Fear & Loading: Citi Excludes Guns, Ammo From New Credit Card Protection Policy

by
posted on May 30, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
citi.jpg

Effective July 29, Citi will no longer cover firearm or ammunition purchases under its credit card purchase protection program. The previous policy, which went into effect May 15, 2016, didn’t include the gun-related exclusion.

The new terms explain [PDF, page 26]—under the “Damage & Theft Purchase Protection” clause—a variety of products and services that do not qualify for reimbursement.  “Firearms or ammunition” are last on the list. The words were not included in the previous version [PDF, page  22].

                                                

Guns and fodder are also no longer covered by the financial firm’s “90 Day Return Protection” [page 32] for its credit card users, another change from the previous document [pages 27 and 28]. The same words have also been inserted in the “Price Rewind” section.

Reader and former U.S. Marine Corps sniper Bernie Oliver brought the changes to our attention. He considered the previous coverage valuable, partly due to return policies that vary wildly between sporting goods stores.  

The anti-Second Amendment policy is nothing new for the firm. On March 22 Citigroup announced a “U.S. Commercial Firearms Policy,” in which it dictated that its clients not sell “… bump stocks or high-capacity magazines … ” In addition, only customers 21 or older can purchase a firearm in stores using its services. 

Citi isn’t the only financial institution applying economic clout to leverage its morals, though. Bank of America announced in April that makers of modern sporting rifles would no longer qualify for loans from the company. The world’s largest asset investment firm, BlackRock, challenged publicly traded gun companies to explain how they monitor their product’s use/safety earlier this year—forcing a response from American Outdoor Brands and others at the implied threat. More recently, a proposal passed at Ruger’s annual meeting of stockholders, prompting this response from the famed firm.

Latest

New Large-Format Pistols for 2026
New Large-Format Pistols for 2026

5 New Large-Format Pistols for 2026

There's been a huge surge in the large-format pistol category, and 2026 continues to showcase new models answering the wants and needs of today's firearm owners.

Short & Powerful: The EOTech Vudu 4-12x36 mm Super Short Riflescope

EOTech's ultra-compact 3-9x32 mm Vudu was a popular addition to the company's variable-powered riflescope line, and the new 4-12x36 mm Vudu ups the ante with new features in a still-compact package.

The Armed Citizen® May 11, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Ukraine Operators Use Drone Round to Defeat UAS

Ukrainian operators recently tested and defeated drones with the Drone Round—a purpose-built cartridge that requires no firearm modifications, no new equipment and no additional training.

From The Counter: The Gun Store Prime Directive

When visiting a firearm retailer, know when it’s appropriate to interject, and when you should keep quiet.

Red-Dot Occlusion Training: A Performance-Booster for You & Your Optic-Equipped Handgun

Red-dot occlusion is a passive technique that shooters can use to remain target-focused, thereby speeding up their performance with optic-equipped handguns.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.