To the OP: If you don't specifically have to have the Citibank card, you might be able to get the Starwood Amex card instead, particularly if Amex wasn't a creditor in your bankruptcy. Starwood points can be transferred to AA miles (or those of many other airlines), at a rate of 25,000 AA miles for 20,000 Starwood points. Amex is accepted almost everywhere that Visa and Mastercard are in the U.S.

I believe that it is also possible to get debit cards that earn miles on purchases (but not cash withdrawals). Debit cards might be easier to get.

Good luck.