What is a good referral bonus?

A good referral bonus is anything where you can get extra rewards or cash-back for your referral. That said, if you can get 10,000 to 30,000 points, you’re in great shape. That’s roughly equivalent to $100 or $300 cash-back, depending on which credit card you have.

Do referrals help credit card approval?

Referrals generally do not help credit card approval. An applicant is typically subject to the same credit card application and approval criteria regardless of whether a referral link was used.

What is a referral bonus on a credit card?

A credit card referral bonus is an incentive offered by a credit card issuer to an existing cardmember to encourage them to refer friends and family to become cardmembers.

Does Citi offer referral bonuses?

Citi doesn’t usually offer a referral bonus for its credit cards. However, it may, from time to time, offer targeted invitations over email to earn referral bonuses. These are not publicly available, and it’s not clear how Citi decides who to target for these promotions.

Who offers referral bonuses?

The best credit card referral bonuses come from Amex and Chase. However, other banks, including Bank of America, Capital One, and Citi, may also offer referral bonuses for select credit cards.

Does Chase offer referral bonuses?

Chase offers excellent referral bonuses on most of its credit cards, including its co-branded products and the Sapphire and Ink card families.

Does Bank of America have a credit card referral bonus?

Bank of America has a new refer-a-friend program, offering $100 per successful referral, up to $500 annually.

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Credit Cards

The 60+ Best Credit Card Referral Bonuses [2026]

Updated: October 4, 2026, 2:21pm CDT

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Table of Contents

What Is a Credit Card Referral Bonus?
Current Referral Bonuses
Final Thoughts

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Credit card welcome offers, everyday spending, and shopping portals are common ways to earn points and miles. Referring friends or family to credit cards can offer another opportunity. However, this approach can be surprisingly involved, thanks to policies and referral structures that differ from bank to bank.

This guide explains how to maximize credit card referral bonuses and what referral bonuses you can expect from each card.

What Is a Credit Card Referral Bonus?

A credit card referral bonus is a reward that credit card issuers offer to cardmembers who invite their friends, family, and colleagues to open a card. These are not to be confused with credit card welcome offers, which new cardholders can earn after opening a credit card and completing minimum spending requirements.

Usually, referral bonuses are awarded in points, miles, or cash-back. For example, a referral bonus might be 15,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points, 10,000 Delta SkyMiles, or $100 cash-back.

You generally only earn a referral bonus if the person you refer is approved for the credit card. If the person you refer is denied, you do not earn a referral bonus.

Current Referral Bonuses

These are the referral bonuses available now.

American Express

With American Express, you can earn a referral bonus on any card your friend is approved for, not just the card product you referred from. For example, you can earn a referral bonus if you refer your friends from your Platinum Card^® from American Express account and they’re approved for the American Express^® Gold Card. You’d earn the Amex Platinum card’s referral bonus, and they could earn the Amex Gold card welcome offer.

Hot Tip:

Check out our complete guide to the American Express Refer a Friend program.

Amex referral bonuses have become more personalized and can vary by card and account holder.

The amounts shown below reflect current offers found by the Upgraded Points team and may not be available to every cardmember. Annual maximums may vary because American Express instituted a 5-referral maximum per card. Your annual maximum depends on which cards you have and your specific referral offer.

Here’s a look at current and historically high bonuses for popular Amex cards:

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Amex Card Product	Referral Bonus	Annual Maximum	Highest-Ever Offer
The American Express Blue Business Cash^® Card	$100	Up to 5 referrals	$100
American Express^® Business Gold Card	20,000 to 25,000 points	Up to 5 referrals	20,000 to 25,000 points
American Express^® Gold Card	Up to 40,000 points	Up to 5 referrals	40,000 points
American Express Platinum Card^® for Schwab*	$100	Up to 5 referrals	$100
The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express	10,000 to 15,000 points	Up to 5 referrals	10,000 to 15,000 points
Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express	Up to $175	Up to 5 referrals	$175
Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express	$100	Up to 5 referrals	$100
Business Green Rewards Card from American Express	7,500 points	Up to 5 referrals	7,500 points
The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express	15,000 to 20,000 points	Up to 5 referrals	15,000 to 20,000 points
Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card*	5,000 SkyMiles	Up to 5 referrals	5,000 SkyMiles
Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card	5,000 SkyMiles	Up to 5 referrals	5,000 SkyMiles
Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card	7,500 SkyMiles	Up to 5 referrals	7,500 SkyMiles
Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card	10,000 SkyMiles	Up to 5 referrals	10,000 SkyMiles
Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card	10,000 SkyMiles	Up to 5 referrals	10,000 SkyMiles
Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card	15,000 SkyMiles	Up to 5 referrals	15,000 SkyMiles
Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card	15,000 SkyMiles	Up to 5 referrals	15,000 SkyMiles
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card	20,000 points	Up to 5 referrals	20,000 points
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card	20,000 points	Up to 5 referrals	20,000 points
Hilton Honors American Express Card	20,000 points	Up to 5 referrals	20,000 points
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card	20,000 points	Up to 5 referrals	20,000 points
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card	15,000 to 20,000 points	Up to 5 referrals	15,000 to 20,000 points
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card	15,000 to 20,000 points	Up to 5 referrals	15,000 to 20,000 points
Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card	Up to 20,000 points	Up to 5 referrals	Up to 20,000 points
Morgan Stanley Blue Cash Preferred^® American Express Card*	$100	Up to 5 referrals	$100
Platinum Card^® from American Express	Up to 45,000 points	Up to 5 referrals	45,000 points
The Platinum Card^® from American Express Exclusively for Goldman Sachs*	$100	Up to 5 referrals	$100
The Platinum Card^® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley*	$100	Up to 5 referrals	$100

*All information about these cards has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

Bank of America

Bank of America launched a targeted refer-a-friend program in 2026. Not all cardholders have access, and the bank doesn’t publish any eligibility criteria. Across eligible cards, the bonus offers $100 per approved referral, with a maximum of 5 referrals per calendar year, for a total of $500.

To find out if you’re eligible, log in to your Bank of America account on the bank’s website or mobile app. If you’re targeted, you’ll see a referral link in your account that’s ready to use.

Here’s a look at the currently eligible cards along with their current and highest-ever offers:

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Bank of America Card Product	Referral Bonus	Annual Maximum	Highest-Ever Offer
Bank of America^® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card	$100	$500	$100
Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card	$100	$500	$100
Bank of America^® Travel Rewards Credit Card	$100	$500	$100
BankAmericard^® Credit Card	$100	$500	$100

Capital One

Capital One cardholders are eligible to earn referral bonuses, but you can only receive a referral bonus if the person you refer is approved for the same product you have. Capital One offers cash-back referral bonuses on cash-back credit cards and miles referral bonuses on Capital One miles credit cards.

Most of the major Capital One card products are eligible for referral bonuses, but store cards and other co-branded products are not.

Here is the complete list of Capital One referral bonuses, including the historical highs for the selected cards:

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Capital One Card Product	Referral Bonus	Annual Maximum	Highest-Ever Offer
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit CardInformation collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.	$150	$500	$150
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit CardInformation collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.	$100	$500	$100
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit CardInformation collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.	$100	$500	$100
Capital One Spark Cash Plus CardInformation collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.	$100	$500	$100
Capital One Spark Cash SelectInformation collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.	$100	$500	$100
Capital One Spark Classic for BusinessInformation collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.	$100	$500	$100
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card	10,000 to 20,000 miles	50,000 miles	10,000 to 20,000 miles (targeted)
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card	10,000 to 30,000 miles	100,000 miles*	10,000 to 30,000 miles
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardInformation collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.	10,000 to 20,000 miles	50,000 miles	10,000 to 20,000 miles (targeted)

*The annual maximum may vary by cardholder.

Chase

Chase referral bonuses may change from time to time, but they do not target specific customers with higher bonus offers. Chase customers can earn a referral bonus when a friend is approved for a product in the same card family. For example, if you have the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card and you refer a friend who gets the Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card, you can earn a referral bonus.

Here’s what the Chase referral offers look like:

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Chase Card Product	Referral Bonus	Annual Maximum	Highest-Ever Offer
British Airways Visa Signature^® Card	N/A	N/A	10,000 Avios
Chase Freedom Flex^®	$50	$500	$50
Chase Freedom Unlimited^®	$50	$500	$50
Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card	15,000 points	100,000 points	20,000 points
Chase Sapphire Reserve^®	15,000 points	100,000 points	15,000 points
Disney^® Visa^® Card	100 Disney Rewards Dollars	500 Disney Rewards Dollars	100 Disney Rewards Dollars
Disney^® Premier Visa^® Card	100 Disney Rewards Dollars	500 Disney Rewards Dollars	100 Disney Rewards Dollars
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card	10,000 points	50,000 points	10,000 points
IHG One Rewards Credit Card	10,000 points	50,000 points	10,000 points
Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card	40,000 points	200,000 points	40,000 points
Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card	40,000 points	200,000 points	40,000 points
Ink Business Premier^® Credit Card		200,000 points	40,000 points
Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card	40,000 points	200,000 points	40,000 points
Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card	40,000 points	200,000 points	40,000 points
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card	40,000 points	200,000 points	40,000 points
Southwest^® Rapid Rewards^® Performance Business Credit Card	20,000 points	100,000 points	20,000 points
Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card	20,000 points	100,000 points	20,000 points
Southwest^® Rapid Rewards^® Premier Business Credit Card	20,000 points	100,000 points	20,000 points
Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Premier Credit Card	20,000 points	100,000 points	20,000 points
Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Priority Credit Card	20,000 points	100,000 points	20,000 points
United Club℠ Business Card	10,000 miles	100,000 miles	20,000 miles
United Club℠ Card	10,000 miles	100,000 miles	20,000 miles
United Quest℠ Card	10,000 miles	100,000 miles	20,000 miles
United℠ Business Card	10,000 miles	100,000 miles	20,000 miles
United℠ Explorer Card	10,000 miles	100,000 miles	20,000 miles
United℠ TravelBank Card	10,000 miles	100,000 miles	20,000 miles
World of Hyatt Business Credit Card	10,000 points	50,000 points	10,000 points
The World of Hyatt Credit Card	N/A	N/A	5,000 points

Citi

Citi doesn’t have a referral program for any U.S. credit cards, but it has sent targeted campaigns, mostly over email and postal mail, for a few of its credit cards. Referral programs are currently available to cardholders in the Philippines, India, and Singapore.

These are limited-time referral bonuses that Citi has offered for U.S. for credit cards:

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Citi Card Product	Highest Referral Bonus	Annual Maximum	Date Last Offered
Citi Strata Premier^® Card	10,000 points	50,000 points	March 2019
Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite Mastercard^®	10,000 miles	50,000 miles	March 2019
Citi Double Cash^® Card	$100	$500	March 2019

Final Thoughts

Referral bonuses are a good way to quickly earn a significant number of points (or cash-back). These programs function differently across issuers and cards, but you can generally expect the best referral bonuses from American Express, Capital One, and Chase.

We’ll continue to update this guide with new referral bonuses, including the highest-ever ones, to help you make the best possible decisions about whether to refer now or later.