Citi Credit Card Pre-Qualification Tool: How It Works
Accurate as of: October 4, 2026
Before you submit a credit card application and receive a hard inquiry on your credit report, it can make sense to see whether you may be pre-qualified first. Citi has an online pre-qualification process that allows you to check for selected credit card offers using a soft credit inquiry that does not affect your credit score.
If you already know which Citi card you want, we also have individual guides explaining how prequalification works for each card.
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How to Use the Citi Pre-Qualification Process
The Citi pre-qualification process is built into the application process for eligible credit card offers and requires some basic information so Citi can identify you and determine which offers may be available to you.
- Start the application: Choose the Citi credit card you are interested in and begin the application process.
- Provide the requested information: Citi will ask for information such as your name, address, email address and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
- Review your offers: Citi may first check whether you are pre-qualified using a soft credit inquiry. If you receive a pre-qualified offer, you can review it before deciding whether to continue with the formal application.
Which Citi Credit Cards Can You Check for Prequalification?
We have individual guides explaining how the prequalification process works for several Citi credit cards. Choose the card you're interested in below to learn more.
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card Pre-Approval
Citi Strata℠ Card Pre-Approval
Citi Strata Elite℠ Card Pre-Approval
Citi Strata Premier® Card Pre-Approval
Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® Pre-Approval
AT&T Points Plus® Card from Citi Pre-Approval
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi Pre-Approval
Does Citi Pre-Qualification Affect Your Credit Score?
No. Checking for pre-qualified offers uses a soft credit inquiry, which does not affect your FICO® score. This allows you to see whether you may qualify for available offers without taking the score impact associated with a hard inquiry.
A hard inquiry can occur when you decide to submit a formal application for a specific credit card. Prequalification is therefore useful if you want to check your potential eligibility before deciding whether to apply.
Is Citi Pre-Qualification a Guarantee of Approval?
No. Being pre-qualified does not guarantee that your application will be approved. If you decide to apply, you still have to complete the formal application, and Citi will make the final credit decision.
Pre-Qualification vs. Applying for a Citi Card
The main difference is the credit inquiry. Pre-qualification uses a soft inquiry and does not hurt your credit score, while submitting a formal application can result in a hard inquiry. Checking for pre-qualified offers can therefore be a useful first step if you want to see what may be available before applying.
Once you decide which card you want, you can use the appropriate pre-approval guide above to learn more about that card's prequalification process.
For additional information about submitting a formal application, see our How to Apply for a Citi Card: Step-by-Step Application Guide.
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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.
Security Notice: All participating issuers use secure application systems protected by Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption to help protect your information.
*See the online credit card applications for details about terms and conditions of credit card offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. When you click on the " Apply Now " button you can review the credit card terms and conditions on the credit card issuer's web site.
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