Does the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card Waive the Annual Fee?
Accurate as of: May 04, 2026
The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card has a standard annual fee of $595. One of the most common questions is whether this fee can be waived for new or existing cardholders.
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Standard Annual Fee Policy
In most cases, the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card does not waive its $595 annual fee. This fee is charged once per year after account opening and continues annually as long as the account remains open.
There is no general introductory waiver for new cardholders, and the fee applies regardless of whether the welcome bonus is earned.
When the Annual Fee May Be Waived or Reduced
While uncommon, there are a few limited situations where the annual fee may be waived or offset:
- Military benefits: Eligible active-duty military members covered under the Military Lending Act (MLA) may have fees waived.
- Private banking relationships: Certain Citigold or Citigold Private Client customers may receive fee waivers or credits as part of relationship benefits.
- Promotional or case-by-case credits: In rare situations, Citi may issue a statement credit or refund due to retention offers or account-specific circumstances.
What Most Cardholders Actually Pay
For the majority of applicants, the annual fee is straightforward:
- $595 per year is charged automatically
There are no standard public offers that eliminate this fee permanently, so planning should assume full payment unless a special exception applies.
Summary
- Standard annual fee: $595
- Waived by default: No
- Possible exceptions: Military, private banking clients, rare retention offers
In most cases, the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card annual fee is not waived and should be expected as part of the cost of holding the card.
Apply here: Citi Strata Elite℠ Card Application
Citi Strata Elite℠ Card
- Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com
- Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time
- Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
- Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
FICO® Credit Scores
A FICO® Score is a proprietary credit score created by the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO). About 90% of top U.S. lenders use it to make lending decisions.
FICO® Score Ranges:
- Exceptional: 800–850
- Very Good: 740–799
- Good: 670–739
- Fair: 580–669
- Poor: 300–579
FICO categorizes scores as Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, and Exceptional.
What is a Credit Score?
A credit score is a three-digit number (300–850) predicting your creditworthiness. Lenders use it to evaluate risk and determine rates and terms for credit.
Why it matters: A higher score can help you qualify for loans and lower interest rates. A lower score can lead to higher borrowing costs or application denials.
FICO® Credit Score Facts
- Three-Digit Number: Summarizes your credit risk.
- Range: 300–850; higher scores = lower risk.
- Data Source: Uses your credit reports from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
- Industry Standard: Lenders rely on FICO for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards.
Note: Credit scores reflect your creditworthiness but do not guarantee approval for any credit product.
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