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Citi stopped accepting new applications for the Citi Custom Cash Card on May 28, 2026. If you already have the card, nothing changes, you keep it and its benefits. But new applicants can no longer apply directly, so if you wanted that automatic 5% cash back, you now need an alternative. The catch is that no card replicates Custom Cash exactly, so the best replacement depends on how much effort you want to put in. Here are your real options, as of June 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Citi Custom Cash closed to new applications on May 28, 2026. Existing cardholders are not affected.
- You may still be able to get it by product-changing from another Citi card, since direct applications are closed.
- No card automatically gives 5% on your top category the way Custom Cash did, so alternatives involve choosing or activating categories.
- The simplest replacement is a flat 2% card like the Citi Double Cash, which Citi itself points new applicants toward.
- Approval depends on your creditworthiness, and rewards, caps, and terms can change.
What Made Custom Cash Special
The Citi Custom Cash had one standout feature: it automatically gave you 5% cash back on your single highest eligible spending category each billing cycle, up to $500 in spend (then 1%), with no annual fee and nothing to activate. You did not have to pick a category or remember a rotating calendar, the card just followed your spending. That automatic, no-effort 5% is exactly what no other card copies precisely, which is why there is no perfect one-to-one swap.
The Best Alternatives in 2026
Citi Double Cash: the simplest swap
Citi steers new applicants to the Double Cash, and it is the easiest replacement. It pays a flat 2% on everything (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay), has no annual fee, and earns Citi ThankYou points. You lose the 5% spike on a top category, but you gain simplicity and no caps. If you already have or get a Double Cash, it pairs well with a Custom Cash if you product-change into one later. See our Citi Double Cash review.
U.S. Bank Cash+: the closest 5% option
The U.S. Bank Cash+ lets you choose two 5% categories each quarter (on combined spend up to a quarterly cap) plus a 2% everyday category, with no annual fee. It is the closest thing to Custom Cash’s 5%, with the trade-off that you pick the categories yourself each quarter instead of the card doing it automatically. Confirm the current categories and caps on the issuer’s page, since they can change.
Chase Freedom Flex: rotating 5%
The Chase Freedom Flex offers 5% on rotating quarterly categories you activate (up to a quarterly cap), plus elevated rates on dining, drugstores, and Chase travel, with no annual fee. The downside is that you do not know the categories until Chase announces them, and you have to remember to activate.
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards: pick your category
This card lets you choose one 3% category (such as gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstores, or home improvement) plus 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, up to a combined quarterly cap, with no annual fee. Bank of America Preferred Rewards members can earn even higher rates. It is a lower headline rate than 5%, but the category is yours to set.
Discover it Cash Back: rotating 5% with a first-year match
The Discover it Cash Back gives 5% on rotating quarterly categories you activate (up to a quarterly cap) and 1% elsewhere, with no annual fee. Discover also matches all the cash back you earn in your first year, which can effectively double year-one rewards.
How They Compare
| Card | Top rate | How it works | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citi Double Cash | 2% flat | Automatic, no categories | $0 |
| U.S. Bank Cash+ | 5% | You pick two categories each quarter (capped) | $0 |
| Chase Freedom Flex | 5% | Rotating quarterly, must activate | $0 |
| BofA Customized Cash | 3% | You pick one category | $0 |
| Discover it Cash Back | 5% | Rotating quarterly, first-year match | $0 |
Rates, categories, and caps are as of June 2026 and can change, so confirm the current terms on each issuer’s official page before applying.
Which One Should You Get?
Match the card to how much effort you want:
- Want zero effort: the flat 2% Citi Double Cash is the cleanest swap.
- Want the highest rate and will manage categories: the U.S. Bank Cash+ comes closest to the old 5%.
- Do not mind activating each quarter: the Freedom Flex or Discover it can pay 5% on rotating categories.
- Want to set one steady category: the Bank of America card lets you lock in a 3% category.
None of this is a recommendation to apply for a specific card. A cash-back card only pays off if you pay the balance in full, since interest erases rewards fast. If you want to weigh these against other options, see our roundup of no-annual-fee cards and our comparison of rewards cards versus the alternatives.
FAQ
Can I still get the Citi Custom Cash card?
Not through a direct application, which closed May 28, 2026. You may still be able to get it by product-changing from another Citi card you already hold. Existing cardholders keep their card and benefits.
What is the closest alternative to the Citi Custom Cash?
The U.S. Bank Cash+ is the closest 5% option, though you choose the categories yourself each quarter rather than the card selecting your top one automatically.
What is the easiest replacement?
The Citi Double Cash, a flat 2% card with no categories to manage, which is the card Citi itself points new applicants toward.
Why did Citi close the Custom Cash card?
Citi said the change reflects its ongoing focus on managing and evolving its product portfolio. It did not give a more specific reason.
Does any card automatically give 5% on my top category?
No card replicates Custom Cash’s automatic top-category 5% exactly. The alternatives require you to choose or activate categories.
Bottom Line
The Citi Custom Cash is closed to new applicants as of May 28, 2026, and no card copies its automatic 5% exactly. Pick a replacement based on effort: the Double Cash for simplicity, the U.S. Bank Cash+ for the highest rate, or a rotating-category card if you do not mind activating. Confirm current terms with the issuer, since rewards and rules change and approval depends on your credit.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Card features, rewards rates, caps, and terms change frequently and depend on your creditworthiness. Confirm current details on the issuer’s official page before applying.
