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Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
American Express Disclosure
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers the best overall sign-up bonus, because Ultimate Rewards points are so valuable and flexible.
A credit card sign-up bonus can give you a large influx of rewards in a short period of time, which can be redeemed for cash back, travel, merchandise and more.
According to our own research, the average credit card sign-up bonus is $157.23 for a cash back credit card and 51,027 points for a points or miles card. The best credit card sign-up bonuses can easily surpass these averages — but you’ll generally need a high credit score and the ability to meet a spending threshold to qualify. (See our guide below for tips on qualifying and choosing the best offer.) Citi is an advertising partner.
Travel credit card sign-up bonus (and best overall)
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Review Coming Soon
Earn 60,000 points (worth at least $750 in travel)
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers one of the most valuable and flexible sign-up bonuses currently available. It’s worth at least $750 toward travel when used in the Chase travel portal, or possibly even more by transferring it to Chase’s travel partners.
Points can be redeemed for a variety of travel needs, including airfare, hotels, rental cars and more. The card does come with a $95 annual fee, though the value of the sign-up bonus more than makes up for the annual fee in the first year.
Who’s eligible:
Applicants who are not currently cardmembers of any Sapphire credit card and who have not received a new cardmember bonus on any Sapphire card within the last 48 months. You’ll also need to be under Chase 5/24.
Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
The information related to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
Bonus on rental cars and hotels through Capital One
Simple flat-rate rewards on everything else
Transfer miles to 15+ travel partners
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
Two complimentary Capital One Lounge visits each year
No foreign transaction fees
Annual fee
No major U.S. airline travel partners
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card‘s sign-up bonus runs a close second to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It offers a larger number of miles, but it doesn’t have quite as robust a set of airline and hotel partners, making it a little less valuable. Still, it offers valuable flexible rewards that you can redeem for Capital One miles to pay for travel, be reimbursed for past travel or transfer them to more than 15 hotel and airline and hotel loyalty programs. If you prefer this card’s benefits and rewards program, it’s a great alternative to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
Who’s eligible:
Existing or previous accountholders may not be eligible for this offer. Also, those who have applied for two or more Capital One cards within the past 30 days may not qualify.
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
The Citi Premier® Card also offers a very valuable and flexible sign-up bonus. You can use Citi ThankYou points for travel, gift cards or transfer them to Citi’s hotel and airline transfer partners.
Who’s eligible:
Applicants who have not closed or received a new cardmember bonus for Citi Rewards+®, Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card, Citi ThankYou® Premier/Citi Premier® or Citi Prestige® in the past 24 months.
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
60,000 ThankYou® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
Matches your cash back in the first year (worth around $340 for the average cardholder)
Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
Earn a large amount of cash back in quarterly rotating categories
No annual fee
No foreign transaction fee
Have to enroll in quarterly rotating categories
$1,500 limit on quarterly category
You only earn 1% cash back on other categories
The Discover it® Cash Back offers a unique introductory offer for new cardholders that gets better and better the more that you spend on the card. Discover will match the cash back you earn in the first year for new cardholders. This means that, if you earn $100 in cash back in the first year, you will earn an additional $100.
We estimate that the average cardholder who spends around $20,000 on the card could earn around $340 from the cash back match. For savvy spenders, the card could be even more rewarding. If you max out the card’s quarterly rotating categories, you could earn an extra $300 in cash back for those categories alone.
Who’s eligible:
The offer is available exclusively for new cardmembers.
INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
Every $1 you earn in cash back is $1 you can redeem.
Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
No annual fee.
Click through to Discover’s website to see terms and conditions.
No-annual-fee credit card sign-up bonus
IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card
Review Coming Soon
Earn 80,000 points + up to $50 in statement credits (worth around $450)
Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening
Earn Gold status with $10,000 in credit card spend
No award night certificate
Points are inflated in value
Rewards and perks limited to IHG hotels
The IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card is currently offering an outstanding sign-up bonus for a no-annual-fee travel card. Though IHG points are inflated in value, we estimate that you can get around $400 in award nights with this offer, as well as up to $50 in statement credits.
Though you won’t get the fancy perks that come with an annual fee card, this card does offer a few notable IHG benefits, including automatic Silver status and the chance to earn Gold status through spending.
Who’s eligible:
The offer is not available to current cardmembers of any personal IHG One Rewards Credit Card, or previous cardmembers of any personal IHG One Rewards Credit Card who received a new cardmember bonus for any personal IHG One Rewards Credit Card within the last 24 months.
Earn 120,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening
No Annual Fee
Earn up to 17 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
Earn 3 points per $1 spent on purchases on monthly bills, gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Redeem 3 Nights, Get the 4th Night Free
IHG Rewards bonus points are redeemable at hotels such as InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Kimpton®, EVEN® Hotels, Indigo® Hotels & Holiday Inn®
The information related to the IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
Business credit card sign-up bonus
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Review Coming Soon
Earn 100,000 points (worth at least $1,250 in travel)
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Large number of points on common business purchases
Transfer points to 10+ travel partners
25% bonus for Chase travel portal redemptions
No foreign transaction fees
Great travel protections
Annual fee
Requires excellent credit
The Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers one of the largest sign-up bonuses around as well as great rewards in common business categories, for a reasonable annual fee.
The points you earn from the sign-up bonus can be used in a variety of ways to suit your business’s unique spending. For example, if you and your employees travel often, you can increase the value of your points by 25% by redeeming them for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. That means points are worth 1.25 cents each instead of 1 cent each. Or, if you often make purchases from Amazon.com, points can conveniently be redeemed to cover all or part of your eligible Amazon.com order — including tax and shipping. You can also redeem points for cash back or gift cards to help incentivize employees.
Who’s eligible:
You’ll need to be under Chase 5/24 to be approved for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. You’ll also need to have an eligible small business to apply. However, note that freelancers and independent contractors may qualify as a small business.
Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Member FDIC
The information related to the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
Cash back business credit card sign-up bonus
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Review Coming Soon
Earn a $1,200 cash bonus
Earn a one-time cash bonus of $1,200 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months.
High amount of spending for sign-up bonus and annual bonus
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus has one of the largest cash back sign-up bonuses in existence – even once you subtract its $150 annual fee. It’s also a great all-around business credit card that offers a high rate of cash back on all your spending, and a $200 annual cash bonus each year you spend $200,000.
Who’s eligible:
Anyone who hasn’t applied for two or more Capital One cards within the past 30 days and that has an eligible and qualifying business.
Earn a one-time cash bonus of $1,200 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months.
Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
Comes with no preset spending limit, so it can adapt to your needs based on your spending behavior, payment history and credit profile
Get your $150 annual fee refunded every year you spend at least $150,000.
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Add employee cards for free, and earn unlimited 2% cash back from their purchases
$150 annual fee
Spark Cash Plus has no APR because your balance is due in full every month
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
The information related to the Capital One Spark Cash Plus has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
Cash back business credit card sign-up bonus with no-annual-fee
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Review Coming Soon
Earn a $750 cash bonus
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Intro Purchase APR0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months
Cash back rate is lower compared to some other cards
Foreign transaction fee
The sign-up bonus on the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is one of the highest ever seen for a card with no annual fee. Plus, if you have a premium Chase card, you can combine your rewards to increase their value. It’s a great card for those who enjoy simplicity. You’ll earn the same flat rate of cash back on every purchase.
Who’s eligible:
You’ll need to be under Chase 5/24 to be approved for the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card. You’ll also need to have an eligible small business to apply.
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
No Annual Fee
Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
Member FDIC
The information related to the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
Bonus miles on Delta Air Lines, hotel, restaurant and supermarket purchases
Annual companion pass
Elite status boost
Additional perks for Delta Air Lines customers
No foreign transaction fee
High annual fee
Limited redemption options outside of Delta Air Lines
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers one of the most valuable welcome offers in the airline category. It also comes with a bevy of benefits for frequent Delta travelers. This includes a free checked bag, a companion certificate and the ability to earn MQMs toward Delta elite status.
Who’s eligible:
You’re eligible if you have never had this or previous versions of this card. American Express may also consider the total number of American Express cards that you have opened or closed.
To see rates & fees for Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card please click here.
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
Get access to Delta Sky Club® at a rate of $50 per person per visit for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Official Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
Earn bonus miles on a variety of purchases, including U.S. supermarkets and restaurants worldwide
SkyMiles are valuable
Free checked bags and other airline perks
Rewards and perks limited to Delta Air Lines and its partners
No way to earn bonus miles toward elite status
For a reasonable annual fee, you can fly far with the current offer from the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card. We estimate that it’s worth around $600 in airfare with Delta and its SkyTeam partners. You’ll also get other valuable airline perks, including free checked bags on Delta flights.
Who’s eligible:
You may not be eligible for this offer if you have or have had the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card or previous versions of it. American Express may also consider other factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express cardmember and the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed.
To see rates & fees for Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card please click here.
Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $99.
Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
$100 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, receive a Credit to use toward future travel.
Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
With Send & Split®, you can send money and split your Card purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App. Enroll today.
Automatic Platinum elite status (enrollment required)
Priority Pass lounge access (enrollment required)
Free night award
Elite status boost (enrollment required)
High annual fee
High spend requirement to earn offer
Rewards and perks limited to the Marriott program
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is currently offering one of the most valuable welcome offers around: Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Even with card’s $650 annual fee calculated into the equation, you can get an incredible amount of value out of this offer. You’ll also get fantastic perks with Marriott, including automatic Platinum elite status (enrollment required) up to $300 in annual dining credits (up to $25 monthly) and a free night award worth up to 85,000 points each year.
Who’s eligible:
You may not be eligible for this offer if you previously had the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card or previous versions of this card or the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express. American Express will also consider other factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express cardmember and the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed.
To see rates & fees for Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card please click here.
Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
$300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card at restaurants worldwide.
With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® program. 3 points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
Marriott Brilliant Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select an Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
$100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy® member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited access to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
You can be reimbursed for your costs to repair or replace your damaged or Stolen cell phone for a maximum of $800 per claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
$650 Annual Fee.
Terms Apply.
Runner-up hotel credit card sign-up bonus
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Review Coming Soon
Earn up to 125,000 points (worth around $1,125)
Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening.
Free night award worth up to 35,000 points each year
No foreign transaction fee
Annual fee
Limited redemption options outside of Marriott
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is offering a very large sign-up bonus for a $95-annual-fee card. Though Marriott points are somewhat inflated in value, 125,000 points can still score you many standard room nights, especially if you take advantage of Marriott’s fifth-night-free benefit.
In fact, this card is a great option for travelers who are frequent Marriott travelers. Earning Marriott Bonvoy points, getting extra elite nights and free night certificates can supercharge your next vacation.
Who’s eligible:
You’re eligible for the bonus on this card if you’re not a current cardmember of the Marriott Bonvoy® Premier, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card or Marriott Bonvoy Bold cards, and also haven’t received a new cardmember bonus on any of those cards in the past 24 months. You’ll also need to be under Chase 5/24.
Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening.
Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
2X points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
No foreign transaction fees.
The information related to the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
Students
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
Review Coming Soon
Earn 25,000 points (worth $250 in travel statement credits)
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases
Intro Purchase APR0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases
Available to applicants with excellent/good credit
Earn a high number of points on every purchase
No foreign transaction fee
Intro APR for purchase and balance transfers
Limited in other travel benefits
No way to maximize points
Bank of America is incredibly generous with its student credit cards — adorning them with many of the same features as its cards for applicants with established credit. This applies to the sign-up bonus for the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students. You get the same welcome offer as the regular Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card. This offer is worth up to $250 in travel statement credits, making it one of the most valuable offers for student credit cards currently available.
Who’s eligible:
You’ll need excellent/good credit to qualify for this card. You must be at least 18 years of age or at least 21 years of age if a permanent resident of Puerto Rico. You’ll also need a residential address in any of the 50 United States, Washington D.C., APO/FPO/DPO, Guam, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa or U.S. Virgin Islands. You may not qualify if you currently have or have had the card in the preceding 24 month period.
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire.
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
0% Introductory APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
When handled responsibly, a credit card can help you build your credit history, which could be helpful when looking for an apartment, a car loan, and even a job. Access your FICO® Score for free within Online Banking or your Mobile Banking app.
Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
The information related to the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
Side-by-side comparison of the best sign-up bonus cards
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases
With so many credit cards out there, it can be challenging to find the card that is the best option for you. Here are a few things that you’ll want to keep in mind when choosing the best credit card sign-up bonus:
1. Make sure your credit history is up to par
First of all, look at the eligibility requirements of the cards that you are considering. Most credit cards will consider your income, credit score and overall financial situation when deciding whether to approve your application.
Don’t know your credit score? Sign up at LendingTree to get your free credit score and recommendations to boost your score.
FICO Score
Vantage Score
300-579 is poor credit
580-669 is fair credit
670-739 is good credit
740-799 is very good credit
800-850 is exceptional credit
300-499 is very poor credit
500-600 is poor credit
601-660 is fair credit
661-780 is good credit
781-850 is excellent credit
2. Choose the type of rewards you want to earn
Another step toward choosing the best credit card sign-up bonus is deciding what kind of rewards you want to earn. Different cards offer different types of rewards, like cash back, airline miles, hotel points or bank points.
Tip: You should also check the redemption options in the program to make sure you can redeem points/miles for your intended redemption option. Also check how many points or miles it will require. That will make sure you understand how close the card’s sign-up bonus will get you to where you want to go.
3. Make sure you qualify to earn the bonus
Many issuers have additional restrictions besides just your credit score, income and financial situation. Even someone with perfect credit might open a card and meet a spending threshold just to learn that they weren’t qualified for the bonus. Make sure that you always read the fine print of the offer before you apply.
Other issuer restrictions on sign-up bonuses
Issuer
Restrictions
Chase
Chase has an unwritten “5/24 rule” that prevents you from being approved for a new Chase card if you have opened five personal credit cards (from any issuer) within the past 24 months. In addition, if you’ve received a new cardmember bonus for a particular card (or card in the same family) within the past 24 months, you won’t be eligible to receive the current sign-up bonus for that card.
American Express
American Express has a once-per-lifetime card bonus policy. This rule means that each customer can only get a welcome offer for a specific card once in the customer’s lifetime.
Capital One
If you are an existing or previous account holder for a Capital One card, you may not be eligible for that particular card’s one-time sign-up bonus. You also may not be eligible if you’ve applied for a Capital One credit card two or more times in the past 30 days, or if you have five or more open Capital One credit card accounts.
Citibank
With Citi, a card’s bonus is not available if you received a bonus for the same card within the past 48 months.
Bank of America
Bank of America offers a one-time sign-up bonus to customers opening a new account. You may not be eligible for a card if you currently have or have had the card in the past 24 months.
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo limits sign-up bonuses to cardholders who have opened the same card and earned the bonus already within the last 15 months. Also, you may not qualify for an additional Wells Fargo credit card if you have opened a Wells Fargo credit card in the past six months.
4. Calculate the value of the bonus
It’s crucial to understand the value of an offer before you apply. While cash back bonuses are fairly straightforward, the value of points and miles can vary dramatically depending on how you redeem them. For example, 100,000 hotel points may be worth much less than 100,000 airline miles. It’s therefore important to estimate the point value and the overall value of the bonus based on how YOU intend to redeem the rewards in order to properly compare.
Tip: It can be challenging to determine the value of a card’s points or miles. See our section below for steps on how to make this calculation.
5. Consider the card’s overall value
Besides the sign-up bonus, you should also consider a card’s ongoing rewards — especially if you want to keep it. This includes benefits like travel credits, elite status perks or other benefits. Weigh these ongoing benefits against the annual fee to see if the card is worth keeping. Note that cards with annual fees often are more valuable than those without annual fees, especially in the first year.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Welcome offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Point value
$0.01
$0.015
Value of bonus
$600
$750
Earning rate
5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
Points earned on $20,000 in travel purchases
$1,000
$600
Value of rewards and benefits
$1,600
$1,350
Annual fee
$95
$250
Value minus annual fee
$1,505
$1,100
Other benefits
Hotel credit, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement, travel and emergency assistance services, purchase protection, extended warranty protection
In-flight discount, annual companion certificate, discounted Delta Sky Club lounge rate, free checked bag for up to eight people in the same reservation, priority zone 1 boarding, baggage insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, extended warranty, purchase protection
What is Chase 5/24?
Chase’s 5/24 rule prevents cardholders from earning a sign-up bonus on a Chase credit card if they have opened more than four accounts with any issuer in the past 24 months. The rule is in place to deter cardholders from opening new cards just to earn sign-up bonuses. It’s an unwritten rule, which means, it’s not included in Chase’s fine print anywhere. Users have reported it in online forums after being turned down for a credit card.
Features to consider
Here are a few features to consider as you look to find the best credit card signup bonuses.
While it is easy to value cash back rewards, the value of hotel points or airline miles can vary on how they are redeemed. Because of that, you should think about how you would redeem these rewards. Investigating some sample redemption options and comparing the dollar value to the number of points required should give you a better idea of how far a card’s sign-up bonus can take you. (See our steps for calculating the value below.)
Most credit cards require you to make a certain amount of purchases on the card within the first few months of having the card to get the sign-up bonus. For cards with high welcome offers, the spending threshold is also often quite high. Make sure that you can meet the spending requirement before you apply for a new card.
Depending on the type of rewards that your credit card earns, it may be easy or more difficult to redeem your points. Of course cash back rewards are always the easiest to redeem, and most bank points like Chase Ultimate Rewards® or American Express Membership Rewards points allow you to redeem in a variety of different ways. But if your card earns hotel points or airline miles, make sure you understand the different redemption options and how easy or difficult it is to get value for your miles.
While many credit cards have no annual fee, others do come with a fee that you have to pay each year. While most credit cards with annual fees are worth getting for at least the first year (due to the outsized value of the welcome bonus), make sure that you are accounting for the annual fee when considering the value of a credit card’s sign-up bonus.
Most credit cards offer rewards or cash back with each purchase. Some credit cards give the same rewards rate for all purchases, while others offer different rewards rates depending on where you’re making the purchase. Consider your spending habits and look for a credit card that offers bonus rewards in the categories where you spend the most.
Many credit cards, especially hotel and airline credit cards, offer other credits and benefits. These might include free luggage, travel credits, free hotel night certificates or elite status. Look at the card’s ancillary benefits to see how much value they would provide to your specific situation.
What's the average credit card sign-up bonus?
We analyzed all of the current credit card sign-up bonuses for 11 of the nation’s largest credit card issuers to determine the average credit card sign-up bonus. As you can see from the table below, the average bonus varies depending on the type of rewards offered. Hotel points have the highest signup bonus, but generally one hotel point is worth less than one airline mile (or 1 cent cash). Using this data can help you figure out if the bonus on the card you’re considering is below or above average.
Credit Card Sign-Up Bonus Averages and Medians
Card type
Average
Median
Cash back
$157.23
$200
Points and miles
51,027
45,000
Airline miles
55,867
50,000
Hotel points
87,000
100,000
General-purpose points and miles
41,304
45,000
How to calculate the value of a sign-up bonus
1. Calculate the value of a card’s rewards
Take the cash value of your target redemption option and divide it by the number of points or miles — be sure to subtract any taxes and fees that you have to pay in cash. This will give you the value per point or mile.
Point value = $ value of target redemption option (minus taxes/fees that you still have to pay) ÷ Number of points
2. Multiply the number of points/miles by the point value
Take the point value and multiply it by the number of points in the sign-up bonus. That will give you an approximate cash value for that card’s welcome bonus.
Bonus value = $ value of points or miles x Number of points or miles
Example: 80,000 miles x $0.01 (1 cent per point) = $800
How do you calculate the value of a hotel certificate?
Some hotel credit cards offer free night certificates that you can use at a variety of different hotels. These certificates often come with a lot of restrictions, so you should generally assume they’re worth less than their maximum point value. You might value them at 80% or 90% of their listed point value due to the restrictions.
Tips for meeting a sign-up bonus threshold
Sign-up bonuses frequently come with colossal spending requirements, which can tempt you to spend past your budget. There are many strategies to help you avoid putting yourself into debt:
Move all of your regular household spending to the new card
Consider updating your autopay cards to the new card
Be smart about when you sign up for a new card — ideally right before you have large one-time bills
Look at prepaying some expenses like taxes, utilities, insurance or other recurring bills
If you’re out with a group, pay the bill (with your new card) and get reimbursed by the other people in the room
Ask family or trusted friends if you can pay some of their bills (and get reimbursed)
Frequently asked questions
A sign-up bonus — also referred to as a welcome bonus or introductory bonus — is a promotion offered by credit card issuers to entice consumers to apply for a credit card.
Sign-up bonuses allow new cardmembers to earn a lump sum of cash back, points or miles once they are approved for a card and spend a specified amount within a given time period.
For example, a credit card may offer a sign-up bonus of $500 after you make $3,000 in qualifying purchases (minus returns and credits) within three months of opening your account.
Note, the bonus period usually begins the day you are approved for the card, and not when you actually receive the physical card in the mail.
Generally, the following purchases and transactions won’t count toward the minimum spend amount required to earn a sign-up bonus: balance transfers, cash advances, ATM transactions, travelers checks, foreign currency, money orders, wire transfers or similar cash-like transactions, lottery tickets, casino gaming chips, race track wagers or similar betting transactions, interest, unauthorized or fraudulent charges and fees of any kind, including annual fees, returned payment fees, late fees and monthly fees.
Once you qualify for the sign-up bonus, the amount of time it takes to post to your account may vary depending on the issuer. For example, Chase states that cardholders should allow six to eight weeks for the bonus to post to your account, while Bank of America may take eight to 10 weeks.
Note, your account must be open and not in default at the time of fulfillment.
In most cases, you cannot earn more than one sign-up bonus offer from the same card. Plus, depending on the issuer, you may not be able to earn a sign-up bonus from more than one card in the same card family. However, if you close the card account and re-apply after a set amount of time, you may be able to receive a sign-up bonus from the new card.
For example, if you are a current cardholder of a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or a Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or if you are a previous cardholder of either card who received a new cardmember bonus within the past 48 months, you wouldn’t be eligible to receive the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card’s current new cardmember bonus.
Sign-up bonuses that require you to spend a certain amount to earn the bonus are considered rebates instead of income. Therefore, they are not taxable.
But if you receive a bonus without a spend requirement, it may be taxable. If this is the case, you will need to submit a Form 1099-INT or Form 1099-MISC to the IRS.
Major issuers typically put restrictions on earning sign-up bonuses to avoid credit card churning — the practice of repeatedly opening and closing credit cards with the intention of earning sign-up bonus rewards.
American Express has a once-per-lifetime card bonus policy. This rule means that each customer can only get a welcome offer for a specific card once in the customer’s lifetime.
Chase has an unwritten “5/24 rule” that prevents you from being approved for a new Chase card if you have opened five personal credit cards (from any issuer) within the past 24 months. In addition, if you’ve received a new cardmember bonus for a particular card (or card in the same family) within the past 24 months, you won’t be eligible to receive the current sign-up bonus for that card.
With Citi, a card’s bonus is not available if you received a bonus for the same card within the past 48 months.
If you are an existing or previous account holder for a Capital One card, you may not be eligible for that particular card’s one-time sign-up bonus. You also may not be eligible if you’ve applied for a Capital One credit card two or more times in the past 30 days, or if you have five or more open Capital One credit card accounts.
You may not be eligible for the sign-up bonus if you opened a Wells Fargo card within the past 15 months and received a bonus offer for the card. Also, you may not qualify for an additional Wells Fargo credit card if you have opened a Wells Fargo credit card in the past six months.
Bank of America offers a one-time sign-up bonus to customers opening a new account. You may not be eligible for a card if you currently have or have had the card in the past 24 months.
Methodology: How we chose the best sign-up bonuses
To select the best card for each of these categories, our credit card experts compared a broad range of credit cards on LendingTree.com and major issuer sites, including cash back cards, travel cards, business cards and more.
We chose our top picks based on a variety of factors, such as the value of the card’s sign-up bonus, the type of rewards offered, the spending threshold required to earn the bonus and the card’s annual fee, as well as the ongoing value of the card once the bonus has been earned.
Other factors that come into play when making our selection can include the variety of benefits the card offers, including insurance protections and travel perks.
To see rates & fees for Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card please click here.
To see rates & fees for Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card please click here.
To see rates & fees for Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card please click here.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
The information related to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Freedom Unlimited®, Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card, United Quest℠ Card, World of Hyatt Credit Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
Dan Miller
Dan Miller is a freelance writer and has been covering credit cards, student loans and all things personal finance since 2014. His home base is in Cincinnati, but he tries to travel the world as much as possible with his wife and 6 kids.