[2020.6 Update] Cardholders received an email today saying they can earn 5x on grocery purchases in June and July, capped at $1000 per month. You have to admire the timing—they sent the email when June was almost over. Points on this card can still be redeemed toward travel purchases at 1.2c/p, so if you do not have a better card to use, this one is still worth prioritizing.

Earn 5X on grocery purchases, up to $1,000 per month, in June and July. The increased earning rate will apply retroactively to purchases from June 1st, and through July 31, 2020.

City National Bank Crystal Visa Infinite Credit Card Review

Basics

  • Sign-up bonus: None currently
  • Earning rates: 3x points on travel purchases (airfare, hotels, car rentals, taxis, buses), dining, groceries (excluding Superstore), and gas. All other purchases earn 1x.
  • Redeeming points: 1c/p for gift cards, 1.2c/p toward travel purchases
  • Annual fee: $400
  • No foreign transaction fee.

Benefits

  • $250 annual airline incidental credit: This is based on the calendar year and resets every January. Not only the primary card, but authorized user cards can also receive their own separate credit. You can add three authorized users for free, so you can get up to $1,000 back per year. If you can fully use it, you not only recover the annual fee but come out well ahead. This credit cannot be used for airfare; it only works with U.S. airlines. Eligible charges include change fees, airport lounge membership fees or day passes, seat upgrade fees, etc. At the moment, this credit can be used for AA gift cards. For FlyerTalk DP, click here.
  • 12 Gogo inflight WiFi passes each year: You must register online, and authorized users get them too!
  • Visa Infinite benefits: Buy two or more round-trip tickets and get $100 off. There are also various hotel and rental car benefits.
  • Two complimentary Priority Pass Select memberships: Choose any two cardholders (primary or authorized users). These memberships provide access to many airport lounges.
  • Free Primary CDW coverage on rental cars: Travel booked with this card also comes with trip interruption and travel accident insurance.
  • $100 TSA Global Entry application fee credit: available once every four years; only green card holders or U.S. citizens can apply.

Using Points

CNB Rewards Points can be redeemed for gift cards at a value slightly under 1 cent/point, or used to purchase airfare at a value slightly under 1.2 cent/point. See the experiment in this FrequentMiler article.

My Take

[2019.11 Update 2] According to DOC, authorized users on this card will soon be charged a $95 annual fee each in 2020. While authorized users on this card do get some lounge benefits, $95 is not especially worthwhile now that PP is everywhere. In addition, starting in 2020 the reimbursement is calculated across the primary and authorized user cards together, so there is no real reason to keep authorized users anymore. If you do not need them, I suggest canceling them before December 31. If you just opened the card, get the $250 reimbursement on the authorized user card first, then cancel it right away.

[2019.11 Update] There had been rumors that this card would cut benefits, and now it has finally happened. According to CNB, this card will restrict the airline credit, weaken PPS, remove 3x earnings on groceries and gas, and eliminate the Visa Infinite airfare discount. They really cut deep and removed most of the good perks. After the changes, this is only a fairly average premium credit card. However, the changes begin in January 2020, so in theory if you apply now and catch the last train, you should still be able to enjoy the benefits one last time. Specifically:

  • The airline credit will be calculated across the entire account and limited to $350. Previously it was $250 for the primary card, plus a separate $250 for each authorized user card, so if you added 5 authorized user cards, the primary and authorized users together could get $1,250 in credits.
  • For the PPS cards previously included with this card, bringing one guest will now cost an extra $32 each time. Guests used to be free.
  • 3x on gas and grocery purchases is being removed
  • The Visa Infinite Discount Air benefit is being removed. Previously, buying two tickets together would directly save you $100.
  • Official document about these changes

City National Bank is a regional California bank and has been acquired by Royal Bank of Canada. The Crystal credit card it issues is a very unusual credit card. While the card looks pretty ordinary, it is actually a premium card with a high annual fee and a mix of common and uncommon travel benefits. It is also a Visa Infinite card, so it comes with Infinite benefits. Another standout feature is the airline incidental credit: each authorized user card used to get its own separate credit, which made it easy to come out ahead on the annual fee if you could fully use it. The downside is that you must apply in a state where the bank has branches.

The reimbursement on this card is extremely generous. If your income is high enough, and you can fully use the card’s $1,000 in credits plus its other benefits, it can easily be worth paying the annual fee year after year without much thought. Many of this card’s perks are geared toward authorized users, and 12 Gogo inflight WiFi passes plus 2 Priority Pass cards per year already represent substantial value. If you are applying only for a sign-up bonus worth less than $500, then this card is not especially worthwhile, because the application process is very cumbersome.

Application

This card cannot be applied for online. You must go to a bank branch (available only in CA, NV, NY, TN, GA, and PA) to apply. You must bring proof of income (W2 and 1099) and bank deposit statements. Approval may be difficult if your annual income is below $100,000.

For residents outside CA and NY, applying for this card can be extremely difficult. FrequentMiler has a lot of DP indicating that branches outside NY and CA may accept only referral applications, or applicants who work in the entertainment industry.