How to Get the Citi Custom Cash Card After Applications Closed

The Citi Custom Cash Card is closed to new applications, but existing Citi cardholders may still be able to get it through a product change.

Written by: Sebastian Fung|Last updated: June 02, 2026

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The Citi Custom Cash® Card is closed to new applications, but existing Citi cardholders may still be able to get it through a product change.

As of June 2026, Citi is no longer accepting new applications for the Citi Custom Cash® Card. Existing cardholders are not impacted and can continue using the card. That creates an important difference: you cannot apply for the card directly, but the card still exists for people who already have it.

For some existing Citi cardholders, there may still be another option. You may be able to product change an eligible Citi card into the Citi Custom Cash. This is not guaranteed, and Citi can change product-change options at any time.

If you already have a Citi card you do not use, it may be worth checking your options sooner rather than later.

Quick answer: Can you still get the Citi Custom Cash?

Yes, potentially. Existing Citi cardholders may still be able to request a product change to the Citi Custom Cash® Card.

A product change lets you switch an existing credit card to another card from the same issuer. In most cases, this means you are not submitting a new application. You also typically do not receive a new welcome bonus.

The Citi Custom Cash is no longer available through a public application. The current option is to ask Citi whether your existing card is eligible to be converted.

The easiest way to check is through Citi online chat or by calling the number on the back of your card.

If you go through online chat, you'll need to bypass the chatbot and chat with a real representative.

Why people still want the Citi Custom Cash

The Citi Custom Cash remains useful because of its automatic 5% category structure.

The card earns 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to $500 in spending. Purchases outside that category, and purchases above the cap, earn 1% back.

Eligible categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment.

The automatic category feature is the big draw. You do not need to activate categories each quarter. Citi looks at your spending each billing cycle and applies the 5% rate to the eligible category where you spent the most.

That makes the card especially useful for categories that are harder to cover with other cards.

For example, one Citi Custom Cash could cover gas. Another could cover grocery stores. Another could cover drugstores, fitness clubs or live entertainment. The right setup depends on your actual spending and the other cards in your wallet.

How to request a Citi Custom Cash product change

The process is straightforward, but the result is not guaranteed.

Start by logging in to your Citi account. Open Citi’s online chat, then ask to speak with a representative. You can also call Citi using the number on the back of your card.

Once you reach a representative, say:

“I’d like to see whether my card ending in XXXX is eligible for a product change to the Citi Custom Cash® Card.”

If Citi shows the Custom Cash as an available option, the representative should explain the terms of the new card and the benefits you would give up on your current card.

Sample Citi product change script

Here is a simple version you can copy and paste into Citi chat:

“Hi, I’d like to see whether my Citi card ending in XXXX is eligible for a product change to the Citi Custom Cash® Card. I would like to keep the same account open if possible. Can you confirm whether this option is available, whether there is a hard pull, and whether my rewards balance or card number would change?”

If the representative says the Custom Cash is not available, ask whether there are any other product-change options. Availability can vary by account, card type, and timing.

If the answer is still no, I would not keep pushing the same representative. You can try again later, but there is no guarantee the option will appear.

Important note: If you have a Citi AA card, it is no longer possible to change it to the Citi Custom Cash Card.

For my Citi AAdvantage Card, I was only offered the Citi/AAdvantage Executive, AAdvantage MileUp Card, Citi/Advantage Globe Mastercard, AT&T Points Plus Card, and the Citi Strata Elite.

Which Citi cards may be worth product changing?

The best candidate is usually a Citi card you no longer use.

For many people, that could be a card with no clear role in their setup. If a card does not earn useful rewards and does not provide benefits you value, converting it to the Citi Custom Cash could be an upgrade.

The Citi Double Cash® Card is more complicated. It earns a strong flat rate on purchases, so I would not automatically convert it. If you already have another 2% card, or if you value 5% categories more than flat-rate earning, then a product change may make sense.

The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card and Citi Simplicity® Card may also be candidates if you are finished with any intro APR or balance transfer use case. Those cards can be useful for financing, but they may not be long-term rewards cards for many people.

Citi American Airlines cards require more caution. If you use checked bag benefits, preferred boarding or other airline perks, do the math before changing the card. You also may not see the Custom Cash as an available option from every Citi card family.

I would be especially cautious with legacy cards. If you change away from a discontinued product, assume you may not be able to get it back.

When a product change makes sense

A product change may make sense if three things are true.

First, you already have an eligible Citi card. This matters because the Citi Custom Cash is no longer open to new applications.

Second, your current Citi card is not providing much value. If you are not using the card’s benefits or earning structure, it may be a better candidate for conversion.

Third, you have steady spending in one of the Citi Custom Cash eligible categories. The card works best when you can use the $500 billing-cycle cap consistently.

For example, someone spending about $500 per month at grocery stores could earn 5% back on that spending with one Custom Cash. Someone with multiple cards could separate categories, but that requires more tracking.

When you should skip it

Do not product change just because the Citi Custom Cash is harder to get.

Skip the product change if your current card provides benefits you use. Airline cards are a good example. Free checked bags, boarding benefits, and airline-specific perks can be worth more than 5% on a capped spending category.

You should also skip it if you were hoping for a welcome bonus. Product changes generally do not come with a new-card bonus. If you convert an existing Citi card, you are doing it for the long-term earning structure.

Finally, skip it if you do not want to manage category spending. The Custom Cash is easier than many rotating-category cards, but you still need to understand which purchases count and where the $500 billing-cycle cap applies.

How much can the Citi Custom Cash earn?

The card’s 5% earning is capped at $500 in your top eligible category each billing cycle.

That means the maximum 5% earning is $25 back per billing cycle. Over 12 billing cycles, that is up to $300 back per year from one Citi Custom Cash before considering any other rewards.

The math is simple:

$500 in eligible category spending x 5% = $25 per billing cycle.

$25 x 12 billing cycles = $300 per year.

That is meaningful for a no-annual-fee card. It becomes more useful if the card covers a category where your other cards earn only 1% or 2%.

For example, the difference between 5% and 2% on $500 per month is $15 per month. Over a year, that difference is $180.

That is why the Citi Custom Cash can still be worth pursuing, even without a welcome bonus.

Can you have more than one Citi Custom Cash?

Some cardholders have more than one Citi Custom Cash through product changes.

That said, Citi does not publicly guarantee this option. Product-change eligibility can vary, and a representative may only show certain cards as available for your account.

If you have multiple Citi cards and want multiple Custom Cash cards, expect to handle each request separately. Citi may not allow multiple conversions in one session.

Before changing multiple cards, map out how you would actually use them. More cards can mean more rewards, but only if you can track categories and avoid mixing purchases.

Best ways to use the Citi Custom Cash

The simplest approach is to assign the card to one category and use it only there.

For example, you could use one Custom Cash only at gas stations. You could use another only at grocery stores. If you use the card across multiple categories, Citi will still apply the 5% rate to your top eligible category, but you may accidentally waste part of the cap.

A few useful category ideas:

Gas stations can be a strong option if your other cards do not cover gas well.

Grocery stores can work if you do not already have a stronger grocery card.

Drugstores can be useful because many cards do not offer a bonus in that category.

Live entertainment can be valuable if you regularly buy concert, sports or event tickets.

Fitness clubs can make sense if you have a gym membership that codes correctly.

The right category depends on your spending. Do not build the setup around a theoretical value.

Citi Custom Cash alternatives

If you cannot product change to the Citi Custom Cash, there are still good alternatives.

The Citi Double Cash® Card is the simplest Citi option for many people. It earns 2% cash back on purchases: 1% when you buy and 1% as you pay.

The Chase Freedom Flex® can be a strong option if you are comfortable activating quarterly categories. It earns 5% back in rotating bonus categories on up to $1,500 in combined quarterly spending after activation.

The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is another option if you want to choose 5% categories. It can be useful, but it requires more management than the Citi Custom Cash.

For dining, entertainment and grocery-adjacent spending, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card may also be worth considering.

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Bottom line

The Citi Custom Cash® Card is closed to new applications, but existing Citi cardholders may still have a product-change option.

If you already have a Citi card you do not use, ask Citi whether it can be converted to the Citi Custom Cash. Use online chat or call the number on the back of your card.

Just make sure the card you are converting is not providing more value than the Custom Cash would. You also should not expect a welcome bonus from a product change.

For the right person, the Citi Custom Cash is still one of the more useful no-annual-fee cash-back cards. The value comes from using the 5% category consistently and keeping the card focused on one spending category.

FAQ

Is the Citi Custom Cash Card discontinued?

The Citi Custom Cash® Card is no longer accepting new applications as of May 28, 2026. Existing cardholders are not impacted and can continue using the card.

Can I still apply for the Citi Custom Cash Card?

No. Citi is no longer accepting new applications for the Citi Custom Cash® Card.

Can I still get the Citi Custom Cash through a product change?

Possibly. Some existing Citi cardholders may still be able to product change an eligible Citi card to the Citi Custom Cash. Availability can vary by account and may change.

How do I product change to the Citi Custom Cash?

Log in to Citi online chat or call the number on the back of your card. Ask whether your card is eligible for a product change to the Citi Custom Cash® Card.

Does a Citi product change earn a welcome bonus?

No. Product changes generally do not earn welcome bonuses because you are not opening a new card account.

Does a product change require a hard pull?

A product change usually should not work like a new application, but you should ask Citi directly before confirming. Ask whether the change requires a hard credit inquiry.

Can I have multiple Citi Custom Cash cards?

Some cardholders have multiple Citi Custom Cash cards through product changes. Citi does not guarantee this option, and eligibility can vary.

What is the Citi Custom Cash 5% limit?

The card earns 5% cash back on up to $500 in purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle. Purchases above the cap and other purchases earn 1% back.

Is the Citi Custom Cash still worth it?

It can be worth it if you can get it through a product change from a Citi card you do not use. The value is strongest when you consistently spend near the $500 billing-cycle cap in one eligible category.

The information related to the Custom Cash® Card, Citi Double Cash® Credit Card, and Citi AA Cards have been collected by AskSebby.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, vendors or companies, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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