Citi Custom Cash Payoff Calculator, 2026 APR Math

Card data, May 13, 2026

• Issuer: Citi (Mastercard network)
• Purchase APR: 18.24% to 28.24% variable, tied to the Prime Rate per the cardmember agreement
• Annual fee: $0
• Rewards: 5% cash back on your top eligible category per statement cycle (up to $500 in purchases), 1% on everything else and on category spend past the cap
• Eligible categories: restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment
• Rewards redemption: ThankYou Points (1 point = 1 cent cash, statement credit, or transfer to a linked Citi card with transfer partners)
• Balance transfer intro APR: 0% for 15 months on transfers completed within 4 months of account opening
• Balance transfer fee: 5% of each transfer, minimum $5
• Penalty APR: up to 29.99% variable, applied per the Truth in Lending disclosures
• Late fee: up to $41 per occurrence
• Foreign transaction fee: 3% of each US dollar amount
• Minimum payment formula: 1% of new balance plus billed interest and fees, with a $30 floor
• Typical FICO requirement: 670+

Source: Citi Custom Cash terms, verified 2026-05-13.

TL;DR

The Custom Cash is one of the best no-fee category cards for someone who spends consistently in one category (groceries, gas, restaurants). The 5% rate auto-applies to your top category each cycle, so you do not need to activate or pre-select. For revolvers, the structure is less helpful because the $500 monthly cap means rewards top out at $25 per cycle, while interest on a four-figure balance accrues several times that.

Math worked example: $5,000 balance scenario

$5,000 balance at 23.24% APR, $200 per month payment:

• 31 months to payoff
• $1,652 total interest
• Total cost: $6,652

If you simultaneously max the 5% category every cycle ($500 in eligible spending):

• Rewards earned: 5% on $500 = $25 per cycle, $775 across 31 months
• New-purchase interest under the lost grace period rule: roughly $230 across 31 months
• Net rewards benefit: $545

So even at maximum category usage, rewards recover roughly a third of interest cost. The math improves only if you stop revolving and start paying in full.

Run your specific Custom Cash numbers

The pillar tool accepts the Custom Cash APR. Enter your specific rate, which you can find on your statement under “Purchase APR.” There is no annual fee adjustment to make.

Where the 5% category cap actually binds

Citi’s 5% rate applies up to $500 in eligible purchases per statement cycle. Above that, you earn 1%. A user who spends $1,200 per month on groceries earns $25 plus $7 = $32 on that category, which is an effective 2.67% on the full grocery spend. The cap matters: above roughly $500 in category spend, the marginal dollar earns the same rate as a flat 1% card.

Why Custom Cash beats Double Cash for category-concentrated spenders

If your spending is concentrated in one of the 10 eligible Custom Cash categories, the 5% rate beats Double Cash’s flat 2% up to the cap. Above the cap, Double Cash wins because Custom Cash drops to 1% while Double Cash holds 2%. The crossover is around $750 of category spend per cycle.

Avalanche priority

The Custom Cash APR range (18.24% to 28.24%) is at the lower end of typical Citi cards. If your specific APR is near 18.24%, this card is unlikely to be your avalanche priority. If you are near the high end at 28.24%, it likely is.

Balance transfer math

The Custom Cash offers 0% APR for 15 months on transfers completed within 4 months of opening, with a 5% transfer fee. On a $5,000 transferred balance:

• Transfer fee: $250
• Monthly payment to clear in 15 months: $350
• Total cost: $5,250
• Versus status quo (23.24% APR, $200/mo, 31 months): $6,652 total

Savings if you complete payoff inside the 15-month window: roughly $1,400. If you do not complete payoff in 15 months, the residual balance reverts to the regular 18.24% to 28.24% APR.

Pair with Citi Double Cash and a third Citi card for 5% / 2% / 1% coverage

Heavy ThankYou ecosystem users pair Custom Cash (5% on top category), Double Cash (2% flat baseline), and the Strata Premier (3x in multiple travel and dining categories). Points pool together at 1 cent cash, with transfer partners unlocked through the Strata Premier or Premier.

Citi Custom Cash to Double Cash product change

If your spending pattern shifts away from category concentration, Citi typically allows product change from Custom Cash to Double Cash without a hard pull. This preserves the account history and credit limit.

Sibling Citi cards

• Citi Double Cash payoff calculator
• Citi Premier payoff calculator
• Citi Strata Premier payoff calculator
• Citi Rewards+ payoff calculator

Related

• Credit card payoff calculator (home), pillar tool
• Credit card payoff by card type, full hub
• Balance transfer calculator
• Avalanche vs snowball method

Primary sources

• CFPB credit card agreement database
• Federal Reserve G.19 Consumer Credit release

Frequently asked questions

What is the APR on Citi Custom Cash?

The Citi Custom Cash purchase APR is 18.24% to 28.24% variable as of May 13, 2026, per the Citi Custom Cash Schumer box. Your specific APR was set at application based on your credit profile and adjusts with the Prime Rate as published by the Federal Reserve. The penalty APR can climb to 29.99% variable after a 60-day late payment.

Does Citi Custom Cash have an annual fee?

No. The Custom Cash has a $0 annual fee, which makes it a reasonable card to keep open after payoff to preserve your credit limit and account age. Citi has not announced any change to the fee structure as of the May 13, 2026 verification date.

How does the 5% category actually work?

The 5% rate applies automatically to your top eligible spending category each statement cycle, capped at $500 in purchases. You do not activate or pre-select. Eligible categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming, drugstores, home improvement, fitness clubs, and live entertainment. Above the $500 cap, the rate drops to 1%.

Are there 0% APR balance transfers on Citi Custom Cash?

Yes. New cardholders receive 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers completed within 4 months of opening. The balance transfer fee is 5% of each transfer, minimum $5. After the intro period, any remaining balance accrues interest at the regular 18.24% to 28.24% variable purchase APR.

What credit score do I need for Citi Custom Cash?

Typical approvals start at a FICO score of 670, in line with most prime cash-back cards. Citi reviews income, debt-to-income ratio, and existing Citi relationship in addition to FICO. Higher scores generally produce a lower assigned APR within the 18.24% to 28.24% range.