What credit score do you need to get the Citi/AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard?
Citi is TPG’s advertising partner.
If you are thinking of applying Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® — formerly known as CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® — but not sure if you have credit score qualified for your approval, we can help with that. Let’s look at the different factors you should consider before deciding whether you should apply for this job or not Small business rewards credit cards.
Information about the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
What credit score do you need to get the Citi/AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard?
Although the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® is one small business credit cardyour personal credit score will be considered during the application process. Some Issuers also check your business credit score during the application process, if you Businesses with credit history.
Citi did not announce specifics credit score required to be approved for Citi/AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard. After all, your credit score is just one of many factors that Citi will take into account when deciding whether to approve your application. But generally you will need one A good credit score is at least 730*approved for one credit card rewards.
However, it is possible to be approved with a lower score depending on the specific details of your application.
*Points Guy’s credit range is derived from a FICO® Score of 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, lenders may use a different credit score when reviewing your credit application.
Related reading: Best business credit cards of 2024
Who should buy the Citi/AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard?
The Citi/AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard is a solid card if you want extra perks when flying American Airlines.
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As a cardholder, you will receive First checked bag free on American Airlines domestic itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling in the same booking. $99 annual fee is waived for the first year, but in subsequent years you can easily charge an annual fee if you check at least four bags a year.
The card is currently offering a sizable 75,000-mile sign-up bonus after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first five months of account opening. You earn 2 A Advantage miles on qualifying American Airlines purchases, as well as spending with telecommunications providers, cable and satellite providers, car rental providers, and the gas station. All other purchases earn 1 mile per dollar.
How many card accounts can I open?
Citi appears to be unlimited overall The number of credit cards you can open. Citi appears to have one too Maximum credit limit However, it can extend across all your Citi cards. So if you have at least one other small business credit card with Citi And Not approved for new cardsYou can call Citi’s reconsideration line to see if transfer some credit from one of your existing small business cards will allow you to open a new card.
Related reading: How many credit cards should I have?
Who is eligible for a sign-up bonus?
The card application notes that “American Airlines AAdvantage® Miles are not available if you have received a new account bonus to a Citi/AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard account in the past 48 months.” So if you’ve earned a sign-up bonus for this card in the past four years, you won’t be eligible to earn another bonus at this time.
Related reading: Earn extra AAdvantage card sign-up bonuses: What you need to know
Do I need a business to get a business credit card?
Yes, you need a business to get by business credit cards, But many types of small businesses can meet standard, including some jobs you may not have considered before. For example, selling online, offering music lessons, tutoring children, freelancing, or managing rental properties can all make you qualify for a business credit card.
You do not need to have a registered business to Apply for a business credit card. You can select “sole proprietor” as your business type when filling out the application, enter your name as your business name, and enter your Social Security number as your tax identification number.
How to check your credit score
There are many ways to Check your consumer credit score for free. For example, many credit cards allow you to check Your FICO score for free. It’s a good idea to track your score progress over time, especially if you want to improve your credit score. You can also Check your business credit scorebut you’ll typically have to pay to see your actual score or full credit report.
It’s important to realize that you don’t just have one credit score. Instead, there are different calculation methods and credit reporting agencies. Your personal and business credit scores will vary based on the calculation method and credit reporting agency used.
Factors that affect your credit score
Once you Know your credit score rangeWhat you might be wondering Factors that affect your credit score. Focus on your personal credit score because We know that Citi will consider this point available to all Citi/AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard subscribers.
There are several formulas for calculating your credit score, but no exact calculation is publicly available. However, FICO is relatively transparent about the different factors they evaluate and the weight each factor gives:
- Payment history (35%): Whether you were Pay previous credit accounts on time.
- Amount owed (30%): The relative size of your current debt and ratio your current debt to your available credit.
- Length of credit history (15%): How long your credit accounts have been established (including the age of your oldest account, the age of your newest account, and the average age of all your accounts), given credit accounts been set up and how long it has been since you have used certain accounts.
- New credit (10%): How many new accounts have you opened recently.
- Credit structure (10%): How many different types of credit accounts do you have, such as credit cards, retail accounts, installment loans, finance company accounts and mortgage loans.
What to do if you get rejected
If your application is denied, you will receive a letter stating the reason Citi denied you. Depending on the reason, you may want to use this information to improve your credit score before reapplying. Or, if you believe you can provide additional information that may help your application be approved, you can call Citi’s reconsideration line to resolve your case.
If you call review lineBe prepared to answer questions about your business and make a compelling case for why Citi should approve your application.
Related reading: How bad is being declined for a credit card?
How long must I wait before reapplying?
It’s best to avoid reapplying until you resolve the reason Citi gave you for denying you. However, if you want to reapply or apply for another Citi card, the application is agreed upon Citi credit card is that you can only apply for one card (personal or business) at a time every eight days, no more than two cards in a 65-day period, and no more than one business card in a 90-day period.
How much are American Airlines AAdvantage miles worth?
Based on TPG’s valuation, American Airlines miles are worth 1.58 cents per mile. The current sign-up bonus for the Citi/AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard is worth $1,185. If you use your miles wisely, you can redeem your AA miles for much greater value.
Credit card writer Danyal Ahmed redeemed his miles for up to 6.5 cents per mile when he booked a Qatar Airways business class ticket for 70,000 miles.
Related reading: How (and why) reward redemption values are calculated
Bottom line
If you’re an American Airlines loyalist and business owner, the Citi/AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard is a good choice as you earn miles in business-specific categories and when traveling with American Airlines .
Elite benefits like priority boarding and free checked bags are enough to help offset the $99 annual fee. If your credit score is at least 730 and you have a good overall credit profile, a card with a current welcome offer could be a great value add for your business.