Rakuten Chase Card Offers
First, a reminder that Rakuten offers cashback/points when you click through their link and apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited, Chase Sapphire Preferred, and Chase INK Unlimited. The payout isn’t as high as the prior $300 offer, but you can still earn $25–$50 per approval. For some, using a referral link from a friend or spouse might yield better value.
Rakuten Bonus Breakdown
When looking at the details of the bonus amounts, here’s where it gets interesting:
- Chase Freedom Unlimited – $25 for existing Chase customers or $50 for new Chase customers
- Chase Sapphire Preferred – $25 for existing Chase customers or $50 for new Chase customers
- Chase INK Unlimited – $25 flat
“Members who don’t have a current Chase credit card or Chase consumer banking or checking account may be eligible for higher cash back rates during certain periods. Chase customer status is determined by Chase.”
Business Referral Exclusion
You’ll recall that Chase added a new exclusion to business card referrals to limit the referrer bonus to those that result in new Chase Business customers. Chase referrals for personal cards work for new or existing customers.
Strangely, Rakuten’s bonus works in the opposite fashion: the Ink Unlimited offer doesn’t distinguish between new and existing customers, while the personal card offers do.
Regardless, we have confirmation here that Chase’s affiliate channels are tracking new versus existing customers. And presumably they’ve quickly put into effect their business referral card limitation on existing customers.
I don’t doubt that Chase has mountains of data about their customer-base and customer signups, but the news here to me is that they have it drilled down in their affiliate bonus system too. It’s possible this is long known to Chase affiliates in their tracking systems, something I don’t have access to.
New Customer Definition
Interestingly, the definition of ‘new’ for the Rakuten personal card tracking counts bank accounts. Contrast that to the business referral link system where the terms indicate they only count business cards, not bank accounts.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Rakuten offer isn’t huge, but it seems the $25 from Rakuten on the INK Unlimited card is now the best deal since referral links probably won’t work for existing business customers. The $25/$50 offers on the Freedom Unlimited and Sapphire Preferred cards will also make sense for some, especially if you value a lot your Rakuten points.
No comments have been published yet.