Credit card issuers often provide incentives for new cardholders. Those benefits can sometimes extend to existing cardholders who refer their friends and family members to apply for a credit card. If you have a credit card you love, check to see if your card offers a referral bonus before recommending it to others.
Find the Best Credit Cards for 2024
No single credit card is the best option for every family, every purchase or every budget. We've picked the best credit cards in a way designed to be the most helpful to the widest variety of readers.
What Is a Credit Card Referral Bonus?
A credit card referral bonus is a reward that credit card issuers offer to existing cardholders who invite friends and family members to apply for a specific credit card. To receive the bonus, you typically must provide a unique referral link or code, and the person you refer must be approved for the card.
Depending on the card, you may get between $50 and $500 in value as cash back, points or miles. There’s typically a limit on how much you can earn in referral bonuses each year. However, it’s not uncommon for card issuers to periodically adjust their referral bonuses and allow you to earn more during promotional periods.
Current Referral Bonuses
Here’s a list of the current referral bonuses you can expect from the major credit card issuers, broken down by each card.
American Express
Most American Express referral bonuses require you to log in to your account. Once you’re logged in, navigate to the card’s home page and your referral offer for that card should be at the top of your other Amex Offers. Annual limits are occasionally raised for targeted cardholders.
| Credit Card | Referral Bonus | Annual Limit |
|---|---|---|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
7,500 to 12,500 points
|
55,000 points
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
10,000 to 15,000 points
|
55,000 points
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
$75
|
$550
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
$100
|
$550
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
$100
|
$550
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
7,500 points
|
55,000 points
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
Up to 30,000 points
|
100,000 points
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
Up to 45,000 points
|
55,000 points
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
$100
|
$550
|
|
10,000 to 15,000 points
|
55,000 points
|
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
7,500 points
|
55,000 points
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
20,000 to 25,000 points
|
55,000 points
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
15,000 to 20,000 points
|
55,000 points
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
$100
|
$550.00
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
$100
|
$550.00
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
5,000 miles
|
55,000 miles
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
5,000 miles
|
55,000 miles
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
10,000 miles
|
55,000 miles
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
15,000 miles
|
55,000 miles
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
7,500 miles
|
55,000 miles
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
10,000 miles
|
55,000 miles
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
15,000 miles
|
55,000 miles
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
20,000 points
|
55,000 points
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
20,000 points
|
55,000 points
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
20,000 points
|
55,000 points
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
20,000 points
|
55,000 points
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
15,000 to 20,000 points
|
55,000 points
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
15,000 to 20,000 points
|
55,000 points
|
|
(Terms Apply)
|
15,000 to 20,000 points
|
55,000 points
|
Bank of America
Bank of America does not offer referral bonuses to its credit cardholders.
Capital One
Capital One also requires a login to see referral offers. Once logged in, you should see a link to a referral page on your home page.
| Credit Card | Referral Bonus | Annual Limit |
|---|---|---|
|
10,000 to 20,000 miles
|
50,000 miles
|
|
|
10,000 to 20,000 miles
|
50,000 miles
|
|
|
25,000 miles
|
100,000 miles
|
|
|
$150
|
$500
|
|
|
$100
|
$500
|
|
|
$100
|
$500
|
|
|
$100
|
$500
|
|
|
$100
|
$500
|
|
|
$100
|
$500
|
|
|
$100
|
$500
|
|
|
10,000 to 20,000 miles
|
50,000 miles
|
|
|
10,000 to 20,000 miles
|
50,000 miles
|
Chase
| Credit Card | Referral Bonus | Annual Limit |
|---|---|---|
|
$50
|
500 | |
|
$50
|
500 | |
|
10,000 points
|
75,000 points
|
|
|
10,000 points
|
50,000 points
|
|
|
40,000 points
|
200,000 points
|
|
|
40,000 points
|
200,000 points
|
|
|
40,000 points
|
200,000 points
|
|
|
40,000 points
|
200,000 points
|
|
|
20,000 points
|
100,000 points
|
|
|
20,000 points
|
100,000 points
|
|
|
20,000 points
|
100,000 points
|
|
|
20,000 points
|
100,000 points
|
|
|
20,000 points
|
100,000 points
|
|
|
10,000 miles
|
100,000 miles
|
|
|
10,000 miles
|
100,000 miles
|
|
|
10,000 miles
|
100,000 miles
|
|
|
10,000 miles
|
100,000 miles
|
|
|
10,000 miles
|
100,000 miles
|
|
|
5,000 points
|
25,000 points
|
|
|
40,000 points
|
200,000 points
|
|
|
40,000 points
|
200,000 points
|
|
|
10,000 points
|
50,000 points
|
|
|
10,000 points
|
50,000 points
|
|
|
10,000 Avios
|
50,000 Avios
|
|
|
100 Disney Reward Dollars
|
500 Disney Reward Dollars
|
|
|
100 Disney Reward Dollars
|
500 Disney Reward Dollars
|
Citi
Citi doesn’t have a standing referral bonus program but may, at times, send offers to select cardholders.
Discover
Discover offers a referral bonus on all of its credit cards in the form of a statement credit, except for the Discover it® Secured Credit Card. The card issuer requires you to log in to see which bonus you’re eligible to receive. You can earn up to $500 in referral bonuses per year.
U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank does not currently offer a public referral bonus program.
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo does not currently offer a public referral bonus program.
Referral Bonus History
Credit card issuers may update their referral bonuses from time to time or provide limited-time offers that you can take advantage of. While there’s no way of knowing if and when a referral bonus will increase, taking a look at the history of referral bonuses can give you a clue of what you might be able to expect.
American Express
| Credit Card | Best Referral Bonus |
|---|---|
|
Amex EveryDay® Credit Card*
|
15,000 points
|
|
Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card*
|
15,000 points
|
|
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
|
$125
|
|
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
|
$100
|
|
American Express Cash Magnet® Card*
|
$100
|
|
American Express® Green Card*
|
7,500 points
|
|
American Express® Gold Card
|
35,000 points
|
|
The Platinum Card® from American Express
|
45,000 points
|
|
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
|
$100
|
|
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
|
15,000 points
|
|
Business Green Rewards Card from American Express*
|
7,500 points
|
|
American Express® Business Gold Card
|
25,000 points
|
|
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
|
20,000 points
|
|
Amazon Business American Express Card*
|
$100
|
|
Amazon Business Prime American Express Card*
|
$100
|
|
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
|
5,000 miles
|
|
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
|
5,000 miles
|
|
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
|
10,000 miles
|
|
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
|
15,000 miles
|
|
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
|
7,500 miles
|
|
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
|
10,000 miles
|
|
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
|
15,000 miles
|
|
Hilton Honors American Express Card
|
20,000 points
|
|
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
|
20,000 points
|
|
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express*
|
20,000 points
|
|
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
|
20,000 points
|
|
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
|
20,000 points
|
|
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
|
20,000 points
|
|
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
|
20,000 points
|
Capital One
| Credit Card | Best Referral Bonus |
|---|---|
|
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
|
20,000 miles
|
|
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
|
20,000 miles
|
|
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
|
25,000 miles
|
|
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
|
$150
|
|
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
|
$100
|
|
Savor Rewards Credit Card*
|
$100
|
|
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
|
$100
|
|
Capital One Spark Cash Plus*
|
$100
|
|
Spark Cash Select from Capital One*
|
$100
|
|
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business*
|
$100
|
|
Capital One Spark Miles for Business*
|
20,000 miles
|
|
Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business*
|
20,000 miles
|
Chase
| Credit Card | Best Referral Bonus |
|---|---|
|
Chase Freedom Flex℠
|
$100
|
|
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
|
$100
|
|
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
|
20,000 points
|
|
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
|
10,000 points
|
|
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
|
40,000 points
|
|
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
|
40,000 points
|
|
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
|
40,000 points
|
|
Ink Business Premier® Credit Card
|
40,000 points
|
|
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
|
20,000 points
|
|
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card*
|
20,000 points
|
|
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
|
20,000 points
|
|
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
|
20,000 points
|
|
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
|
20,000 points
|
|
UnitedSM TravelBank Card
|
20,000 miles
|
|
United℠ Explorer Card
|
20,000 miles
|
|
United Quest℠ Card
|
20,000 miles
|
|
United Club℠ Infinite Card
|
20,000 miles
|
|
United℠ Business Card
|
20,000 miles
|
|
United Club℠ Business card*
|
20,000 miles
|
|
The World of Hyatt Credit Card
|
5,000 points
|
|
World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
|
5,000 points
|
|
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card*
|
40,000 points
|
|
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card*
|
40,000 points
|
|
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
|
10,000 points
|
|
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
|
10,000 points
|
|
British Airways Visa Signature® Card
|
10,000 Avios
|
|
Disney® Visa® Card*
|
100 Disney Reward Dollars
|
|
Disney® Premier Visa® Card*
|
100 Disney Reward Dollars
|
Citi
In the past, Citi has sent targeted referral bonus offers on the following credit cards:
| Credit Card | Best Referral Bonus |
|---|---|
|
10,000 points
|
|
|
10,000 miles
|
|
|
$100
|
Discover
In the past, Discover matched referral bonuses cardholders received during their first year as part of its cashback match program. However, that ended in 2018.
Find the Best Credit Cards for 2024
No single credit card is the best option for every family, every purchase or every budget. We've picked the best credit cards in a way designed to be the most helpful to the widest variety of readers.
Bottom Line
If you have a credit card with a card issuer that offers referral bonuses, it pays to share with your friends and family members. To check your current offer, log in to your online account or visit your card issuer’s dedicated referral page to find out what’s available.
Depending on the card issuer, you may also be able to give the person you’re referring a higher welcome bonus than what’s publicly available.
*The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor: Amex EveryDay® Credit Card, Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card, American Express Cash Magnet® Card, American Express® Green Card, Business Green Rewards Card from American Express, Amazon Business American Express Card, Amazon Business Prime American Express Card, Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express, Savor Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Spark Cash Plus, Spark Cash Select from Capital One, Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business, Capital One Spark Miles for Business, Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, United Club℠ Business card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Disney® Visa® Card, Disney® Premier Visa® Card, Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
