This question is about signs that people can use when trying to convince others to get a credit card.
The “best cash back credit cards” is a term used to describe the best of the best when it comes to cash back. The cards are also known as “the cream of the crop”.
CNN Underscored assesses the total worth of financial items such as credit cards and bank accounts. If you apply for and are accepted for a card via the LendingTree affiliate network, we may get a commission, but our reporting is always impartial and unbiased. Benefits and offers from American Express are subject to terms. Select American Express perks and offers may require enrollment. To discover more, go to americanexpress.com.
While having a credit card that earns rewards every time you swipe it is vital, a generous credit card sign-up bonus is one of the finest — and quickest — ways to build up a number of travel points and miles right away. From flying down to Disney World to seeing the beaches of Thailand, accumulating incentives from a sign-up bonus is the ideal way to jet out on a fantasy holiday.
However, since offers come and go on a regular basis, it’s critical to know when a credit card is giving a fantastic sign-up bonus. Because many credit card issuers now limit the number of cards you may receive from them — or the number of times you can acquire a card — you’ll want to apply for a credit card while the sign-up bonus is at its highest.
So, how can you figure out which credit card sign-up bonuses are larger than usual right now? We’ve compiled a list of the finest limited-time credit card sign-up bonuses available in January so you can maximize your points or miles when you apply. Get a new credit card with the proper limited-time offer and you’ll be earning points in no time, bringing you closer to that much-needed trip.
Best bonus categories with the Citi Premier® Card American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card: Best for Groceries The American Express Platinum Card® offers the best travel benefits. The United QuestSM Card is the best way to save money on United flights. Best for IHG stays is the IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card. The best business card with no annual charge is the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card. Small companies will benefit from the American Express® Business Gold Card.
Why did we choose these special credit card sign-up bonuses as the best for January? Examine the specifics of each card with us to discover how they compare.
While Citi credit cards aren’t as well-known as Chase and American Express cards, the Citi Premier card is worth considering, particularly today. After spending $4,000 on the card in the first three months after creating the account, new cardholders may receive 80,000 bonus points. On the Citi Premier, that’s the largest bonus we’ve ever seen.
Even once you’ve earned the bonus, the Citi Premier card has a variety of bonus categories, making it simple to keep building up points. You’ll get three points for every dollar spent at petrol stations, restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, and air travel, and one point for every dollar spent elsewhere.
Once you’ve accumulated all of those points, you can exchange them for gift cards or use them to book trips via Citi’s travel site, where each point is worth one penny. However, if you have the time and flexibility, you may maximize your points by moving them to any of Citi’s 17 airline and hotel partners, which now includes both Choice and Wyndham hotels.
Citi ThankYou points are valued at 1.7 cents each by The Points Guy since they may be transferred to Citi’s airline partners. Those 80,000 extra points would be worth $1,360 in travel at that rate.
Plus, if you enjoy how the Citi Premier works, you can extend your Citi ThankYou Rewards experience by combining it with either the Citi® Double Cash Card or the Citi Custom CashSM Card – or both. Although both cards are touted as cash back cards, Citi allows you to convert your cash back into ThankYou points and aggregate them all into one huge prize.
So you can keep all three cards in your wallet and use them where they earn the most points: Citi Premier in bonus areas, Citi Custom Cash in the one qualified category each month where you spend the most money, and Citi Double Cash for everything else. It’s a terrific way to rapidly build up a sizable travel rewards balance while simply paying one $95 annual fee for all three cards.
When you apply for the Citi Premier card, you may get 80,000 bonus points by clicking here.
Even if travel becomes more common, you may choose a credit card that allows you to keep your cash in your pocket. That’s where the American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card comes in, as new card holders may now get a $300 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases within the first six months of creating an account.
The card also has a $0 introductory annual cost for the first year, followed by a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees). That means you’ll quickly break even in the first year, and the $3,000 minimum spending requirement is just $500 per month.
The Blue Cash Preferred is also one of the finest cards for grocery shopping, since you’ll get 6% cash back as a statement credit on up to $6,000 in U.S. supermarket purchases every year (then 1 percent ). With the popularity of home-cooked dinners increasing over the previous year, this might mean some big cash back.
With the Blue Cash Preferred, you’ll also get 6% cash back on certain U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit and at U.S. petrol stations, and 1% cash back on all other transactions. The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, on the other hand, may be a better option if you want a card with no annual fee. It has a smaller introductory bonus and gives less cash back, but it may make sense if you don’t spend that much on groceries each year.
To learn more about the Blue Cash Preferred, go here. To discover more about the Blue Cash Everyday, go here.
If you plan on flying often in 2022, the Platinum Card from American Express offers a slew of premium VIP advantages when you travel… Even if you aren’t, there are a few.
New card members can currently earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership, plus a whopping 10 points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the United States for the first six months after opening the account, up to $25,000 in combined purchases.
According to The Points Guy, American Express Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents apiece, making this deal worth up to $2,000, plus any extra points earned from the limited-time 10x bonus categories.
The list of advantages that come with the Amex Platinum card is enormous. However, with a $695 yearly cost (see rates and fees), you’ll want to be sure you’ll be able to take use of those features.
Access to more than 1,300 airport lounges around the globe, including Amex Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), and Priority Pass Select lounges, is one of the card’s most popular features (enrollment required). You’ll also get free Marriott Gold and Hilton Gold elite membership (registration needed), which comes with benefits like room upgrades (when available), complimentary breakfast at participating hotels, bonus points on paid rates, and more.
You’ll also get upgraded to Avis Preferred, National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive, and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards level if you hire vehicles often (enrollment required).
There are also yearly credits to consider. Up to $200 in annual airline incidental fees credits, up to $200 in Uber Cash credits (doled out in $15 monthly portions with $35 in December), up to $240 in annual digital entertainment credits (doled out in $20 monthly portions), up to $179 in annual Clear membership credits, and up to $100 in credits for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue split into $50 increments for each half of the year are all included with the Amex Platinum (enrollment required before using these credits). Every five years you hold the card, you’ll get up to $100 in credit for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck subscription.
Cell phone protection, extended warranty protection, purchase protection, trip cancellation and trip insurance, trip delay insurance, vehicle rental loss and damage insurance, and no international transaction fees (see rates & fees) are all included with the Amex Platinum.
To discover more about American Express’s Platinum Card, go here.
The United Quest Card is a relatively new credit card that came with a significant sign-up bonus. Right now, if you spend $5,000 in the first three months after creating the account, you may get 80,000 extra miles. The Points Guy, a frequent flyer website, rates United miles at 1.13 cents each, making 80,000 points worth $904 in United travel.
Although the United Quest Card has a $250 annual fee, there are a number of perks that may help offset the cost, including up to $125 in statement credits for United purchases made to your card. This is a yearly advantage that you may utilize every 12 months from the day you initially get the card, and if you can use all $125 in credits in a year, you’ll essentially save half the $250 annual charge.
You’ll also receive 5,000 United points back on your first anniversary as a card holder — one year after you were authorized for the card — and every year following that when you redeem your miles on a United- or United Express-operated flight, regardless of the amount of miles redeemed. This mileage reimbursement is available twice a year.
The United Quest Card earns 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 spent on the card, up to 3,000 PQP per year, for individuals pursuing United elite status. While this won’t automatically qualify you for elite status, if you aren’t travelling as much as usual this year, it may be enough to get you there.
Other perks include 3 points per dollar spent on United purchases (after your $125 in annual credits), 2 miles per dollar spent on travel, dining, and select streaming services, up to $100 in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credits, free first and second checked bags for you and a companion traveling on the same reservation, priority boarding, 25% back on United in-flight purchases, and no foreign transaction fees.
When you apply for the United Quest Card, go here to gain 80,000 additional points.
If you’ve been thinking about acquiring the IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card, now is a good time to do it. After spending $3,000 on the card within three months of creating the account, new card applicants may get 125,000 bonus points.
While 150,000 points may seem like a lot, keep in mind that not all travel points are made equal. IHG points are worth 0.5 cents each, thus 125,000 points are worth around $625 in IHG hotel stays, according to The Points Guy.
The sign-up bonus isn’t the only incentive to apply for the IHG Premier, however. If you stay at IHG facilities on a frequent basis, such as Holiday Inn, InterContinental, and Kimpton Hotels, the advantages may be pretty impressive for a card with an annual cost of just $89 after the first year.
For openers, when using points to book an award stay, all IHG Premier cardholders gain complimentary IHG Platinum elite membership and their fourth night is free. So, if you want to book a four-night stay at a hotel that costs 40,000 points a night, you’ll only need 120,000 points.
Another fantastic feature is that beginning with your second year with the card and every year after that, you’ll get a reward night worth up to 40,000 points that you can redeem at any IHG location. Simply using this voucher once a year may easily cover the yearly charge for the card.
When you apply for the IHG Premier card, you may get 125,000 extra points by clicking here.
Chase now has several incredible no-annual-fee business credit card sign-up deals, like the Ink Business Unlimited. New cardholders may now get $750 in extra cash back after spending $7,500 in the first three months. Any other credit card with no annual fee will struggle to compete with this deal.
This card is simple to use: you’ll get 1.5 percent cash back on all transactions, and there are no bonus categories to keep track of. If you’d rather earn travel rewards than cash back, the Ink Business Unlimited gives you that option as well.
If you have a premium Chase Ultimate Rewards card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card, or Ink Business PreferredSM Credit Card, the rewards you earn with the Ink Business Unlimited can be transferred to your premium card and redeemed for travel at a higher rate, or even transferred to one of Chase’s partner loyalty programs for even more value.
Despite the fact that it is a no-annual-fee card, the Ink Business Unlimited offers a number of essential features, including purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and main vehicle rental coverage when renting a car for business. However, you should avoid using this card abroad since you’ll be charged a 3% foreign transaction fee on transactions made outside of the United States.
And this isn’t the only Chase business card with a top-tier sign-up bonus right now. The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card also comes with a $750 extra cash back offer once you spend $7,500 in the first three months of account setup. Because the Ink Business Cash offers multiple bonus categories, the biggest difference between the two cards is the quantity of points you’ll earn on your usual expenditures.
Finally, the Ink Business Preferred offers a generous credit card sign-up bonus – 100,000 extra points after spending $15,000 in the first three months of account setup. This card has a $95 annual charge, but it also has extra features and possibilities to earn points.
When you apply for the Ink Business Unlimited, you may get 75,000 additional points by clicking here. When you apply for the Ink Business Cash, go here to gain 75,000 additional points. When you apply for the Ink Business Preferred, click here to earn 100,000 bonus points.
The American Express Business Gold Card is an interesting card for small firms that don’t have predictable monthly spending, and it now comes with a generous introductory offer of 70,000 extra points once you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases during the first three months of account activation.
These business credit cards provide benefits and might help you get by in a pinch.
With the Amex Business Gold card, you’ll get 4 points per dollar spent on the two specified areas where your company spends the most each month, and those categories will automatically vary each month to reflect your spending. Earning extra points in these chosen areas has a $150,000 yearly maximum, but you’ll still get 1 point per dollar even if you hit the threshold.
The following are the categories in which bonus points may be earned:
- Airline tickets bought straight from the airline
- Gas stations in the United States
- Restaurants in the United States (including take out and delivery)
- Purchases made in the United States for shipment
- Purchases made in the United States for web, television, and radio advertising.
- Purchases of computer gear, software, and cloud systems from a restricted group of technological companies in the United States
Although the Amex Business Gold card has a $295 annual fee (see rates and fees), when you use your points to book flights through American Express Travel, you’ll get 25% of your points back (up to 250,000 points per calendar year) for flights booked with one airline you choose annually, or on any airline when booking business or first class flights.
More information about the American Express Business Gold Card may be found here.
The Blue Cash Preferred card’s rates and fees may be seen here. The Blue Cash Everyday card’s rates and fees may be seen here. The American Express Platinum card’s rates and fees may be seen here. The American Express Business Gold card’s rates and fees may be seen here.
Do you need assistance paying off your credit card debt? Discover which credit cards CNN Underscored selected as the top balance transfer credit cards for 2022.
CNN Underscored Money has the most up-to-date personal financial offers, news, and advice.
Watch This Video-
The “best credit card sign-up bonus 2021” is a sign that is placed in the window of a business. It will show what type of credit cards are accepted and at what rates.
Related Tags
- credit card sign-up bonus 2021
- best credit cards 2021
- credit cards with sign-up bonus
- best credit card offers
- best sign-up bonus credit card no annual fee
