The Ultimate Guide to Credit Card Referral Bonuses in 2025

Credit card referral bonuses are one of the most lucrative ways to earn extra points, miles, or cash back with minimal effort. While sign-up bonuses get all the attention, referral bonuses are the unsung heroes of the points and miles game.

In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know to start earning thousands of dollars in value from credit card referrals in 2025.

What Are Credit Card Referral Bonuses?

A referral bonus is a reward offered by a credit card issuer when you successfully invite someone to apply for a card you already have. If they are approved, you get a bonus (usually points or cash), and they often get a special sign-up offer.

It's a win-win situation:

• You earn points for sharing a link.
• Your friend gets a great card (and sometimes a better offer than the public one).
• The bank gets a new customer.

How Much Can You Earn?

The earning potential is significant. Most major issuers like Chase, Amex, and Capital One have annual caps on how many points you can earn per card, but these caps are often quite high.

• American Express: Often 10,000 to 30,000 points per referral, with an annual cap of 55,000 to 100,000 points per card.
• Chase: Typically 10,000 to 20,000 points per referral, capped at 75,000 to 100,000 points per year per card.
• Capital One: Usually $25 to $100 per referral, or 10,000 to 25,000 miles, with varying annual caps.

If you have multiple cards (or a "Player 2" like a spouse or partner), you can easily earn 200,000+ points per year just from referrals. That's enough for a round-trip business class ticket to Europe or Asia!

Strategies to Maximize Referrals

1. The "Two-Player" Mode

If you have a partner, spouse, or roommate, you should never apply for a card directly if the other person can refer you.

• Step 1: Player A gets Card X.
• Step 2: Player A refers Player B to Card X.
• Result: Player A gets a referral bonus, and Player B gets the sign-up bonus.

2. Share with Friends and Family

Don't be spammy, but do let your friends know you have links. If someone mentions they are looking for a travel card, offer to send them your link. Frame it as helping them get a good deal (which it often is).

3. Use Referbonuses.com

This is exactly why we built Referbonuses. Instead of awkwardly posting on Facebook or spamming Reddit, you can list your links on our platform. We verify them and show them to people actively looking for that specific card. It's the easiest way to reach a wider audience.

Best Cards for Referral Bonuses in 2025

While offers change, these cards historically have strong referral programs:

1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: The "king" of starter travel cards often has 15k point referral bonuses.
2. American Express® Gold Card: Known for high referral offers, sometimes as high as 30k points.
3. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: A premium card that often gives 25k miles per referral.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Self-Referrals: Never try to refer yourself for a second card. Banks hate this and will shut down your accounts (especially Amex).
• Spamming: Don't paste your links in random comments sections. It looks desperate and often violates platform rules.
• Ignoring Caps: Keep track of how many people have used your link so you don't "waste" referrals after hitting your annual limit.

Conclusion

Credit card referral bonuses are a powerful tool in your financial arsenal. By understanding the rules and using platforms like Referbonuses, you can turn your wallet into a passive income generator.

Ready to share your links? Click here to get started.