How to track your progress toward a credit card sign up bonus

Did you know that many travel rewards credit cards offer welcome bonuses worth hundreds of dollars in points or miles? These bonus tracker opportunities represent significant value for new cardholders — but only if you actually earn them.

Missing out on a welcome bonus due to poor tracking is a costly mistake that happens more often than you might think. Fortunately, major credit card issuers have recognized this challenge. Chase provides a built-in tracker for welcome bonus progress, allowing you to see exactly how much you need to spend and when your deadline falls. Similarly, Barclays began rolling out a welcome bonus tracker in late 2023, while Citi offers a "New CardMember Bonus Tracker" available on both their website and mobile app. Wells Fargo cardholders can also track their progress through the "Go Far Rewards" portal.

However, tracking your credit card sign up bonus isn't always straightforward. The most generous bonuses typically come with higher annual fees and spending requirements that can be challenging to meet. Common mistakes include waiting too long to start spending, applying for too many cards simultaneously, or choosing cards with unattainable requirements.

In this article, we'll explore how to effectively track your progress toward credit card welcome bonuses, examine the tools provided by different issuers, and help you avoid the pitfalls that could cost you valuable rewards.

Understanding Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses

Credit card sign-up bonuses stand as one of the most valuable ways to accumulate rewards quickly, often worth hundreds of dollars more than what you'd earn through regular spending alone. Let's explore how these bonuses work and why tracking them matters.

What is a sign-up bonus?

A sign-up bonus (also called a welcome bonus or intro bonus) is an incentive offered by credit card issuers to attract new customers. These one-time rewards typically come in the form of points, miles, or cash back after meeting specific requirements. For example, you might earn 60,000 points after spending a certain amount within a defined timeframe. The value of these bonuses can range from modest to substantial, depending on the card.

Why tracking your progress is essential

Failing to track your progress toward a sign-up bonus is perhaps the biggest mistake you could make when opening a new card. Missing a bonus deadline means leaving significant value on the table - potentially hundreds of dollars worth of rewards. Furthermore, many issuers restrict eligibility for future bonuses on the same card, meaning you may not get another chance. This makes proper tracking absolutely critical.

How minimum spend requirements work

Most credit card bonuses require spending a specific amount within a set timeframe to qualify. This period typically ranges from three to six months after account opening. Notably, the clock starts ticking from the day your application is approved - not when you receive or activate your card.

Not all transactions count toward minimum spend requirements. Accordingly, these typically don't qualify:

• Annual fees

• Balance transfers

• Cash advances

• Purchase of gift cards or cash equivalents

• Peer-to-peer payments

Minimum spending thresholds vary widely between cards - from as little as $500 to as much as $15,000. Before applying, assess whether the spending requirement aligns with your normal budget. Above all, remember that going into debt to earn a bonus negates its value, as interest charges can quickly exceed the bonus worth.

Built-In Tools from Major Issuers

Major credit card issuers offer various tools to help track your progress toward sign-up bonuses. Let's examine what each bank provides to help you monitor your spending.

Chase bonus tracker and how to find it

Chase offers one of the most user-friendly bonus trackers in the industry. This built-in feature clearly displays exactly how much you need to spend and your deadline to complete the minimum spending requirement. To access it on desktop, log into your Chase account, navigate to the Ultimate Rewards portal, then click "Rewards Activity." On the Chase mobile app, simply select your new card, and the tracker will appear prominently. This tool primarily displays for cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

How to check Amex welcome bonus progress

Unfortunately, American Express no longer provides a direct way to track welcome bonus progress through your account. Instead, I recommend using their chat feature to connect with a customer service representative who can quickly tell you how much more you need to spend and your remaining time. Alternatively, Platinum Card members can monitor their overall eligible spending through the Centurion Lounge guest access tracker under "Rewards & Benefits," though this tracks annual spending rather than specifically welcome bonus progress.

Citi and Wells Fargo tracking options

Citi provides a "New CardMember Bonus Tracker" accessible both online and through their mobile app. To find it online, log into Citi.com and look for the tracker in your credit card account's "What's Next?" section. Within the app, scroll down to the rewards currency section of your card and tap the right-pointing arrow.

Wells Fargo cardholders can monitor progress through the "Go Far Rewards" portal, which shows your spending toward the minimum requirement, remaining time, and complete bonus offer details. This feature is prominently displayed in the app alongside recent transactions, though it's only available for personal cards, not business accounts.

Barclays and Capital One tracking features

Barclays began introducing a welcome bonus tracker in late 2023, starting with JetBlue Plus Card holders. To check availability, look under "Rewards" or "Rewards and benefits" in your online account, specifically under "Featured benefits".

Capital One's mobile app previously showed a bonus tracker displaying both dollars spent and remaining amount needed. Nevertheless, recent reports indicate they no longer display welcome bonus progress within accounts, requiring cardholders to call customer service for the most accurate information.

Manual and Third-Party Tracking Methods

While credit card issuers offer their own tracking tools, independent methods provide greater control and flexibility. These alternative approaches ensure you never miss out on valuable bonuses, regardless of which cards you hold.

Using spreadsheets to track spending

Spreadsheets represent perhaps the most customizable method for monitoring sign-up bonus progress. Creating a basic tracker in Excel or Google Sheets allows you to record each transaction and watch your total climb toward the minimum spend requirement. Furthermore, you can add columns for deadline dates, bonus amounts, and even calculate remaining spend needed.

A well-designed spreadsheet might include:

1. Card name and opening date

2. Minimum spending requirement and deadline

3. Running total of eligible purchases

4. Remaining amount needed

   
   

This method proves particularly valuable when juggling multiple bonuses simultaneously. Consequently, many enthusiasts prefer spreadsheets despite requiring manual updates.

How Travel Freely helps with bonus tracking

Travel Freely stands out as a specialized (and remarkably, free) tool designed specifically for credit card bonus tracking. This service automatically monitors how much time remains to meet minimum spending requirements and sends timely reminders about approaching deadlines.

Key Travel Freely features include:

• Automatic tracking of bonus spending deadlines

• Email alerts 45 days before annual fees are due

• Calculation of your current Chase 5/24 status

• Support for tracking cards for two users simultaneously

Essentially, Travel Freely requires no sensitive account information—you simply enter your card type, opening date, and bonus offer details.

Setting calendar reminders and alerts

Calendar-based tracking provides a straightforward yet effective approach, particularly for meeting payment deadlines. Setting up automatic calendar alerts 1-2 days before each due date ensures you'll never miss a payment.

Beyond basic payment reminders, calendar systems can help:

• Track point expiration dates

• Schedule regular card usage to prevent account closure

• Prompt monthly reviews of rewards progress

• Remind you of upcoming annual fee dates

Consider linking your expiration dates to digital calendars like Google Calendar or Outlook, creating a comprehensive visual timeline of all your bonus-related deadlines.

Avoiding Pitfalls and Maximizing Rewards

Even with the best bonus tracker tools, certain mistakes can still cost you valuable rewards. Understanding what transactions qualify and when they must post to your account is crucial for success.

What purchases don't count toward the bonus

Not all transactions qualify toward minimum spending requirements, regardless of what your credit card bonus tracker might show. The following purchases typically don't count:

• Annual fees (almost never count toward required spending)

• Balance transfers and cash advances

• Person-to-person payments like Venmo or PayPal

• Gift cards and other cash equivalents

• Gambling-related transactions

Additionally, how card issuers classify purchases can differ significantly. For instance, groceries bought at Walmart or Target typically don't earn supermarket category bonuses, and restaurants inside hotels may not qualify for dining rewards.

Why timing matters: billing cycles vs. calendar days

The clock for meeting a welcome bonus starts ticking from the day your application is approved—not when you receive or activate the card. Moreover, some issuers measure this period in calendar days, while others use billing cycles.

In essence, purchases must post to your account by the deadline, not merely be pending. This distinction is critical because transactions can take several days to move from pending to posted status, especially near statement closing dates. A credit card billing cycle typically ranges from 28 to 31 days, so timing your purchases accordingly becomes vital.

Common mistakes that cost you the bonus

Making returns or getting refunds can jeopardize your progress since these transactions subtract from your total qualifying spend. Furthermore, waiting until the last minute leaves no room for unexpected issues, as demonstrated by cardholders who have missed bonuses due to technical problems with payment processing.

Carrying a balance while chasing rewards is counterproductive since interest charges—typically in double digits—will quickly erase the value of any bonus earned. Likewise, closing your card too soon after earning the bonus may result in the issuer clawing back your rewards or even blacklisting you from future offers.

Finally, beware of transaction classification errors. Sometimes purchases you expect to qualify for bonus categories don't register correctly, reducing your potential rewards throughout the bonus period.

Conclusion

Tracking your progress toward credit card sign-up bonuses ultimately determines whether you'll reap hundreds of dollars in rewards or miss out entirely. Throughout this article, we've seen how different credit card issuers approach bonus tracking - from Chase's user-friendly built-in system to the more manual approaches required with American Express.

Additionally, we've explored alternative tracking methods such as spreadsheets and specialized tools like Travel Freely that provide greater control over your bonus progress. These options become especially valuable when juggling multiple cards or dealing with issuers that lack robust tracking features.

Most importantly, understanding what purchases qualify toward your minimum spend requirement can make the difference between success and failure. Annual fees, balance transfers, and certain person-to-person payments typically don't count, while timing your purchases to ensure they post before deadlines proves critical.

Regardless of which tracking method you choose, remember that proper planning prevents costly mistakes. Setting calendar reminders, starting your spending early, and keeping detailed records will help ensure you never leave valuable rewards unclaimed. After all, credit card welcome bonuses represent one of the fastest ways to accumulate significant travel rewards - but only if you actually earn them through careful tracking and strategic spending.

FAQs

Q1. How can I track my progress towards a Chase credit card sign-up bonus? You can easily track your Chase sign-up bonus progress through the Chase mobile app. Simply log in, select your card, scroll down to "Benefits & Rewards," and look for the "New account bonus" widget. This tracker clearly shows how much you've spent and how much more you need to spend to earn the bonus.

Q2. Is there a way to check my American Express welcome bonus progress? American Express doesn't offer a direct tracking tool, but you can chat with a customer service representative through their website. After verifying your identity, they can provide information on your bonus requirements and current progress.

Q3. How do I monitor my Citi credit card sign-up bonus progress? Citi provides a "New CardMember Bonus Tracker" both online and in their mobile app. On the website, log in to your account and look for the tracker in the "What's Next?" section of your credit card account. In the app, you can find it by tapping the arrow next to your card's rewards currency section.

Q4. What purchases typically don't count towards credit card sign-up bonus requirements? Generally, annual fees, balance transfers, cash advances, person-to-person payments (like Venmo or PayPal), gift cards, and gambling-related transactions don't count towards minimum spending requirements for sign-up bonuses. It's important to focus on regular purchases to meet the bonus threshold.

Q5. Why is timing important when trying to earn a credit card sign-up bonus? Timing is crucial because the clock starts ticking from the day your application is approved, not when you receive or activate the card. Additionally, purchases must post to your account by the deadline, not just be pending. Some issuers measure the bonus period in calendar days, while others use billing cycles, so it's important to plan your spending accordingly and not wait until the last minute.

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