Citi® Flex Pay: Everything you need to know before you use it

What is Citi Flex Pay?

Citi Flex Pay is a buy now, pay later feature that allows eligible Citi credit cardmembers to turn eligible purchases of $75 or more into fixed monthly payment plans.

Instead of paying the full amount all at once, you can split an eligible purchase of $75 or more into smaller monthly payments over time. Each plan has a set payment schedule, so you’ll know what your monthly payment will be before you confirm it.

Citi Flex Pay is built directly into your Citi credit card account. There’s no separate application or credit check required because it’s a benefit associated with your credit card. Once an eligible purchase posts your account, you may have the option to enroll that purchase into a payment plan through Citi^® Online or the Citi Mobile^® App.

If you use Citi Flex Pay, depending your credit card, you'll continue earning points, miles, cash back or rebates on purchases made with your eligible Citi credit card on eligible purchases according to your credit card’s terms. That means you keep earning even when you choose to pay over time.

Overall, Citi Flex Pay is designed to help cardmembers manage their purchases by giving them more control over how they pay.

How does Citi Flex Pay work?

Eligible purchases

To qualify for Citi Flex Pay, your purchase must meet the following criteria:

• Must be $75 or more
• Eligible purchase must have posted to your account during the current or previous billing cycle

Certain transactions may not qualify, including those that involve foreign transaction fees. Additional exclusions may apply depending on the purchase.

How to start a plan

If a purchase meets the eligibility criteria, you may see the option to set up an a Citi Flex Pay plan in your account. To do so, you’ll need to follow a few steps:

• Log in to your Citi account or the Citi Mobile App View your eligible transactions
• Select the eligible purchase for which you’d like to start a Flex Pay Plan
• Choose a payment plan with fixed monthly payments
• Review the details and confirm your plan

Before you confirm, you’ll be able to see the monthly payment amount and the total cost of the plan.

Monthly payments

Once your Citi Flex Pay plan is set up, the monthly payment is simply added to your Minimum Payment Due each billing cycle until paid in full. You don’t need to make a separate payment for the plan as it’s included as part of your monthly minimum payment. Once created, you can keep track of your Citi Flex Pay payments alongside your other card activity by viewing your Flex Pay Plan online within the Flex Plan Summary. With Citi Flex Pay it’s easy to manage your Flex Plan and monthly payments in the Citi Mobile app, it’s all in one place.

Plan fees

Most Citi Flex Pay plans work a little differently from standard credit card interest. Instead of charging interest on the purchase, Citi Flex Pay uses a fixed monthly plan fee. Before you confirm a plan, you’ll be able to see the total fee and the full payment amount, which can help you understand the total cost and decide whether the plan works for you.

What are the benefits of Citi Flex Pay?

For many cardmembers, Citi Flex Pay provides several advantages when managing larger purchases.

Predictable monthly payments

One benefit of Citi Flex Pay is that payments are fixed each month. When you start a plan, you’ll know what the monthly payment will be ahead of time, which can make it easier to stay on top of your finances.

No separate credit application

Because Citi Flex Pay is built into eligible Citi credit cards, there’s no need to apply for separate financing or go through another credit application. There is also no credit check.  If your Citi card is eligible and you have an eligible purchase, you can simply start a Flex Pay and choose a payment plan through your account.

Continue earning rewards

Depending on your credit card, when you enroll a purchase in a Citi Flex Pay plan, you'll continue earning points, miles, cash back or rebates on purchases made with your eligible Citi credit card, while paying for the purchase over time according to your credit card’s terms and conditions.

Flexibility for larger purchases

Citi Flex Pay offers more ways to manage your purchases. Rather than paying back the cost of a larger purchase in one payment, you can spread the payments out over several months.

Available through your Citi online account or at checkout

In most cases you can access Citi Flex Pay directly through your Citi online account. After an eligible purchase posts, you may also see the “Eligible for Citi Flex Pay” option to create a Flex Pay plan directly from your transaction ledger.

In some cases, Citi Flex Pay may also appear as a payment option at checkout on select merchant websites or with Apple Pay when you’re making a purchase online or in app with an eligible Citi credit card. This allows you to choose Citi Flex Pay to pay over time. You will be able to select a payment plan during the checkout process instead of creating Flex Plan for your purchase after it posts to your card account.

Things to consider before using Citi Flex Pay

Before starting a Citi Flex Pay plan, it’s worth taking a moment to review how it may affect your account and monthly payments.

Depending on the plan you choose, Citi charges a fixed monthly plan fee. This fee replaces traditional interest on the purchase, but it still increases the total minimum payment due. Reviewing the full payment breakdown before confirming a plan can help you understand exactly what agreeing to pay over time.

You should also keep in mind that the plan payment is added to your minimum payment due each billing cycle. As a result, your required credit card payment will likely increase while the plan is active.

Eligibility is another important factor. Purchases must meet minimum transaction requirements to qualify for Citi Flex Pay. In many cases this is $75 but it can vary. In addition, some purchases may not qualify.

Reviewing these details ahead of time can help you decide whether Citi Flex Pay fits your financial needs and how you prefer to manage your purchases.

Making Citi Flex Pay work for your purchases

Citi Flex Pay provides eligible cardmembers with a flexible way to split qualifying purchases into fixed monthly payments using their existing Citi credit card.

Because the feature is built directly into your card account, it’s easy to access and manage through Citi Online or the Citi Mobile App. With predictable payments and no separate application required, Citi Flex Pay can help cardmembers manage their purchases with the flexibility to pay over time.

At the same time, reviewing plan details, fees and eligibility requirements before starting a plan can help ensure the option fits your financial situation.

Used thoughtfully, Citi Flex Pay can be a convenient tool for spreading out certain purchases while maintaining control over your monthly budget.

This article is for educational purposes. It is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice and is not a substitute for professional advice. It does not indicate the availability of any Citi product or service. For advice about your specific circumstances, you should consult a qualified professional.