What the Best Buy Citi Visa Card does

The Best Buy Citi Visa Card is a co-branded credit card issued by Citi in partnership with Best Buy. When you use it to make purchases at Best Buy stores or online, you earn rewards points that you can spend on electronics, appliances, and other items Best Buy sells. You can also use the card at any merchant that accepts Visa, but you earn rewards only at Best Buy.

The card comes in two versions: the regular Best Buy Citi Visa Card and the Best Buy Citi Visa Card for Business. Both work the same way for rewards, but the business version is designed for sole proprietors and small business owners who want to track spending separately from personal purchases.

There is no annual fee for either version. You do not earn cash back — instead, you accumulate points that appear as a balance you can use like store credit when you check out at Best Buy.

Key Takeaways

  • You earn rewards points only when you use the card at Best Buy, not when you use it elsewhere as a regular Visa.
  • The card has no annual fee, and there is no minimum spending required to keep the account open.
  • Rewards points are redeemable as statement credits toward purchases at Best Buy, and they do not expire as long as your account remains active.
  • The card offers special financing options on may have access to purchases at Best Buy, such as 12 or 24 months interest-free depending on the purchase amount.
  • You can open an account online, by phone, or in-store, and approval decisions are usually made within minutes.

How rewards points work

Every dollar you spend at Best Buy earns you one point. Points accumulate in your account and are displayed in your online portal or on your statement. When you have enough points to cover a purchase, you can redeem them at checkout — either in-store or online — by selecting them as your payment method.

There is no minimum number of points you must hold before redeeming. You can use points for any part of a purchase: spend $50 in points and pay the remaining balance with cash, another card, or financing. Points do not expire as long as your account stays open and in good standing. If your account is closed for 24 months of inactivity, any remaining points are forfeited.

Points are tied to your Best Buy account, not to the physical card. If your card is lost or replaced, your points balance transfers to your new card automatically.

Special financing and promotional offers

Best Buy regularly runs promotional financing offers for cardholders. These typically include options like 12 months interest-free on purchases of $399 or more, or 24 months interest-free on purchases of $1,499 or more. The exact terms change seasonally and vary by product category.

To use promotional financing, you select it at checkout instead of paying in full or with points. If you pay off the balance within the promotional period, you pay no interest. If you carry a balance past the end of the period, interest accrues on the remaining balance at the card's regular APR, which varies based on your creditworthiness.

Promotional offers are displayed in-store and online before you complete your purchase, so you can see what terms are available for the item you are buying. Not all items are may be able to access for every promotion.

Getting approved and opening an account

You can open a Best Buy Citi Visa Card account online at bestbuy.com, by calling the number on the back of a Best Buy receipt or marketing material, or by visiting a Best Buy store and asking a cashier. Online applications take about five minutes and ask for your name, address, Social Security number, income, and employment status.

Citi will pull your credit report and make a decision within minutes in most cases. You will see the result on screen when ready. If you are approved, you can use the card right away in-store or online — you do not need to wait for a physical card to arrive in the mail, though one will be mailed to you within 7 to 10 business days.

If you are denied, you will receive a letter in the mail explaining the reason. You can contact Citi to ask for reconsideration, though this does not always result in approval.

Interest rates and fees to know

The Best Buy Citi Visa Card charges interest on balances you do not pay in full by the due date. The APR (annual percentage rate) varies by applicant and is based on your credit score and credit history. Citi will disclose your specific APR in your approval letter before you use the card.

There is no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, and no late payment fee beyond the interest that accrues on your unpaid balance. If you miss a payment by more than 30 days, Citi may report it to credit bureaus, which can lower your credit score.

If you use the card as a regular Visa outside of Best Buy, you earn no rewards and pay the same APR on any balance you carry. There is no benefit to using the card anywhere other than Best Buy.

Using the card online and in-store

At Best Buy stores, you can pay with the physical card or by providing your phone number at checkout if you have the Best Buy app linked to your account. Online, you enter your card number like any other Visa. Your rewards points are automatically added to your Best Buy account and appear in your online portal within 24 hours.

You can check your points balance anytime by logging into your Best Buy account online, calling the customer service number on the back of your card, or asking a cashier in-store. Your statement also shows your current points balance and any points you redeemed during that billing cycle.

If you want to redeem points, you do so at checkout — either by telling the cashier or by selecting points as a payment method online. You can split a payment between points and another payment method.

Comparing this card to other options

If you shop at Best Buy regularly, this card makes sense because you earn rewards with no annual fee. If you shop there only occasionally, the rewards may not add up quickly enough to be worth tracking a separate card.

Other tech retailers like Amazon offer their own credit cards with rewards programs. Amazon's card earns 5% back on Amazon purchases, while the Best Buy card earns 1% in points. However, the Best Buy card has no annual fee and no spending minimum, whereas some competitor cards charge annual fees or require you to spend a certain amount per year.

If you want cash back instead of store credit, a general-purpose rewards card from your bank or a card issuer like Chase or American Express may be a better fit. Those cards let you redeem rewards as cash or transfer them to travel partners, giving you more flexibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my Best Buy Citi Visa Card at other stores?

Yes, the card works as a regular Visa at any merchant that accepts Visa. However, you earn rewards points only when you use it at Best Buy. Using it elsewhere offers no benefit over any other credit card.

What happens to my points if I close my account?

If you close your account, you have a limited time to redeem any remaining points before they are forfeited. Check your account closure letter for the exact important date. Once that important date passes, any unused points are lost.

Do I have to use the card to keep it open?

No, there is no minimum spending requirement. However, if your account shows no activity for 24 months, Citi may close it and forfeit any remaining points. Using the card at least once every two years keeps it active.

Can I transfer my points to another person or account?

No, points are tied to your Best Buy account and cannot be transferred, gifted, or sold. Only you can redeem points on your account.

What is the difference between the regular card and the business card?

Both earn the same rewards rate and have the same terms. The business version is designed for sole proprietors who want to keep business spending separate from personal spending and may be easier to track for tax purposes.