Most credit card points never expire as long as your account stays open
The short answer: points on most major credit cards do not expire, but there are real exceptions and conditions that matter. The key is whether your card issuer has an expiration policy and whether you keep the account active. Some cards let points sit indefinitely. Others expire if you do not use them within a set time — usually between one and three years — or if your account closes.
The expiration rules depend entirely on your specific card's terms. Chase, American Express, Discover, and Citi each have different policies, and some cards within the same issuer vary. Before you assume your points are safe, you need to check your card's rewards program rules or call the issuer directly.
Key Takeaways
- Most major credit card issuers do not expire points on active accounts, but the policy varies by card and issuer.
- Points typically expire only if your account closes or if you do not earn or redeem within a specific time window, usually one to three years.
- Checking your card's terms or calling customer service is the only way to know your card's exact expiration policy.
- Keeping your account open and using it occasionally prevents expiration on cards that have inactivity rules.
- Some cards let you transfer points to travel partners or convert them to cash, which can extend their usefulness even if the points themselves expire.
How expiration actually works on different card issuers
Chase does not expire Ultimate Rewards points as long as your account is open. However, if you close the account, you typically have 30 days to use or transfer your points before they disappear. The same applies to most Chase co-branded cards like the United or Southwest cards.
American Express does not expire Membership Rewards points on most cards, including the Gold Card and Platinum Card. But if your account closes, you lose the points. American Express also has a small number of older cards or specific promotions where points do expire after a set time, so checking your specific card's terms matters.
Discover does not expire Cashback Bonus points on active accounts. If your account closes, you have 30 days to use your points before they expire. Discover also does not expire points due to inactivity the way some older programs did.
Citi does not expire ThankYou points on active accounts. If your account closes, points expire after 30 days. Some older Citi cards had different rules, but current cards follow this pattern.
When points actually expire: account closure and inactivity
The most common reason points expire is account closure. If you close your credit card, most issuers give you a short window — usually 30 days — to redeem or transfer your points. After that, they are gone. This applies across Chase, American Express, Discover, and Citi.
Inactivity is less common now than it used to be. Older rewards programs sometimes expired points if you did not earn or redeem within a certain period, often 12 to 24 months. Most major issuers have moved away from this, but it is worth checking your specific card's terms. Some co-branded cards or cards with smaller issuers may still have inactivity clauses.
A few cards have promotional point expiration. If you earned bonus points as part of a sign-up offer, those bonus points sometimes expire separately from regular points you earn through spending. Read the fine print on any bonus offer to see if there is a deadline.
What to do if you are unsure about your card's policy
The fastest way to know is to call the customer service number on the back of your card. Tell them you want to confirm whether your points expire and under what conditions. They can tell you in one call whether inactivity will cause expiration, what happens if you close the account, and whether any promotional points have a deadline.
You can also log into your online account and look for the rewards program terms. Most issuers link to their full rewards policy from the account dashboard or the rewards page. Search for "expiration" or "expire" on that page to find the relevant section.
If you have an older card you have not used in years, calling is especially important. Older programs sometimes had different rules, and knowing whether your points are still there and usable is worth a five-minute call.
How to protect your points from expiring
The simplest protection is to keep your account open. You do not have to use the card regularly — most issuers do not expire points due to inactivity anymore — but closing the account starts the clock on your 30-day window to redeem.
If you have a card you do not use, consider putting one small recurring charge on it, like a streaming subscription or a monthly coffee purchase. This keeps the account active and gives you a reason to check your points balance periodically. It also signals to the issuer that the account is in use, which can help if there is ever a dispute about inactivity.
If you are sitting on a large points balance and worried about expiration, redeem or transfer them sooner rather than later. Most cards let you transfer points to travel partners, convert them to cash, or book travel directly through the rewards portal. Doing this removes the risk entirely.
What happens to points when you close an account
When you close a credit card, the issuer typically gives you a grace period — usually 30 days — to redeem or transfer your points. During this window, you can log into your account online or call customer service to use your points. After the window closes, the points are forfeited and cannot be recovered.
Some issuers will let you redeem points after the account is closed if you call within a reasonable time and explain the situation, but this is not may provide. The safest approach is to redeem or transfer your points before you close the account, not after.
If you are thinking about closing a card, check your points balance first. Many people forget they have points sitting on a card they no longer use, and closing the account without redeeming them is a missed opportunity.
Points that transfer to partners or convert to cash
Some rewards programs let you transfer points to airline or hotel partners, which can extend their value even if the points themselves expire. For example, Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to airlines like United, Southwest, and others. If your points were about to expire on the card, transferring them to a partner account might give you more time to use them, since partner accounts have their own expiration rules.
Cash redemptions also sidestep expiration concerns. If your card lets you convert points to cash or statement credits, doing so removes the expiration risk entirely. The cash or credit hits your account immediately and does not expire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose my points if I do not use my credit card for a year?
On most major cards, no. Chase, American Express, Discover, and Citi do not expire points due to inactivity on active accounts. However, if you close the account, you have about 30 days to redeem your points before they expire. Check your specific card's terms to be certain, since some older or co-branded cards may have different rules.
What if I close my credit card with points still on it?
You typically have 30 days after closing to redeem or transfer your points through the issuer's website or by calling customer service. After that window, the points are forfeited. Redeem your points before you close the account to avoid losing them.
Can I transfer my points to someone else if they are about to expire?
Most issuers do not allow you to transfer points to another person. However, you can transfer points to travel partners (airlines and hotels) on some cards, or convert them to cash or statement credits. Check your card's redemption options to see what is available.
Do bonus points expire separately from regular points?
Sometimes. If you earned bonus points as part of a sign-up offer, read the fine print to see if those bonus points have a separate expiration date. Regular points you earn through spending usually follow the card's standard expiration policy, which is often no expiration on active accounts.
How do I check if my points have already expired?
Log into your credit card account online and check your points balance. If your balance is lower than you remember, call customer service to ask whether points expired or if there was a redemption you forgot about. They can review your account history and tell you what happened to your points.