Citizens Unveils Tiered Mastercard Suite to Empower Financial Journeys with Innovation, Rewards, and Accessibility

Thursday, June 26, 2025

In an exclusive interview with Travel and Tour World, Adam Boyd, Head of Consumer Lending at Citizens, shares the strategic vision behind the launch of the new Citizens Mastercard credit card suite, a tailored lineup designed to support customers at every stage of their financial journey—from building credit to maximizing lifestyle rewards.

The new offerings include the Citizens Amp™ Mastercard®, ideal for credit newcomers with no annual fee and no credit score requirement, along with educational tools and upgrade opportunities. For debt-conscious consumers, the Citizens Spring™ World Mastercard® delivers a low APR and 0% intro balance transfer offer for 18 months. Meanwhile, the Citizens Summit™ and Summit Reserve™ World Mastercards® cater to everyday and premium spenders, offering up to 3% unlimited cash back and perks like TSA PreCheck® credit, Lyft credits, and lounge access.

Notably, Citizens Summit Reserve™, the flagship premium card, provides over $950 in annual value with a comparatively low $95 fee for qualifying customers—making elite benefits more accessible.

Citizens also emphasizes eco-conscious innovation and inclusion, using recycled card materials and Mastercard’s tactile Touch Card design for accessibility. The collaboration with Mastercard enhances security, flexibility, and long-term financial value, while the tiered structure ensures alignment with customers’ evolving needs.

The launch positions Citizens not just as a credit provider, but as a financial partner committed to growing with its customers. This marks a strategic push to deepen customer relationships and deliver impactful lending experiences in everyday life.

Email Q&A w/ Adam Boyd

• How does the new Citizens Mastercard credit card suite support customers at different stages of their financial journey, from building credit to maximizing rewards?

We saw a real gap in the current credit market in meeting the needs of customers at various life stages, and a need to offer tailored features that range from establishing credit to maximizing rewards and lifestyle benefits.

Our new suite was designed to meet customers where they are and grow with them. Whether you’re building credit for the first time, managing debt, or optimizing rewards and travel benefits, there’s a Citizens card for every stage of your financial journey.

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s a flexible, tiered lineup that evolves with the customer and deepens their relationship with Citizens over time.

What unique features make the Citizens Amp™ Mastercard® ideal for individuals just starting to build credit?

Citizens Amp™ Mastercard®  is built for customers taking the first step in their credit journey. There is no annual fee, and no credit score is required to apply.

We’ve also baked in tools to help customers grow responsibly, like financial education resources and the potential for credit line increases or product upgrades after six months of on-time payments. It’s a launchpad for long-term financial success, not just a starter card.

In what ways does the Citizens Spring™ World Mastercard® help cardholders manage debt more effectively compared to traditional credit cards?

Citizens Spring™ World Mastercard® is designed for customers who want to take control of their debt. With no annual fee, a low ongoing APR, and 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, it’s a powerful tool for reducing interest and managing payments.

What sets it apart is the combination of low-cost flexibility and access to key benefits, including access to Mastercard World rewards. It’s a practical card that doesn’t feel like a compromise.

How do the cashback benefits on the Citizens Summit™ and Summit Reserve™ World Mastercards® enhance every day and lifestyle spending for customers?

Our cashback program is built to be generous, flexible, and transparent. Both Citizens Summit™ and Citizens Summit Reserve™ earn unlimited cash back, including 3% on key categories like dining and groceries (and entertainment for Citizens Summit Reserve™), and 1.5% on all other purchases. Rewards are earned as cash back and can be redeemed as a statement credit at full value. Every dollar earned is worth a dollar off your bill or deposited into a connected account as cash.

Summit Reserve™ also offers premium perks that stack on top of cash back: $120 annual credit for Lyft, $120 in travel credits, TSA PreCheck® reimbursement, concierge services, and Priority Pass™ lounge access. These benefits help customers stretch their rewards even further while reinforcing everyday value.

What premium travel perks and lifestyle experiences are included with the Citizens Summit Reserve™ World Elite Mastercard®, and how do they compare to other high-tier cards in the market?

Citizens Summit Reserve ™ is our most premium offering—built to reward customers who want more from their financial tools without paying inflated fees. It delivers over $950 in annual value through benefits like unlimited 3% cash back on dining, groceries, and entertainment, plus valuable travel perks like:

• $120 annual Lyft credit
• Up to $120 TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry credit
• $140 in lounge visit credits
• Priority Pass™ Digital Membership

What sets it apart is accessibility. While many premium cards charge $400–$700+ in annual fees, Citizens customers with a Quest Checking account can access Summit Reserve™ for just $95 a year. That’s meaningful value tied directly to the strength of their relationship with us.

This card is more than a rewards tool, it’s a physical extension of our lending strategy. By aligning card benefits and pricing with customer relationships, we’re deepening loyalty, expanding wallet share, and offering customers a premium experience that grows with them.

How is Citizens using sustainability and accessibility, such as recycled materials and tactile Touch Card notches, to create a more inclusive and eco-conscious card experience?

Over the last year, Citizens has made significant investments to enhance its card solutions, including sustainable card manufacturing. All new cards feature recycled material, reinforcing our commitment to environmental sustainability. The cards also feature the Mastercard Touch Card design, which helps consumers to identify their card with just a touch – rounded for debit, squared for credit and triangular for prepaid – and demonstrates Citizens’ commitment to accessibility.

What role does Citizens’ collaboration with Mastercard play in delivering innovation, security, and long-term financial value through this new credit card suite?

Built on years of research and innovation, this suite is designed to address the distinct financial needs and preferences of today’s consumers – all while deepening the Citizens relationship with our customers. Credit cards are the only lending products we offer that customers can carry around in their wallet; they are the only physical representation of Citizens lending offerings that customers interact with on a daily basis. With this in mind, we want cardholders to feel secure, rewarded and supported when using their cards and maximizing the benefits available to them.

The cards are intentionally tiered to meet a broad range of needs, with no one-size-fits-all approach. We are doing more than just offering new options; it’s about delivering real tools to help customers build credit, manage spending, and unlock new opportunities throughout every stage of their financial journey.

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