Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses — 2026-08-11 to 2026-08-18

Top Picks This Week

Chase Sapphire Reserve: 175,000 points after required spending (see source)

• Issuer: Chase
• Source: Doctor of Credit
• Link: Doctor of Credit
• Annual fee: see source
• What: Chase is offering an elevated 175,000-point welcome bonus on the Sapphire Reserve to some applicants after they meet the required spend.
• Why it matters: At roughly 1.5 cents per point via Chase Travel, that's about $2,600 in travel value — one of the largest Sapphire Reserve offers reported.

Chase Sapphire Preferred: 125,000 points after required spending (see source)

• Issuer: Chase
• Source: Doctor of Credit
• Link: Doctor of Credit
• Annual fee: see source
• What: Chase has increased the Sapphire Preferred welcome offer to 125,000 Ultimate Rewards points for targeted applicants who meet the spend requirement.
• Why it matters: Worth roughly $1,250 as cash back, or up to about $1,875 through Chase Travel, making this a well-above-normal offer for one of the most popular starter travel cards.

Amex Gold: up to 100,000 points after required spending (see source)

• Issuer: American Express
• Source: The Points Guy
• Link: The Points Guy
• Annual fee: see source
• What: The Amex Gold Card is currently offering a welcome bonus as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards points for eligible applicants who meet the spend requirement.
• Why it matters: 100,000 points is worth at least $1,000 in baseline redemptions and often more when transferred to airline partners, on a card that earns 4x at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.

Newly Elevated & Limited-Time

Virgin Red card: 80,000 points after required spending (see source)

• Issuer: Synchrony
• Source: Doctor of Credit
• Link: Doctor of Credit
• Annual fee: see source
• What: Synchrony has increased the welcome bonus on the Virgin Red credit card to 80,000 points after meeting the required spend.
• Why it matters: At a conservative 1-cent valuation, that's roughly $800 in value, and it can go further on Virgin Atlantic award redemptions.

Honorable Mentions

• Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Venture Business — TPG's side-by-side of the two $95 cards covers current welcome offers, benefits, and earning rates.
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card $300 Restaurant Credit guide — Explains the Brilliant's restaurant credit and notes the card's current "huge" welcome offer.
• Chase Ink Business Card bonus categories guide — Details the Ink lineup's 1.5x–5x category multipliers and highlights the portfolio's strong current welcome bonuses.
• 6 Best Credit Cards for Active-Duty Military — Premium cards with waived annual fees for military members and spouses under the SCRA.
• Best Posts Last Week: U.S. Bank Adds Transfer Partners, 175k Offer On CSR/125k On CSP & More — Also in this roundup: U.S. Bank adding transfer partners and PenFed ending the Pathfinder card's annual fee waiver.