I normally like to wait at least 90 days in between application days, however I wanted to get the Ink Plus card and the 50,000 Ultimate Reward point sign-up bonus just in case the spending requirement goes back up later in January. I was also eager to attempt for a second Ink Bold (new business with EIN) and Sapphire Preferred card (MC version). I decided I could handle the credit hit as my score had recently jumped to just shy of 800. I would also be applying for my new Ink Bold card using my Employer Identification Number (EIN) instead of my SSN which I normally use.
Some Data Points
- Credit score – Just shy of 800. Make sure to check your scores before applying. Get your free TransUnion score from CreditKarma and your free Experian score from Credit Sesame.
- Total number of Chase cards prior – 6
- An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is easy to obtain online from the IRS. Check out this link. Note that you still need to enter your SSN at the bottom of the application so that Chase can check your credit history.
- My previous Chase Ink Bold and Sapphire Preferred were still active when I applied. My new Ink Bold was for a new business and so I was comfortable closing my previous Ink Bold and moving the credit line over to the new card (though this was not required, instead credit was rearranged). I applied using my new EIN number. With the Sapphire Preferred, I explained that I needed a MC version so that I could travel overseas to countries that did not readily accept VISA, but also so that I could do my local shopping at Sam’s Club. I was informed that it was not possible to have both cards and that since I already had a VISA, I would not be approved for a MasterCard. I offered to give up the VISA version for the MC and was assured that I would still receive the sign up bonus. REMEMBER to move your UR points to an account you will be keeping before canceling any of your cards!
So, since I had already applied for one card “out of cycle” I added a few additional applications:
- Citi AA Visa & Citi AA AMEX (so happy that I was finally approved again for these after more than 2 years that I created a whole separate post)
- Barclays – US Airways (40k after first purchase, successful 2nd application even though Barclays is one of the toughest lenders)
- Bank of America Hawaiian Airlines (35k miles after 1k in purchases within 3 mos)
- Bank of Hawaii Hawaiian Airlines (35k miles after 1k in purchases within 3 mos) **These 70k Hawaiian Airlines miles transfer to Hilton HHonors at a 1:2 ratio for 140k HHonors points** …prior to the devaluation this was a good deal!
If you somehow don’t have even your first Ink Plus or Ink Bold now is a nice time to get one. Chase has recently lowered the spending requirements on both cards from $10,000 in spend to only $5000 in spend within 3 months. Chase is currently offering a 50k sign up bonus for the Ink Bold, a 50k sign up for the Ink Plus, and a 40k sign up bonus for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, providing the opportunity to earn up to 140,000 Ultimate Rewards Points. More details on all of these cards here.
Update – 3/23 – Readers are no longer having success obtaining a Sapphire Preferred in the MasterCard flavor 🙁
The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
17 comments
[…] ‘Tis the Season…A Second Ink Bold & Chase Sapphire Received with Sign-Up Bonuses! […]
Do you have to wait until the 3rd month before the Chase ink 50K bonus get posted even you met the spending in 1 month? because I already spend $5k and statement is close for the month but it only posted the amount I spent on the card with no 50K bonus.
@ David – if you hit the spending requirement prior to the statement close date, you should receive the points, even if it’s before the 90 days
I would say it is the season to stop plugging card links and move on. We are done! Time to stop! New Years resolution.
@Levy Flight – I was simply writing about my experiences trying to get the CSP MC and a second Ink Bold. Of the 7 cards mentioned in this post, you should know that the Sapphire Preferred MC, AA Visa, AA AMEX, BoA Hawaiian, Bank of Hawaii Hawaiian, and US Airways are all links directly from the banks.
Thanks for your insight. I really enjoyed reading your post on this topic.
Charles
How long will it take for the HA bonus miles to post after meeting the minimum spend?
@Derr – BoA is especially slow in even getting you the card which takes almost 2 weeks unless you ask them to expedite it. After meeting minimum spend the bonus posted after my next statement closing date. Remember the BoA and Bank of Hawaii versions do NOT waive the $79 annual fee for the first year.
Applied, and after the call to the reconsideration line, approved without sacraficing any credit. 50,000 more points, check!!!! This will be my first Bold, so I look forward to the giftcard game in the future. Thanks!
@Tracy – Congrats!!! Impressive, no credit sacrificing or phone roulette!
[…] few credit card presents. I had been away for the week in Curacao and so most of the cards from my December churn had not yet been delivered. That makes a total of eight cards for December including my second Ink […]
Does getting an EIN require one to file a tax return for that EIN every year?
@Apex – Only if you have taxable income for your business.
ok I hope signing up for cards using EIN does not trigger any IRS action requiring to file.
Did you create your EIN to get the 2nd Ink card even though the application still asks for SSN? And when callind Chase reconsideration line for approval did you first provide just the EIN first?
@Apex – Better to check with your accountant if you are at all concerned! I needed to create an EIN for business purposes anyway, but did use it for the 2nd Ink Card. When calling Chase I still provided my SSN but explained to the representative that this was an application for my new business and had them refer to the EIN number.
[…] Another interesting data point from the December churn is that I only received two hard pulls from Chase, even though I applied for the Ink Bold, Ink Plus, and a second Sapphire Preferred. […]
Adam, have you ever applied for 2-3 Chase personal credit cards at the same time before? Thanks.