Earning a sign up bonus is one of the best parts about getting a new credit card. Chase offers some of the most lucrative sign up bonuses on the market, with some cards offering bonuses worth $500 or more. However, you can’t use those points or cash back until the bonus actually posted to your account. So when does a Chase sign up bonus post?
The short answer is that Chase sign up bonuses typically post within 12-16 weeks after you meet the minimum spending requirement. However, the exact timing depends on the specific card. Below we’ll take a detailed look at when you can expect to see your Chase sign up bonus post for popular cards like the Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, Ink Business cards, Southwest cards, and more.
How Sign Up Bonus Posting Works
Before we dive into the timing for specific Chase cards, let’s quickly cover the general process for sign-up bonus posting:
- You’re approved for a new credit card and meet the minimum spending requirement within the required timeframe (usually 3 months).
- The bonus is not immediately awarded when you meet the spending threshold. Instead, it goes into a pending status.
- The bank reviews your account to confirm you met all the requirements fairly and legitimately. This review period is why it takes a few extra weeks to post.
- Once approved, the bank releases the bonus and it is posted to your account.
So in summary, you need to 1) get approved for the card, 2) meet the spending requirement, 3) wait for the review period to end, and finally 4) receive the bonus. With Chase cards, this full process typically spans 3-4 months.
Now let’s take a look at the specific posting timelines for Chase’s most popular credit card bonuses.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Sign Up Bonus Timing
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the most popular travel rewards cards. It earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points and currently offers a signup bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.
Based on reports from real users, the Sapphire Preferred sign-up bonus typically posts 12-16 weeks after meeting the minimum spend. Some people have reported getting the bonus as soon as 8 weeks after hitting the spending requirement, but that is less common.
So if you meet the minimum spend right away, you can generally expect the 60,000 point Sapphire Preferred bonus around 3-4 months from your card approval date.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Sign Up Bonus Timing
The premium Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers a higher, 100,000-point sign-up bonus for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.
The Sapphire Reserve bonus timeline follows the same general pace as the Sapphire Preferred. Most users report seeing the 100,000-point payout 12-16 weeks after finishing the minimum spend.
An important note is that the annual fee of $550 is also posted at the end of the first statement period. So be prepared to pay that fee once your bonus points are posted.
Chase Ink Business Cards Sign Up Bonus Timing
Chase has several Ink Business credit cards that come with lucrative welcome offers:
- Ink Business Preferred – 100,000 points for spending $15,000 in 3 months
- Ink Business Cash – $750 bonus for spending $7,500 in 3 months
- Ink Business Unlimited – $750 bonus for spending $7,500 in 3 months
These cards follow the standard Chase timeline, with most users reporting the bonus 8-12 weeks after meeting minimum spend requirements.
Some business card users have reported seeing bonuses posted in as little as 6 weeks. But 12 weeks is more typical, especially if you receive the bonus towards the slower end of the range.
Chase Southwest Cards Sign Up Bonus Timing
The Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards from Chase come with sign up bonuses in the form of Southwest points. The offers include:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card – 60,000 points for spending $2,000 in 3 months
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card – 60,000 points for spending $2,000 in 3 months
These Southwest points bonuses generally post 8-12 weeks after completing the minimum spend.
Southwest bonuses seem to post at the quicker end of Chase’s typical timeline. Some users report getting the points just 6 weeks after meeting requirements. But build some buffer room into your plans, as it may take up to 12 weeks.
Chase Freedom Card Sign Up Bonus Timing
The Chase Freedom cards offer cash-back bonuses instead of points:
- Chase Freedom Flex – $200 for spending $500 in 3 months
- Chase Freedom Unlimited – $200 for spending $500 in 3 months
These $200 cash bonuses tend to post 8-12 weeks after finishing your $500 minimum spending requirement.
Some Freedom cardholders have reported seeing their bonus cash back post after 6 weeks. But most should expect it at the full 8-12 week timeline.
Chase Hotel Cards Sign Up Bonus Timing
Chase issues several co-branded hotel credit cards, including popular options like:
- IHG Rewards Club Premier Card – 140,000 points for spending $3,000 in 3 months
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card – 3 Free Nights for spending $3,000 in 3 months
- World of Hyatt Card – 50,000 points for spending $3,000 in 3 months
The good news is these hotel card bonuses tend to post more quickly than Chase’s other cards. Most users report seeing their points posted 6-8 weeks after finishing the minimum spend.
So if you complete the bonus spending right away, expect your Chase hotel card sign-up bonus potentially 1-2 months faster than other options.
Tips for Getting Your Chase Bonus Faster
While Chase’s 12-16 week timeframe is typical, there are some things you can try to nudge your bonus to post faster:
- Call and ask nicely – Politely calling customer service and requesting they review your bonus can sometimes expedite the process. Just don’t be too pushy.
- Meet the spending ASAP – Try to complete the minimum spending requirement within the first 1-2 statement cycles. The sooner you finish, the sooner your bonus can be posted.
- Avoid account errors – Try not to trigger any fraud alerts or account issues that may cause a review and slow things down. Make normal purchases you can afford.
- Get other bonuses first – If you opened multiple cards, consider working on spending for the ones that post bonuses faster first. Then move to ones that take longer like Sapphire cards.
While frustrating, remember that Chase’s 12+ week timeframe is there to combat fraud and people gaming the system. If you follow the rules, be patient, and use the tips above, you’ll get your points eventually!
Does Chase Post Sign Up Bonuses at the Same Time?
If you open multiple Chase cards at once, you may be wondering if the bonuses are posted separately or all at the same time.
The answer is that Chase generally staggers bonus posting across your different new cards.
For example, say you open Sapphire Preferred, Ink Cash, and Southwest Premier all on the same day. Looking at their standard timelines, you can see:
- Southwest bonus posts at 8 weeks
- Ink Cash bonus posts at 10 weeks
- Sapphire Preferred bonus posts at 14 weeks
Rather than all posting simultaneously, Chase tends to evaluate each card on its own timeline. Just because one bonus hits doesn’t mean the others will too.
That said, if you complete spending at different times across cards, it can shift when each individual bonus posts. But within a given card’s rules, Chase doesn’t seem to deliberately post new account bonuses all at once or in a specific cross-card order.
Does Spending Impact When Your Bonus Posts?
A logical question is whether how quickly you complete the minimum spending also impacts your bonus posts. The short answer is sometimes, but not always.
In many cases, finishing your spending faster means your bonus can be posted sooner, but is not guaranteed. Chase initiates the account review after your statement period where you complete the spending.
Even if you meet the requirement right away, Chase may still hold the bonus until later in its standard 12-16-week window. But in some cases, quick spending does equate to faster bonus posting.
The lesson is to try to complete your minimum spend as fast as possible, but don’t expect it will automatically expedite your bonus. The review process is still the biggest factor, but fast spending can help nudge it along.
Does the Calendar Month or Statement Date Matter for Bonus Timing?
Related to spending, some new cardholders wonder if when their statement closes impacts bonus timing, such as finishing spend before the end of a calendar month.
The short answer is that when your statement period ends likely does not directly influence your bonus posts. Chase goes by when you actually complete the spending threshold, not statement closing dates.
That said, by front-loading spend early in a statement period, you can potentially end the statement where you meet the requirement a bit sooner. This gives Chase the green light to initiate review quicker than if you spread out spending.
So while your statement closing date itself probably doesn’t impact bonus timing, finishing spend faster by piling it into one statement can help move the process along by getting to the review period sooner.
How Soon Can You Receive Another Chase Sign Up Bonus?
Many credit card users open multiple Chase cards over time to earn multiple welcome bonuses. However, you can’t get a new Chase bonus too frequently. How soon can you get another Chase sign-up offer after receiving your last one?
The general rule is that you need to wait 24 months after opening a Chase card before you can qualify for another bonus on that same card. This is referred to as the “24-month rule.”
For example, if you open a Chase Sapphire Preferred and earn the bonus today, you need to wait 24 months before opening a new Sapphire Preferred and receiving another signup bonus.
But for other Chase cards, the restriction is shorter:
- 48-month rule for getting another bonus on a co-branded Southwest Airlines card
- 24-month rule for getting another bonus on a co-branded United Airlines card
- 24-month rule for getting another bonus on a hotel co-branded card like IHG, Marriott, Hyatt, etc.
- 24-month rule for getting another bonus on a Chase business Ink card
So you need to plan your Chase applications carefully and time opening new cards to align with when you last received that card’s particular bonus. The 24 or 48-month timer starts when you open an account and receive your first bonus.
Does Changing or Upgrading a Card Impact Bonus Timing?
Some Chase cardholders choose to upgrade or downgrade their card to a different product after getting the bonus. For example, upgrading from a Chase Sapphire Preferred to Reserve. Does this reset the timeline for receiving another new card bonus?
The answer is no, changing to a different Chase card does not restart the bonus eligibility clock. Upgrading or downgrading is not considered “opening” a new account.
Even after an upgrade, Chase keeps your original card open date on record. So you are still bound to the standard 24/48 month restrictions before getting that card’s bonus again.
Product changing does not enable you to bypass Chase’s rules and get a new card bonus sooner. You need to follow the set timeline based on when you first opened the account (not the upgrade date).
Chase Application Restrictions
Speaking of card restrictions, it’s important to be aware of Chase’s application rules as you seek new bonuses:
- Chase has a soft “5/24 rule” to limit total new account openings across banks. If you have opened 5+ total credit cards in the past 24 months, Chase may deny additional applications.
- You can only earn one Chase bonus on a new application. You cannot get multiple bonuses from a single card application.
- Chase may restrict your eligibility if you have opened more than 2-3 of their cards in recent months due to internal limits.
- Applying for multiple Chase consumer cards on the same day will combine hard pulls on your credit. Separate business apps into different days.
The key is to stay under Chase’s radar by meeting spending organically, not opening too many total new accounts, and strategically timing applications. This helps ensure your bonuses post smoothly and you remain eligible for more Chase cards in the future.
What to Do if Your Bonus Is Delayed or Missing
Despite your best efforts, sometimes Chase sign-up bonuses simply take longer than the typical posting timeline. If your points or statement credit are delayed:
- Wait 1-2 more statement periods – Give it another billing cycle or two before worrying too much. Delays happen.
- Check your account activity – Log in to your Chase account and verify if the points/cash are posted without you realizing it.
- Call customer service – Politely ask a rep to review your account and bonus status. See if they can identify any issues.
- Send secure message – You can also message Chase through your online account. This documents your inquiry in writing.
- File CFPB complaint – If Chase is unable to resolve the issue, you can contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to escalate.
If there’s an error or delay, Chase ultimately wants to make it right. Work with them to figure out what’s going on. Be persistent yet polite, and you’ll likely get your sign-up bonus eventually.
When Does the Chase Sign-Up Bonus Post If You Cancel?
A final common question is whether you still get the signup bonus if you cancel the card before it posts. Here’s what happens in that scenario:
If you cancel the card within 12 months, you forfeit and lose the new account sign-up bonus entirely – even if it has already been posted.
Chase clawback bonuses if you do not keep the card open for a full year after earning the bonus.
So you need to keep the account open for at least 12 months to be safe and retain your bonus. Only close a Chase card once you are past the 12-month mark.
That said, you have some protections if Chase is the one to close the account, like if they cancel due to inactivity. In those cases, you generally can still keep your bonus even if it is within the first year. Just don’t voluntarily close the card yourself until after your first cardmember anniversary.
The Bottom Line
While the waiting period can feel painfully long, rest assured that your new account sign up bonus from Chase will post eventually if you meet all the requirements.
From Chase Sapphire and Ink cards to Southwest Airlines and hotel rewards cards, most bonuses post 12-16 weeks after finishing your minimum spend.
Avoid account issues, politely follow up if needed, and be sure to keep your card open 12+ months. Stick to Chase’s rules and terms, and you’ll enjoy your points and cash back rewards soon enough.
Now focus on putting your shiny new Chase card to good use!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When will the Chase Sapphire Preferred bonus post?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred sign up bonus posts 12-16 weeks after you complete the minimum spend requirement, which is $4,000 in 3 months.
When will the Chase Sapphire Reserve bonus post?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve posts its 100,000 point bonus around 12-16 weeks after finishing the required $4,000 spend in the first 3 months.
How long after getting a Chase Southwest card does the bonus post?
Southwest cards tend to post bonuses quicker than other Chase cards, often around 8-12 weeks after you meet the spending requirement.
How long does it take for the Chase Freedom bonus to post?
Expect the $200 cash back bonus on the Chase Freedom cards around 8-12 weeks after completing the $500 minimum spending requirement.
When do Chase business card bonuses post?
Ink business card bonuses generally post 8-12 weeks after you finish the minimum spend. Faster than Sapphire cards.
Can you get the Chase bonus if you upgrade your card?
No, upgrading or downgrading does not make you eligible for the bonus again. You must wait 24-48 months before earning another bonus on the same card.
Do Chase bonuses post separately if you open multiple cards?
Yes, Chase tends to stagger bonuses across your new accounts rather than posting them simultaneously. Each card has its own timeline.
What if my Chase bonus is delayed significantly?
If your bonus is severely delayed, contact Chase and politely ask them to review. You can also file a complaint with the CFPB to escalate if needed.
When can I apply for another Chase card bonus after earning one?
You need to wait 24 months after opening most Chase cards before getting approved for another bonus on the same card. Southwest cards require 48 months between bonuses.
Conclusion
We hope this comprehensive guide clarifies when you can expect to receive your sign up bonus after getting approved for a Chase credit card. While Chase’s 12-16 week timeframe may seem slow, take comfort knowing your points or cash back are coming. Manage your account carefully, be patient, and you’ll earn the full bonus you deserve.