Latest posts
- Chase extended warranty benefits: An extra year of protection on many items you buy
An extended warranty can be one of the most valuable ways that using a credit card… Read More »Chase extended warranty benefits: An extra year of protection on many items you buy - Citi Rewards+® Card: The card with the best extended warranty
Citi Rewards+® Card at a glance Here’s what you need to know about the Citi Rewards+… Read More »Citi Rewards+® Card: The card with the best extended warranty - The best cash back welcome bonuses: $500 or more in cash back for new cardmembers
You want a giant cash back bonus as an incentive for getting a new credit card.… Read More »The best cash back welcome bonuses: $500 or more in cash back for new cardmembers - Best ever Chase Freedom Flex℠ welcome bonus: $200 cash back + 5% on gas and groceries
Chase is currently running its best ever welcome bonuses on both the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and… Read More »Best ever Chase Freedom Flex℠ welcome bonus: $200 cash back + 5% on gas and groceries - The best cards for grocery stores: Up to 6% cash back on groceries
Using a grocery credit card is one of the simplest ways that you can increase the… Read More »The best cards for grocery stores: Up to 6% cash back on groceries - Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card welcome bonus – 60k online offer, 70k in-branch offer, 80k targeted direct mail offerThe Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card currently offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 points. To earn the… Read More »Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card welcome bonus – 60k online offer, 70k in-branch offer, 80k targeted direct mail offer
- Buying groups: A great way to generate credit card spending
Buying items for buying groups can be a great way to increase your credit card spending… Read More »Buying groups: A great way to generate credit card spending - Am I eligible for a new Chase Sapphire welcome bonus?
If you’ve been eyeing the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s welcome bonus, but have had the card before,… Read More »Am I eligible for a new Chase Sapphire welcome bonus? - Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card – The best 2% cash back card for rewards
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card at a glance Rewards All purchases 2% Benefits Consumer insurance benefitsCell… Read More »Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card – The best 2% cash back card for rewards
Featured articles
The best welcome bonuses – Our take on this month’s best welcome bonuses.
The best cash back welcome bonuses – The biggest bonuses if you’re interested in earning cash back.
Easy cash back welcome bonuses – Welcome bonuses that earn $200 or more for $1,000 of spending or less.
Bank rewards program welcome bonuses
Chase Ultimate Rewards welcome bonuses
Citi ThankYou Points welcome bonuses
Airline miles welcome bonuses
American Airlines welcome bonuses
Delta Air Lines SkyMiles welcome bonuses
United Airlines welcome bonuses
Every welcome bonus – Searchable database of every welcome bonus we track
(scroll down for more of our latest posts)
I’m Aaron Hurd, one of the foremost experts in credit cards, travel rewards, and loyalty programs. You might have seen one of the hundreds of articles I’ve written for places The Wall Street Journal, Time, Forbes, Nerdwallet, The Points Guy, Bankrate, Rolling Stone, and countless other publications. Or you may have run into me or seen me speak at an event like the Chicago Seminars, New York Times Travel Show, Fincon or Frequent Traveler University. Regardless of how you came to this site or where you are on your credit journey, welcome. 🙂
I launched this site because I saw a need to provide better information about credit cards and travel rewards. My goal is to build the best resource on the internet for you, whether your objective is to build your credit, put more cash in your wallet, better use your credit card benefits, or take your family on vacation.
Our promise to you is simple: We keep you, the reader, at the top of our priority list. We show you how to use your credit card rewards and benefits in ways that are relevant to you. And we have a little fun doing it.
Latest posts
Here’s the latest stuff we’ve published on our blog.
- Chase extended warranty benefits: An extra year of protection on many items you buy
An extended warranty can be one of the most valuable ways that using a credit card can protect the things you buy. But it is a benefit that few people take advantage of. Fortunately, many credit cards, including many no-annual-fee credit cards offer this benefit which is both simple and useful. Chase is one of… Read More »Chase extended warranty benefits: An extra year of protection on many items you buy - Citi Rewards+® Card: The card with the best extended warranty
Citi Rewards+® Card at a glance Here’s what you need to know about the Citi Rewards+ credit card. Rewards Hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024. 5x Supermarkets 2x* Gas stations 2x* All other purchases 1% *2x points at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000… Read More »Citi Rewards+® Card: The card with the best extended warranty - The best cash back welcome bonuses: $500 or more in cash back for new cardmembers
You want a giant cash back bonus as an incentive for getting a new credit card. You’re okay with spending a fair amount on the card to earn the bonus, but you don’t want to mess with miles, points, or restrictive redemptions. Here’s our list of the best cash back welcome bonuses currently available. What… Read More »The best cash back welcome bonuses: $500 or more in cash back for new cardmembers - Best ever Chase Freedom Flex℠ welcome bonus: $200 cash back + 5% on gas and groceries
Chase is currently running its best ever welcome bonuses on both the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited® cards. Both cards have a welcome offer that gives you the standard $200 bonus after spending $500, but now Chase is also offering 5% back on up to $12,000 of gas and grocery store purchases in… Read More »Best ever Chase Freedom Flex℠ welcome bonus: $200 cash back + 5% on gas and groceries - The best cards for grocery stores: Up to 6% cash back on groceries
Using a grocery credit card is one of the simplest ways that you can increase the amount of cash back rewards you earn. Banks offer several credit cards that offer increased cash back on grocery store purchases-sometimes as much as 5%-6% cash back. Read on to see our picks for the best grocery store credit… Read More »The best cards for grocery stores: Up to 6% cash back on groceries - Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card welcome bonus – 60k online offer, 70k in-branch offer, 80k targeted direct mail offerThe Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card currently offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 points. To earn the bonus, you must spend $4,000 on the card in the first three months. The Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a core card to have if you’re collecting Ultimate Rewards. The card offers… Read More »Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card welcome bonus – 60k online offer, 70k in-branch offer, 80k targeted direct mail offer
- Buying groups: A great way to generate credit card spending
Buying items for buying groups can be a great way to increase your credit card spending so that you can get more points and more credit card welcome bonuses. In 2022, I presented at the Chicago Seminars about the ways I increase spending on my credit cards and get most of it back. Probably the… Read More »Buying groups: A great way to generate credit card spending - Am I eligible for a new Chase Sapphire welcome bonus?
If you’ve been eyeing the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s welcome bonus, but have had the card before, you might be wondering if you qualify for the bonus. Reading Chase’s bonus terms might only add to the confusion: “The product is not available to either (i) current cardmembers of any Sapphire credit card, or (ii) previous cardmembers… Read More »Am I eligible for a new Chase Sapphire welcome bonus? - Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card – The best 2% cash back card for rewards
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card at a glance Rewards All purchases 2% Benefits Consumer insurance benefitsCell phone protection Travel benefitsSecondary auto rental collision damage waiver insurance Other important terms Annual fee: $0 Foreign transaction fee: 3% Welcome bonus Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card rewards The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card offers unlimited 2% cash rewards… Read More »Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card – The best 2% cash back card for rewards - The best easy cash back welcome bonuses: Earn $200 or more by spending $1,000 or less.Getting a giant welcome bonus can be a great incentive to get a new credit card, but what if you want a welcome bonus with minimal hassle and spending? Here’s our list of the easiest credit card welcome bonuses available. What makes an easy bonus? In our view, an easy credit card bonus offers a… Read More »The best easy cash back welcome bonuses: Earn $200 or more by spending $1,000 or less.
- Best ever Chase Freedom Unlimited® welcome bonuses: $200 cash back + 5% on gas and groceries or doubled cash back in the first yearChase is currently running two different welcome offers on its Chase Freedom Unlimited® cards. And each of these offers could be considered the best offer we’ve seen on this card. Pick from doubled cash back everywhere for a year or 5% on gas and groceries. Now is an optimal time to pick up a Chase… Read More »Best ever Chase Freedom Unlimited® welcome bonuses: $200 cash back + 5% on gas and groceries or doubled cash back in the first year
- Citi Double Cash® Card welcome bonus: $200 after $1,500 spent in 6 months.
The Citi Double Cash® Card doesn’t normally offer a cash welcome bonus, but Citi recently released a welcome bonus offer where you can get $200 after spending $1,500 in six months. The Citi Double Cash® Card is a great option if you want a card that offers two percent cash back everywhere, especially if you… Read More »Citi Double Cash® Card welcome bonus: $200 after $1,500 spent in 6 months. - 5x everywhere: My top strategies
For most people pursuing credit card rewards, having a great 2% credit card in your wallet can go a long way toward earning a good pile of rewards. But with a little bit of work, it’s practical to get 5% cash back rewards or 5x points almost everywhere. And you can do it without signing… Read More »5x everywhere: My top strategies - How long does it take for a payment to post?
When you make an online payment to your credit card, many issuers will post your payment the same day. However, most issuers will not updated your available credit immediately. This depends on issuer and sometimes varies based on your history with the credit card issuer. Here are the payment posting and available credit release rules… Read More »How long does it take for a payment to post? - Refer your friends to Chase cards: Get your friends a welcome bonus and earn points for yourself.
Blogs like Cards and Points pay the bills through our credit card affiliate links, but if you are a Chase cardholder, you can earn a few more points or cash back when your friends get new credit cards. Through Chase’s refer-a-friend program, you can earn cash back or points when your friends apply and are… Read More »Refer your friends to Chase cards: Get your friends a welcome bonus and earn points for yourself. - Legendary credit cards of yore: At one point, you could get 12% back on gas, groceries, and drugstore purchases.
Today’s post is a fun one. It’s a look back at legendary credit cards that no longer exist. Banks discontinue credit cards for a bunch of reasons. New contracts get signed with partners. Sometimes cards just don’t have enough of a user base to make them worthwhile. Marketing strategies change. But sometimes banks axe cards… Read More »Legendary credit cards of yore: At one point, you could get 12% back on gas, groceries, and drugstore purchases. - Chase Freedom Flex℠ – 5% on rotating categories, plus 3% on dining and drugstores
Chase Freedom Flex℠ at a glance Here’s what you need to know about the Chase Freedom Flex℠. Rewards Travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 5% Lyft rides through March 31, 2025 5% Rotating categories. On up to $1,500 of combined spending each quarter, when you activate. 5% Dining at restaurants, including eligible takeout and delivery… Read More »Chase Freedom Flex℠ – 5% on rotating categories, plus 3% on dining and drugstores - Citi® Double Cash Card: 2% cash back – 1% when you buy and 1% when you payCiti® Double Cash Card at a glance Here’s what you need to know about the Citi® Double Cash Card. Rewards All purchases: Earn 1% as you buy and 1% as you pay. 2% The Citi Double Cash rewards are earned as ThankYou Points. When you combine your ThankYou Points accounts. Holding a Citi Premier® Card or a… Read More »Citi® Double Cash Card: 2% cash back – 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay
- Step by step: How to transfer Ultimate Rewards points to another card
A reader recently asked how you can transfer Ultimate Rewards points between Chase cards. Chase doesn’t make this terribly obvious, so today’s post contains a step-by-step guide. Here’s our step-by-step guide that walks you through how to transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to another card. Why transfer Chase Ultimate rewards? If you’re new to the… Read More »Step by step: How to transfer Ultimate Rewards points to another card - Citi Dividend Q4 2023 cash back categories – 5% at grocery storesCiti has announced its fourth quarter 2023 5% cash back categories for the Citi Dividend card and it’s a particularly good one: grocery stores. Enrollment for this quarter’s cash back categories began on 9/15/23. Grocery stores is a great category because you can purchase gift cards to other merchants and expand the category as part… Read More »Citi Dividend Q4 2023 cash back categories – 5% at grocery stores
- How to find your Chase credit card benefits
If you hold a Chase credit card, your card probably offers some valuable benefits. Most of Chase’s credit cards come with an extended warranty benefit. And many of its premium credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred feature best-in-class travel insurance benefits. But how do you figure out what benefits you have and what the… Read More »How to find your Chase credit card benefits - How to check your 5/24 status: Knowing your 5/24 status gives you a better chance on Chase applications
Everything you need to know about how to check your 5/24 status for Chase credit card applications. - Citi extended warranty: The best extended warranty available on a credit card
Extended warranty may be the most under-appreciated credit card benefit. A free credit card extended warranty can cover repair or replacement of expensive electronics or other things you buy on your card. And these benefits can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars if something you buy fails. Citi’s offers extended warranty only on a… Read More »Citi extended warranty: The best extended warranty available on a credit card - Chase Freedom 2023 cash back categories: Q4 categories are PayPal, wholesale clubs, and select charities
Just a quick reminder to make sure that your category bonuses on the Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom cards are activated. From October 1, 2023 until December 31, 2023, you can earn 5% back on up to $1,500 in purchases at warehouse clubs, with select charities, and when using PayPal. When you activate your… Read More »Chase Freedom 2023 cash back categories: Q4 categories are PayPal, wholesale clubs, and select charities - When does it make sense to pay an annual fee?
I am a fan of credit cards with no annual fees. In many cases, you can earn rewards of 2% or more on every purchase, 3% on unlimited purchases in select categories, or 5% in rotating categories without paying an annual fee. You can also access valuable benefits like extended warranty protection, cell phone protection,… Read More »When does it make sense to pay an annual fee? - United Airlines credit card welcome bonuses: Increased bonuses on personal cards.
United Airlines recently launched new, increased welcome bonuses on its personal credit cards. If you’re looking to earn United miles with a credit card welcome bonus, now is a great time to get a new United credit card. Here are the best welcome offers on United Airlines credit cards that we know of. Current United… Read More »United Airlines credit card welcome bonuses: Increased bonuses on personal cards. - Amazon Prime Visa: 5% back at Amazon and Whole Foods for Prime members
Amazon Prime Visa at a glance Here’s what you need to know about the Amazon Prime Visa. Rewards Amazon, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market 5% Chase Travel 5% Gas stations 2% Restaurants 2% Local transit and commuting, including rideshare 2% All other purchases 1% Benefits Consumer insurance benefitsPurchase protectionChase extended warranty protection Travel benefitsSecondary… Read More »Amazon Prime Visa: 5% back at Amazon and Whole Foods for Prime members - Chase Freedom Unlimited®: An essential 1.5% everywhere card
What you need to know about Chase Freedom Unlimited® Here’s what you need to know about the Chase Freedom Unlimited® Card. Rewards Travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 5% Lyft rides through March 31, 2025 5% Dining at restaurants, including eligible takeout and delivery 3% Drugstore purchases 3% All other purchases 1.5% Rewards are earned… Read More »Chase Freedom Unlimited®: An essential 1.5% everywhere card - Discover it® Cash Back: 5% on categories + double rewards in the first year
Discover it® Cash Back at a glance Here’s what you need to know about the Discover it® Cash Back. Use this card for: Purchases in the card’s rotating 5% bonus categories. Consider other cards for: Welcome bonus All new Discover it® Cash Back cardmembers receive a dollar-for-dollar cash back match in their first year of… Read More »Discover it® Cash Back: 5% on categories + double rewards in the first year - Chase Ink Business Cash® and Ink Business Unlimited® welcome bonuses: Best ever $900 cash back offers
Just a reminder: Chase upped the ante on its Chase Ink Business Cash® and Chase Ink Business Unlimited® credit cards earlier this summer and is now offering its best offer welcome offer on both of the cards. You can earn $900 cash back when you spend $6,000 in the first three months of having either… Read More »Chase Ink Business Cash® and Ink Business Unlimited® welcome bonuses: Best ever $900 cash back offers - Flying Blue Promo Rewards for November 2023 + Award price drop to 50k for Business!
Every month, on the first weekday of the month, Air France/KLM releases its Flying Blue Promo Rewards. These promo rewards offer some of the best ways to use your miles and transferable points to get between Europe and the United States. This month Flying Blue has lowered its price for saver-level award spaces and harmonized… Read More »Flying Blue Promo Rewards for November 2023 + Award price drop to 50k for Business! - New Target RedCard Mastercard welcome bonus: $50 off a future shopping trip
For new RedCard cardmembers, Target is offering $50 off a future purchase over $50 when you are approved for a credit or debit RedCard. This is one of the best welcome bonuses we’ve seen on this card. This promotion lasts from 10/29/2023 until 12/9/2023. About the Target RedCard Mastercard For more on the Target RedCard… Read More »New Target RedCard Mastercard welcome bonus: $50 off a future shopping trip - The best Ultimate Rewards® welcome bonuses: Best ever bonuses on Ink cards, 5% gas and groceries on Freedom cards.Chase recently made its secret 5% gas and grocery offer on the Freedom cards its public limited-time offer on these cards. That adds those cards to our list of the best of the best welcome bonuses. Here are the best Ultimate Rewards® welcome bonuses currently available. The best of the best: Ultimate Rewards welcome bonuses… Read More »The best Ultimate Rewards® welcome bonuses: Best ever bonuses on Ink cards, 5% gas and groceries on Freedom cards.
- Delta Air Lines credit card welcome bonuses.
On October 25, 2023, Delta and American Express ended the limited-time elevated welcome bonuses previously available on these cards. All cards are now offering their standard welcome bonuses. The bad news is that you’ll earn fewer points with the current welcome bonuses. The good news is that many of these welcome bonuses require substantially less… Read More »Delta Air Lines credit card welcome bonuses. - United℠ Business Card welcome bonus: 75,000 miles. 50% more miles than previous bonus!Chase recently increased the welcome bonus available on the United℠ Business Card by 50%, with no increase in the amount you need to spend to receive the bonus. If you are in the market for United MileagePlus miles, now is the time to get this card. This is a limited time offer. We currently have… Read More »United℠ Business Card welcome bonus: 75,000 miles. 50% more miles than previous bonus!
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: The highest cash back on groceries.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express at a glance Here’s what you need to know about the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. Terms apply to all benefits. Rewards 6% cash back on up to $6,000 in purchases per year at U.S. supermarkets, then 1%. 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.… Read More »Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: The highest cash back on groceries. - Return protection: A guarantee that you have up to 90 days to return purchases.
Have you ever purchased an item and found yourself wanting to return it, only to discover that the return window had passed? Or have you ever wanted to return an item that was sold as a “final sale” item? Some credit cards offer a benefit called return protection that can get you a refund even… Read More »Return protection: A guarantee that you have up to 90 days to return purchases. - Trip delay reimbursement: Your ticket to a hotel room when your flight cancels
No one wants to choose between shelling out hundreds of dollars in cash or spending the night on an airport floor when a flight is canceled overnight. But if you book your trip with a card that has a good trip delay reimbursement benefit, you never have to worry about this. Trip delay reimbursement is… Read More »Trip delay reimbursement: Your ticket to a hotel room when your flight cancels
Other resources
5% category bonuses
Category bonuses for July – September 2023
Discover IT – Gas and digital wallets
Chase Freedom Flex – Gas, EV charging, live entertainment
Citi Dividend – Gas, home improvement stores
5% big box cards
Target Red Card – 5% discount at Target
Best cards for…
Find the best cards for spending at places like grocery stores, electronics stores, and more.
- Chase extended warranty benefits: An extra year of protection on many items you buy
- Citi Rewards+® Card: The card with the best extended warranty
- The best cash back welcome bonuses: $500 or more in cash back for new cardmembers
- Best ever Chase Freedom Flex℠ welcome bonus: $200 cash back + 5% on gas and groceries
- The best cards for grocery stores: Up to 6% cash back on groceries
Useful benefits
- Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare
- Amex Business Platinum Wireless Credit: $10 per month toward your mobile phone bill
- Annual travel credits
- Auto rental collision damage waiver insurance
- Capital One Venture X Travel Credit: $300 toward bookings with Capital One Travel
- Cell phone protection
- Chase extended warranty benefits: An extra year of protection on many items you buy
- Chase roadside assistance benefits
- Citi Dividend Q4 2023 cash back categories – 5% at grocery stores
- Citi extended warranty: The best extended warranty available on a credit card
- How to find your Chase credit card benefits
- Purchase protection: Protection for your new purchases against damage and theft
- Return protection: A guarantee that you have up to 90 days to return purchases.
- Roadside assistance benefits
- The one card wallet
- Trip delay reimbursement: Your ticket to a hotel room when your flight cancels
- Valuing credit card benefits: How much YOU value them is all that matters.
- Your monthly credit-card to-do list
Targeted offers
Some cards have opt-in offers that can save you money or earn you more cash back.
Amex Offers
Bank AmeriDeals
Chase Offers
Citi Merchant Offers
All about rewards
Overviews of rewards programs, plus the best welcome bonuses in each program
Bank program guides
Amex Membership Rewards
Capital One Miles
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Citi ThankYou Points