Do Blue Cash Preferred cash back rewards expire?

No, Amex points do not expire. Cash back and miles earned using American Express credit cards do not expire, either. However, points and other rewards can be forfeited when you close your account or when your account is closed due to inactivity. American Express will also cancel all points, miles or cash back earned during any billing period where a late payment occurs.… read full answer

Read on to learn more about when you could lose your Amex points so you can make sure it doesn’t happen.

Here’s when Amex points expire:

• Account Inactivity: Your American Express account can be closed due to inactivity – not making a purchase or bill payment for an extended period of time. When that happens, you have 90 days to redeem points before losing them. Amex doesn’t disclose a timeframe for closing accounts due to inactivity, so try to use your card regularly to keep your account active.
• Closing Your Account: Unredeemed American Express rewards will expire when you close your account. Try to redeem a couple weeks in advance so there’s plenty of time for the transaction to be processed. You can even use the rewards to pay for some of your final balance.
• Late Payments: Rewards earned during a billing period where a late payment occurs will be forfeited. You can reinstate lost points, though. Visit your account’s Points Summary page to reinstate them after bringing your account current. There’s a $35 fee for each billing period points are reinstated from.
• Returned Purchases: Points earned from purchases that are later returned get deducted from your rewards total. When you return an item purchased with points, you may receive a statement credit or a points refund. Statement credits can be converted back into points by calling Membership Rewards at (800) 297-3276.

American Express points, cash back and miles do not expire. Just be sure to use all your rewards prior to closing an American Express credit card account. Use your card regularly to keep your account active, and remember to make payments on time to keep points earned each billing period.

American Express points are worth 0.67 cents per point, on average. The value of American Express points depends on how you choose to redeem the points. For example, points from American Express are worth up to 0.77 cents each when redeemed for travel through the Membership Rewards program, and they are worth 0.6 cents each when redeemed for cash back. … read full answer

American Express Points Worth by Redemption Method

Popular American Express Cards

• American Express® Gold Card
• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• American Express® Green Card
• American Express® Business Gold Card
• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Tips for Maximizing the Value of American Express Points

Redeem Points for Travel.

American Express points are worth the most when redeemed for travel.

Redeem American Express points regularly.

American Express points do not expire due to account inactivity, but stockpiling points does put you at risk of rewards devaluation. Plus, you won't get to enjoy the fruits of your spending if you don't redeem.

Keep your account in good standing.

If American Express closes your account because of a failure to pay the bill or fraudulent activity, you'll lose any unredeemed points you have saved. And if you pay late, you might have to pay a fee to get back the points from that billing period.

Redeem before closing your account.

Any points you don't redeem before closing your account will be lost, unless you keep another American Express credit card account open.

Exactly how you redeem credit card reward points varies by credit card company, but most credit card users can redeem reward points online through their account summary page. Some credit card issuers also let you redeem rewards over the phone. Credit card reward points may be redeemable for cash back, travel purchases, gift cards, and more, depending on the card.… read full answer

Once you redeem your credit card reward points, they’ll be subtracted from your rewards balance immediately and your account will be credited within 1-3 weeks, if applicable. In some cases, reward points will expire if you do not use them by a certain time.

Here's how to redeem credit card reward points:

1. Log in to your online account and head to “Account Summary.” Specifics will vary by issuer, but your rewards will usually be featured on a main account page.
2. Click on “Rewards Balance.” The exact wording may differ depending on the issuer. Once you click on your rewards balance, you’ll be taken to a page with your total amount of unredeemed rewards, and information about your redemption options.
3. Select how you’d like to redeem your rewards. You may be able to redeem reward points for travel purchases, cash back in the form of a check or statement credit, merchandise, or gift cards, depending on the rewards card.
4. Redeem your rewards. Once you redeem your credit card reward points, the points will be deducted from your rewards balance immediately. If you’re redeeming for statement credits or covering past purchases, your account will usually be credited within a week. If you redeem your points for gift cards or merchandise, you can expect them to arrive in the mail within 2-3 weeks.

While many rewards cards will let you choose from multiple redemption options, you’ll usually get the most value with one in particular. For example, travel rewards credit cards will often give you the most when you redeem your points for travel purchases, and your rewards may be worth less if you redeem them for cash back or gift cards.

On average, credit card reward points are worth 1 cent each. Most major credit card issuers, like Chase, Capital One and American Express, advertise that your points will not expire as long as your account remains open. But you should check the exact terms and conditions of your specific credit card to make sure you don’t lose any rewards you’ve earned.