Citibank hardship program
Can a Citibank Hardship Program Help With Credit Card Payments?
A Citibank hardship program or other payment arrangement may be worth exploring when job loss, reduced income, medical expenses or another financial setback makes your Citi credit card payment difficult to manage.
Citi discusses credit card hardship programs as one potential form of
assistance for consumers experiencing financial difficulty. However,
the exact options depend on the account and individual circumstances,
so Citi does not guarantee one payment, interest rate or program length
for every cardholder.
If your Citi credit card debt is only one part of a
larger debt problem, nonprofit credit counseling can also help you
review your other accounts, household expenses and overall repayment
strategy.
Free initial consultation •
No new loan •
No obligation to enroll
WHY CONSUMERS TURN TO DEBTWAVE
Nonprofit Credit Counseling Since 2001
501(c)(3)
Nonprofit Organization
Since 2001
Helping Consumers
NFCC
Member Agency
No New Loan
Debt Management Option
CITI CREDIT CARD PAYMENT ASSISTANCE
How to Ask About a Citibank Hardship Program
If you expect difficulty making your minimum payment, contact Citi as
soon as possible. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends
contacting a credit card issuer immediately when you believe you may
not be able to make the required payment.
Before calling, review your income and essential expenses so you know
what monthly payment you can realistically afford. Then explain what
changed financially and ask whether
Citi credit card payment assistance or another
account-specific arrangement is available.
Citi Credit Card Customer Service
800-950-5114
Citi currently lists this number for servicing consumer Citi
Mastercard and Visa credit card accounts.
Account-Specific Help
Back of Card
The number on the back of your Citi card or current statement is
another good place to start when asking about financial hardship.
Online Account Help
Citi Online
Sign in to your Citi account to review your current balance,
payment information and available account-management options.
UNDERSTAND CITI FINANCIAL HARDSHIP OPTIONS
How Does a Citibank Hardship Program Work?
Citi does not publish one universal hardship plan with identical
terms for every cardholder. Instead, assistance can depend on the
account, your financial circumstances and the options available when
you contact the company.
Citi's consumer education explains that credit card hardship programs
may sometimes involve pausing a payment, reducing a minimum payment,
lowering an interest rate or waiving late fees. However, those are
examples of what hardship programs may provide rather than guaranteed
Citi account terms.
Therefore, if Citi offers you a
Citi credit card payment plan, ask for the exact
payment, APR, program length and account restrictions before agreeing
to the arrangement.
Before accepting an offer:
Ask what your required payment will be, whether interest continues
to accrue, whether fees change, what happens to charging privileges,
how long the arrangement lasts and what happens when it ends.
CITIBANK HARDSHIP PROGRAM QUESTIONS
3 Questions to Ask About Citi Hardship Assistance
A Citi hardship program may provide temporary or
longer-term breathing room, but understanding the complete offer
can help you evaluate its impact on your account.
1
What Will My New Payment Be?
Confirm the required payment amount, when it starts and whether the payment will change again during or after the arrangement.
2
Will My Interest Rate or Fees Change?
Ask whether Citi will adjust the APR or fees and, if so, how long the modified terms remain in effect.
3
What Happens to My Citi Card?
Find out whether the card remains available for purchases, becomes restricted or will be closed under the arrangement.COMPARE YOUR NEXT STEPS
A Citibank Hardship Program and Other Ways to Address Credit Card Debt
The right approach depends on your balance, budget, APR and whether
Citi is your only major credit card debt or one of several accounts
competing for limited monthly income.
1
Work Directly With Citi
If one Citi account is causing most of the payment pressure, contact Citi and ask whether Citi hardship assistance is available for your account.
2
Continue Paying on Your Own
When your budget supports larger payments, calculate whether you can repay the balance yourself within a reasonable period. Calculate Your Payoff Time →
3
Review a Debt Management Program
If several high-interest cards are difficult to manage, nonprofit credit counseling may help you evaluate a coordinated repayment strategy for eligible accounts.LOOK AT YOUR TOTAL CREDIT CARD DEBT
When a Citibank Hardship Program May Not Be Enough
A Citibank hardship program may make one Citi
payment easier without resolving a larger cash-flow problem.
For example, you may also owe balances to several other card issuers.
In that situation, nonprofit credit counseling can help you review
your accounts together rather than focusing on only one payment.
✓ Citi
✓ Capital One
✓ Chase
✓ Bank of America
✓ Discover
✓ Synchrony
✓ Wells Fargo
✓ Other Eligible Creditors
CITI DEBT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OPTIONS
Citibank Hardship Program or a Debt Management Program?
If a Citi credit card hardship program does not
address your overall debt situation, nonprofit credit counseling
provides another approach to consider.
Citi's own consumer education explains that nonprofit credit
counselors may help consumers create repayment plans, including
Debt Management Programs that may seek lower interest rates and
smaller minimum payments from participating creditors.
Through a DMP, qualifying clients generally make one scheduled
payment to the credit counseling agency. The agency then distributes
funds to participating creditors according to the program schedule.
A traditional DMP is not a new debt-consolidation loan. Instead,
eligible balances are repaid through a structured program without
borrowing additional money.
Citibank debt management program participation and
final terms depend on the individual account and Citi's current
creditor guidelines. Therefore, a particular APR, payment reduction
or payoff period cannot be guaranteed.
DEBTWAVE HISTORICAL CITI ACCOUNT DATA
DebtWave's Experience With Citi Credit Card Accounts
DebtWave reviewed Citi credit card accounts enrolled in its Debt
Management Program from 2010 through 2024. These historical averages
show what occurred within that group; however, future Citi terms and
individual results may differ.
18,925
Citi Accounts Enrolled
12,831
Citi Accounts Paid in Full
35
Average Months to Pay Off
$52M
Citi Credit Card Debt Paid Off
22.68%
Average Starting APR
9.59%
Average DMP APR
$118
Average Starting Payment
$89
Average DMP Payment
Historical DebtWave analysis of Citi credit card accounts enrolled from 2010 through 2024. The study included approximately $70.6 million in enrolled Citi credit card debt, an average starting debt of $3,737 per account and an average payment reduction of 24%. Historical averages and outcomes do not guarantee future creditor terms or individual results.
COMPARE THE TWO APPROACHES
Citibank Hardship Program vs. a Debt Management Program
A Citibank hardship program and a Debt Management
Program may both help with payment pressure, but they serve different
purposes. The main difference is whether you need account-specific
assistance from Citi or a coordinated strategy involving several
eligible creditors.
| Feature | Citi Hardship Assistance | Debt Management Program |
|---|---|---|
| Who provides it? | Citi | Nonprofit credit counseling agency |
| Accounts addressed | Individual eligible Citi account | Multiple eligible participating creditors may be included |
| New loan required? | No | No |
| Payment changes? | Depends on the account-specific arrangement offered | Depends on participating-creditor guidelines |
| Interest-rate changes? | May vary based on the assistance Citi offers | Eligible creditors may provide reduced interest rates |
| Budget and debt review? | Not the primary purpose | Included in the credit counseling process |
| Multiple creditors? | Generally focuses on the Citi account | Multiple qualifying accounts may be coordinated |
COMPARE YOUR CURRENT CITI TERMS
Estimate Your Citi DMP Payment and APR
Use DebtWave's Debt Management Plan Calculator to compare your
current Citi balance, payment and APR with estimated program terms.
Calculator results are estimates. Actual Citi participation,
payments, interest rates and creditor concessions depend on the
individual account and current creditor guidelines.
NONPROFIT CREDIT COUNSELING
Why Consider DebtWave for Citi Credit Card Debt Relief?
DebtWave Credit Counseling, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
that has provided credit counseling, financial education and Debt
Management Programs since 2001.
In addition, DebtWave is a member of the National Foundation for
Credit Counseling. Citi's own educational materials discuss credit
counseling as an alternative for consumers working to manage credit
card debt.
Speaking with DebtWave does not require you to enroll in a DMP.
Instead, a counselor can first review your Citi balances, other
unsecured debts, monthly payments, income and household expenses.
That review can help you compare
Citibank credit card debt relief options without
immediately taking out another loan.
NFCC Member Agency
DebtWave is listed in the National Foundation for Credit Counseling member-agency directory.CITIBANK HARDSHIP PROGRAM FAQS
Citibank Hardship Program FAQs
Does Citibank have a hardship program for credit cards?
Citi discusses credit card hardship programs as a potential option for consumers facing financial difficulty. However, assistance is account-specific, and Citi does not publish one standard hardship payment, interest rate or set of eligibility requirements that applies to every cardholder.What is the Citibank hardship program phone number?
Citi currently lists 800-950-5114 for consumer Citi Mastercard and Visa credit card customer service. You can also use the number printed on the back of your card or current statement when asking about financial hardship.Should I contact Citi before I miss a payment?
Yes. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends contacting your credit card issuer immediately when you believe you cannot make the minimum payment. Explain why the payment is difficult and how much you can realistically afford.Can Citi lower my monthly payment because of financial hardship?
A reduced minimum payment may be one possible feature of a credit card hardship arrangement. However, Citi does not guarantee a particular payment reduction for every account. Ask what Citi minimum payment help is available for your specific situation.Can a Citibank hardship program lower my interest rate?
Citi explains that a lower interest rate can sometimes be negotiated through a credit card hardship program. Nevertheless, there is no universal Citi lower interest rate guaranteed for every cardholder. Confirm any new APR and how long it will remain in effect.Can Citi waive late fees during financial hardship?
Citi notes that waived late fees may be one possible hardship-program concession. Availability depends on the lender, account and circumstances, so ask whether any fees will be reduced or waived under the specific offer you receive.Can a Citi hardship program temporarily pause payments?
Citi's consumer education lists pausing payments as one possible feature of some credit card hardship programs. That does not mean every Citi card qualifies. Ask whether interest continues to accrue and what payment will be required when the temporary relief ends.Will Citi close my credit card if I enter a hardship program?
Account treatment can vary. Before accepting a payment arrangement, ask whether charging privileges will continue, whether the card will be restricted or closed and how Citi intends to report the account.Does a Citi hardship program forgive credit card debt?
Usually, hardship assistance focuses on making repayment more manageable rather than eliminating the balance. Citi states that direct credit card debt forgiveness is rare. A traditional Debt Management Program also generally focuses on repaying enrolled balances rather than settling them for less than the amount owed.Can a Citi credit card be included in a Debt Management Program?
Eligible Citi accounts may be able to participate in a nonprofit Debt Management Program. Participation, APRs, payments and other concessions depend on Citi's current guidelines and the specific account.Will my Citi card be closed if I enroll it in a DMP?
Credit card accounts included in a Debt Management Program are generally closed or restricted from new purchases. Specific account treatment can vary according to creditor guidelines.Is a Citi debt management program another consolidation loan?
No. A traditional Debt Management Program does not replace your balances with a new loan. Instead, qualifying debts are repaid through a structured repayment program administered by a credit counseling organization.What if I have Citi plus several other credit cards?
A nonprofit credit counseling session can review several unsecured creditors together. This may be particularly useful when your Citi payment represents only one portion of a larger monthly debt burden.How can I estimate how long it will take to pay off my Citi card?
Use DebtWave's Credit Card Payoff Calculator to compare your balance, interest rate and proposed payment and estimate the repayment period.How can I estimate a Citi Debt Management Program payment?
Use DebtWave's Debt Management Plan Calculator to compare your current balance, payment and APR with estimated program terms. Final Citi eligibility and creditor terms may differ from the calculator estimate.GET HELP WITH CITI CREDIT CARD DEBT
Compare Your Citi Credit Card Debt Relief Options
If your Citi credit card payment has become difficult, start by asking
Citi which payment-assistance options are currently available for your
account. If several credit cards are straining your budget, however,
reviewing the entire situation may be more useful than addressing only
one balance.
DebtWave can provide a free financial review and help you compare
paying your debt yourself, a
Citibank hardship program and a nonprofit Debt
Management Program.
DebtWave Credit Counseling, Inc. is not affiliated with or endorsed by
Citigroup Inc., Citibank, N.A. or their affiliates. Citi and Citibank
names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Citi hardship
assistance, eligibility, payment arrangements and account terms may
change. Debt Management Program eligibility, creditor participation,
interest rates, payments and concessions vary by creditor and individual
account. Historical results do not guarantee future outcomes. DebtWave
is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and does not lend money.