Last summer, Citibank started testing a new annual fee for some of its cardholders: Customers would have to pay anywhere from $30 to $90 a year for the privilege of using their Citi credit cards. If they charged $2,400 a year on their card, the fee would be refunded.

It looks like the tests went well (for Citi, at least).

This weekend, I received this letter, dated Feb. 13, regarding my PremierPass MasterCard:

We’re writing to let you know about an important change we’re making to your account. Effective April 1, 2010, an annual fee of $60 is being added.

The reason we are making this change is to maintain the quality of our service and the rising cost of doing business. However, because we value you as a customer, we wanted to give you an opportunity to have the annual fee credited back to your account.

Here’s how it works. Each year, we’ll credit the $60 fee back to your account once you have made $2,400 in purchases during that year. That comes to an average of $200 in spending a month, an amount you can reach by using your card for purchases you already make, like gas, groceries, cell phone plans or your cable bill.

As always, you have the right to opt out of this change and close your account. Please read the Notice of Change in Terms and Right to Opt Out beginning on the back of this letter so you are fully aware of all your account changes. If you have questions, call 1-866-915-9425.

Customers who choose to close their accounts but still carry a balance will be able to pay off the debt at their current rate. It’s unclear how many customers are targeted by these letters, but the decisions are based on individual customers’ credit history and performance with Citibank. …read more