What credit score do you need to get the Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard?

If you are thinking about applying Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees) — formerly known as the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® — but aren’t sure if your credit score qualifies for approval, we can help with that.

Let’s take a look at the different factors you should consider before deciding whether you should apply for this small business rewards credit card.

What credit score do you need to get the Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard?

Although the Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard is a small business credit card, your credit score will be considered during the application process. Some issuers also check your business credit score during the application process, if your business has a credit history.

Citi does not publish the specific credit score required to be approved for the Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard. After all, your credit score is one of the many factors that Citi will consider when deciding whether to approve your application. But you’ll usually need a good credit score of at least 730* to be approved for credit card rewards.

However, it is possible to be approved with a lower score depending on the specifics of your application.

*The Points Guy credit score is based on the FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. When you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your credit application.

Who should get the Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard?

I Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard it’s a decent card if you’re looking for extra benefits when flying American Airlines.

As a cardholder, you will receive a free first checked bag on American Airlines for your domestic trip and up to four friends traveling in the same destination. The $99 annual fee is waived the first year, but in subsequent years it’s easy to justify this fee if you check at least three bags a year.

The card currently offers a solid bonus of 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first four months of account opening. Based on TPG estimates for January 2025, the welcome bonus is worth $1,073.

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You earn 2 AAdvantage miles on qualifying American Airlines purchases, as well as spending at telecommunications retailers, cable and satellite providers, car rental dealers and gas stations. All other purchases earn 1 mile per dollar spent.

How many card accounts can I open?

Citi does not appear to limit the total number of credit cards you can open. The issuer, however, appears to have a maximum credit line that can be extended to all of your Citi cards, however. So, if you have at least one small business credit card with Citi and you’re not approved for a new card, you may want to call Citi’s reprocessing line to see if changing the credit on one of your current cards will allow you to open a new card.

Related: How many credit cards should I have?

Who is eligible for a signup bonus?

The card application notes that “American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles are not available if you received a new account bonus Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard account in the past 48 months.” So, if you received a sign-up bonus for this card in the past four years, you will not be eligible to earn another bonus this time.

Related: Getting another Advantage card sign-up bonus: What you need to know

Do I need a business to get a business credit card?

Yes, you need a business to get a business credit card, but many types of small businesses can qualify, including some that you may not have considered before. For example, selling things online, providing music lessons, tutoring children, freelancing or managing a rental property can all qualify you for a business credit card.

You do not have to have a registered business to apply for a business credit card. You can select “sole proprietor” as the business type when filling out the application, enter your name as the business name and enter your Social Security number as your tax ID number.

Related: Best business credit cards

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 at no charge. It’s a good idea to track your credit score over time, especially if you’re looking to improve your credit score.

You can also check your business credit score, but you will usually need to pay to see your actual score or full credit report.

It is important to note that you do not have a single credit score. Instead, there are different accounting methods and credit reporting agencies. Your business and your credit scores will vary depending on the calculation method and credit reporting agency used.

Related: 9 reasons to get a business credit card

Factors that affect your credit score

Once you know your credit score range, you may be wondering what factors affect your credit score. Let’s focus on your personal credit scheme as we know that Citi will consider this score for all Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard applicants.

There are several formulas for calculating your credit score, but no exact calculations are publicly available. However, FICO is transparent about the different factors they evaluate and how much weight each is given:

• Payment history (35%): Whether you have paid past due credit accounts.
• Amounts owed (30%): The relative size of your current debt and the ratio of 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 old account, the age of your new account and the average age of all your accounts), how long certain credit accounts have been established and how long it has been since you used them – some accounts.
• New credit (10%): How many new accounts have you recently opened.
• Credit mix (10%): How many types of credit accounts do you have, such as credit cards, retail accounts, installment loans, financial company accounts and home loans.

What to do if you get rejected

If your application is rejected, you will receive a letter in the post stating why Citi rejected it. Depending on the reasons, you may want to use this information to improve your credit score before applying again. Or, if you believe you can provide additional information that would lead to your application being approved, you can call Citi’s reconsideration line to present your case.

When you call the reconsideration line, be prepared to answer questions about your business and present a compelling argument as to why Citi should approve your application.

Related: How bad is getting denied a credit card?

How long to wait before applying again

It is best to avoid re-applying until you have dealt with Citi’s stated reasons for rejection. But, if you want to apply again or apply for a different card from the one you issued, the convention about applying for Citi credit cards is that you can only apply for one card (personal or business) every eight days, no more than two cards in a 65-day window and no more than one business card in a 90-day window.

How much are American Airlines AAdvantage miles worth?

According to TPG figures for January 2025, American Airlines miles cost 1.65 cents each, making the current sign-up bonus Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard is 1,073 $. If you use your miles wisely, you can redeem your AA miles for great value.

Credit card writer Danyal Ahmed redeemed his miles for 6.5 cents a piece when he booked 70,000 Qatar Airways business class miles.

Related: How (and why) to calculate award redemption values

Bottom line

If you’re an American Airlines loyalist and business owner, the Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard is a great choice as you earn bonus miles on business-specific categories and when you travel with American Airlines.

Perks like priority boarding and free checked bags are enough to help pay the $99 annual fee. If your credit score is at least 730 and your credit profile is good overall, this card and its current welcome offer can be a great value addition to your business.

Apply here: Citi / AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard

Related: The best cards for American Airlines flyers