13 Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses ($200, $300, & $500) – 2026

If you’re planning to get a new credit card, you may as well seek out the best credit card sign-up bonuses. Many rewards cards for consumers with good or excellent credit offer a sign-up bonus, so you have a wide variety of candidates from which to choose.

We’ve organized our picks by bonus amount, with larger offers often requiring more spending to earn.

While you may come for the bonus, you’ll stay for the card’s overall benefits. We suggest looking at the sign-up bonus as just one factor when selecting a new rewards card. In the long run, it’s the total package of rewards and perks that determines whether a card will figure prominently in your wallet or collect dust on a shelf.

• $200+ Bonus For Consumers
• $500+ Bonus For Consumers
• $500+ Bonus For Businesses
• Frequently Asked Questions

These cards offer modest sign-up bonuses in return for a moderate amount of spending on purchases during the first three months following account opening. All offer nice rewards and benefits that make them desirable well beyond their sign-up bonus offers.

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a variety of perks beyond the sign-up bonus, including instant purchase notifications, a generous extended warranty program, and travel accident insurance. You can accept your rewards as cash or use them to make eligible purchases through Amazon or PayPal. As with all Capital One cards, you can access Eno for virtual card numbers that protect you against account theft.

2

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

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Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

4.9/5.0

About this rating

Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.

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Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

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★★★★★ 4.9/5.0

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• $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
• Earn 6% cash back for the first year in the category of your choice. You’ll automatically earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. After the first year from account opening, you’ll earn 3% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
• Earn 6% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter. After the 3% first-year bonus offer ends, you will earn 3% and 2% cash back on these purchases up to the quarterly maximum.
• No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
• Turn daily purchases into everyday wins. Simply use your Customized Cash Rewards credit card for the things you already buy – from gifts to groceries – BofA Rewards™ members earn more cash back.
• 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 17.74% – 27.74% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 5%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
• This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Show MoreShow Less See application, terms and details »

Intro (Purchases) 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Intro (Transfers) 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 5%)

Regular APR 17.74% – 27.74% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Annual Fee $0

Credit Needed Excellent/Good

New Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card holders can earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. That breaks down to about $334 in monthly spending, making the bonus relatively attainable for cardholders who use the card for everyday expenses. The card also charges no annual fee, so the full bonus can remain in your pocket without an ongoing membership cost.

3

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

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Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

4.9/5.0

About this rating

Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.

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Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

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★★★★★ 4.9/5.0

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• 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.
• Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on everyday purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
• Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through BofA Travel.
• Turn daily purchases into everyday wins. Simply use your Travel Rewards credit card for the things you already buy - from gifts to getaways - BofA Rewards™ members earn more points.
• 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% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 17.74% - 27.74% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 5%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
• This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Show MoreShow Less See application, terms and details »

Intro (Purchases) 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Intro (Transfers) 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 5%)

Regular APR 17.74% - 27.74% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Annual Fee $0

Credit Needed Excellent/Good

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a solid card offering flat-rate points that can be redeemed for statement credits to pay for eligible travel purchases. It currently offers a 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases in addition to the generous sign-up bonus. You can add this card to your mobile device and shop in-store or in-app using Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay.

Points earned on the Chase Freedom Unlimited® can be easily redeemed for cash, travel, gift cards, and purchases made through the Pay with Points feature or directly from merchants. If you also own a Chase Sapphire card, you can upgrade your ultimate reward points to get extra value when redeemed for travel via the Chase Travel site. The card provides $0 liability protection and frequently offers special promotions with partners like Lyft and DoorDash.

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a travel credit card that comes with $0 Fraud Liability for unauthorized charges, integrates with a mobile app, and provides automatic security alerts. You earn airline miles redeemable for travel purchases, including flights, rental cars, hotels, and vacation rentals. If you prefer, you can cash in your miles, use them to buy gift cards, transfer them to a travel partner, or make purchases at Amazon.com or with PayPal.

If you have excellent credit and a larger spending budget, these cards can reward you with a bigger sign-up bonus and a long list of perks. Some even come with surprisingly low annual fees.

6

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

CardRates Expert Rating

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

4.6/5.0

About this rating

Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.

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Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

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★★★★★ 4.6/5.0

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• Low $95 annual fee.
• Receive 60,000 online bonus points – a $600 value – after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
• Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. No limit to the points you can earn and your points don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
• Turn daily purchases into everyday wins. Simply use your Premium Rewards credit card for the things you already buy – from gifts to getaways – BofA Rewards™ members earn more points.
• Redeem for cash back as a statement credit, deposit into eligible Bank of America® accounts, credit to eligible Merrill® accounts, or gift cards or purchases at BofA Travel.
• Get up to $100 in Airline Incidental Statement Credits annually and TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry Statement Credits of up to $100, every four years.
• Travel Insurance protections to assist with trip delays, cancellations and interruptions, baggage delays and lost luggage.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Show MoreShow Less See application, terms and details »

Intro (Purchases) N/A

Intro (Transfers) N/A

Regular APR 19.74% – 27.74% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Annual Fee $95

Credit Needed Excellent/Good

New Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card holders can earn 60,000 online bonus points – a $600 value – after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. That requires roughly $1,334 in monthly spending, so the bonus may be easiest to earn if you apply ahead of planned travel or another large expense. Even after accounting for the card’s $95 annual fee, the bonus offers $505 in first-year value.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card provides many benefits, including 24-hour travel assistance services, travel accident insurance, and auto rental collision damage waiver. There are several ways to redeem your reward miles, including the Capital One Rewards Center, where you can book new travel reservations. Redeeming your miles for travel purchases provides the most value, but if you prefer, you can exchange your airline mile rewards for cash (sub $500 value), gift cards, purchases at Amazon.com and PayPal, or miles in a travel partner’s loyalty program.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers many valuable travel benefits for a considerably lower annual fee than its bigger sibling, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Benefits include special promotions as well as many travel-related perks, including baggage delay insurance, $0 foreign transaction fees, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and auto rental collision damage waiver. You also get $0 liability protection and point transfer to all participating frequent travel programs on a 1-to-1 basis.

The Platinum Card® is an American Express card whose high annual fee may be offset by generous bonus points, statement credits, airport lounge access, and special promotions with Uber and other partners. The American Express International Airline Program provides savings on participating airlines booked through Amex Travel. Other benefits include an online year-end summary, return protection on eligible purchases, and account management through the American Express App.

Businesses spend more than individuals, which is why it makes sense for issuers of business credit cards to offer larger sign-up bonuses. The following four cards from Bank of America, Capital One, and Chase offer valuable cash or points bonuses in return for higher spending requirements during the introductory period.

10

Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card

CardRates Expert Rating

Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card

4.8/5.0

About this rating

Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.

See Our Review»

Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

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★★★★★ 4.8/5.0

at Bank Of America’ssecure website

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• $500 Online Cash Rewards Bonus Offer: Get a $500 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $5,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.
• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases, or join Preferred Rewards for Business for no fee, and earn up to an unlimited 2.62% cash back on all purchases if you have a Bank of America® business checking account and qualify for our highest Preferred Rewards for Business tier.
• No annual cap and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
• No annual fee.
• Choose how to redeem your cash rewards – as a deposit into your eligible Bank of America® checking or savings account, as a card statement credit or as a check mailed to you.
• 0% Introductory APR on purchases for your first 7 billing cycles. After the intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 16.99% to 26.99% will apply.
• Contactless Cards – the security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
• This offer may not be available if you leave this page or visit our website. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Show MoreShow Less See application, terms and details »

Intro (Purchases) 0% Intro APR for 7 billing cycles for purchases

Intro (Transfers) N/A

Regular APR 16.99% – 26.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Annual Fee $0.00

Credit Needed Excellent

New Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card holders can earn a $500 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $5,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.. That works out to roughly $1,667 in monthly spending, which may be manageable for business owners who charge regular operating expenses to the card. With no annual fee, the full $500 bonus can add value to the business without an ongoing card cost.

The Capital One Venture Business is Capital One’s top miles card for small businesses, offering several benefits that help your company run. For example, you can download your purchase records in several formats, including QuickBooks, and you can set up AutoPay and recurring transactions. You can also get quarterly and annual custom, itemized spending reports to help you with your budgeting, planning, and taxes.

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card from Chase offers business-oriented awards such as additional employee cards at no extra cost, extended warranty protection, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. You and your authorized employees receive cell phone protection against damage or theft when you pay the monthly phone bill with the card. The card allows you to transfer rewards points 1:1 to leading frequent travel programs and charges no foreign transaction fees.

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card from Chase skews its biggest cash back rewards toward business-related purchases. The card provides employee cards at no extra cost, but it does impose a penalty APR for late and returned payments. As with all Ink Business cards, you can convert your unused credit line into a MyChaseLoan^SM fixed-rate, low-APR installment loan without an application, credit check, or fees.

Unless you recently arrived from another planet, you know that credit cards aggressively compete with each other for your business. Each issuer looks for ways to recruit new cardmembers, and one weapon in their arsenal is the credit card sign-up bonus.

The bonus is a promotion open to new cardmembers who will receive extra rewards (such as cash back, points, or miles) for achieving set spending targets after opening the card account. Some sign-up bonuses are paired with a 0% introductory APR on purchases, balance transfers, or both.

The rules for eligibility affect consumers who have already collected a sign-up bonus on the same card and closed the account. The rules may also extend to bonuses collected from other credit cards from the same issuer.

The rules are pretty simple: You will receive specified bonus rewards when you spend the required amount in the introductory period (typically three months) following account enrollment. For example, you may receive $300 cash back by spending $2,500 on purchases in the first three months.

Each card establishes its own reward and spending scheme. Typically, higher rewards require more spending. Sometimes the program involves two periods. You can earn an initial bonus in the first period and additional rewards by spending a set amount more in the second.

The sign-up bonus is typically the same type of reward — cash back, points, or miles — as the card’s standard rewards. You can redeem the reward once you receive it, which may be within one or two billing cycles after you meet the spending requirement. The account must be open and not in default when your bonus is posted.

In general, there is a direct relationship between a card’s sign-up bonus, spending requirement, and annual fee.

Cards with no annual fee tend to have smaller sign-up bonuses and lower spending requirements. The reverse is true for cards with high annual fees.

The safest way to earn a sign-up bonus is to use the card for purchases you already planned to make. Review the spending requirement and deadline before applying, divide the required amount by the number of months in the bonus period, and make sure that monthly target fits comfortably within your normal budget.

Avoid spending more than you can afford simply to earn a bonus. Interest charges can quickly erase its value, so aim to pay your statement balance in full and on time.

Watch on

A few strategies can help you reach the requirement without unnecessary purchases:

• Use the new card for groceries, gas, utilities, subscriptions, and other regular expenses.
• Move eligible automatic payments to the card temporarily.
• Apply before a large planned expense, such as travel, home repairs, or new appliances.
• Put an eligible group purchase on the card only if everyone can reimburse you promptly.
• Track your progress through the issuer’s app or your own spending spreadsheet.

Balance transfers, cash advances, annual fees, interest charges, returned purchases, and other cash-like transactions generally do not count toward a sign-up bonus. Eligibility rules vary by issuer, so read the card’s offer terms before applying.

Sign-up bonus rewards take the form of cash back, points, or miles, often the same as the card’s regular rewards. There’s generally no difference in the redemption procedures for the sign-up bonus versus regular rewards.

Your monthly statement or the card’s online account page will tell you your current reward balance and may even preview your upcoming rewards for the next billing cycle.

Your redemption options depend on the card and the type of rewards it offers. You may be able to receive cash back as a direct deposit to your checking account or as a check mailed to you. Other options may include a statement credit, deposits to brokerage or 529 education accounts, gift cards, purchases at selected merchants, and even charitable donations.

Bonus Type	Common Redemption Options	What to Consider
Cash Back	Statement credits, bank deposits, checks	Usually has a fixed cash value
Points	Travel, cash back, gift cards, merchandise	Value may vary by redemption method
Miles	Flights, seat upgrades, hotel stays, travel partners	Availability, transfer ratios, and redemption values vary

Some rewards programs also allow you to transfer points or miles to participating airline and hotel loyalty programs. Pay attention to the transfer ratio before moving your rewards, as transfers are often final.

No. Sign-up bonuses are most common among rewards cards intended for applicants with good or excellent credit. Credit-building cards, secured cards, and cards for consumers with bad credit are less likely to include them.

Some student and secured cards offer introductory incentives, but these may take the form of a cash back match or another first-year promotion rather than a traditional bonus for meeting a set spending requirement. Because offers change frequently, check the issuer’s current terms before applying.

For the most part, bonus points and cash back rewards are equally valuable whether earned through a sign-up bonus or regular purchases. However, points and miles may be worth more when redeemed for travel.

Several factors determine the value of your rewards:

1. Earning rate: Cash back cards express their earning rates as percentages. For example, a card offering 5% cash back on grocery store purchases awards $0.05 for every eligible dollar spent. Points and miles cards may offer one point per dollar on standard purchases and higher rates in selected categories.
2. Redemption value: Cash back has a straightforward dollar value, but the value of points and miles depends on how you redeem them. Travel, gift cards, merchandise, and cash redemptions may each provide a different value.
3. Expiration: You can usually keep your rewards as long as the account remains open and in good standing. Some airline and hotel rewards may expire after a period of inactivity.
4. Minimum redemption: Many cards let you redeem rewards in any amount with no minimum. However, always check the fine print, as some cards set a minimum redemption amount.
5. Annual fee: The value of rewards is diluted by the card’s annual fee. Cards with high annual fees often provide larger sign-up bonuses and additional benefits, but those features are only valuable if you use them.

Ideally, you’d want a card with generous earning and redemption rates, no early expiration rules, low redemption minimums, and no annual fee. In practice, you will have to weigh each card’s rewards and benefits against its annual cost.

Cash back is the most versatile type of reward since you can use redeemed cash for anything you please. A dollar is a dollar, which makes cash bonuses easy to compare.

Points are more complicated because their value depends on what they can buy. That’s why it is difficult to compare points-based sign-up bonuses: 100,000 points from Card A may not have the same purchasing power as 100,000 points from Card B.

Some rewards programs allow you to transfer points to participating airline and hotel loyalty programs. These transfers can sometimes provide greater value, although availability and transfer ratios vary. Before applying, comb through the fine print to understand the card’s redemption options and the potential value of its rewards.

Opening a credit card account may temporarily hurt your credit score. The damage primarily derives from the hard inquiry, or hard pull, that a credit card issuer usually performs when considering your application for a new card. The new account can also reduce the average age of your credit history.

Credit inquiries are requests for information from your credit reports. The requests are recorded in your credit reports, but their visibility and impact differ depending on whether the inquiry is hard or soft:

• Soft inquiry: A soft pull is a check of your credit that isn’t connected to an application for new credit. Common reasons include checks performed by potential employers, existing creditors, and lenders looking to prequalify you for an offer. Checking your own credit also results in a soft inquiry. Soft inquiries do not hurt your credit score and are generally visible only to you.
• Hard inquiry: A hard inquiry typically occurs when you apply for a new credit card or loan. It can lower your credit score by a few points, although the precise effect depends on your overall credit profile.

A hard inquiry can remain on your credit report for two years, but FICO Scores generally consider inquiries from only the previous 12 months. New credit, which includes recent inquiries and newly opened accounts, makes up approximately 10% of a FICO Score.

Hard credit inquiries may be clustered together when you are rate shopping for certain loans, including mortgages and auto loans. Credit card applications do not receive the same treatment: Each application is generally counted separately.

Avoid applying for several cards within a short period, particularly if you have a limited credit history or plan to apply for an important loan soon.

Under normal circumstances, no credit rewards, including sign-up bonuses, have to be included in your taxable income when filing taxes. The reason is that you have to first spend money on purchases to get the reward, which allows the rewards to be treated as nontaxable discounts or rebates.

One possible exception involves bonuses that you receive without making any purchases. Since you haven’t bought anything, the bonus may not qualify as a rebate and could be treated as taxable income. Referral bonuses may also be taxable because they are awarded for referring a new customer rather than spending money.

Type of Reward	Usually Taxable?	Why
Bonus earned through spending	Generally no	Usually treated as a rebate on purchases
Referral bonus	Possibly	Awarded for a referral rather than spending
Bonus with no purchase requirement	Possibly	May not qualify as a purchase rebate

A tax-reporting threshold determines whether an issuer must send you a tax form; it does not determine whether the reward itself is taxable. If you receive a tax form or are uncertain about a particular bonus, consult a qualified tax professional.

Very few credit cards that offer a sign-up bonus are designed for consumers with bad or thin credit. Student and secured credit cards also seldom provide traditional bonuses, although some offer a first-year cash back match or another introductory incentive.

Given the slim pickings, the best way to get into the action is to improve your credit score so you can qualify for higher-quality cards that offer sign-up bonuses. Start by ordering free copies of your credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com and disputing any inaccurate information you find.

You can also strengthen your credit by paying every bill on time and reducing your credit card balances. Payment history and amounts owed are the two most influential FICO scoring factors. As your credit score improves, you’ll be able to access credit cards with increasingly valuable sign-up bonuses.

The credit cards in this review offer the best sign-up bonuses currently available. You can get more information and apply for any of these cards by clicking the Apply Now link. Always take the time to read the fine print accompanying any credit card offer — you’ll get the most value from your cards while avoiding unpleasant surprises.