below or P500 1. Any past due amount; 2. Monthly installments due for the month; 3. Interest charge; 4. Late charge; and 5. Total due less items 1-4, multiplied by the required payment percentage of 1%.
Foreign Transaction Fee	All charges made in foreign currencies will automatically be coverted to Philippine Peso on the posting dates at the prevailing exchange rate determined by Visa/Mastercard. A fee of up to 3.535% will be imposed on the converted amount which represents Citibank’s service fee and assessment fees charged by Visa/Mastercard.
Disbursement Fee	P250 for each approved Citi Balance Transfer transaction.
Processing Fee	P500 for each approved Citi Speed Cash transaction. P250 for each approved Citi Flexibill transaction.
Initial Interest for Citi Balance Transfer, Citi FlexiBill, Citi Paylite after purchase and Citi Speed Cash	(Approved Principal Amount x Monthly EIR x # of days from the approval date to the statement date) / 30 days
Card Replacement Fee	P400 for each stolen card.
Returned Check Fee	P1,500 will be charged for every check that is returned or that bounces due to insufficiency of funds, uncollected deposits, stop payment order, closed account, alteration, erasure or deficiency, or for any other reason.
Charge Slip Retrieval Fee	P250 for each charge slip retrieved upon your request, for whatever reason. The same amount will be charged to you for each charge slip retreived by the Citibank arising from invalid dispute.

My Personal Citibank Credit Card Experience

I just got myself the Citibank’s Citi Simplicity Card last October 2019. I am a credit card user since year 2017 and to be honest, I really find the Citi Simplicity better than the credit cards I have used before.

In fact, I am currently using my Citibank credit card more often than my other cards.

Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages I encountered while using the Citibank Citi Simplicity Card so far:

---

Advantages of Citi Simplicity Card

1. No annual fee

I know. You came here for this very reason. Most credit cards charge an annual fee an average of P1500-P2500 in return for the perks you’ll get for using such card. However, most, if not all, people aren’t willing to throw that amount for three good reasons:

1. They simply have no moolah for that.
   
   
2. They’re not confident they can maximize the credit card’s rewards after paying for the annual fee.
   
   
3. Not a fan of credit cards since their mommas told them it’s a sinful card.
   
   

Most credit cards waive the annual fee for the first year, so you’ll start paying it in the second year until forever. For some, annual fees are quite minimal compared to the perks they can get especially if they use those cards heavily. 

But if you’re just an average dude like me who uses credit cards during emergencies, you’ll surely prefer credit cards offering no annual fee like Citi Simplicity. Like duh, I can already buy good skincare products for that annual fee amount.

Aside from having your annual fee being waived perpetually, is Citi Simplicity still a good catch? Let’s find out in the next sections!

2. Hassle-free online application

I remember submitting an online application for Citibank Simplicity card after seeing its ad on facebook. The process was smooth and I haven’t had any issues.

They require necessary requirements though, such as valid IDs and payslip to confirm your identity and payment capability. Boy, it only took me less than five minutes to get access to this “sinful card”!

3. Quick approval

As far as I remember, my application was approved right after completing the online application. But of course, that’s after complying with the requirements and minimum qualifications.

If you’re an existing credit card holder like me, you’ll get a higher chance of getting approved once they confirm you’re a good payor.

You’ll receive a call from one of their agents confirming your Citi Simplicity card approval.

4. Quick credit card delivery

A week or less after the approval of my online application, I already received my credit card. It came with a copy of their terms and conditions. The card itself also has a sticker on how to activate it through the Citibank App. 

If you’re a first-time credit cardholder or even if it’s your nth time getting yourself a credit card, reading the terms and conditions before activating is a MUST. You should be able to get a good grasp of the underlying interests and the period and due to your billing.

5. Top-notch app functionality

I was more than amazed after using the Citi Bank online app myself. Here are a few of the good reasons why:

5.1 Real-time reflection of purchases

All your purchases will show up in an instant in the Citibank mobile app. You can keep track of all your transactions and your available balance on one screen. This will help you be mindful of every swipe you do.

5.2 On-time statement of account (SOA) delivery

Credit cards mostly deliver your statement of account billing in your doorstep or through email. Mind you, it will take them at least a week after your billing period to deliver your SOA. 

With Citi Simplicity, you will not undergo such a daunting process of guessing your amount due since it is automatically viewable in your Citibank app right after the billing period. The best thing about this? All transactions are paperless. 

If you feel the need to have a physical copy of your SOA, you can do so by downloading the PDF of SOA from the app and printing it for yourself. 

5.3 Convert bill payments into installments

If you think you’re unable to pay your bill and it might take months for you to pay it off, you have the option to convert it to monthly installments. It’s just like paying your Homecredit or Flexi loans.

Citibank made it easier for its users to automatically apply for monthly installments through their app. One thing I love about it is its payment flexibility. You can choose to change the following so the monthly interest can adjust accordingly:

• Amount you would like to convert into monthly installments
  
  
• Number of months to pay (12, 18, 24, 36 months)
  

After choosing your monthly installment plan, the app will show your repayment schedule including the interest you have to pay. Citibank subjects the following interests for payment installment conversion:

• 0.99% Converted Monthly Factor Rate
  
  
• At least 23.15% Effective Interest Rate

To do this, just select your statement due on your dashboard and click the installment option below.

5.4 App lock feature

I’m pretty sure you’ve heard countless rants from credit cardholders who got their account hacked. Citibank prevents such fraudulent acts by letting you lock your credit card transactions in the app. 

This just means no single purchase is allowed to penetrate by the time you lock your credit card. Only by unlocking it can you reactivate the card once again.

This way, you’ll have full control and experience maximum security for your card. Citibank must be one of the most-hated banks of the fraudsters right now.

You can lock/unlock your Citi bank card by going to Settings and clicking the lock/unlock card.

Here, let me walk you through the Citibank App:

[sp_wpcarousel id=”2164″]

Disadvantages of Citi Simplicity Card

While Citi Simplicity may sound too good to be true, it also has downsides. Here they are:

1. No Rewards

Unlike any other credit cards which let you earn points through purchases, Citi Simplicity simply does not give those sweet treats. Well, at least you’re not paying for an annual fee, right?

2. No excellent credit score? No way.

Acquiring this card is a little bit harder than you think. Citibank carefully examines its card users by judging on their credit scores. This just means that they’ll look in your credit history before making the decision.

They’ll ask for your existing credit cards and will do some background check. If your credit history shows you’re not capable of holding another card, they’ll just shrug your application off.

3. High foreign transaction fees

If you use this card while traveling abroad or while doing purchases other than the Peso currency, you will be charged 3% of the total purchase. This will automatically reflect to your billing.

Imagine paying P300 for every P10,000 of foreign transactions that you make. Heck, that’s quite a lot. I can already buy myself a Lambo toy for such an amount!

---

How to Apply for a Citi Simplicity Credit Card?

If you’ve gotten this far, it just means that you’re an interesting dude for this card. But wait! Before wasting your time with the application only to get rejected, make sure you have the following qualifications first:

Basic Citi Simplicity Card Requirements:

Citi Simplicity Credit Card Requirements

Required Documents:

1 photo-bearing government-issued ID (UMID, GSIS, Driver’s license, Passport, SSS, TIN)

Note: Valid TIN, SSS, GSIS or UMID number and active landline or mobile phone number are required.

Required Documents:

1 photo-bearing government-issued ID (UMID, GSIS, Driver’s license, Passport, SSS, TIN)

Required Documents:
1. 1 photo-bearing government-issued ID  
2. Proof of income
  a. Latest one month pay slip, or
  b. Latest income tax return (BIR 2316) with a BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) stamp or with a signature of your employer’s authorized representative, or
  c. Original and signed Certificate of Employment that includes your status as an employee, length of service and compensation.
3. Bank statement of your Payroll Account showing your one-month salary

Note: Valid TIN, SSS, GSIS or UMID number and active landline or mobile phone number are required.

Minimum income of P250,000 per year if you have no credit card

Steps on how to apply

1. Visit Citibank’s online credit card application.
   
   
2. Choose Citi Simplicty+ Card and click APPLY NOW.
   
   
3. Tick the appropriate responses for their question: (Do you have a principal credit card with another bank?, etc.)
   
   
4. Fill out the application by providing your personal information.
   
   
5. Read and check to agree with their terms and conditions.
   
   After completing their application form, you will know right away if you’re qualified to proceed with the next process. If so, proceed to the next step.
   
   
6. Submit your supporting documents by uploading their images.
   

After completing all the steps above, you have to wait at least 5 days for Citibank to verify your documents necessary for your approval. You will receive an SMS, a phone call, or an email upon approval. Expect the card to be delivered on your doorstep within a week.

To activate your Citi Simplicity Card, just download the Citibank Mobile App and input the necessary details.

Citi Simplicity Credit Card FAQs

Yes, you’ll be able to use your card immediately for any purchases or bill payments.

You’ll usually start with a P20,000 credit limit. But if you have a very good credit score and a big annual income, your initial credit limit may jumpstart more than that.

Your billing cycle usually starts on the first day of the month and ends after 30 calendar days. Your billing cycle adjusts accordingly especially during months like January, February, March, May, July, August, October, December when days fall below or above 30 days.

On your Citibank online app dashboard, select Statement Balance and click the PDF icon on the upper right corner.

Input the OTP that will be generated to your registered mobile number.

Due date for your billed transactions varies 17-23 days after billing date. To confirm this, you have to check your eStatement.

• Pay at Card Payment Express Machines available at all Citibank branches
• Pay through Citibank Account Auto-Debit
• Pay through Citibank Online or Mobile Banking
• Pay through Bancnet and select bills payment
• Pay through BPI or Unionbank’s online payment facility

For the detailed info, you can check Citibank’s Card Payment Centers.

Your payment due date can be seen on your eStatement. You can also see it on your mobile Citibank. Go to the dashboard and click the statement balance. Both your minimum amount due and payment due date will be shown. These values will automatically reflect after your billing period.

After your billing period, you will be given 20 calendar days to settle your amount due.

In my case, my billing starts on the first day of the month and ends on the last day of the same month. The purchases I made within that period will be billed every first day of the next month. Citibank will then give me 20 days to pay my dues.

Here’s an example:

• Billing period: January 1 – January 31, 2020
• Statement of Account: February 1, 2020
• Due Date: February 20, 2020 (Grace Period: Feb. 1 – Feb. 20)

1. Open your Citibank mobile app.
2. Go to settings.
3. Scroll down to card settings and select your Citi Simplicity card
4. Select Cash Advance PIN and click continue.
5. You will receive an OTP to your registered mobile number. Enter it to your Citibank App.
6. Create a 4-digit PIN.

After completing the steps above, you can now go to a Citibank ATM or their partner banks to withdraw the cash using your 4-digit PIN.

If you’re a good payor, Citibank normally gives a call to increase your credit limit. But of course, it will greatly depend on your credit activities. If you purchase more often and you pay dues on time, your credit limit will more likely to increase. This usually happens every 6 months of using your card.

How to lock:

1. Open your Citibank mobile app.
2. Go to settings.
3. Select Lock Card.

How to unlock:

1. Open your Citibank mobile app.
2. Go to settings.
3. Select Unlock Card.
4. You will receive an OTP. Enter it on the app.

No. Any scheduled or recurring transfers or payments will continue to be processed.