Can you have a Chase travel credit card and cash back card?
Quick insights
- You can apply for both a travel rewards card and a cash back card with Chase.
- Pairing a travel and cash back card can increase the potential to earn rewards across multiple spending categories.
- Chase Ultimate Rewards® points earned with eligible cards can be combined, which could provide more redemption options for cardmembers.
For those looking to strategize their credit card portfolio, the idea of pairing a travel and a cash back card from the same issuer, like Chase, may be intriguing. The good news is that you may be able to hold both types of cards simultaneously.
In this guide, we’ll walk through ways to make the most of this strategic combination, while also highlighting key considerations for managing multiple cards effectively.
Having a Chase travel credit card and a Chase cash back credit card
Chase allows cardmembers to hold both a travel rewards credit card and a cash back card simultaneously. While Chase permits holding more than one different credit card, cardmembers must meet the eligibility requirements and credit criteria for each card in question.
Pairing a travel credit card and cash back credit card
Though they have the same card issuer, Chase travel credit cards and cash back credit cards may earn rewards differently. Most Chase credit cards earn rewards as points, miles or cash back. Travel cards typically earn points, or miles when co-branded with an airline.
Travel credit cards usually also provide benefits like airport lounge access, travel statement credits or elite status with airlines or hotels.
Combining rewards from multiple cards
Having multiple cards from the same card issuer can mean you may be able to combine the rewards on those cards for more redemption options. For certain Chase credit cards, you can redeem or transfer rewards through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
Considerations for holding multiple cards
Here are a few things you may want to keep in mind when using or applying for multiple credit cards:
- Annual fees: Many rewards cards have an annual fee. If you plan to have multiple credit cards with annual fees, it may be helpful to consider your budget and if the benefits are worth the fees.
- Managing payments: Keeping track of different billing cycles, payment due dates and minimum payment amounts for several cards may take more planning and management.
- Overlapping benefits: If two cards offer similar benefits, you might be paying annual fees for perks you already have or can only use once.
When you apply for a new card, it might have a new cardmember welcome bonus offer. These types of offers generally provide the opportunity to earn additional rewards when a new cardmember hits a spending target within a specific period. If you apply for a new credit card, you may want to consider if you’re able to meet the spending requirements in order to earn the welcome bonus offer.
You also may want to consider the impact of applying for multiple credit cards. Credit card applications typically result in a hard pull of your credit, which can affect your credit score. Some card issuers may also reject an application if you’ve applied for too many cards within a given time frame. Chase typically does not allow cardmembers to open more than one credit card in a 30-day period.
In summary
You can hold both a Chase travel credit card and a cash back card if you meet their eligibility requirements, giving you more ways to earn and redeem rewards. Travel cards typically earn rewards as points or miles and cash back cards earn points that can be redeemed for cash back. Cardmembers may be able to combine or pool their rewards in the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
When having more than one card, you may want to be mindful of extra management, annual fees and the timing of your card application to make the most of your Chase card pairings.
