Free during beta. Plus launches at $12/mo or $99/yr on July 1. Annual is locked for 12 months during beta.
Both are travel travel cards. The The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab comes from American Express at $695/yr; the Citi Strata Elite Card from Citi at $595/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
These cards are close on the fundamentals (similar bonus value, similar fee). The right pick depends on which category you spend the most in and which transfer partners best fit your travel goals.
| Feature | The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab | Citi Strata Elite Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $695 | $595 |
| Sign-up bonus | Up to 80,000 Membership Rewards points | 75,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $1,440 | $1,350 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $8,000 in 6 mo | $6,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | Citi |
| Card category | travel | travel |
| Best earning category (Flights_direct_or_amextravel) | 5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | amex-mr | citi-ty |
| Headline benefits |
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The premium Platinum for Schwab brokerage customers. Same lounge access, FHR, and credit suite as the Personal Platinum, but the killer feature is Invest with Rewards at 1.1 cents per point cash-into-brokerage — the highest fixed-value MR redemption in the program. Best for cardholders who don't max out airline transfer partners.
Citi's premium answer to Amex Platinum + Sapphire Reserve. The 12x on Citi-booked hotels is the best earning rate in the category; the $200 Blacklane and 4 Admirals Club passes are differentiated perks. $595 fee penciled out if you'll actually use the hotel + Splurge credits.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.
