With Citi Flex Pay, Citi makes it easy for cardholders to make large purchases more affordable and accessible. Customers can repay their purchases with equal payments and varying terms, with the flexibility to choose what fits their budgets. Citi is a Forbes Advisor partner.

Citi Flex Pay is an option with all Citi credit cards, and allows cardholders to borrow against their existing credit limits without a separate application or credit check.

What Is Citi Flex Pay?

Citi offers two Flex Plans for cardholders to access extra payment options through its credit cards: Citi Flex Loan and Citi Flex Pay. Citi Flex Loan is a targeted loan users may see in their accounts if they qualify. The other Flex Plan is Citi Flex Pay, which is available with any Citi credit card.

Citi Flex Pay is a Buy Now, Pay Later program that allows cardholders to make credit card purchases, then pay them back over a set period of time with a fixed monthly payment. Users can repay purchases over $75 in finite terms without having to apply for a separate loan or additional line of credit. Citi Flex Pay options vary by purchase, available Citi credit limit and the purchase amount.

Citi Flex Pay must be accessed by a Citi cardholder inside their online account or Citi mobile app. No Citi purchases are automatically enrolled in Flex Pay. Citi displays which purchases are eligible for Flex Pay and allows users to enroll should they choose to take advantage of an installment plan.

How Does Citi Flex Pay Work?

Citi Flex Pay gives cardholders the freedom to make purchases with flexible terms and fixed payments. With Flex Pay, Citi cardholders can choose the duration they prefer from the available options, typically between three and 48 months, on purchases of $75 or more.

In general, the higher the purchase amount, the longer you’ll have to repay—and the more repayment options you’ll have. When enrolling through your Citi account, you’ll see the option next to qualifying purchases.

How To Use Citi Flex Pay

To select the Citi Flex Pay plan for purchases over $75 with your Citi card, users can log in to their accounts to find eligible purchases, which may be identified with a Flex Pay icon or link to register. Upon choosing an eligible purchase, cardholders are presented with installment options.

Repayment terms can be as short as three months or as long as four years depending on the purchase price. Your purchases won’t accrue interest when you enroll in Citi Flex Pay. Instead, you’re charged a monthly fee, which may be less expensive than your card’s regular APR.

The payment on a Citi Flex Pay item will be added to a cardholder’s minimum monthly payment. If payment on a Flex Pay purchase is not made in accordance with the terms, a late fee will be assessed.

Citi Flex Pay With Amazon Pay

Amazon Pay also announced a partnership with Citi that allows cardholders to use Citi Flex Pay’s flexible repayment terms at Amazon and other online retailers through Amazon Pay. Amazon Pay has been offering 0% APR when using the Citi Flex Pay option. Amazon Pay shoppers can choose durations between three and 48 months for eligible purchases of $50 or more instead of the usual $75. If the Citi Flex Pay option is available, you’ll see the offer after logging in to your Amazon Pay account when you check out with a participating merchant.

Amazon Pay also spells out the repayment terms more clearly:

Repay purchases of $50 or more in three equal monthly payments
Repay purchases of $149 or more in six equal monthly payments
Repay purchases of $299 or more in twelve equal monthly payments

Of course, these are examples. You can still choose your own repayment terms from the list of available options when you check out.

How Long Does Citi Take To Approve Citi Flex Pay?

There is no approval process for Citi Flex Pay. If a cardholder makes a purchase that is eligible for Flex Pay, as long as the cardholder chooses and agrees to the terms of paying in installments, the Flex Pay amount for each month will be added to each month’s minimum payment.

The cardholder is responsible for the Flex Pay installment amount as agreed, in addition to their minimum monthly payment, for the selected term.

How To Cancel Citi Flex Pay

The only way currently to cancel Citi Flex Pay is by paying off the remaining balance. There is no prepayment penalty for paying off a Flex Pay balance early.

Conversely, according to Citi’s card agreement guide, if a cardholder does not make three consecutive payments toward their Flex Pay balance, Citi reserves the right to cancel that cardholder’s Flex Pay plan.

Pros and Cons of Citi Flex Pay

Truth be told, there isn’t much difference between using Citi Flex Pay and simply making the minimum payment on your credit card each month. Using Citi Flex Pay may be slightly cheaper, but you can achieve a similar effect by making payments on your own.

The advantage of Citi Flex Pay is that it provides a framework for you to repay your purchase while saving a little money on the interest fees you’d ordinarily accrue. If you prefer to have a payment plan, this option may be easier on your budget. Another benefit is that Citi Flex Pay is much cheaper than a cash advance—and there’s no additional application or credit check required.

While it’s convenient to have the option of breaking up your purchases into payments, it will decrease your available credit for as long as the Flex Pay plan is valid. If you already struggle to make your minimum payment, a Citi Flex Pay loan will only add to your monthly payments.

If you’re in a bind and need to make a purchase, it can open your available options. But if you’re prone to overspending, it could get you in over your head. As with everything related to credit, make sure to run the numbers and check your budget before committing to a new payment plan.

For planned large purchases, consider that a new 0% APR credit card could save you money on interest and give you more time to repay. It would require a new credit application but could be worth it for the added time and savings.

Bottom Line

Citi Flex Pay can be a helpful tool for cardholders to manage large expenses without having to seek additional credit. With APRs similar to (or less than) regular purchase rates, cardholders can confidently choose to split up payments with terms that fit their situations best right in their online accounts.

Cardholders must be aware, however, that their Flex Pay installments are in addition to minimum monthly payments, and failure to pay the monthly installment can result in late fees or Citi canceling their plan. There’s no prepayment penalty for paying off a Citi Flex Pay balance early. Used responsibly, Citi Flex Pay is an alternate way to budget for a purchase you want to make.

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