You apply for a credit card with a signup bonus. The next day you see that the signup bonus has increased for that card. Will the card issuer give you the higher bonus upon request?
For the most part, there aren’t any hard-and-fast rules on this and it could vary widely depending on which bank agent you get. We’ve tried to collect some data points as to which credit card issuers match the higher bonus. Please share your own experience in the comments below.
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American Express
TravelSort reports that Amex used to match higher signup bonuses, but they no longer do so. While they don’t officially match higher bonuses, they will sometimes offer some sort of bonus upon request as a goodwill gesture. Often times, they’ll even match the entire amount to keep you happy.
- SPG – Some had success getting a full match by calling in (1, 2, 3), others got a smaller goodwill bonus (1, 2, 3) and others couldn’t get them to match at all (1).
See also How To Get ‘Matched’ To The 35,000 American Express SPG Offers for good tips on how to go about making this phone call for best chances of success.
Bank of America
It seems possible to get a match with BoA.
- Simon K had success getting a match on a 50,000 mile Alaska Airline offer.
- Elliot W had success once, but had a harder time when he tried doing the same for his wife’s card.
- BoA Travel Rewards: Reports of success matching the 20k bonus (1, 2). No success (1).
Barclaycard
Barclaycard used to not match, then they began matching in 2017 (1, 2). More recently results seem to vary with them sometimes offering a match or partial match (1), and other times not (1, 2).
Capital One
Capital One doesn’t typically match (1, 2, 3, 4). (In 2022 we found them matching the $3,000 bonus (sent in via e-mail by Help Me Build Credit).
Chase
Since 2020, Chase no longer matches all credit card bonuses, but they do match some. It’s offer dependent, and there’s no way of knowing from one offer to the next which ones will be matched without asking.
Generally, it seems(1, 2) they will match offers on their own Ultimate Rewards branded cards, but not on co-branded cards.
Citi
Citi will usually match a signup bonus within 90 days.
If the offer was targeted for you, there seems to be an official rule of matching the bonus. If it’s public offer they’ll usually match as well (1). Secure Message or chat is the easiest way to get it done.
If you are having trouble getting a match, try asking for a supervisor who will hopefully agree to match for you, or at least offer some lower amount of points as a goodwill gesture.
- Prestige: Many had success with getting matched (1, 2, 3, 4)
- AAdvantage: Successful (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), Successful via chat (1, 2), Not successful (1)
- Unspecified card: Success (1)
Discover
Many have had success getting a courtesy credit (1) at least when escalating to a supervisor (1).
Others have not had success getting a match (1, 2).
NFCU
- Doesn’t match: 1
Synchrony
TD Bank
Reader IZ says that they wouldn’t match them to a $150 offer when they signed up for a $100 offer.
US Bank
- E had success getting a match on a US Bank FlexPerks card. (Another data point here.)
- Doesn’t match: 1
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo will not match a higher bonus. (1, 2)
Final Word
As you can see, there isn’t a hard-and-fast rule about getting a match. The exception oisChase who consistently matches better offers. It’s may be worth a phone call or sending a SM with all card issuers, but definitely with Citi, BoA, Discover, US Bank, and Amex.
We’s appreciate if readers could share their own success stories and failure stories of getting an offer-match in the comments below.
