Earlier this month I wrote about why I’ve finally applied again for the Citi Prestige card. In that post I explained a few of the reasons why I ultimately decided to apply for the card. Thankfully, when I applied for the card I was approved immediately online. Then, just about two weeks later my new Citi Prestige card welcome kit arrived.
Now, typically receiving a new credit card isn’t all that exciting. Usually the card comes in a plain white envelope with the card affixed to a piece of paper. This time however, I received the Citi Prestige welcome kit box. This is the first time I’ve ever received the entire welcome kit packet from a credit card so I have to admit, it was nice to finally receive a proper credit card welcome kit.
Unboxing The Citi Prestige Card
As I mentioned, my new Citi Prestige card arrived in a little blue box about a week and a half after I was approved for the card.
The front of the box did not make it clear what was inside, but the back featured a little sticker which said “PRESTWK0919” which made me think that this was my new Citi Prestige card.
When I opened the box I found a cardboard case which made it very clear what was inside.
As I opened the cardboard case, I found a few words from Citi welcoming me to the Citi Prestige card.
As I pulled open the different flaps of the welcome kit I found a small pamphlet and a familiar white envelope enclosed.
I then emptied the contents of the welcome kit and found a directory and a few different pamphlets which outlined key benefits, terms and conditions, and a few facts about my new card.
Finally, when I opened the white envelope, I found a thank you note from Citi.
Inside that welcome note I found mew new Citi Prestige card and some activation instructions. The page my new card was affixed to also outlined a few of the key benefits offered from the Citi Prestige card.
Overall, the welcome kit was a bit nicer than what I typically receive when opening a new credit card account, but it wasn’t quite as exciting as kits offered from other premium credit cards.
The “New” Citi Prestige Card Design
At first glance, the new Citi Prestige card looks nearly identical to the card I carried over two years ago. However, upon closer inspection there are a few key differences.
For starters, the card is thicker and heavier than the older Citi Prestige card. When you pick up the new Citi Prestige card it becomes obvious that the card is actually made of metal. As far as metal cards goes, the Citi Prestige card feels a bit lighter than an American Express metal card or even a Chase metal card.
Another interesting change of the card is the center logo lacks the 3D effect found both in the old Citi Prestige card and the current Citi Premier card. On the Citi Prestige card, the center logo looks flat when compared to the other cards. Also, the blue stripe above the logo is opaque. In prior versions, the blue stripe was translucent and light did pass through it.
Overall, the card looks identical to prior versions of the Citi Prestige card. I personally think this card is a bit understated, especially when you compare it to other premium credit cards.
Final Thoughts
I’m thrilled to have finally received my new Citi Prestige card. The welcome kit was a nice touch which helped make the experience of receiving a new card a bit more of an event which I appreciated. All of that aside, I’m mostly thrilled to have my new Citi Prestige card in hand thanks to all of the benefits offered from the card.
Personally, I think the Citi Prestige card is one of the most understated premium credit cards on the market today. The card benefits easily offset the somewhat high annual fee when used properly. However, Citi doesn’t do a great job marketing this card to the masses. Perhaps that is a good thing because it means Citi will be able to continue to offer these benefits for longer without raising the annual fee or cutting other benefits.
