One of the most valuable perks of travel rewards credit cards is their welcome bonuses, often worth hundreds of dollars in points or miles. Missing out on one is the biggest mistake you could make when you open a new credit card.
As TPG’s 10 commandments of credit card rewards states: “Thou shalt not miss out on a welcome bonus.” While resources like spreadsheets, calendar reminders and budgeting apps can help you track your progress toward the minimum spending requirement, they can also feel overwhelming.
Thankfully, some issuers offer built-in tools that make it much easier to monitor your spending and stay on track. Here’s what to know.
Related: The best limited-time credit card offers currently available
American Express
Unfortunately, American Express no longer provides a way to track your progress toward earning your welcome bonus directly on your account. However, their user-friendly chat feature makes it easy to connect with a customer service representative, who can quickly tell you how much more you need to spend — and how much time you have left to earn the bonus.
While Amex doesn’t offer a welcome bonus tracker, The Platinum Card® from American Express cardmembers do have access to a spend tracker tied to Centurion Lounge guest access. This tool monitors your progress toward the $75,000 annual spend requirement that allows you to bring up to two guests into Centurion Lounges.
Though not intended for welcome bonuses, it can still help you keep an eye on your overall eligible spending. Just keep in mind: qualifying purchases can take up to 12 weeks to appear in the tracker.
Related: Choosing the best American Express credit card for you
Bank of America
Bank of America doesn’t provide a built-in tracker for welcome bonuses. You’ll need to monitor your spending manually or reach out to customer service for an update.
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Barclays
In late 2023, Barclays began rolling out a welcome bonus tracker, starting with JetBlue Plus Card holders and progressively expanding to all credit card products. To check if it’s available for your card, head to the “Rewards” or “Rewards and benefits” section in your account on desktop or mobile, then look under “Featured benefits.”
The information for the JetBlue Plus Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you don’t see it there, try “Activity & Statements” then “Spend Analyzer”, where you can filter your spending over the past three months to estimate your progress.
Capital One
Capital One no longer displays welcome bonus progress within your account. For the most accurate information, you’ll need to call customer service directly.
Related: The best Capital One credit cards
Chase
Chase makes it easy to track your welcome bonus progress with a built-in tracker that shows exactly how much you need to spend — and your deadline to do it. If you’re eligible, you’ll find the tracker under the Ultimate Rewards section on the website or directly in the Chase mobile app.
Users have reported finding the tracker on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees), the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees).
Here’s how the Chase tracker appears in the Mobile App. The goal amount will change depending on the welcome bonus offered by the card issuer at the time of approval.
Related: Supercharge your Chase Ultimate Rewards balance with these top 5 cards
Citi
Citi offers a “New CardMember Bonus Tracker”, available both on the Citi website and mobile app. To access it, look for the “New CardMember Bonus Tracker” or “Learn more” link in the ThankYou Points preview box.
Discover
Discover doesn’t provide a welcome bonus tracker. You’ll need to monitor your progress manually.
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo cardholders can track their welcome bonus progress through the “Go Far Rewards” portal. The tool displays how much you’ve spent toward the minimum requirement, how much time remains and the full bonus offer details. It’s available for personal cards, but not for business cardholders.
Related: Don’t overlook Wells Fargo credit cards
Important: Watch the clock — and your purchases
Keep in mind that the clock for meeting a welcome bonus typically starts the day your application is approved — not when you activate or receive the card. Also, not all charges count toward the spending requirement.
So if, for example, you got the welcome offer for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, the $350 annual fee (see rates and fees) will not count toward the minimum spending threshold. Some issuers also won’t count “cash equivalent” purchases like gift cards.
To avoid any surprises, it’s a good idea to confirm your bonus deadline with a customer service representative when activating your card. Some issuers measure the period in calendar days, while others use full billing months. Just be sure your purchases post by the deadline — pending transactions won’t count.
If you need help reaching a minimum spending requirement, check out our guide on 10 ways to meet credit card bonus minimum spending requirements.
Bottom line
Although a few issuers are out of step, several do provide tools that make it easier for cardholders to track their progress toward meeting spending requirements. Taking advantage of these can save you the hassle of manually calculating your spending, and help ensure you don’t miss out on valuable rewards.
Learn more: Here are the best credit card welcome offers
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex card, click here.