Earning a welcome bonus on your new credit card can be an easy way to offset your everyday expenses. But even after you get approved for a card, there’s no guarantee you’ll be allowed to earn the bonus.
Many card issuers set limitations on who's considered a new card member and can therefore qualify for a welcome bonus. It can be frustrating to learn that you’re not eligible to earn a generous welcome bonus, so it's important to review the bonus eligibility terms prior to applying for a credit card.
To make the process easier, Select explains how to read a credit card's eligibility terms so you can take the guesswork out of wondering if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus.
Who’s eligible for a welcome bonus?
It can be tricky to understand all the terms of your credit card, and the welcome bonus offer terms are no exception. The simplest way to know if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus is by breaking down all the terms into bullet points. Then you can go through each point one-by-one and see if you qualify.
Chase and American Express are two major card issuers that commonly set strict eligibility requirements for welcome offers bonuses. Ahead, we break down the terms for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and American Express® Gold Card welcome offer bonuses so you can understand if you'll qualify for their new offers. Unlike typical credit cards, the Gold Card allows you to carry a balance for certain charges, but not all.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
New Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Here's what the Chase Sapphire Preferred terms say:
The product is not available to either (i) current cardmembers of any Sapphire credit card, or (ii) previous cardmembers of any Sapphire credit card who received a new cardmember bonus within the last 48 months. If you are an existing Sapphire customer and would like this product, please call the number on the back of your card to see if you are eligible for a product change. You will not receive the new cardmember bonus if you change products.
The language is a little tricky, so we've broken it down a bit so it's easier to understand if you qualify:
- If you've never had a Chase Sapphire card: Eligible
- If you currently have a Chase Sapphire card, regardless of whether you previously received the bonus: Not eligible
- If you previously had a Chase Sapphire card and received the bonus within the past 48 months: Not eligible
- If you previously had a Chase Sapphire card and received the bonus, but it's been more than 48 months: Eligible
- If you previously had a Chase Sapphire card and never received the bonus: Eligible
- If you’re an existing Chase Sapphire customer and want to request a product change: Not eligible
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Rewards
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Welcome bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Terms apply.
Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review.
American Express Gold Card
The Amex Gold card is also offering a generous welcome bonus to new cardmembers: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first 6 months of card membership. New applicants have to meet several requirements.
Here's what the Amex Gold card terms say:
Welcome offer not available to applicants who have or have had this card or the Premier Rewards Gold Card. We may also consider the number of American Express cards you have opened and closed as well as other factors in making a decision on your welcome offer eligibility.
To simplify the language, just consider if you fit into two of these categories:
- If you've never had the Amex Gold card: Eligible
- If you've never had the Premier Rewards Gold Card: Eligible
- If you currently have the Amex Gold card: Not eligible
- If you currently have the Premier Rewards Gold Card: Not eligible
While the Amex Gold terms seem fairly simple, take note that there's also the disclaimer that Amex considers how many American Express cards you have opened and closed, plus other factors, which implies they consider bonus eligibility on a case-by-case basis.
American Express® Gold Card
Rewards
4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Annual fee
$250
Intro APR
Not applicable
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
See rates and fees, terms apply.
Read our American Express® Gold Card review.
Bottom line
Before you open a new credit card with the hopes of earning a welcome bonus, make sure you review the eligibility requirements. Taking a quick look at the terms can help you understand if you qualify for the bonus.
Right now, there are a lot of really enticing credit card offers out there, so if you're not eligible for one, do your research to find a different card that allows you to earn the welcome bonus.
But you shouldn't open a card just to get the bonus. Make sure you're able to meet the spend requirements without blowing your budget. And when opening a new card, also take time to consider all the other factors, like annual fee, rewards rates and APR, to make sure you're getting a card you feel good about.
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For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
