Love throwing down your credit card at dinner and regaling your friends with all the details of its perks?
Many credit card issuers have their own version of a referral program that allows current cardholders to recommend, or refer, a credit card to someone else. If the other person is approved for the recommended card, both parties stand to benefit, usually in the form of credit card points or cash.
Chase’s program — aptly named Refer-A-Friend — encompasses cash-back, travel, airline, hotel and business credit cards. Referring friends to one of Chase’s cards can be a pretty easy way to rack up thousands of extra rewards points without spending a dime. However, Chase imposes limits on the number of points or cash you can earn from referrals in a year, and a referral isn’t always the right move for all involved.
Here’s how Chase’s Refer-A-Friend program works.
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How to Refer-A-Friend with Chase
The process of referring a friend to a Chase credit card is straightforward: You can send out the referral from Chase’s website or in the app.
To navigate from the website:
- Go to creditcards.chase.com/refer-a-friend.
- Click the “Refer friends now” button for the card you’d like to recommend.
- You'll be promped to log in to your Chase account, if you aren't already.
- Check the box to confirm that you have consent from friends to share the offer with them.
- Copy the unique URL, and send it to your friend by email, text or social media.
To navigate from the app:
- Log in and select the account for the card that you want to refer.
- Scroll down to the tile for the referral program and click "Refer Now."
- Check the box to confirm that you have consent from friends to share the offer with them.
- Copy the unique URL, and send it to your friend by email, text or social media.
What to consider when you're referring
As with many things in life, just because you can doesn't mean you should. When each successful referral results in a windfall of credit card points, it can be tempting to hand out referral links like candy on Halloween, but there are a few considerations to keep in mind.
Is the card a good fit for your friend?
Consider whether the card fits the other person’s lifestyle. For example, if your friend isn’t a frequent traveler, a Southwest card may not make sense. Suggesting a flashy new rewards card may be the wrong move when it comes to friends who are struggling with credit card debt, too.
There are limits
The maximum amount you can earn in referrals is limited per card you hold: The more Chase cards in your wallet, the more potential referral bonuses you can earn. These limits reset each calendar year. Here's what was offered as of September 2025:
Chase credit cards with Refer-A-Friend bonuses
- Chase Freedom Flex® and Chase Freedom Unlimited® ($50 for each approved friend, up to $500 cash back per year).
- Chase Freedom Rise® ($25 for each approved friend, up to $250 cash back per year).
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (15,000 points for each approved friend, up to 1000,000 points per year).
- Any Southwest Rapid Rewards card (20,000 points for each approved friend, up to 100,00 points per year).
- Any United MileagePlus card (10,000 points for each approved friend, up to 100,00 points per year).
- Any Marriott Bonvoy card (40,000 points for each approved friend, up to 200,000 points per year).
- Any Disney Visa card (100 Disney Rewards Dollars for each approved friend, up to 500 Rewards Dollars per year).
- Chase for Business cards — Ink-branded cards and the Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (40,000 points for each approved business, up to 200,000 points per year).
- World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (10,000 bonus points for each approved business up to 50,000 points per year).
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (10,000 bonus points for each approved friend up to 50,000 points per year).
A bonus isn't a sure thing
It sounds simple enough, but you won’t get the referral bonus if your friend doesn’t apply for the card using your link. Even if you've taken the time to patiently explain all the ins and outs of the card's rewards, if your friend forgets and applies on the Chase website instead of your link, you won't get the credit. You also won't earn a referral bonus if your friend's application isn't approved, or if you've reached the referral limits already.
You may have to pay taxes
In most cases, the rewards you earn from your credit card aren't taxable — they're viewed as rebates on spending, not as income. But rewards earned from referral bonuses are treated differently. The credit card issuer may issue a 1099 for the cash value of any rewards you earned for referrals.
How to apply with a Refer-A-Friend link
The process to apply for a card using a referral link is simple. But before you do, quickly compare credit card offers to make sure you’re actually getting the best deal. The value of sign-up bonuses can vary, so check Chase’s website and others like NerdWallet to see how the referral offer stacks up.
Then, if you decide to apply for the card using the referral, you’ll just need to visit the link that your friend sent you. If you’re approved, you may receive a response within minutes of submission. However, it can take up to a couple of weeks to get the physical card in the mail.
