When applying for a new bank card, you at all times wish to discover one of the best welcome provide — the one that provides probably the most bang for your buck, probably the most factors, probably the most money again.

But what if there is a welcome provide so probably profitable that it retains you from signing up for different cards for a whole year?

After getting the Chase Freedom Unlimited in September of final year, that is the scenario I discover myself in. Let me clarify.

Best-ever sign-up bonus

In the autumn of 2023, I took benefit of a implausible (now-expired) welcome provide on one among Chase’s hottest cash-back cards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited. At the top of my first year, Chase will match all of the money again earned on the cardboard in my first 12 months of card possession.

This means the cardboard’s earnings charges are primarily doubled for the primary year of the Freedom Unlimited. Instead of incomes 5% again on journey bought via Chase Ultimate Rewards, I’ll earn a complete of 10% again. Instead of three% again on eating and drugstores, I’ll earn 6%. And as a substitute of 1.5% again on all different purchases, I’ll earn a stable 3%.

Those elevated earnings charges are a number of the greatest you will discover on any cash-back card, maybe ever. And they’re (or had been) accessible for a full year of card possession.

Not a nasty return on simply my third-ever bank card. But why am I ready to drag the set off on one other?

Why I’m ready

It goes with out saying that the welcome provide I jumped on is fairly profitable. But is it so profitable that I’ve boxed myself out of getting different cards for the time being if my final purpose is maximizing worth?

I believe the reply to that query is sure. Plenty of different cards I may enroll for provide lavish journey perks and the like, however it’s arduous to beat 10% money again on journey booked via Chase. And given my private spending habits (trace: I eat out lots), a complete of 6% again on eating can be a implausible return.

Daily Newsletter

Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily publication

Join over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists

Note that this spending class additionally contains takeout and eligible supply companies, which is all of the encouragement I would like to make use of DoorDash a number of extra instances every week (my Freedom Unlimited additionally got here with three months of complimentary DashPass).

Sure, I may go for a premium journey card within the meantime and benefit from a welcome provide I like there. But when maximizing worth on day-to-day spending, the Freedom Unlimited will nearly at all times be my greatest wager, no less than till that lump sum of matched money again hits my account within the fall.

Luckily, I already know what my subsequent transfer will probably be when these first 12 months are up — and it’ll assist me maximize the rewards on my Freedom Unlimited even additional, in case you can consider it.

My subsequent card

When my first 12 months on the Freedom Unlimited are over, I plan to use for one other common and priceless providing from Chase: the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

That’s for a number of causes. First, Chase’s 5/24 rule dictates that Chase will not approve any new card candidates who’ve opened 5 or extra private credit score cards throughout all banks within the final 24 months. That implies that, as a basic rule, if I’m filling out my pockets, I’ll wish to prioritize getting Chase cards first, as no different card issuers have a rule like this.

More importantly, although, the Sapphire Preferred is one of some cards — together with the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Ink Business Preferred — that can permit me to transform my money again on the Freedom Unlimited into totally transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards factors.

That implies that I unlock Chase’s full vary of 14 airline and resort switch companions. And it means each cent earned with the Freedom Unlimited will probably be 1 Ultimate Reward level, price 2.05 cents per TPG valuations — successfully incomes me an over 20% return on all journey purchases and an over 12% return on eating and at drugstores.

To summarize: By benefiting from the matched cash-back provide on the Freedom Unlimited after which changing my money again into factors with one other Chase card, I’ll quadruple the usual return on the Freedom Unlimited for my first 12 months of card possession.

Bottom line

The matched cash-back provide on the Freedom Unlimited was a uncommon one. You undoubtedly do not see welcome gives with probably limitless returns on common cash-back cards daily.

But it’s a nice instance of the have to be versatile within the bank card rewards recreation. I had initially deliberate on getting the Sapphire Preferred a lot earlier in my cards journey; now, I’ve kicked that down the highway to maximise my return on spending within the meantime.

This provide additionally works for me, particularly, given my spending habits. I do not journey a ton, however I spend lots on consuming out, making the 6% again in that class a boon for my backside line.

So, in case you take away something from this article, let or not it’s this: Credit card rewards are all about what’s priceless to you. Find the cardboard, perks and welcome provide that take advantage of sense for your way of life and spending habits. And when one thing actually profitable comes alongside, be able to take benefit. Then take into consideration which card to pair it with subsequent.

To be taught extra, learn our full assessment of the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

Apply right here: Chase Freedom Unlimited