1. Credit Card Sign-up Bonuses
This is the fastest way to earn tons of Chase Ultimate Rewards. If you have opened relatively few credit card accounts over the past 2 years, it should also be one of the easiest.
For most Chase cards, a few thousand dollars of spend within the first few months will net you tens of thousands of bonus points. Chase has recently implemented the so-called “5/24 rule” which makes it difficult to get approved for new Chase cards if you have opened 5 or more credit card accounts within the past 24 months.
There are exceptions to this rule, though. Chase doesn’t count every card toward that total, and not every Chase card is limited by the rule.
The table below presents the current offers for Chase’s lineup of cards, along with the minimum spend required to earn each bonus. (Note that while some cards are advertised as “cash back,” the points you earn are still Ultimate Rewards and can be combined with points earned with other cards).
| Credit Card | Current Sign-up Bonus | Minimum Spend Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom Unlimited | 15,000 UR | $500 in the first 3 months |
| Freedom | 15,000 UR | $500 in the first 3 months |
| Sapphire Preferred | 50,000 UR | $4,000 in the first 3 months |
| Ink Plus Business card | 60,000 UR | $5,000 in the first 3 months |
| Ink Cash Business card | 20,000 UR | $3,000 in the first 3 months |
| Sapphire Reserve | 100,000 UR | $4,000 in the first 3 months |
2. Everyday Spend and Bonus Categories
Of course, simply paying with your Chase cards for everyday spending is an easy way to earn Ultimate rewards. Many people offer to pay restaurant and other bills for their friends and family in exchange for cash. If you have multiple Chase cards, it is important to maximize your bonus categories.
Below is a handy chart to reference which card will earn the highest bonus for each category. Note that some of these bonus categories have annual or quarterly caps, so be sure to check the terms for each card.
| Credit Card | Category and Bonus |
|---|---|
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | All purchases: 1.5x Bonus Points |
| Chase Freedom | Rotating quarterly categories which change from year to year: 5x Bonus Points All other purchases: 1x Bonus Points |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | Travel/Dining: 2x Bonus Points All other purchases: 1x Bonus Points |
| Chase Ink Plus (Business) | Gas: 2x Bonus Points Office Supplies: 5x Bonus Points Cellular/Landline/Cable: 5x Bonus Points All other purchases: 1x Bonus Points |
| Chase Ink Cash (Business) | Restaurants/Dining: 2x Bonus Points Gas: 2x Bonus Points Office Supplies: 5x Bonus Points Cellular/Landline/Cable: 5x Bonus Points All other purchases: 1x Bonus Points |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | Travel/Dining: 3x Bonus Points All other purchases: 1x Bonus Points |
3. Set Up Automatic Payments for Recurring Bills
Most people have bills such as cell phone service, TV service, internet service, etc., that can be paid with a credit card for no fee. Many of these can be further maximized if you have a card with a category bonus for your bill, but even if not, it is easy to set up recurring payments and rack up points month after month.
4. Shop Through Chase
Shop Through Chase is the name of Chase’s online shopping portal. When you log into your Chase account, simply click through to the Ultimate Rewards site, click the “Earn Points” drop-down menu, and click Shop Through Chase. Typically, offers range from an extra 1-5 points per dollar. You can browse the featured stores, or search for specific retailers of your choice.
5. Retention Bonuses
If you call to cancel your card, banks often offer retention bonuses in order to keep you as a customer. These can come in the form of points, statement credits, or “mini sign-up bonus” style offers that require a minimum spend for a given number of points.
Consider calling around the time of your annual fee posting, mention that you’re not sure if the benefits of this card are worth the annual fee, and ask if there are any offers on your account.
6. Sign-Up Bonus Offer Matches
Sometimes you will sign up for a card, only to see Chase offer a higher sign-up bonus within weeks of your application! However, if you contact Chase and ask them to match the higher offer, they will often oblige if you applied within the last 90 days.
7. Pay Bills You Can’t Normally Pay With a Credit Card
The biggest expenses in many people’s budgets are their mortgage and car payments. There are online services, such as Plastiq.com, that allow users to pay bills with a credit card for a fee (typically in the 2-2.5% range). While this is not the cheapest way to earn Ultimate Rewards, it can result in a significant number of points and may be worth it if you have a big redemption planned.
8. Pay Expenses Tied to a Reimbursable Account
If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or a Health Savings Account (HAS) it is often possible to pay your medical bills or insurance premiums with a credit card, and then withdraw funds from these accounts for reimbursement.
9. Donate to Charity Using a Credit Card
Many charities accept credit cards as an alternative to checks and cash. Anytime an organization is asking someone to give away money, it helps to make it convenient for them to do so! If you have a charity to which you would like to give, research the payment options and see if you can pay with a credit card (often through an intermediary such as PayPal).