Rumor: No More 5X Bonus Category for New Chase Ink Cardholders

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There are potential changes coming to the Chase Ink Cash and Ink Plus business credit cards.

Via Doctor of Credit, NEW cardholders MAY no longer earn 5X Chase Ultimate Rewards Points or 5% cash back on purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services.

This change is NOT expected to affect existing cardholders.  So you might consider applying for these cards before any changes take place.

Rumor No More 5X Bonus Category For New Chase Ink Cardholders
There Is a Rumor Chase Is Considering Removing the 5X Bonus Category for the Chase Ink Cash and Ink Plus Small Business Credit Cards!

I’ll explain more about this rumor!

Rumored Chase Ink Changes

Link:   Ink Cash Business Credit Card 

Link:   My Review of the Chase Ink Cash

Link:   Ink Plus® Business Credit Card 

Link:   My Review of the Chase Ink Plus

The Chase Ink Plus and Ink Cash small business credit cards currently have 2 bonus categories.

With the Ink Cash card, you earn:

  • 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year
  • 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year

And with the Ink Plus, you earn:

  • 5 Chase Ultimate Rewards points for every $1 you spend at office supply stores and cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV (to a maximum of $50,000 in combined purchases per account anniversary year)
  • 2 Chase Ultimate Rewards points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and on rooms booked directly with hotels

But Doctor of Credit reports bonus category spending for new cardholders might be consolidated into one 3X bonus category.  And it’s possible Chase will add a new category to earn bonus points or cash back, like advertising.

Competition from other banks is likely the reason for any changes.  For example, the SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card from American Express allows cardholders to select a 3% cash back category.  Although the AMEX SimplyCash Plus card still has a 5% cash back category (US office supply stores and wireless phone bills).

With these rumored updates by Chase, cardholders might have the opportunity to earn more points or cash back with a broader set of 3X categories.

Apply Now or Wait for Changes?

If you’ve been thinking about applying for one of these cards and spend a lot in office supply stores or on phone, cable, and internet, you might want to take advantage of the current offers, including a $300 cash back offer for the Ink Cash card.

But if you think you’ll spend more in the current 2X bonus categories, you might want to wait for the changes.  Because you’ll earn 3X on all bonus category spending instead!

Keep in mind, Chase has tightened their application rules.  If you’ve opened ~5 or more credit cards (from any bank) in the past 24 months, (excluding certain business cards) it will be difficult to be approved for most Chase cards.

Bottom Line

There are rumors Chase might remove the 5X bonus category from the Chase Ink Cash and Ink Plus business credit cards for NEW cardholders.

Instead, folks will earn 3X Chase Ultimate Rewards points or 3% cash back on ALL eligible bonus category purchases.

These changes are NOT expected to impact existing cardholders.

Stay tuned!  I’ll be sure to share any updates!

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