Master the art of credit card churning to earn thousands in rewards while maintaining excellent credit. Learn advanced strategies from experts who've earned $50,000+ in value.
Churning Fundamentals
What is Credit Card Churning?
Opening credit cards for signup bonuses, meeting spending requirements, then moving to the next card. Done correctly, it can earn you:
- $500-2,000 cash back per card
- 50,000-150,000 points/miles per card
- Free flights, hotels, and experiences
โ ๏ธ Credit Score Requirements
Minimum 720+ credit score recommended. Churning can temporarily lower your score 5-15 points per application.
The 5/24 Rule & Issuer Restrictions
Chase 5/24
Denied if 5+ cards opened in 24 months
Strategy: Hit Chase first
Capital One 2/6
Max 2 cards per 6 months
Strategy: Space applications
Citi 1/8, 2/65
1 app per 8 days, 2 per 65 days
Strategy: Set reminders
Amex 2/90
Max 2 credit cards per 90 days
Strategy: Mix charge/credit
Optimal Churning Calendar
Month 1-3: Foundation
- Chase Sapphire Preferred (60k points)
- Chase Freedom Unlimited (20k points)
Month 4-6: Expansion
- Amex Gold (90k points)
- Capital One Venture X (75k miles)
Month 7-9: Optimization
- Citi Premier (80k points)
- Business cards (don't count toward 5/24)
Month 10-12: Cooldown
- Focus on meeting spending requirements
- Let inquiries age
Meeting Minimum Spend
Legitimate Methods ($3,000-5,000/month)
- Prepay bills: Insurance, utilities, taxes
- Gift cards: For future use at grocery/gas
- Bank account funding: Some allow CC funding
- Plastiq: Pay rent/mortgage (2.85% fee)
Advanced Techniques
- Manufactured spending: Buy money orders with gift cards
- Reselling: Buy and flip products
- Group expenses: Pay for group dinners, get reimbursed
Maximizing Point Value
| Program | Cash Value | Travel Value | Best Transfer Partners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase UR | 1ยข | 2-5ยข | Hyatt, United, Southwest |
| Amex MR | 0.6ยข | 2-4ยข | ANA, Virgin Atlantic |
| Citi TY | 1ยข | 1.5-3ยข | Turkish, Avianca |
| Capital One | 1ยข | 1.5-2.5ยข | Air Canada, Emirates |
Avoiding Shutdowns
Red Flags to Avoid
- Cycling credit limits (spending more than limit in a month)
- Sudden massive spending increases
- Too many applications too quickly
- Manufacturing spending patterns
Best Practices
- Keep utilization under 30% across all cards
- Maintain some spending on all cards
- Build relationships before churning
- Space applications 2-3 months apart
Ready to Start Churning?
Get your personalized churning roadmap based on your credit profile.