2025's Ultimate Showdown: Which Bank Transferable Currency Reigns Supreme?
Hey friends, what's up? Phillip here with Points with Phillip! 2025 brought a lot of changes to the credit card and points world, and today, I want to take a step back and figure out which bank transferable currency truly won the year. We're going to dive into what happened, what changed, and then I'll reveal which credit card ecosystem, according to me, is the most valuable.
Let's get into it!
The Most Improved (and My Top Pick): Citi ThankYou Points
For those of you who've watched the channel, you know I haven't always been Citi's biggest fan. My relationship with them has been...complicated. For instance, the only credit card they approved me for this year was the American Airlines Platinum Select, a targeted mailer I received before I even had many personal credit cards. They gave me a great credit limit, but they wouldn't approve me for any of their ThankYou point-earning cards.
My journey with Citi started with a balance transfer on the Diamond Preferred card, which I product-changed to a Custom Cash – a card I absolutely love for supercharging gas earnings. However, the Custom Cash points were trapped, only usable for statement credits or cash. So, earlier this year, I product-changed it again to the Citi Strata Premiere Card. And this card? I love this card.
For a modest $95 annual fee, the Strata Premiere is a powerhouse:
3x points on most travel purchases.
3x points on dining.
3x points on groceries.
3x points on gas.
This card, in one fell swoop, provides really great multipliers on everyday spending and, crucially, offers full access to Citi's transferable partners.
Why Citi's Transfer Partners Make All the Difference:
American Airlines (Exclusive Partner!): This year, Citi announced American Airlines as their exclusive transfer partner. If you want to fly AA and book directly with points, you need Citi ThankYou Points. This is huge! With an AA co-branded card (like my Platinum Select), you get preferred boarding and free checked bags, enhancing your AA redemptions. American Airlines points shine for international business class (e.g., 57-58k points for a saver fair to London Heathrow) and surprisingly good value for domestic flights too.
JetBlue (1:1 Transfer): This 1:1 transfer ratio is increasingly rare. JetBlue doesn't have it with Amex or Capital One, but they do with Chase and now Citi. This is fantastic for domestic travel at low point values.
I Prefer (IHG) (1:4 Transfer!): This is where it gets insane for hotels. One Citi ThankYou Point becomes FOUR I Prefer points. You can snag a high-end room, usually $400-500 a night (like the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando or the Watergate Hotel/Pendry in DC), for just 50,000 I Prefer points, which translates to a mind-blowing 12,500 Citi ThankYou Points! That's truly exceptional value.
Choice Hotels (1:2 Transfer): While not high-end luxury, Choice offers a wide range of decent, modern hotels (Cambria, Ascend Collection, Radisson Blu). They are perfect for comfortable family vacations and have some unexpected sweet spots, especially in Europe (hello, Norway lodges!).
Citi's gain of American Airlines as an exclusive transfer partner, combined with these incredible hotel partners, truly makes them the most improved, and arguably the most valuable, transferable currency of 2025.
The Competitors: How Other Banks Stack Up
While Citi made huge strides, let's see how the other major players are doing.
American Express (Membership Rewards)
Amex has the largest number of transfer partners, offering flexibility.
Hotels: Hilton (1:2 transfer, decent value – 25,000 MR for a 50k Hilton room like the Capitol Hill Hilton). Marriott (1:1, but generally not recommended – better to cash out MR and buy Marriott points).
Airlines: Delta (1:1, but beware of excise tax). Air Canada (access to United flights, though at a higher point cost than direct Chase transfers). Virgin Atlantic and Air France (great for booking Delta flights).
The Downside: Amex is trending negatively with the upcoming loss of Cathay Pacific as a 1:1 transfer partner. Also, their JetBlue transfer isn't 1:1.
Chase (Ultimate Rewards)
Chase remains a powerhouse, especially for domestic travelers.
Hotels: Famously Hyatt (1:1 transfer, excellent value! A Park Hyatt in DC or NYC can be 25,000-45,000 UR points, saving hundreds).
Airlines: United (1:1, very solid, especially with a United co-branded card for better award availability). Southwest (1:1, but Southwest points are on a downhill trajectory, with fewer sweet spots for high value).
The Downside: While excellent, their portfolio hasn't seen the same level of improvement or disruptive new value that Citi did in 2025.
Capital One (Venture Miles)
Capital One doesn't win awards for being the "best" at any single thing, but they offer accessibility to niche partners.
Airlines: Known for international partners like Japan Airlines (most easily accessible transfer program for JAL, though not 1:1). Also Air Canada (for United flights), Virgin, and Air France (for Delta flights).
The Downside: They lack strong domestic transfer partners. While great for certain international redemptions, their overall value proposition is less compelling for most users compared to Citi's recent gains.
The Verdict for 2025
For me, Citi ThankYou Points are not only the most improved transferable currency of 2025, but they might actually be the best overall. The exclusive American Airlines partnership, combined with the insane value from I Prefer and Choice Hotels, makes them incredibly compelling for a wide range of travel goals, both domestic and international.
What do you think? Which bank's transferable currency do you find most valuable? Let me know in the comments section below! I can't wait to hear what you all have to say.
Thanks so much for watching, and I'll see you guys later! Have a great day!