Top Picks This Week

Amex Platinum Card: up to 175,000 points after $12,000 in spending

• Issuer: American Express
• Source: One Mile at a Time
• Link: onemileatatime.com
• Annual fee: see source
• What: The Platinum Card is advertising a welcome offer of as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points after $12,000 in spending, with the exact offer varying by cardholder.
• Why it matters: 175,000 points on $12,000 of required spend works out to roughly 14.6 points per dollar spent, and Membership Rewards transfer to airline and hotel partners — but the offer is targeted, so the amount you see may differ.

Amex Gold Card: up to 100,000 points (offer varies by cardholder)

• Issuer: American Express
• Source: One Mile at a Time
• Link: onemileatatime.com
• Annual fee: see source
• What: The Gold Card is showing a welcome offer as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards points, though the amount is variable and eligibility rules apply.
• Why it matters: A six-figure Membership Rewards haul on a mid-tier card is well above the card's typical public offer, so it's worth checking your own targeted amount before applying.

Personal Cards

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: multi-part welcome offer (amount see source) — $95 annual fee

• Issuer: Chase
• Source: One Mile at a Time
• Link: onemileatatime.com
• Annual fee: $95
• What: The $95-a-year Chase-issued Marriott card carries a multi-part welcome offer alongside an annual free night award and 15 elite nights.
• Why it matters: The ongoing free night award and elite-night credits offset the modest annual fee, so the welcome offer stacks on top of year-over-year value rather than being the only reason to hold the card.

Other SUB News

Atmos Rewards cards: welcome bonuses and Bank of America eligibility rules explained

• Issuer: Bank of America
• Source: One Mile at a Time
• Link: onemileatatime.com
• What: A breakdown of the welcome bonuses and perks on the Atmos Rewards Summit, Ascent and Business cards, plus the eligibility rules Bank of America applies to each.
• Why it matters: Knowing the issuer's eligibility restrictions before applying determines whether you can earn the bonus at all, regardless of how large the advertised offer is.

Honorable Mentions

• How couples can maximize credit card rewards and benefits — Strategy piece on stacking two welcome offers, adding authorized users and using complementary cards as a couple.
• 15 Ways To Meet Credit Card Minimum Spending Requirements — Tactics for hitting a new card's minimum spend window so you don't forfeit the welcome offer.