A subtle shift has occurred in the world of business credit cards. Chase has quietly implemented new restrictions on earning welcome bonuses for its popular Ink Business Cash® and Ink Business Unlimited® cards.
This change mirrors a broader trend within Chase, following similar limitations introduced earlier this year for its prestigious Sapphire card family. The issuer is clearly recalibrating its approach to bonus eligibility.
The core of the update lies in a new “cross-card eligibility” rule. Now, if you’ve ever held one of these no-annual-fee Ink Business cards, you’re ineligible for the welcome bonus on the other.
Previously, a common strategy for savvy business owners was to acquire both cards, maximizing rewards by leveraging their distinct earning structures. That strategy is now significantly altered for new applicants.
The new terms and conditions explicitly state that the bonus may be unavailable if you’ve previously held either Ink Business card, or “any other Chase for Business card without an annual fee.” Chase also reserves the right to consider individual business factors when determining eligibility.
This creates a clear “family rule” for these cards, aligning them with the restrictions already in place for the Sapphire line and mirroring similar practices adopted by American Express. It’s a move towards preventing bonus stacking.
Despite the change, you can still apply for, or even request a product change to, either Ink Business card. However, the allure of earning a welcome bonus on both is now gone.
The Ink Business Cash® card offers up to 5% cash back in select categories, while the Ink Business Unlimited® provides a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Combining these with a premium Chase card like the Sapphire Reserve® allowed for converting cash back into valuable, transferable Ultimate Rewards points.
Chase’s actions throughout the year demonstrate a clear intention to curb duplicate sign-ups and encourage customers to focus on a single product within each card family. This latest adjustment reinforces that strategy.
Industry observers anticipate that this trend of tightening bonus eligibility may extend to other Chase card families in the future, signaling a broader shift in the issuer’s rewards program philosophy.
