/images/2018/01/23/navina-side-hustle-mid_MPfEDfV.jpg)
/images/2019/12/06/smart_strategies_to_save_money_on_car_insurance.jpg)
/authors/jennifer_calonia_updated.png)
/authors/jess_ullrich.jpg)
City National Bank (CNB) earned the moniker, “Bank to the Stars,” for its reputation as the entertainment industry’s go-to financial institution, but you don’t have to be a celebrity to carry the City National Crystal Visa Infinite Card.
Learn whether this credit card is a good fit for your purchasing needs in this City National Bank Crystal Visa Infinite review.
Big Credits for Big Spenders
/images/2022/11/03/city_national_crystal_visa_infinite.png)
City National Crystal Visa Infinite Card
Current Offer
Earn up to a $550 statement credit per year for airline lounge membership after $50,000 in annual spending
Annual Fee
$400
Rewards Rate
3X points on airline, hotel, taxi, rideshare, limousine, rental car, train, bus, restaurant, fast food, and takeout dining purchases; and 1X points on all other purchases
Who should get this card?
This card is an option for those who don’t mind paying a $400 annual fee, in exchange for some convenient travel benefits. Spendy cardholders will get the most value out of the CNB Crystal Visa Infinite Card. You’ll need to meet spending minimums in order to be eligible for certain benefits, like the airport lounge membership fee statement credit, for example. If you anticipate your annual purchases will hit a minimum of $50,000, and you travel frequently, City National Bank’s Crystal Visa Infinite Card may be a handy credit card companion on trips.
Card basics
| Card Type | Travel |
| Annual fee | $400 |
| Intro bonus | Earn up to a $550 statement credit per year for airline lounge membership after $50,000 in annual spending |
| Recommended credit score | Excellent, Good |
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
Top card benefits
- Up to $550 airline lounge membership credit: You can earn up to a $550 statement credit per year for airline lounge membership after $50,000 in annual spending.
- Up to $350 airline incidentals credit: When you use your City National Bank Crystal Visa Infinite Card with U.S. domestic airline carriers, you can receive up to $350 in statement credit each calendar year. Qualifying charges may include purchases like ticket and baggage fees, in-flight entertainment, in-flight food and beverages, and lounge day passes.
- $100 Global Entry credit: You’ll receive a $100 statement credit when you apply for Global Entry and use your CNB Crystal Visa Infinite card to pay for the $100 application fee. This benefit is available every four years.
- Priority Pass Select: Like many other premium rewards cards, Crystal Visa Infinite card owners receive complimentary Priority Pass Select lounge access, and can select up to two cardholders on the account for this benefit. However, as of December 1, 2020, each guest of Priority Pass Select members must pay $32 per visit.
Earning & redeeming
Best ways to earn
To earn points through City National Bank’s rewards program, use your Crystal Visa Infinite Card while traveling and for your regular purchases. This card offers a decent rewards rate on many different spending categories. You’ll earn 3X points on airline, hotel, taxi, rideshare, limousine, rental car, train, bus, restaurant, fast food, and takeout dining purchases; and 1X points on all other purchases.
| Categories | Rewards rate |
| Airline, hotel, taxi, rideshare, limousine, rental car, train, bus, restaurant, fast food, and takeout dining purchases | 3X |
| All other purchases | 1X |
Maximizing your redemptions
If you have other active City National Bank rewards cards under the same CNB member I.D., the rewards program automatically combines your earned points across City National Bank rewards credit cards. This feature allows you to gather your collective earned points, despite earning them on different card products, so you can redeem your points faster.
Common questions
What’s the difference between Visa Signature and Visa Infinite?
With the City National Flex Rewards Credit Card is a Visa Signature card, and with it you can earn 3X points on gasoline purchases, 2X points on dining and groceries, and 1X points on all other purchases.
The Flex Rewards also has a $0 annual fee and has no additional fee for extra cardholders on the account, while the Crystal Visa Infinite Card has a $400 annual fee and an annual $95 fee for each additional card user.
What is the CNB Crystal Visa Infinite’s annual fee?
The City National Bank Crystal Visa Infinite charges cardholders a $400 annual fee.
Does the CNB Crystal Visa Infinite have travel insurance?
Travelers who use their CNB Crystal Visa Infinite Card have travel protections, like trip cancellation or interruption protection, travel accident insurance, hotel theft protection, and more.
Is the CNB Crystal Visa Infinite worth it?
If your annual spend goes into the tens of thousands, and you’re an avid traveler, the City National Bank Crystal Visa Infinite may be worth the annual fee. This depends on your travel habits and whether you choose to maximize the card’s benefits.
Other cards to consider
Although the City National Bank Crystal Visa Infinite card is an option, if you’re in the market for the best travel credit card, there are many other contenders to consider.
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card card, for example, offers a similar reward tier structure. You’ll earn 10X points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com; 3X points on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations; and 1X points on all other purchases. There’s a lower annual fee of $95 and new cardholders can Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
If you’re looking for a simpler rewards program, you can earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day, 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25 with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. The annual fee is comparable to the Citi Strata Premier, at $95. Currently, you can earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
Big Credits for Big Spenders
City National Crystal Visa Infinite Card
Why We Like It
Earn up to a $550 statement credit per year for airline lounge membership after $50,000 in annual spending
See how these cards compare:
/images/2024/09/10/capital_one_venture_rewards_card_art_-_9-10-24.png)
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Has a generous welcome offer
- Offers up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® statement credit
- Has an easy rewards program and highly flexible travel redemptions
- Doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees
- Offers valuable travel protections
- Rates and fees
/images/2024/05/09/citi_strata_premier.png)
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
- Exceptional rewards on travel booked through Citi Travel
- Offers opportunities to transfer points to travel partners at a 1:1 ratio
- Elevated rewards on everyday spending, like grocery shopping
- Rates and fees