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City National Bank Crystal Visa Infinite (USA); NY GA TN NV CA MA DC & MN

Old Nov 6, 2015, 11:03 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: mia
Current welcome offer is 50,000 30,000 Crystal points with $5,000 $3,000 spending in the first 90 days. First annual fee not waived. (as of telephone call with bank employee 8/7/2019)

Past bonuses were:

***** #1502 - signup bonus 1/16/18 BUT ANNUAL FEE NOT WAIVED ******

100,000 points after spending $5,000 in first three months. Offer expires 30 December 2015. EXPIRED

A 70,000 points offer was offered back in March 2017 and expired March 31st, 2017. EXPIRED

The requirements for the application process varies from bank to bank based on various online data points collected from FlyerTalk, Doctor of Credit, etc.

Some banks require that you go into a branch and apply personally. Other banks want you to have another account open for 90 days before you can get this card. Some banks (if you already have a relationship with them) let you apply via mail. Sometimes you have to be a resident of the state they operate in, while some were able to get the card without living in those states. It is very much YMMV. You will need proof of income (W2, check stubs, etc). The only states City National Bank operates in are: NY, DE (only trust office, no go), DC, GA, TN, MN, NV & CA. The bank is looking for high net worth individuals, but that's not exactly consistent either.

The card has no foreign transactions fees and is fee-free the first year, then $400 annually.

Register your card for online access (cno.cnb.com). This changed on Sept 19 2019.
Register separately for the award page (www.cnbrewards.com).
Register for Visa Infinite info and access at https://myvisainfinite.com/cnb/en_us/home.html
Click "my info" to see details on points awarded.
Best* redemption found to date is $1,000 prepaid visa for 105K pts. It's now 125K pts for a $1,000 prepaid visa. Link to catalog
*(other than spending for flights etc. & getting 1.2 cents each in value)

To set-up spending alerts, create an account here : http://citynationalbank.digitalcardservice.com

Point redemptions for flights have been reported as being as high as 1.35cpp (see here) by calling the Concierge service at +1 800 595 8950 and having them book direct from airline website for you

Significant benefits:

$250 per calendar year airline incidental credit - works on AU card as well - STARTING JAN 1ST, 2020 THE CREDIT WILL BE $350 PER ACCOUNT
$100 Global Entry fee credit - works on AU card as well Per DDResq post 842
Priority Pass lounge membership for up to 2 people. No fee for any number of guests, but lounge policy may limit the number of guests admitted.- STARTING JAN 1ST, 2020 EACH ADDITIONAL GUEST BEYOND ACCOUNT HOLDER WILL BE CHARGED $32
12 GoGo inflight passes - create an account at myvisainfinite.com/cnb. Once the account is created, you enter, then search for GoGo passes. You then input your card number again, create a GoGo account if you don't have one, and the 12 passes post to it ready to be used when you fly again on a participating airline. - works on AU card as well
$100 off when you book a qualifying airline itinerary via visa discount air portal (https://www.visadiscountair.com/CNB/default.aspx - STARTING JAN 1ST, 2020 THIS WILL NO LONGER BE OFFERED AS A BENEFIT
$30 off GroundLink car service (works with AU cards as well) plus instant 15% off rides. There are $25 current user referrals to go for first.

Airline fees are reimbursed up to $250 per calendar year. Fees must be from domestic carriers. There is no need to declare a carrier, and fees can be reimbursed from multiple carriers. Partial Ts and Cs:

Qualifying Airline Purchases are defined as incidental airline fee transactions made at eligible US Domestic Airline Carriers and include: ticket change/cancellation fees, checked baggage fees, inflight entertainment, onboard food and beverage charges, airport lounge membership fees and day passes, onboard wireless charges (excluding Gogo Wireless), and TSA Pre✓® membership application fee.


What works
AA: Award Fees/Taxes, Award Redeposit Fees ($150)
AA: e-Gift cards $250 including AUs (1x per card max 4)
AS: Award ticket fees, $16
AS: In flight food, entertainment.
AS: Premium Class Upgrade, $59

HA: Interisland Flight, $48.80
UA: award ticket fees, $51
WN: Award Fees/Taxes, Award Redeposit Fees (limit unknown, but it's between $75 and $80 per transaction), Early Bird boarding fees ($15)
DL: Baggage fees
B6: $53.30 airfare

What doesn't work
AS: Award ticket fees, $130ish
DL: GC; PGGM (reports of not working since April/2016)
DL: Just about anything. Don't use on Delta
UA: MPX, Award Fees (~$170)
UA: Gift card registry (up to $75) (No longer working as of 11/25/17)
UA: Seat Selection Fee
WN: GC
EY: Award Fees
TW: Change fee
UO: Seat fee
AA: Award Fees/Taxes on an itinerary originating outside the US.

To Be Confirmed
UA: Award Redeposit Fees ($200)


Global Entry reimbursements: (works on AU also)

user - mnsweeps ( https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29336509-post1549.html )

Used mine and a AU card to register for GE for in laws
01/17/201801/18/2018USCUSTOMS TRUSTEDTRAVELER$100.00
01/17/201801/18/2018USCUSTOMS TRUSTEDTRAVELER$100.00

Credit posted today for both cards.
01/20/201801/24/2018GLOBAL ENTRY STMT CREDIT $100.00
01/20/201801/24/2018GLOBAL ENTRY STMT CREDIT $100.00

In 2016, 2017 AND 2018 airline incidental credits for transactions on-or-after January 1st did not start posting until the third week of January. In 2019 they started posting on Jan 11th.

For further information, see this

STARTING JAN 1ST, 2020 there are going to be major changes to this card, these being:[/s]
  • $350 airline incidental credit per account (was $250 per AU)
    • $95 Annual Fee per AU
      • $32 per guest using PriorityPass (used to be free & unlimited)
        • Elimination of $100 Visa Air Discount Benefit
          • Groceries and Gas only earn 1x (used to be 3x)

Sources:

discussion starting here

https://www.cnb.com/content/dam/cnbc...ewards2020.pdf
https://www.cnb.com/content/dam/cnbc...rystal2020.pdf


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City National Bank Crystal Visa Infinite (USA); NY GA TN NV CA MA DC & MN

Old Oct 15, 2015, 3:15 pm
  #46  
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: OZ *G; HH Diamond;
Posts: 1,644
Originally Posted by NYCFlyer10001
Statement credits don't appear to be an option. Best you can get is the $1,000 prepaid visa for 105K pts. The $500 one is 55K pts, or a 10% upcharge compared to 1cpp.

The travel rewards are only through their captive portal.
What kind of valuation do they offer through the travel portal?
geclub1 is offline  
Old Oct 15, 2015, 7:08 pm
  #47  
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 556
Originally Posted by geclub1
What kind of valuation do they offer through the travel portal?
It looks like 1cpp or slightly better, at least on the cruise that I looked at (because I had the cash pricing handy elsewhere). The portal only displays prices in points so you can't directly calculate the value without an external reference.
NYCFlyer10001 is offline  
Old Oct 17, 2015, 9:35 pm
  #48  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 140
Anyone know what credit bureau was pulled when they applied for this card? Thanks!
esw30 is offline  
Old Oct 17, 2015, 10:20 pm
  #49  
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: OZ *G; HH Diamond;
Posts: 1,644
Originally Posted by esw30
Anyone know what credit bureau was pulled when they applied for this card? Thanks!
For an application submitted in California, no pull is found on TU or EQ. They must then have pulled EXP.
geclub1 is offline  
Old Oct 20, 2015, 9:51 am
  #50  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,931
I'm in a City National state but not near a branch. Has anyone had success applying via phone or email in state but not in branch?
Stgermainparis is offline  
Old Oct 20, 2015, 9:54 am
  #51  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SMF
Posts: 1,251
Originally Posted by Stgermainparis
I'm in a City National state but not near a branch. Has anyone had success applying via phone or email in state but not in branch?
See Gary Leff's post from today: http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....-signup-bonus/

I'd like to apply for this card but with an income between 60-70k, I don't think I'd have much of a chance. Hopefully its still around in 5 years
Big4Flyer is offline  
Old Oct 21, 2015, 12:38 am
  #52  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: CA
Posts: 91
I applied at a branch yesterday. I asked what is considered high income and the banker told me that "applicants with over $70k income" have a higher chance of being accepted. I gave her my last years W2 as proof of income and she scanned it. Still waiting on the decision. If the alleged benefits of this card pan out this might be the single most rewarding CC ever.
drekin is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2015, 5:00 pm
  #53  
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 108
i applied in branch today as well. i was told i had to have a city national account first, although i had planned to open one anyway, since they waive ATM fees charged by other banks' ATMs.

i also had to provide a W2, two recent pay stubs, and two recent bank statements from my existing bank (chase). we'll see if i get approved, and i'll make sure to report back on how the airline fee credits work.

one other interesting thing - the banker i talked to was perfectly nice, but he said (not in so many words) that city national isn't really a bank for hoi polloi. it's a "premium" bank, meaning i guess i should have been dressed nicer?
jordan_h is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2015, 7:01 pm
  #54  
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 587
Looks like an interesting card. Does anyone know if the car rental insurance it provides is primary or secondary ?
steve4 is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2015, 7:02 pm
  #55  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 118
Originally Posted by jordan_h
one other interesting thing - the banker i talked to was perfectly nice, but he said (not in so many words) that city national isn't really a bank for hoi polloi. it's a "premium" bank, meaning i guess i should have been dressed nicer?
I felt the same way, but luckily I applied at the Palo Alto branch where dressing worse is correlated with earning more. Interestingly they said nothing about needing to open a checking account.
gmangg is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2015, 11:51 pm
  #56  
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 108
Originally Posted by steve4
Looks like an interesting card. Does anyone know if the car rental insurance it provides is primary or secondary ?
i think it's primary, although the guide to benefits doesn't say "primary" or "secondary." however, based on how they describe the process of filing a claim, it sure sounds like it's primary.

here's the guide to benefits.
jordan_h is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2015, 11:55 pm
  #57  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,500
Originally Posted by jordan_h
i think it's primary, although the guide to benefits doesn't say "primary" or "secondary." however, based on how they describe the process of filing a claim, it sure sounds like it's primary.

here's the guide to benefits.
One of the exclusions is "Expenses reimbursable by your insurer, employer, or employer's insurance", which seems to imply secondary coverage. Usually issuers mention it explicitly either way though.
tmiw is offline  
Old Oct 23, 2015, 11:27 am
  #58  
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 190
Originally Posted by drekin
I applied at a branch yesterday. I asked what is considered high income and the banker told me that "applicants with over $70k income" have a higher chance of being accepted. I gave her my last years W2 as proof of income and she scanned it. Still waiting on the decision. If the alleged benefits of this card pan out this might be the single most rewarding CC ever.
A friend of mine who lives in southern CA and is retired got approved for the card last week. She doesn't have W2 income but she has large amount of deposits, >200K, not with cnb though and she worked with the banker and send in statements on her bank statements...So, it is not a fixed formula just based on the W2. Just a data point to share.
jackiesyu is offline  
Old Oct 23, 2015, 4:17 pm
  #59  
 
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Andover, MA, 01810
Posts: 1,971
You are now required to have a checking account with them in order to get this card, or so I was told when I called a branch.
UserMark is offline  
Old Oct 23, 2015, 4:21 pm
  #60  
Community Director Emerita
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,732
Originally Posted by UserMark
You are now required to have a checking account with them in order to get this card, or so I was told when I called a branch.
We were told that we needed to be doing business with the bank, and that could be by establishing a modest savings account. We did so and my husband's application is now in for consideration. I understand that a memo went to all the branches at the start of this week requiring a relationship beyond simply issuing the credit card. What that relationship needs to be is apparently for the individual branches to determine.
SanDiego1K is offline  

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