Chase

You need more than good credit to qualify for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card requires applicants to have excellent credit, which means you need a credit score of at least 750 to get approved for the card.

You can check your credit score for free on WalletHub to see if you're within range of qualifying for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

You can get a Chase Sapphire Preferred referral bonus for each friend that you invite to apply for the same card and gets approved. The referral bonus is 15,000 points for every referral who is approved and the limit is 75,000 points per calendar year.

Whether you refer one friend or five, you're still looking at a lot of value, especially for travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards. So, let's talk about exactly how to earn it.

Here's how to get a Chase Sapphire Preferred referral bonus:

1. Go to the Chase Sapphire Preferred Refer a Friend Page or use Chase's mobile app.
2. Provide the requested information and click “Continue”.
3. Share your personalized invitation link with friends via Facebook, Twitter or email.

Keep in mind that it may take a while for bonus points to show up in your account. Chase says it takes up to 8 weeks; it will appear on your Chase Sapphire Preferred statement as a “Refer-A-Friend” bonus. So, maybe you shouldn't count on using your referral bonus the next time you travel.

Lastly, you should know that Chase Sapphire Preferred isn't the only Chase Credit Card with a referral bonus. You can see what other cards are in the mix on Chase's Refer a Friend Page.

No, you cannot get the Chase Sapphire Reserve 100k bonus anymore, as it was a limited-time promotion that ran from August 2016 through March 2017. The card now offers a bonus of 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. That's still one of the biggest credit card bonuses on the market, though. It also helps offset Chase Sapphire Reserve's $550 annual fee.

So, at the end of the day, the Chase Sapphire Reserve's 100k bonus is no longer available because it was never supposed to be permanent. It was the equivalent of 35% cash back, and that's just not sustainable. Chase offered it to build some buzz for the new Chase Sapphire Reserve Card when it was introduced. Since that seems to have worked, they retired that promotion.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Rewards and Perks

All in all, Chase Sapphire Reserve is an elite travel rewards credit card that's worth it for big-spenders with a credit score of 750+.

The Chase Freedom Flex 5% bonus categories are grocery stores (excluding Walmart), Target, fitness clubs, and gym memberships from January through March 2023. Chase Freedom Flex gives 5% cash back on the first $1,500 spent in these bonus categories, as long as the cardholder activates them by March 14.

Keep mind that the bonus categories on Chase Freedom Flex's calendar change quarterly and don't always repeat year over year. It's also important to note that any purchases in these categories above the $1,500 limit will give 1% cash back.

Chase Freedom Flex Calendar for 2023

How the Chase Freedom Flex Calendar Works

The Chase Freedom Flex 5% calendar is pretty straightforward and easy to use. In order to earn 5% cash back in the Chase Freedom Flex bonus categories each quarter, you will need to “activate” the category. The deadline to activate is typically halfway through the final month of the quarter.

Unfortunately, you can't see the whole year's cash back categories in advance. But you do get about a month's notice, and Chase is very transparent about the activation dates. As long as you activate before the deadline, all purchases in the bonus categories during the quarter will get 5% cash back, even if you made them before activation.

How to Activate the Chase Freedom Flex Bonus Categories

• Online: For online activation, visit the Chase bonus categories page and enter your name, the last 4 digits of your card number, and your ZIP code. Then, click on the green “Activate your 5%” button.
• Through Chase Ultimate Rewards: You can also activate the bonus categories through the Chase Ultimate Rewards webpage. Just log in using your credentials and click the “5% cash back” button, followed by the “Activate your 5%” button.
• Via the Chase mobile app: Download the Chase mobile app and log in to your account. Scroll down until you find “5% cash back” and tap that link. On the next screen, tap the “Activate your 5%” button.
• At a Chase branch: You can visit your nearest Chase branch and ask for a teller to help you.
• Over the phone: You can call (800) 432-3117 or the number you see on the back of your card. Enter your credit card number, and you will be connected to a live representative who should be able to assist you with your request.
• At a Chase ATM: You can activate your Chase Freedom Flex bonus categories with one click at a Chase ATM while making a cash withdrawal.

Past Chase Freedom Flex Bonus Categories

It's also worth noting that the Chase Freedom family has another good rewards credit card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. This card's bonus categories don't rotate but include a wide range of purchases, from drugstores to dining and travel. The card offers 1.5 - 5% cash back, depending on the type of purchase.

Alternatives to the Chase Freedom Flex Card

You can also check out our editors' latest picks for the best 5% cash back credit cards on the market.

You can log in to your Chase Sapphire Reserve® card account by going to the login page on the Chase website or mobile app and entering your username and password in the appropriate fields. Then, click the “Sign in” to access your online account.

How to Register for Online Access on your Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card Account

1. Register your Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card for online account access. Click “Not enrolled? Sign up now” and enter your account type, card or application number, and Social Security number to verify your credit card account.
2. Choose your Chase Sapphire Reserve card username and password. The username must be between 8 and 32 characters, including special characters, but no spaces. The password must contain at least 8 characters and have at least two of the following: one letter, one number, and one special character. Password can have no more than two identical or sequential characters. The password is case sensitive and may contain special characters.
3. Log in with your new Chase Sapphire Reserve card credentials. From the login page on the Chase website or mobile app for iOS and Android, fill out the Username and Password fields using your new credentials, and click “Sign in” to access your account.

After you have signed up and logged in, you'll be able to manage your Chase Sapphire Reserve card account online. You can pay your credit card bill, see credit card statements, monitor account activity, and change account information such as passwords and automatic payments.

If you forget your login information, click “Forgot username/password?” on the Chase login page. Then, just follow the prompts to reset or retrieve your username or password.