Citizens Bank Clear Value® Mastercard® Review: Rewards, Fees & Benefits

Rewards

Reward TypeCash Back

Base Rate1.5x / 1.5%

Travel Portal1x

ExpirationCash back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open and in good standing.

Redemption NotesMinimum redemption amount of $25 for statement credit or direct deposit.

Category	Rate	Type	Cap
All Other Purchases This card does not earn rewards points or cash back; it is a low-rate credit card focused on APR benefits and no fees.	0x	Points	No cap

Benefits & Protections

Benefit	Category	Value / Coverage
Mastercard Airport Concierge™ Provides a personal, dedicated Meet & Greet agent to assist cardholders with airport procedures upon arrival, departure, or connection at over 450 airports worldwide. Includes discounts on services.	Airport Access	Discounted service
Concierge Services Provides 24/7 personalized assistance for a wide range of services, including dinner reservations, event tickets, travel arrangements, and unique gift ideas.	Lifestyle	N/A
Extended Warranty Doubles the original manufacturer's or store brand warranty for up to one additional year on eligible purchases when you pay with your Mastercard.	Purchase Protection	Up to $10,000 per claim, maximum $50,000 per cardholder per year Up to $10,000
Purchase Protection Reimburses cardholders for eligible items purchased with their Mastercard that are stolen or damaged within 90 days of the purchase date.	Purchase Protection	Up to $1,000 per claim, maximum $50,000 per cardholder per year Up to $1,000
Cell Phone Protection Reimburses eligible cardholders for damage to or theft of their cell phone. To be eligible, the monthly cell phone bill must be paid with the eligible Mastercard. A $50 deductible applies per claim.	Security	Up to $600 per claim, maximum two claims per 12-month period Up to $600
Mastercard ID Theft Protection™ Provides services to help detect and resolve identity theft. Includes ID Theft Alerts, Expert Resolution Services, and Lost Wallet Assistance.	Security	N/A
Zero Liability Protection Protects cardholders from unauthorized purchases made with their Mastercard. Cardholders are not held responsible for unauthorized transactions.	Security	Full protection
Baggage Delay Insurance Reimburses cardholders for the purchase of essential items if checked baggage is delayed or misdirected by a common carrier for more than four hours.	Travel Insurance	Up to $100 per day for up to 3 days Up to $100
Car Rental Collision Damage Waiver Provides secondary coverage for physical damage and theft of most rental vehicles when the eligible Mastercard is used to pay for the entire rental and the cardholder declines the rental company's collision damage waiver (CDW) or similar option.	Travel Insurance	N/A
Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance Reimburses cardholders for personal property stolen from their hotel or motel room while traveling, provided the room was secured and the stay was paid for with the eligible Mastercard.	Travel Insurance	Up to $1,000 per incident Up to $1,000
Lost Luggage Insurance Reimburses cardholders for the actual cash value of lost or stolen checked or carry-on luggage and its contents when traveling on a common carrier.	Travel Insurance	Up to $3,000 per trip Up to $3,000
Mastercard Global Service™ Provides 24/7 assistance with emergency card replacement, emergency cash advance, and locating ATMs.	Travel Insurance	N/A
Travel Accident Insurance Provides coverage for accidental death or dismemberment while traveling on a common carrier when the entire fare has been charged to the eligible Mastercard.	Travel Insurance	Up to $250,000 Up to $250,000
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance Reimburses cardholders for non-refundable passenger fares if a trip is cancelled or interrupted for covered reasons when the entire fare has been charged to the eligible Mastercard.	Travel Insurance	Up to $1,500 per trip Up to $1,500

Interest Rates

0%

Intro Purchase APR for 15 months

0%

Intro BT APR for 15 months

Purchase APR21.24%–29.24% Variable

Cash Advance APR29.99%

Penalty APR29.99%

Min. Interest Charge$2

Fees

Annual Fee $0 — No Annual Fee

Foreign Transaction FeeNone

Balance Transfer FeeEither $10 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater.

Cash Advance FeeEither $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.

Late Payment FeeUp to $40

Returned Payment FeeUp to $40

Approval & Eligibility

670 Recommended minimum FICO · Range 670–850

300 Poor580 Fair 670 Good740 Very Good 800+ Exceptional

Approval DifficultyModerate

Credit ProfileGood

Approval OddsGood

Decision Time1-3 days

Pre-QualificationAvailable (no hard pull)

Student EligibleNo

Co-ApplicantNot allowed

Business EligibleNo

Issuer Rules & Restrictions

Maximum Cards per Issuer

You can hold up to 3 cards from this issuer simultaneously.

Shutdown Risk Triggers

Manufactured spending, excessive credit inquiries within a short period, rapid account openings, high cumulative credit limit across all Citizens Bank products, defaulting on any Citizens Bank accounts, sudden drastic changes in spending patterns inconsistent with historical behavior, late payments, or suspected fraudulent activity.

Cliff Effect Rules

Citizens Bank does not enforce complex 'cliff effect' rules similar to major issuers (e.g., Chase 5/24). However, re-application for the same Citizens Amp Mastercard, or any similar Citizens Bank credit card, typically requires a 24-month waiting period from the date of the last bonus receipt. Overall approval for multiple Citizens Bank credit products is subject to the bank's internal credit exposure limits per customer.

International Friendly

This card works well for international travel and transactions.

Additional Issuer Rules

The Citizens Amp Mastercard for 2026 offers a sign-up bonus of $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Eligibility requires applicants to possess excellent credit (typically FICO score 740+), be a U.S. resident aged 18 or older with a valid Social Security Number (SSN). A significant advantage is given to existing Citizens Bank customers with established banking relationships (e.g., checking, savings, mortgage, or personal loans). Residency within Citizens Bank's primary operating regions is also a strong factor in approval decisions.

Military & Hardship

MLA Compliant

Complies with the Military Lending Act (36% APR cap for active duty servicemembers).

SCRA Benefits

Citizens Bank complies with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), providing protections such as interest rate reductions on certain pre-service obligations, protection from foreclosure and repossession, and the ability to terminate certain leases without penalty.

Citizens Bank Clear Value® Mastercard®