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This summer is shaping up to be an excellent time to shop for a new credit card. Fresh, limited-time deals are flooding the market—especially in the world of travel rewards cards. While the flashy bonuses draw you in, keep an eye out for other great features. You’ll find cards with travel perks, strong cash-back earning rates or intro APR offers, ensuring there’s the perfect card for everyone regardless of what you’re looking for.
Find The Best Credit Card Bonuses For New Cardholders Of 2024
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IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Whether you prefer a lump sum of points or free night certificates is subjective, but we think the new welcome offer on the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is structured for maximum value. You can earn 5 Free Nights after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening—and then have fun hunting for redemptions. Its $99 annual fee is fair for the ongoing benefits it provides, like automatic Platinum Elite status and an Anniversary Free Night each year after renewal.
Featured Partner Offer
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
On Chase Bank USA, NA's Website
5.0
Forbes Advisor created additional star ratings so that you can see the best card for specific needs. This card shines for this use, but overall the star ratings may differ when compared to other cards.
On Chase Bank USA, NA's Website
Up to 26X Reward Rate
Earn up to 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts; 5 points perRead More
Welcome Bonus
Earn 5 Free Nights
Annual Fee
$99
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% Variable
Credit Score
Good, Excellent(700 - 749)
Editorial Review
The IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card is a must-have for road warriors shelling out big bucks on IHG properties. The complimentary Platinum status boosts the rewards on IHG purchases to stratospheric heights, and the free night and other perks easily justify the annual fee. For those who aren’t IHG fans, we suggest looking elsewhere.
Pros & Cons
- Earn up to 26 points per dollar spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts, 5 points on travel, gas stations, and restaurants and 3 points on all other purchases
- Free night award every account anniversary
- Fourth night free on point redemption stays
- Automatic Platinum Elite status
- No worthwhile redemption options outside of IHG properties
- Low overall point value
Card Details
- Our Best Offer Ever! Earn 5 Free Nights
- Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Plus, enjoy a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG® hotel stay.
- Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier cardmember
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 every 4 years as reimbursem*nt for the application fee charged to your card
- IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Kimpton®, EVEN® Hotels, Indigo® Hotels & Holiday Inn®
- Member FDIC
Earn 5 Free Nights after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
Business cards won’t appeal to everyone, but if you’re eligible for a small business card, the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card is one of the best choices in July. You can earn an above average welcome bonus: 60,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening and an additional 60,000 points after spending $15,000 in nine months. Assuming you meet the spending requirements for the full bonus, you’ll have those points available for award travel and enough points for the airline’s coveted Companion Pass—potentially doubling how far those rewards can take you.
Featured Partner Offer
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
On Chase Bank USA, NA's Website
4.4
Forbes Advisor created additional star ratings so that you can see the best card for specific needs. This card shines for this use, but overall the star ratings may differ when compared to other cards.
On Chase Bank USA, NA's Website
Up to 3x Reward Rate
Earn 3 points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards® hotel andRead More
Welcome Bonus
Earn up to 120,000 points
Annual Fee
$99
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% Variable
Credit Score
Good, Excellent(700 - 749)
Editorial Review
Here is the card of choice for business fliers on Southwest who want to earn rewards, but don’t want to pay a higher annual fee for some extra perks. The signup bonus will get you halfway to the cherished companion pass, and you’ll earn tier qualifying points toward A-list status.
Pros & Cons
- Generous welcome bonus
- High rewards rate on several methods of travel
- Annual 6,000 points bonus
- $99 annual fee
- Travel insurance protections are limited to baggage
- Increased point earnings on hotel and car rentals are limited to Rapid Rewards partners
Card Details
- Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening and an additional 60,000 points when you spend $15,000 in 9 months.
- 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
- Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
- Member FDIC
Earn up to 120,000 points. Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening and an additional 60,000 points when you spend $15,000 in 9 months.
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
Citi Strata PremierSM Card
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card has a powerful welcome offer to celebrate its recent launch, providing approximately$700 in value to qualifying new cardholders: Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. It also has one of the most well-rounded sets of bonus categories available from a single card, with the opportunity to earn 10 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com, 3 points per dollar on restaurants, supermarkets, gas & EV stations, air travel and other hotel purchases and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Points are valid toward travel, gift cards or as good as cash.
Featured Partner Offer
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
On Citi's Website
5.0
Forbes Advisor created additional star ratings so that you can see the best card for specific needs. This card shines for this use, but overall the star ratings may differ when compared to other cards.
On Citi's Website
Up to 10X Reward Rate
Earn 10 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com, 3 points per dollar atRead More
Welcome Bonus
70,000 bonus points
Annual Fee
$95
Regular APR
21.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Pros & Cons
- High rewards rates for many popular categories
- Ability to transfer points to hotel and airline loyalty programs
- No foreign transaction fees
- Some built-in travel protections
- The $100 hotel benefit is difficult to redeem
- The highest earning rates are on Citi Travel bookings
- $95 annual fee
Card Details
- Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
- Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
- Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Anyone heading to college this fall is likely to have some big expenses coming up, which makes the timing of the Discover it® Student Cash Back card’s welcome offer perfect. Get an Unlimited Cashback Match™ - Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards (yes, that means you’ll double your earnings on everything from textbooks to dorm essentials to travel between home and school). It also earns 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and more, up to the quarterly maximum once activated. Plus, automatically earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. The card also features Walmart and grocery stores as part of the higher-earning categories from July 1 through September 30.
Featured Partner Offer
Discover it® Student Cash Back
On Discover's Website
5.0
Forbes Advisor created additional star ratings so that you can see the best card for specific needs. This card shines for this use, but overall the star ratings may differ when compared to other cards.
On Discover's Website
Up to 5% Reward Rate
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations,Read More
Welcome Bonus
Cashback Match™
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
Credit Score
Fair/New to Credit
Editorial Review
Here’s an excellent way for students with average or limited credit scores to gain experience managing credit. No annual fee, no penalty APR, plus up to 5% cashback rewards in rotating categories (up to a quarterly cap with enrollment, 1% back on other purchases) earn this card an “A” in our book.
Pros & Cons
- 5% cashback on rotating bonus categories after enrollment
- First-year cash-back match
- 5% bonus cashback rate is limited to $1,500 per quarter in spending
- Bonus categories must be activated quarterly
- Low 1% base reward rate
Card Details
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- No credit score required to apply.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 18.24% – 27.24% applies.
- Terms and conditions apply.
INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Though the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (rates & fees) may get more attention, we love the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card’s (rates & fees) more palatable $95 annual fee. You’ll still earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar spent on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25 and an unlimited 2 miles per dollar spent on other purchases and have access to more than 15 Capital One rewards travel partners. Plus, you can snag a great limited-time offer available to new cardholders: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $1,000 in travel.
Wells Fargo Attune Card*
The brand new Wells Fargo Attune℠ Card* comes with an easy-to-earn welcome offer and no annual fee or late fees. You’ll earn a $100 cash rewards bonus when you spend $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. But this card is interesting for its ongoing earning rates just as much as its one-time offer. You can earn strong cash rewards on unconventional categories, making it a fantastic add-on to the cards already in your wallet. Enjoy earning 4% cash rewards on eligible purchases for gym memberships, entertainment, sports, recreation, at spas or salons and select additional categories, 1% cash rewards on other purchases.
Bottom Line
These credit cards are some of the greatest options available for July 2024 and worth consideration as you think about your next application. But if none of these feel quite right, there are also some long-standing credit card bonuses on other cards to present you with extra choices. As always, a generous welcome offer is a fast way to boost your rewards balance until your ongoing earnings catch up.
