Credit card welcome bonuses are the highest-payout category in the sign-up bonus world — often $500–$1,500 in cash or points for hitting a minimum spend in the first 3 months. They require a hard credit pull and a FICO of roughly 700+ for the best offers.
| Institution | Bonus | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
Chase Sapphire Preferred $95 annual fee. Subject to Chase 5/24 rule. | 60,000 points (~$750 travel) | $4,000 spend in 3 months |
Capital One Venture X $395 annual fee, $300 travel credit + 10k anniversary miles. | 75,000 miles (~$750+) | $4,000 spend in 3 months |
Amex Gold $325 annual fee. Once-per-lifetime bonus per card. | 60,000 Membership Rewards | $6,000 spend in 6 months |
Chase Freedom Unlimited No annual fee. 1.5% back on everything. | $200 cash back | $500 spend in 3 months |
Citi Custom Cash No annual fee. 5% on top category monthly. | $200 cash back | $1,500 spend in 6 months |
A single application drops your score 3–8 points temporarily from the hard pull. The new account also lowers your average account age. Both recover within 6–12 months of on-time payments.
Most premium welcome offers (Sapphire, Venture X, Amex Gold) want a FICO of 700+. Entry-level cards (Freedom Unlimited, Discover it) approve down to the mid-600s.
Chase automatically denies most credit card applications if you've opened 5 or more personal cards from any issuer in the past 24 months. Count carefully before applying for a Chase bonus.
No — the IRS treats credit card sign-up bonuses as a rebate on spending, not income. You do not receive a 1099 for them. Bank account bonuses are different (see the banks section).
Time the application around a big planned expense (insurance, tuition, tax payment) or use the card for everyday purchases you'd make anyway. Never buy things you don't need just to hit a bonus — the math breaks down.