The Bank of America Premier Rewards program is changing in May. The program is famous for its ability to combine $100,000 in assets for a 75% rewards boost with the Unlimited Rewards credit card 1.5x earning to make a 2.625% everywhere card. Or at least, that’s why it will have been famous through May. At that point, bonus tiers become:
– 10% bonus: Up to $29,999.99 in assets – 25% bonus: Up to $99,999.99 in assets – 50% bonus: Up to $999,999.99 in assets – 75% bonus: $1 Million in assets or greater (used to be $100,000+)
I guess $100,000 isn’t what it used to be. You can still earn status with Merrill linked brokerage assets, so consider ACATS of a portfolio into Merrill if you’re really good at 2.625% spend and it’s accessible. If not, it may be time to spread your existing Bank of America assets elsewhere for better use. It’s also probably time to learn about how the fast track program works.
– $6.99 monthly fee (it’s Spirit after all) – 0.5x earning – 4,000 bonus points monthly based on some minimum balance to be determined – Group 2 boarding – 200 points on sign-up, 200 points monthly for 12 months or until Spirit fails, whichever comes first (the latter, duh)
This one isn’t issued by Sunrise like the recent United, Southwest, and Wyndham debits, which means it’s probably got vastly different behavior. On the other hand, I’ll bet you $100 in Pepper coins that Spirit won’t be around before your 12 months of 200 point bonuses run out.
You’ll pay about $70 over 14 months to be a member, so portfolios over $7,000 in value will do better with paid membership. You’ll also earn $150 by going through Rakuten. You can ACATS transfer in and out with this promotion, no need to liquidate assets and incur a taxable event. Apropos of nothing, SPIC insurance limits are $500,000 on securities. (Thanks to DoC)
This card is an absolute banger for the right use cases when you link it to a Rakuten account that earns Bilt or Membership Rewards if you’re good at grocery store spend. It is, shall we say, bordering on Unsung Hero territory.
– AA: 1,000 bonus miles with $500+ through January 22 – Alaska: 1,200 bonus miles with $300+ through January 23 – United: 1,000 bonus miles with $300+ through January 26
Watch for Southwest to show up to the party late, much like their flights and premium travel focus.
Some of these cards convert to Amazon and Home Depot cards, but converting them is, shall we say, sometimes extremely painful in much the same way that the J4U Alaska back door has been painful.
They’re making the program “simpler” by adding another option with its own complexity, in addition to the existing complexity. Now, just wait until they react to learning that you can earn more by spending less with the new program. (Thanks to Chris and TeddyH)
Happy Monday, may it be unlike Bilt’s!
Pictured: The Bilt 2.1 fix to the Bilt 2.0 rollout.
– $1,000 bonus with $20,000 in new funds – $1,500 bonus with $50,000 in new funds
If you bring $100,000 in new funds, you’ll earn Platinum Honors status which boosts earning on cash-back Bank of America cards tied to the same business. Note that new accounts can fast-track the status to avoid parking funds for a year, and note that you can churn these bank accounts and thus the fast-tracked status. There are rumors that the program is changing in May though, so #bonvoyed either way I guess.
– Will Spirit still be around by March 4? Maybe, it’s iffy – Will you get your money back if they’re not? Maybe, it’s iffy – Will you find MEAB flying Spirit? That one’s not iffy
In case you’re wondering how many Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays this sale covers: I counted, there are 17. But don’t worry, Spirit threw three blackout dates in there too, so, on-brand.
Happy Wednesday!
From the future: The remnants of Spirit airlines in December, 2026.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Matt is on vacation until at or around January 1, 2026. Until then we have guest posts, today’s post is brought to today’s post is brought to you by the reader most likely to correct my math jokes (which I appreciate), John from Bank Account Bonus Central. Special thanks for the post!
People go to different places to get information about how to profit from banks, credit cards, brokerages, and other financial products to get cash and travel points. They look at websites, blogs, vlogs, YouTube videos, podcasts, Reddit discussion groups, and even pick through the garbage bins at the Hyatt in Lubbock, Texas, to get the profitable information they’re looking for. What if it were the banks that told you how to make money from them? This was my story, and it never gets old sharing what the banker told me about how to make money from them… so, I’ll share it again here.
I started as a customer of Washington Mutual. I got my mortgage from them, and eventually, things would sour for Washington Mutual, or WAMU, as they were called, and Chase grew their banking monopoly by buying up the remains of WAMU. I became a Chase customer over 25 years ago by default. I paid off my mortgage the Dave Ramsey way within 6 years of getting it and I sent them my direct deposit without them paying me anything to do so.
About 8 years ago, I was looking up different things online and found an advertisement that, little did I know, changed the direction of my life. The Advertisement was from Chase Bank and promised a $300 bonus for NEW checking customers.
I was NOT a new customer, but I was curious about this bonus and if there was any way that I could take advantage of it. I went in person to my local Chase branch and asked my local Chase Banker about this $300 bonus. I was promptly told this bonus was for “New Customers Only”. I said, “You are paying new customers $300, what do you have for loyal customers?” I was promptly told, “Nothing”. I followed up with, “Well, what value do you have for loyal customers?” She told me, “None.”
I followed up with, “How do I become a new customer if they have all the value?” I was told, “Close out your account and return in 90 days.” I asked, “So, you will pay me $300 to close out a 20-year-old checking account?” She said, “Yes, that is how we do business at Chase.” I said, “Perfect, close down my checking and savings accounts.”
I returned 90 days later and opened up a new checking account for the $300 bonus, and sure enough, I got my $300 bonus about 3 days after my direct deposit hit. I asked the banker, “What else do you have for new customers?” The banker replied, “Open up a savings account and get another $300.” I opened up a savings account and got $300. My wife also opened up a savings account and got another $300. I then asked what else they have for new customers. I was told that if I upgraded my checking account to a Sapphire Checking account, I would get another $600 bonus. I said, “Sign me up.”
I made $1,500 in short order from Chase as a “new customer.” I started researching who else values new checking customers. I quickly learned that almost every bank and credit union values new customers and doesn’t give a second thought about their existing “loyal” customers. I have devoted myself to being a “Professional New Customer” for the rest of my life. I am not only a “Professional New Customer” but also teach as many people as are willing to participate in this fun and profitable game.
What does this have to do with a blog about traveling? As mentioned, bank points can be converted to either cash back or travel. In 2021, my family spent over 1 million in Chase UR points on resort vacations. The mindset is not too different between either team cash back or team travel. I am currently a high school math teacher looking to buy the most expensive thing in my life: my retirement from the public education system. Ultimately, this hobby seems more and more like a video game. So many accounts can be opened, and cash and points received without any human interaction. Simply push the right buttons on a keyboard. Who knows, the garbage bin at the Lubbock Marriott may have even better info than what is offered here. As you can see from the picture below, the bank vaults are full for both new customers and for repeat new customers.
Let’s make 2026 more profitable than 2025! Let the Churning Adventures continue!
– It gives unlimited cash out at 1 cent per point (TBD on the E*Trade integration) – It gives a free authorized user Platinum card with its own lounge access – Historically it’s been semi-churnable
According to the T&Cs, eligible accounts include an individual E*Trade brokerage or bank account.
This card is available via referrals, but there’s restrictive referral language so the referrer may not get their referral bonus. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try though, T&Cs don’t always match reality.
The Synchrony Virgin Red Mastercard has a sign-up bonus of 60,000 miles and a $200 statement credit after $4,000 spend in three months. The bonus is available on the checkout page during a booking, whether or not you actually check out and pay . The card’s $99 annual fee is not waived the first year.
There was at one point a 75,000 point bonus, but 60,000 miles and $200 is better because you can transfer just about every currency to Virgin Atlantic, often with a transfer bonus. The card has other intrinsic value. (Thanks to DoC)
SoFi accounts are churnable and Swagbucks has a referral bonus so use another player or a friend’s referral link.
The Citi ThankYou Mastercard, the card issued to replace Citi Shop Your Way Mastercards, sent out targeted offers over the weekend, continuing in its predecessor’s path:
– $75 off of $750+ in online spend through December 14 – $100 off of $1,000+ in online spend through December 14
You can’t currently apply for this card as far as I can tell, but there is hidden code on the dashboard with an application link. It’s probably vestigial, but there’s a 🤏 chance that you’ll be able to apply in the future.
American Express now requires social security numbers at application time for personal authorized user cards. I confirmed the news on my accounts, but I can tell you that they’re still not once in a lifetime. Also, business employee cards are still “same as it ever was, same as it ever was, … water dissolving, and water removing” though (sorry about the ear-worm).
Articles were everywhere because it was great content-monster food, but I’ll try and keep it as short as possible here so you don’t waste your time elsewhere:
Hilton added a new Diamond Reserve tier that requires $18,000 of qualifying spend at Hilton properties with 40 stays or 80 nights, there’s currently no other way into it. They also lowered the requirements for other tiers slightly, but credit card jockeys need not care. The benefits for the Diamond Reserve tier are lukewarm at best (automatic 4PM late checkout, a suite upgrade certificate, a concierge, and premium club access at the ~10 properties that offer it.)
– Click the enrollment button first – Rewards are paid out monthly equally for 12 months – Stocks transferred via ACATS and cash deposits are both qualifying
SIPC insurance on brokerage accounts is for up to $500,000 per customer because reasons.
LifeMiles historically was a very quirky program that benefited travel hacking, but more recently the quirks are just mildly annoying. Also, watch for phantom space.
North American include New York, Chicago, Seattle, Orlando, Austin, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Detroit, Washington DC, Vancouver, Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal.
Happy Tuesday!
Also coming soon: The all new Stop Your All Way sign.
