Citizens Cash Back Plus™ World Mastercard®

Quick Snapshot

• Annual Fee: $0
• APR: 18.24%–28.24% variable
• Rewards: 1.8% on everything (1.9% with Citizens checking)
• Bonus: No welcome bonus
• Best For: Simple flat-rate cash back (historical)
• Credit Needed: Good to Excellent (670+)
• Status: No longer accepting new applications (as of June 12, 2025)

Overview

The Citizens Cash Back Plus™ World Mastercard® was a straightforward cash back card offering 1.8% back on all purchases with no annual fee. Citizens Bank existing checking account holders could earn 1.9% on everything. The card featured an intro 0% APR on balance transfers for the first 12 billing cycles.

Important Note: This card is no longer accepting new applications as of June 12, 2025, having been replaced by the Citizens Summit World Mastercard. This information is preserved for existing cardholders and historical reference.

APR Breakdown

• Purchase APR: 18.24%–28.24% variable
• Balance Transfer APR: 0% intro APR for the first 12 billing cycles from date of account opening, then 18.24%–28.24% variable
• Cash Advance APR: Not specified
• Penalty APR: None specified
• Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

Note: Competitive 0% intro period on balance transfers. Lower balance transfer fee (3%) compared to typical 5%.

Benefits Overview

Travel Benefits

• World Mastercard travel benefits
• No foreign transaction fees
• Emergency card replacement
• Travel assistance services

Everyday Benefits

• Simple flat-rate rewards (no categories to track)
• Cash back applied as statement credit
• Zero fraud liability protection
• 24/7 customer service
• World Mastercard shopping protections

Lifestyle Benefits

• CitizensPlus Relationship Rewards (when combined with other Citizens Bank products)
• Higher cash back rate (1.9%) with Citizens Quest Checking account

Rewards & Earning Structure

• 1.8% cash back on all purchases with no caps or category restrictions
• 1.9% cash back on all purchases if you have a Citizens Quest Checking account with Citizens Bank
• No rotating categories or activation required
• Cash back rewards applied as statement credit
• No limits on total cash back earned
• Redemption: Automatic statement credit

Ultra-simple rewards structure: spend on anything, earn the same rate, no tracking needed.

Welcome Bonus

This card did not offer a welcome bonus. The value proposition was focused on the simple, above-average flat-rate cash back structure rather than introductory incentives.

Fees Summary

• Annual Fee: $0 (forever)
• Foreign Transaction Fee: $0
• Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount transferred, whichever is greater
• Cash Advance Fee: Not specified
• Late Payment Fee: Standard fees apply
• Returned Payment Fee: Standard fees apply

Who This Card Is Best For (Historical Reference)

Ideal For

• Simple rewards seekers who don't want category tracking
• Citizens Bank customers who could earn 1.9% with checking account
• Balance transfer users (12 months 0% intro APR)
• International travelers (no foreign transaction fees)
• Those wanting above-average flat-rate (1.8% beats most flat-rate cards)
• People avoiding annual fees while earning solid rewards

Not Good For

• Anyone seeking a new card (no longer accepting applications)
• Category maximizers who can earn more with rotating categories
• Welcome bonus hunters (this card had no sign-up bonus)
• Premium rewards seekers (limited benefits compared to premium cards)
• Non-Citizens Bank customers seeking top flat-rate (Citi Double Cash offers 2%)

Key Pros & Cons

Pros

• No annual fee made it accessible for everyday use
• Simple flat-rate rewards with no categories to track or activate
• Above-average 1.8% cash back on all purchases (better than most flat-rate cards)
• Even higher 1.9% rate available for Citizens Bank checking customers
• Intro 0% APR on balance transfers for 12 billing cycles
• Lower 3% balance transfer fee (vs typical 5%)
• No foreign transaction fees
• World Mastercard benefits included
• No minimum redemption thresholds

Cons

• No longer accepting new applications (discontinued June 2025)
• Replaced by Citizens Summit World Mastercard with different structure
• No welcome bonus or sign-up offer
• Rewards rate slightly lower than category-specific cards in bonus categories
• Must maintain Citizens Bank checking account to earn the higher 1.9% rate
• Limited travel and purchase protections compared to premium cards
• Lower earning than Citi Double Cash (2%) for non-Citizens customers
• Basic benefits compared to travel rewards cards

Alternatives to Consider

Card	Best For	Annual Fee	Rewards	Welcome Bonus
Citizens Summit World Mastercard	New Citizens customers	$0	3% dining/groceries, 1.5% everything else	None
Citi Double Cash	Best flat-rate cash back	$0	2% on everything	None
Wells Fargo Active Cash	No annual fee flat rate	$0	2% on everything	$200
Chase Freedom Unlimited	Chase ecosystem	$0	1.5%–5% tiered	$200

How the Rewards Add Up (Historical)

Example Annual Value

If you spent $12,000 per year on typical expenses:

Category	Annual Spend	Reward Rate	Earned Value
All purchases (standard)	$12,000	1.8%	$216
All purchases (with Citizens checking)	$12,000	1.9%	$228

Total Estimated Yearly Value: $216–$228

Minus $0 annual fee = $216–$228 net annual value

For comparison:

• Citi Double Cash (2%): $240/year on same spend
• Chase Freedom Unlimited (1.5%): $180/year on same spend
• Basic 1% card: $120/year on same spend

The Citizens Cash Back Plus offered solid middle-ground rewards without the complexity of category cards.

Should You Get This Card? (Historical Reference)

You Should Have Gotten It If...

• You wanted simple, no-fuss cash back rewards
• You were a Citizens Bank customer (1.9% rate was competitive)
• You needed a 0% intro APR on balance transfers
• You valued no annual fee while earning above-average rewards
• You traveled internationally and wanted no foreign fees
• You didn't want to track rotating categories

You Should Have Skipped It If...

• You could maximize higher-earning category cards
• You wanted a sign-up bonus to boost first-year value
• You qualified for Citi Double Cash or Wells Fargo Active Cash (2%)
• You weren't a Citizens Bank customer (1.8% not optimal)
• You wanted premium travel benefits and protections

Current Status: This card is no longer available for new applications. Existing cardholders can continue using their cards. Consider the Citizens Summit World Mastercard or alternatives listed above.

Apply Now

This card is no longer accepting new applications. Consider the Citizens Summit World Mastercard as an alternative, which offers 3% cash back on dining and groceries, plus 1.5% on everything else.

For existing Citizens Cash Back Plus cardholders, your card remains active. Contact Citizens Bank for information about your account or potential product transitions.

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Information accurate as of December 2025. This card was discontinued for new applications on June 12, 2025. Existing cardholders may continue to use their cards. Terms and conditions apply.