While all cardholders—whether you previously had the card or not—have access to ongoing benefits, the welcome bonus is a different story. Numerous cards entice customers in with generous one-time bonuses for opening the account but those bonuses are exactly that: one-time offers. In many cases, if you previously received a welcome bonus for a card, you will not be eligible to get it again. There are some exceptions, but if you’re reapplying for a card, you should do so for the ongoing features of the card.
It can be frustrating to not qualify for a welcome bonus, but keep your eye on the bright side—you’ll still receive the other card benefits the card offers. On rewards cards, you’ll still earn points, miles or cash back with every purchase (including in bonus categories). Airline cards often come with perks like free checked bags and hotel cards frequently offer elite status or even free night certificates with your annual card renewal. Lifestyle perks, like monthly credits toward dining or digital streaming services, also still apply.
Welcome Bonus Policies by Issuer
American Express Welcome Bonus Policies
One of the strictest card issuers, American Express typically only offers a welcome bonus once per person per card per lifetime. Anecdotally, some customers have reported that Amex only looks back seven years to see if you were a previous cardholder, so if it feels like ancient history to you, you may be in luck.
American Express will check your bonus eligibility during the application process but before you officially submit the application. Customers who are ineligible for the bonus will see a pop-up message and have the chance to withdraw their application before their credit check is run.
Bank of America Welcome Bonus Policies
Bank of America doesn’t necessarily restrict access to welcome bonuses, but several cards require a 24-month waiting period before reapplying for the card. If a card you previously closed sounds good once again, you may need to be patient before trying again.
Barclays Welcome Bonus Policies
Requirements vary by card with Barclays, which means you’ll need to closely examine the terms and conditions before applying if you hope to earn a welcome bonus again. However, most cards clearly state “you may not be eligible for this offer if you currently have or previously had an account with us in this program.”
Capital One Welcome Bonus Policies
Capital One cards do allow for repeat welcome bonuses, but they have very specific language on the rules:
“Existing or previous cardmembers are not eligible for this product if they have received a new cardmember bonus for this product in the past 48 months.”
Chase Welcome Bonus Policies
Chase muddles the waters a little by grouping many of its credit cards into families and considering your history within the entire segment before deciding whether or not to award you a welcome bonus.
For example, Chase has three types of personal Southwest Airlines credit cards. Per the cards’ terms and conditions, being a previous (or current) cardholder on one of those cards or earning a new Cardmember bonus within the last 24 months will restrict your ability to earn the bonus on a different Southwest card. Similarly, several Marriott cards are grouped together as are the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Thankfully, you’re not locked out from welcome bonuses forever. Many cards allow you to qualify for the bonus again as long as the original card is closed and it’s been at least 24 months since you originally received the cardmember bonus. For the Sapphire Card Collection, Chase rules that a card bonus 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.”
Citi Welcome Bonus Policies
Citi considers your individual history with a card and its welcome bonus to determine your eligibility again. Previously, it used to group cards together into families and would only let consumers earn one bonus per family. Now, most card terms and conditions state you cannot earn a welcome bonus if you previously earned that card’s bonus in the last 48 months.
Wells Fargo Welcome Bonus Policies
Similar to other card issuers, Wells Fargo doesn’t promise welcome bonus eligibility for previous cardholders unless it’s been a while since you last earned the bonus. Terms and conditions for most of their cards specify a waiting period of at least 15 months before you’re eligible for a second bonus.
