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Holders of Discover's popular cash-back and miles-earning credit cards will soon be folded into Capital One's credit card portfolio and will begin using a new website and app to manage them. It’s the latest and biggest development in a string of significant changes announced since Capital One's acquisition of Discover in May 2025.
The transition will occur in waves through early 2027, said a Capital One spokesperson via email. Some cardholders will be migrated beginning July 27, 2026. Those scheduled to be migrated in the near future will receive a notification from the issuer. Affected cards include popular products like:
- The Discover it® Cash Back card.
- The Discover it® Miles card.
- The Discover it® Chrome card.
- The Discover it® Student Cash Back card.
- The Discover it® Student Chrome card.
“We know Discover credit cardholders value their products and their rewards programs,” Capital One noted in the email. “We are combining the strengths of both companies and keeping many of Discover’s most popular credit card features — including no annual fee, Cashback Match, 5% Cashback Bonus, and the same rewards earn rates on Discover products — while adding new ways to earn and redeem rewards.”
Primary cardholders' physical cards will not change by number, brand or design, but they will eventually be managed on Capital One's app and website. Cardholders with multiple Discover accounts may have to navigate transitions at different times depending on when those cards are migrated. Capital One confirms it is providing customers with information and reminders ahead of any changes. Until then, affected Discover cards may be used as normal.
Here’s what Discover cardholders can expect going forward.
New website, app, rewards and redemption options
Discover cardholders who are transitioned to Capital One will eventually be managing accounts from Capital One’s website and app. There will also be changes to reward rates and redemption options.
Rewards
Aside from their existing reward rates, which again aren't changing, Discover cardholders will be eligible to receive additional features and incentives when their cards transition to Capital One, including:
- Up to 15% cash back or 15X miles when shopping online directly through Capital One Offers.
- 5% cash back or 5X miles on hotels, rental cars and activities booked through Capital One Travel.
- 5% cash back or 5X miles on tickets and events booked through Capital One Entertainment.
- Spending tracked for authorized users.
- Unique virtual card numbers with Capital One to shop securely online.
One of the cards that is scheduled to transition next for some cardholders is the venerable Discover it® Cash Back. It will continue to earn 5% back in rotating quarterly categories on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter when you activate, and 1% back on all other purchases. Capital One will also honor the card's bonus offer for new cardholders, which Discover phrases this way: INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
When the card transitions to Capital One, it will be eligible for the new, additional rewards described above.
Redemptions
Redemption options will also be tweaked. Holders of Discover cards that earn miles back will be eligible for gift card redemptions. Discover cash-back cardholders will be able to use rewards to offset specific eligible purchases. Gift card redemptions will have at least 5% added value and require a minimum amount of $25 in rewards. Discover rewards and Capital One rewards will remain separate and the option to transfer rewards between the two programs will not be offered.
Some redemption options, though, are going away. Affected Discover cardholders will say goodbye to applying rewards toward their minimum payment and "Pay with Rewards with Apple Pay."
Actions for Discover cardholders
The transition itself should be mostly seamless for Discover cardholders. While primary cardholders will maintain the same card and number, authorized users and joint account holders will receive a new card number and may have to update it wherever it's saved for payment purposes.
And there will still be some effort required amid the migration process. For one thing, setting up an account with Capital One will be a key step for Discover cardholders once the time comes. After that happens, cardholders will use the Capital One app and website to manage those accounts going forward. It will no longer be possible to do so via Discover’s website or app.
Other steps cardholders may need to take, depending on their preferences, include:
- Agreeing to paperless terms with Capital One.
- Ensuring that account alert preferences remained intact in the transition.
- Signing up for CreditWise on Capital One’s website or app to maintain the free dark web alerts, credit monitoring and credit alerts offered through Discover.
- Enrolling in automatic statement credit as a redemption preference, if it's currently your go-to option.
- Potentially re-establishing subscriptions made with Apple Pay if the Discover card is used as a payment method.
Capital One encourages cardholders to review the communications they receive from the issuer to learn about any actions that must be taken. Capital One’s website can also offer more information, or cardholders can call the number on the back of their cards.
This page includes information about the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, which is no longer available, and the offer details may be out of date.
