If you are struggling to make payments on a Citi credit card, you may be able to request financial hardship assistance directly from Citibank. Depending on your account status and financial circumstances, Citi may offer a temporary or longer-term payment arrangement, reduced monthly payments, a lower interest rate or another form of assistance.

Relief is not automatic, and the terms available to one cardholder may differ from those offered to another. The best first step is to contact Citi before you miss additional payments, explain what changed in your finances and ask which hardship options are available for your account.

Does Citibank Have a Credit Card Hardship Program?

Yes. Citi acknowledges that enrolling in a credit card hardship program may be one option for borrowers seeking debt relief. However, Citi does not publish one standard hardship plan with guaranteed rates, payments or eligibility rules for every cardholder.

Instead, Citi typically evaluates a customer's account and financial situation before discussing available assistance. Possible relief may include:

• A temporarily reduced interest rate
• A lower monthly payment
• A structured repayment arrangement
• Waived or reduced fees in some circumstances
• A fixed payment schedule designed to pay down the balance

The exact terms depend on factors such as your income, expenses, account history, balance, delinquency status and ability to make the proposed payment. Citi may restrict charging privileges or close the credit card as part of an arrangement. Ask how the program will affect your account before agreeing to it.

Why Citi Credit Card Hardship Assistance Matters

Citi remains one of the country's largest credit card issuers. According to Citigroup's 2025 annual report, Citi's U.S. Branded Cards business averaged approximately $119 billion in loans during 2025, up from $114 billion in 2024. Its portfolio includes proprietary Citi cards and co-branded cards, including Costco and American Airlines accounts.

With such a large portfolio, many Citi cardholders will experience job loss, reduced income, medical expenses, divorce, higher living costs or other circumstances that make payments difficult. Asking for assistance early may give you more options than waiting until the account is seriously past due.

Who May Qualify for a Citibank Hardship Program?

Citi does not publicly guarantee approval based on a specific hardship. In general, creditors may be more willing to discuss assistance when a cardholder can document a real financial change and demonstrate an ability to make a reduced payment.

Examples of financial hardship may include:

• Job loss or reduced work hours
• A decrease in household income
• Medical bills or an ongoing health condition
• Divorce or separation
• Death of a spouse or household wage earner
• A natural disaster
• A significant increase in necessary living expenses
• An unexpected home or vehicle repair
• Military deployment or relocation

Simply asking for a better interest rate may not be enough. Explain why the current payment is no longer affordable, how long you expect the hardship to last and what payment you can realistically make.

You do not necessarily need to be behind before asking for help. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends contacting a credit card issuer immediately when you believe you cannot make a payment.

How to Apply for Citi Credit Card Hardship Assistance

1. Review Your Budget Before Calling

Calculate your monthly take-home income and essential expenses, including housing, food, utilities, transportation, insurance and minimum debt payments. This will help you determine what you can afford to pay Citi each month.

Do not agree to a payment that only works in an unusually good month. A hardship arrangement will not solve the problem if the new payment is still beyond your budget.

2. Gather Information About Your Hardship

Be prepared to explain:

• What caused the financial hardship
• When the hardship began
• Whether it is temporary or ongoing
• Your current income and necessary expenses
• The amount you can afford to pay
• Whether other creditors have offered assistance

Citi may request supporting information or documents. Provide accurate information and keep copies of anything you submit.

3. Contact Citibank

Call the number on the back of your Citi credit card or use Citi's secure online account tools. Citi currently lists the following numbers on its official contact page:

• General Citi Cards support: 1-800-950-5114
• Citi Cards collections servicing: 1-800-388-2200
• Costco Anywhere Visa servicing: 1-855-378-6467

Phone numbers and department responsibilities can change. Confirm current contact information on Citi's website or your latest statement before calling.

4. Ask Direct Questions

Do not ask only, “Can you lower my payment?” Ask whether Citi offers a hardship program, loss-mitigation plan or structured repayment option for your account.

Questions to ask include:

• Can my interest rate be reduced?
• What will my new monthly payment be?
• How long will the arrangement last?
• Will late fees or other charges be waived?
• Will interest continue to accrue?
• Will my card be frozen or closed?
• How will the account be reported to the credit bureaus?
• What happens when the arrangement ends?
• Will a missed program payment cancel the agreement?

5. Get the Agreement in Writing

Before making a payment under the new terms, request written confirmation. Review the payment amount, due date, interest rate, program length and account restrictions. Save the confirmation along with records of your calls and payments.

What Should You Say When Calling Citi?

You can use the following script as a starting point:

“I am experiencing financial hardship because of [briefly explain the reason]. My income has decreased or my necessary expenses have increased, and I am concerned that I will not be able to maintain the current minimum payment. I can afford approximately $___ per month. Does Citi offer a hardship program, reduced-interest repayment plan or other payment assistance for my account?”

Be honest and specific. If the first representative cannot help, politely ask whether another department handles payment assistance or hardship plans.

How Long Does a Citi Hardship Program Last?

Program lengths vary. Some creditor hardship arrangements provide short-term relief for several months, while other repayment plans may continue until the balance is paid. Do not assume a reduced interest rate or payment will last for a particular period unless Citi confirms it in writing.

If you receive temporary relief, use that time to stabilize your finances. Reduce unnecessary expenses, avoid adding new debt and pay more than the required amount when your budget allows.

Will a Citibank Hardship Program Close Your Credit Card?

It might. Citi could freeze charging privileges or close the account, particularly when placing the balance on a structured repayment plan. Losing access to the card may feel inconvenient, but it also prevents the balance from growing through new purchases.

Ask Citi how the account will be reported and whether it will be closed before accepting an offer. Closing an account can affect credit utilization and other aspects of a credit score, but continuing to miss payments can also cause significant credit damage.

What If Citi Does Not Offer Enough Relief?

An internal Citi hardship program may be helpful when your financial setback is temporary. It may not be enough if:

• You have several high-interest credit cards
• Your minimum payments remain unaffordable
• The offered relief lasts only a short time
• You need a complete household budget review
• You want one structured payment for multiple unsecured debts

If those circumstances apply, nonprofit credit counseling may be the next option to consider.

Citibank Debt Management Plans Through Nonprofit Credit Counseling

A debt management plan is not a loan and is not the same as debt settlement. Under a debt management plan, you generally repay the principal you owe while a nonprofit credit counseling organization works with participating creditors to request concessions such as reduced interest rates or lower required payments.

You make one scheduled payment to the credit counseling organization, which distributes funds to your participating creditors. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains that credit counselors can help create a budget and work with creditors through a debt management plan.

Citi has historically worked with nonprofit credit counseling organizations, including DebtWave. Depending on Citi's current creditor guidelines and the account's eligibility, a debt management plan may provide:

• A reduced interest rate
• A lower required monthly payment
• One payment covering multiple participating credit cards
• A structured path to repay enrolled balances
• Support from a certified credit counselor

Rates and payments are determined by creditor guidelines and the client's financial situation. No particular interest rate or payment reduction is guaranteed. Credit cards enrolled in a debt management plan are generally closed to new purchases.

DebtWave Has Helped Citi Cardholders Since 2002

DebtWave Credit Counseling has worked with Citi cardholders for more than 20 years. Many clients enroll other eligible unsecured debts—such as Chase, Discover or additional credit card accounts—along with their Citi balance.

Clients make scheduled payments to DebtWave by ACH, and DebtWave distributes the funds to participating creditors. Payment frequency may be monthly, semimonthly, biweekly or weekly, depending on the client's approved schedule. Debt management plans are commonly designed to repay enrolled debt within three to five years, although the actual timeline depends on balances, creditor terms and payment consistency.

What DebtWave's Citi Account Study Found

DebtWave reviewed 18,925 Citi accounts enrolled in its debt management program from 2010 through 2024. According to DebtWave's internal account data:

• 12,831 Citi accounts were paid in full through the program
• The paid-in-full accounts represented approximately 68% of all Citi accounts enrolled during the study period
• More than 1,500 Citi accounts remained active and continued paying down debt when the study was completed

These figures describe historical account outcomes, not a guarantee of results for future clients. Individual results depend on creditor participation, account eligibility, balances, interest rates, fees and the client's ability to make every scheduled payment.

Can You Pay Off Citi Credit Card Debt on Your Own?

Yes. A hardship program or debt management plan is not necessary for everyone. If your budget allows you to pay more than the minimum, you can create your own repayment strategy.

Stop Adding to the Balance

Avoid new purchases on the card while paying it down. If you continue charging recurring expenses, your payments may not reduce the balance.

Ask Citi for a Lower Rate

Even if you do not qualify for a formal hardship plan, you can ask whether a lower APR or other account option is available. A lower rate allows more of each payment to reduce principal.

Choose a Repayment Method

Two common strategies are:

• Debt avalanche: Pay extra toward the card with the highest interest rate first. This generally saves the most interest.
• Debt snowball: Pay extra toward the card with the smallest balance first. This can provide quicker motivational wins.

Continue making at least the minimum payment on every account while directing additional money toward the priority debt.

Use a Credit Card Payoff Calculator

Enter your balance, APR and proposed monthly payment into a payoff calculator. Compare different payments to see how they affect your payoff date and total interest.

Build a Realistic Budget

Review every source of income and every expense. Look for sustainable ways to reduce spending or increase income. A budget should include irregular expenses—such as vehicle repairs, insurance renewals and medical costs—so they do not immediately return to a credit card.