If you’ve got a big purchase or purchases coming up due to your wedding, furniture buying, medical bills, etc., the big welcome bonuses on these cards will give you the greatest reward on that large spend. While many of these cards have modest annual fees, the upfront bonus makes them worth it in our opinion, even when you hold the card for multiple years:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – NEW CARDHOLDER BONUS OPPORTUNITY: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. (Worth $750 in travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.)
Other Reasons To Like This Card: This $95 annual fee card recently beefed up its rewards (including 3 points per dollar on dining purchases and 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®), making it even more attractive as an everyday credit card as well. Even better, though, is when you employ it as the foundation of a larger strategy of obtaining multiple Chase cards and combining points to redeem at a 25% premium through Chase’s travel booking site (or to get access to Chase travel transfer partners including United, Southwest, Hyatt, Marriott and more).
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – EARLY SPEND BONUS: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases with the card within the first 3 months from account opening. (Worth $750 in travel at the very least.)
Other Reasons To Like This Card: Earn unlimited 2 miles per dollar on every purchase (but 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel), and use those miles to pay for travel or even transfer them into the loyalty programs of Capital One travel partners. Other perks include a credit toward your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application (up to $100 when paid with the card), Hertz Five Star status, no foreign transaction fees on purchases outside of the United States and more. $95 annual fee.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card – NEW CARDHOLDER BONUS OPPORTUNITY: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. (We estimate those 70,000 miles being worth at least $700 in Delta flights.)
This is maybe Delta’s most popular credit card because it offers generous rewards with a modest annual fee (actually a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99). Earn 2X Delta SkyMiles per dollar at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets, 2X miles on purchases made directly with Delta, 1X on all other purchases. Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. American Express is a ProudMoney advertiser.
Hilton Honors American Express Card – NEW CARDHOLDER BONUS OPPORTUNITY: Earn 100,000 Hilton points after you spend $2,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership. (We estimate those points to be worth at least $400 in Hilton stays.) No Annual Fee on this card.
Also, earn 7X points for eligible purchases at hotel and resorts in the Hilton portfolio, 5x points at U.S. restaurants, 5X points at U.S. supermarkets, 5X points at U.S. gas stations, and 3X points on other eligible purchases. In addition, complimentary Hilton Honors Silver Status, no foreign transaction fees, and more. See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. American Express is a ProudMoney advertiser.
Citi Premier® Card – NEW CARDHOLDER WELCOME BONUS OPPORTUNITY: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. (Those 60,000 points have a value of at least $600 in most cases. Compare that to the relatively modest $95 annual fee as well as strong everyday rewards.)
Other Reasons To Like This Card: 3% cash back on a ton of purchases PLUS a HUGE bonus opportunity! Earn: 3X/3% cash back at gas stations, PLUS 3X restaurants PLUS 3X supermarkets PLUS 3X air travel and hotels, and 1% on any other purchases. Annual fee: $95.
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card – NEW CARDHOLDER WELCOME BONUS OPPORTUNITY: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.
Other Reasons To Like This Card: No-brainer opportunity to earn 5% cash back in the everyday category you shop most each month, with no annual fee! EARN: 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter and on all other purchases. The 5% eligible categories are: Restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, live entertainment.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card – NEW CARDHOLDER BONUS OPPORTUNITY: Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening. No Annual Fee!
Other Reasons To Like This Card: High reward opportunities (as high as 5%) on common small business categories, big new cardholder bonus opportunity. EARN: 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Author: Adam Jusko