A sign-up bonus, also called a welcome offer, is the reward a bank promises for opening a card and using it. It is the most visible part of card marketing, and the least understood. The headline number is only half the offer.
How an offer works
- 1
Apply
- 2
Get approved
- 3
Card arrives
- 4
Spend the required amount
- 5
Bonus posts
The terms tell you three things: how much you must spend, how long you have, and what you get. A typical window is a few months from account opening.
Day 0
Account opens
The clock starts when the account opens, not when the card arrives.
Month 3
The spend window ends
Spend must be complete by then. Purchases only count once they post.
Weeks later
The bonus is paid
Banks often credit the bonus one to two statements after you qualify.
What "required spend" really means
- Minimum spend
- The amount of eligible purchases you must make in the window. Cash advances, balance transfers and fees usually do not count.
- Window
- The number of days after opening in which the spend must happen. Missing the window means no bonus.
- Eligibility
- Who may receive the offer. Many banks exclude people who recently held the same card or earned its bonus.
- Annual fee
- A yearly charge for the card. Weigh it against the bonus and the rewards you will really use.
Is an offer worth it?
Worth taking when
- The required spend is what you would spend in that time anyway
- You pay the statement in full every month
- The card's regular rewards and fee suit you after the bonus ends
Better to skip when
- You would have to buy things you do not need to reach the spend
- You carry a balance, so interest would outweigh the bonus
- You plan to take a mortgage or car loan very soon
Questions to ask before you apply
What exactly counts toward the minimum spend, and what is excluded?
When does the window start and end, and how do I track my progress?
How long after qualifying does the bonus post?
Am I eligible, given the cards I have held before?
Will I still want this card after the first year?
If you cannot answer all five from the terms, wait until you can.
Questions people ask
Can I get the same bonus again?
Often not. Many offers are limited to people who have not held, or earned a bonus on, that card within a stated period. The rule sits in the offer terms, so read it before you apply.
Does the application affect my credit?
Applying usually creates a hard inquiry, and a new account lowers the average age of your accounts. Both effects are small and fade, but plan applications around any large loan you expect to apply for.
Sources
Written from these pages and checked against them on October 5, 2026. Programs and rules change, so check the provider’s current terms before you decide.
General information, not financial, legal or travel advice. Your own card terms and the provider’s current rules always come first.