Most credit card points never expire, but the rules depend on your card and issuer
Credit card points do not expire on most major cards issued by banks like Chase, American Express, Capital One, and Discover. Once you earn them, they stay in your account until you use them or close the card. However, some cards—particularly those from smaller banks or retail partners—do have expiration dates, usually between one and three years of inactivity. The key is knowing which rule applies to your specific card.
The difference matters because losing points to expiration is a real loss of money you already earned. A card that expires points after two years of no activity could cost you hundreds of dollars if you forget to check your balance or take a break from using the card.
Key Takeaways
- Most major bank credit cards do not expire points, but some retail and smaller bank cards do—check your card's terms or call the issuer to confirm.
- Even on cards where points do not expire, closing the card or letting it sit unused for years may trigger a policy that voids your balance.
- Inactivity, not time alone, is what causes points to expire on cards that have expiration rules—one purchase or redemption can reset the clock.
- You can protect your points by redeeming them occasionally, keeping the card open, or transferring them to a travel partner program before they expire.
How expiration works on cards that have it
When a card does have an expiration policy, it is usually triggered by inactivity, not by a fixed date. For example, a card might expire points if you do not earn or redeem any points for 12 or 24 months. This means a single purchase or redemption resets the timer. If you use the card once every two years, your points will not expire even if the policy says "points expire after two years of inactivity."
Some cards expire points when you close the account. If you have a card with an expiration policy and you close it, your remaining points are usually forfeited when ready. This is different from cards with no expiration policy, where closing the card may or may not end your points—it depends on the issuer's specific rules.
Retail credit cards and co-branded cards (like a store card or airline card issued by a smaller bank) are more likely to have expiration policies than general-purpose cards from major issuers. Before opening a new card, check the terms and conditions or call the issuer to ask directly: "Do points expire, and if so, what triggers the expiration?"
Which major card issuers do not expire points
Chase, American Express, Capital One, and Discover all have a clear policy: points do not expire as long as your account remains open. You can earn points, let them sit for years, and redeem them whenever you want. This applies to cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, American Express Gold Card, Capital One Venture X, and Discover it Cash Back.
However, there is a catch: if you close the card or let the account become inactive for an extended period (usually several years), the issuer may close the account for inactivity, which can result in losing your points. To be safe, use the card at least once every year or two, even if it is just a small purchase.
If you have a card from a smaller bank or a retail partner, do not assume the same rule applies. Call the issuer or log into your account and look for the terms under "Rewards" or "Points Policy" to confirm.
What happens if you close a card with points
On cards with no expiration policy, closing the account usually means losing your points when ready. Chase, American Express, and most other major issuers will void your balance when you close the card. This is one of the biggest reasons to think carefully before closing a rewards card—even if you do not plan to use it, keeping it open preserves your points.
If you have points you want to keep, redeem them before you close the card. Some issuers allow you to transfer points to a co-branded partner (like an airline or hotel) before closing, which can protect them even after the card is gone. Check your issuer's policy on transfers before you close.
On cards that do have an expiration policy, closing the card will almost certainly expire your points when ready, so redeem or transfer them first.
How to protect your points from expiring
The simplest way to protect points is to use the card occasionally—at least once a year. A single small purchase is enough to keep most accounts active and reset any inactivity timer. If you have a card you do not use often, set a calendar reminder to charge something small to it every 12 months.
If you have a large balance of points and you are worried about expiration, redeem them or transfer them to a partner program. Most travel rewards cards let you transfer points to airline or hotel partners, and those partner accounts often have their own expiration rules (which vary by partner). Check the partner's policy before transferring.
Another option is to use a card that lets you convert points to cash or statement credits, which typically do not expire once redeemed. If you have points on a card with an expiration policy and you are not sure when you will use them, cashing them out is safer than waiting.
Expiration policies for specific card types
Travel rewards cards: Most major travel cards (Chase Sapphire, American Express Platinum, Capital One Venture) do not expire points. However, some airline or hotel co-branded cards do have expiration policies—check before you open one.
Cashback cards: Cashback points almost never expire on major cards. Chase Freedom, Discover it, and American Express Blue all keep cashback indefinitely as long as the account is open.
Retail and store cards: These are the most likely to have expiration policies. A Target card, Walmart card, or Amazon store card may expire points after 12 to 24 months of inactivity. Always check the terms when you open a retail card.
Business credit cards: Business cards follow the same rules as personal cards—most do not expire points, but some do. Check your card's terms or contact the issuer.
What to do if your points have already expired
If you discover that your points have expired, contact the card issuer and ask if they will restore them. Some issuers will make a one-time exception, especially if you have been a long-term customer or if the expiration was due to unclear terms. There is no harm in asking, and a few minutes on the phone could recover hundreds of dollars worth of points.
If the issuer refuses, the points are gone. This is why checking your account balance and your card's expiration policy now is worth doing—it takes 10 minutes and can prevent a much larger loss later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do airline miles expire differently than credit card points?
Airline miles earned directly from the airline often expire after 12 to 24 months of inactivity, but miles earned through a co-branded credit card may follow the card's policy instead. Check your airline's website and your card's terms—they may not be the same. Some airlines reset the expiration timer if you take any flight, even on a partner airline.
Can I transfer points to someone else if they are about to expire?
Most issuers do not allow you to transfer points to another person. However, you can usually transfer points to a travel partner (airline or hotel) before they expire, and some partners allow you to use those miles for someone else's ticket. Check your card's transfer options and the partner's rules.
What if I have points on a card from a bank that no longer exists?
If your bank was acquired by another bank, the acquiring bank usually honors the points and the original card's terms. Contact the new issuer with your old card number and ask them to look up your account. If the bank went out of business entirely, the points are likely lost, but it is worth trying to contact any successor entity.
Do sign-up bonus points expire?
Sign-up bonus points follow the same expiration rules as points you earn through spending. On cards with no expiration policy, your bonus points do not expire. On cards with an expiration policy, bonus points expire on the same schedule as regular points.
Can I keep points if I downgrade my card to a different card from the same issuer?
Yes. When you downgrade a card, your points usually stay in your account and transfer to the new card. However, confirm this with the issuer before you downgrade, because some cards have different point policies. Also, the new card may have different redemption options, so check what you can do with your points after the downgrade.