You need to be organised as a credit card churner or points chaser, especially since the banks have different rules for who can and can't get a sign up bonus offer.
Check if you are eligible with this compilation of eligibility requirements organised by bank.
Check the latest credit card sign up bonuses before you apply for your next credit card.
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Key takeaways
- Eligibility for the sign up bonus varies between issuers. Do your research before applying.
- The exclusion period may apply separately between groups of credit cards issued by the same bank, e.g. ANZ Rewards and ANZ Qantas.
- You'll typically need to leave 12 - 24 months between closing an account and applying for a new card with the same bank.
The following information is subject to change. It is always best to check the exact terms and conditions of the credit card sign up bonus before signing up.
Summary
| Bank | Exclusion period |
|---|---|
| American Express | 18 months |
| ANZ | 12 months |
| Bank of Melbourne | 12 months |
| BankSA | 12 months |
| Bankwest | 24 months |
| Citi | Unknown |
| Commonwealth Bank | 12 months |
| HSBC | 12 months |
| NAB | 12 months |
| Qantas Money | 12 months |
| St.George | 12 months |
| Virgin Money | Unknown |
| Westpac | 12 months |
If you are interested in exclusion periods, there's a good chance you'll find our credit card churning guide helpful.
American Express
- American Express credit card sign up bonuses are generally only available to new cardholders who have not held an American Express card in the past 18 months.
ANZ
- ANZ credit card sign up bonuses are generally only available to new cardholders who have not held an ANZ card in the past 12 months.
- The exclusion period applies separately to ANZ Rewards and ANZ Frequent Flyer credit cards.
Bank of Melbourne
- Bank of Melbourne credit card sign up bonuses are generally only available to new cardholders who have not held a Bank of Melbourne card in the past 12 months.
BankSA
- BankSA credit card sign up bonuses are generally only available to new cardholders who have not held a BankSA card in the past 12 months.
Bankwest
- Bankwest credit card sign up bonuses are generally only available to new cardholders who have not held a Bankwest card in the past 24 months.
Citi
- Specific terms regarding eligibility for Citi's credit card sign up bonuses are unknown.
- The exclusion period may apply separately for Citi Rewards and their credit cards linked with Flybuys, Qantas Frequent Flyer, and Velocity Frequent Flyer.
Commonwealth Bank
- Commonwealth Bank credit card sign up bonuses are generally only available to new cardholders who have not held a Commonwealth Bank card in the past 12 months.
HSBC
- HSBC credit card sign up bonuses are generally only available to new cardholders who have not held an HSBC card in the past 12 months.
- The exclusion period may apply separately for groups of HSBC credit cards, e.g. those earning points with Qantas Frequent Flyer, Star Alliance, and HSBC Rewards.
NAB
- NAB credit card sign up bonuses are generally only available to new cardholders who have not held a NAB card in the past 12 months.
- The exclusion period applies separately to NAB Rewards and NAB credit cards linked with a frequent flyer rewards program such as Qantas Frequent Flyer.
Qantas Money
- Qantas Money credit card sign up bonuses are generally only available to new cardholders who have not held a Qantas Money card in the past 12 months.
St.George
- St.George credit card sign up bonuses are generally only available to new cardholders who have not held a St.George card in the past 12 months.
Virgin Money
- Specific terms regarding eligibility for Virgin Money's credit card sign up bonuses are unknown.
Westpac
- Westpac credit card sign up bonuses are generally only available to new cardholders who have not held a Westpac card in the past 12 months.
FAQs
What happens if you apply and are approved but aren't a new customer?
If you do not meet the eligibility criteria for the sign up bonus but were approved for the card, you can keep the account open or cancel it.
