Chase sign-up bonuses are cash back or points you earn by meeting a spending requirement within a set timeframe

A sign-up bonus is a reward Chase offers when you open a new card and spend a certain amount in the first few months. The bonus comes as either cash back (a statement credit or deposit to your bank account) or points in a rewards program like Chase Ultimate Rewards. You do not earn the bonus straightforward by opening the card — you must reach the spending threshold, usually between $500 and $5,000, within a window that typically runs 3 to 6 months.

The bonus amount varies by card. A basic cash-back card might offer $100 back after you spend $500. A premium travel card might offer 50,000 points after you spend $4,000. The points have no fixed dollar value — what they are worth depends on how you redeem them, which can range from 0.5 cents per point (if you use them for gift cards) to 1.5 cents per point (if you transfer them to airline or hotel partners).

Chase tracks your spending automatically once the account opens. When you cross the threshold, the bonus posts to your account within one to three billing cycles. You do not need to claim it or enter a code — it appears as a credit or points deposit.

Key Takeaways

  • Sign-up bonuses require you to spend a set amount within a specific timeframe, usually 3 to 6 months, or you forfeit the bonus entirely.
  • The bonus comes as either a statement credit (cash back) or points that you can redeem for cash, travel, or merchandise depending on the card's rewards program.
  • Chase will not approve you for a new card if you have opened five or more Chase credit cards in the past 24 months, a rule called the 5/24 rule.
  • You must have a Social Security number and a U.S. address to open a Chase card, and the card issuer will pull your credit report, which may lower your score by a few points temporarily.
  • Closing the card after you earn the bonus does not take away the bonus, but it may affect your credit score and your ability to open another Chase card soon.

How the spending requirement works

The spending threshold is the dollar amount you must charge to the card within the bonus window. This spending counts only purchases you make with the card itself — it does not include balance transfers, cash advances, fees, or interest charges. If the requirement is $4,000 in 3 months and you spend $3,800, you do not earn the bonus.

The clock starts the day your account opens, not the day you receive the physical card. If you open the account online on January 15 and the bonus window is 3 months, you have until April 15 to hit the spending target. Some people meet the requirement by timing large planned purchases — a home improvement project, a car repair, or a family vacation — around the bonus window. Others add the card to their regular spending and let it accumulate naturally over the months.

If you do not meet the threshold by the important date, Chase does not award the bonus. There is no partial credit, no extension, and no way to claim it later. The bonus either posts or it does not.

What happens after you earn the bonus

Once you meet the spending requirement, the bonus posts as a credit or points deposit within 1 to 3 billing cycles. For cash-back cards, the bonus appears as a statement credit that reduces your balance or can be transferred to a linked bank account. For points-based cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the points land in your Chase Ultimate Rewards account and sit there until you redeem them.

You can redeem points when ready or hold them indefinitely — there is no expiration date on Chase Ultimate Rewards points. You can convert them to cash (usually at 1 cent per point), book travel through the Chase travel portal, or transfer them to airline and hotel partners at a higher value. The redemption method you choose affects how much the bonus is actually worth to you.

Earning the bonus does not lock you into keeping the card. You can close it the day after the bonus posts without penalty. However, closing cards affects your credit score because it lowers your total available credit and shortens your average account age. If you plan to open another Chase card soon, closing this one may make approval harder.

Chase's rules for opening multiple cards

Chase enforces a rule called the 5/24 rule: if you have opened five or more credit cards (from any issuer) in the past 24 months, Chase will usually deny your process. This rule applies to personal cards; business cards have different rules. Chase counts the process date, not the approval date, so a card you applied for but were denied still counts toward the five.

Chase also has a rule about how many of its own cards you can hold. You cannot have more than one of the same card at the same time, and you must wait at least 24 months after closing a card before you can open it again and earn the bonus. If you opened the Chase Sapphire Preferred in January 2022 and closed it in June 2023, you cannot earn the sign-up bonus again until June 2025.

These rules exist to prevent people from cycling through cards purely for bonuses. Chase reviews your credit report and process history to enforce them, so there is no way around them.

Credit impact and approval odds

explore for a Chase card triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report, which may lower your score by a few points temporarily. The impact is usually small — 5 to 10 points — and fades within a few months as long as you do not explore for many cards at once. Multiple applications in a short period can add up and hurt your score more noticeably.

Chase approves or denies applications based on your credit score, income, existing debt, and credit history. There is no minimum score Chase publishes, but most of its cards require a score of 670 or higher. If you have recent late payments, high debt relative to your income, or a very short credit history, approval is less likely.

If you are denied, you can call Chase's reconsideration line to ask why and sometimes negotiate. Having a Chase checking or savings account may improve your odds slightly, though it is not required. You cannot reapply for the same card when ready — you must wait at least 30 days.

Comparing sign-up bonuses across Chase cards

Chase offers different bonuses on different cards, and the value depends on both the bonus size and the spending requirement. A card offering $200 cash back after $500 in spending is easier to earn than one offering $500 cash back after $5,000 in spending, even though the second bonus is larger. The first requires you to spend $2.50 for every $1 in bonus; the second requires $10 for every $1 in bonus.

For points-based cards, the math is more complex because points value varies by redemption method. The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers 100,000 points after $4,000 in spending. If you redeem those points for cash, they are worth $1,000 (at 1 cent per point). If you transfer them to an airline partner, they might be worth $1,500 or more, depending on the partner and the redemption. The bonus is the same, but its real value to you depends on how you use the points.

Chase updates bonus amounts periodically, so the offer you see today may differ from the offer next month. Bonuses are typically higher during peak spending seasons like November and December.

When a sign-up bonus makes sense

A sign-up bonus is worth pursuing if you can meet the spending requirement without changing your behavior. If the card requires $3,000 in spending over 3 months and you normally spend $1,500 per month, you will hit the target naturally. If you normally spend $500 per month, you would need to manufacture $1,500 in extra spending, which may not be worth the effort.

The bonus is also more valuable if the card's ongoing rewards rate matches your spending pattern. If you earn a $200 bonus but the card has poor rewards on your everyday purchases, you lose money in the long run. A card with a strong bonus and strong ongoing rewards — like 3% cash back on dining and travel — is more likely to be worth keeping after the bonus period ends.

If you are planning a large purchase anyway — a flight, a hotel stay, a home repair — timing it to coincide with a bonus window can make the bonus easier to earn. If you would have to spend money you would not otherwise spend, the bonus is less attractive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I meet the spending requirement by paying bills or making balance transfers?

No. Balance transfers, cash advances, wire transfers, and bill payments do not count toward the spending requirement. Only regular purchases made with the card count. Some people use the card to pay for things they were already planning to buy — groceries, gas, utilities paid by card — to reach the threshold naturally.

What if I close the card before the bonus posts?

If you close the card before you meet the spending requirement, you forfeit the bonus. If you close it after you meet the requirement but before the bonus posts, you usually still receive the bonus because Chase has already credited it to your account. However, closing the card may delay the posting by a few weeks.

Can I earn the sign-up bonus more than once on the same card?

No. Chase's 24-month rule means you must wait at least 24 months after closing a card before you can open it again and earn the bonus. Some cards have longer waiting periods. You can earn the bonus only once per card in any 24-month period.

Do I have to keep the card open to keep the bonus?

No. Once the bonus posts to your account, it is yours to keep. Closing the card does not remove the bonus. However, closing cards lowers your credit score because it reduces your total available credit, so closing multiple cards in a short time can hurt your ability to open new cards or get favorable rates on loans.

What is the difference between a sign-up bonus and a welcome offer?

They are the same thing. Chase uses both terms interchangeably. A welcome offer is the bonus Chase advertises when you first see the card; a sign-up bonus is what you earn when you meet the requirement. The terms refer to the same reward.