Product changes do not earn welcome bonuses
Changing an existing card to a different product (a product change, upgrade, or downgrade) does not create a new account and does not pay a new-cardmember welcome bonus. This holds across issuers: Chase states it for Sapphire cards, Citi's 48-month clock does not start on a product change, and Bank of America business bonus offers do not apply to converting an existing account. A product change can still count as having held the new card for future bonus rules.
Unpublished rule: the issuer does not publish this rule. It is documented by at least two independent guides below — treat it as a reported pattern, not a guarantee.
Key takeaways
Changing an existing card to a different product (a product change, upgrade, or downgrade) does not create a new account and does not pay a new-cardmember welcome bonus. This holds across issuers: Chase states it for Sapphire cards, Citi's 48-month clock does not start on a product change, and Bank of America business bonus offers do not apply to converting an existing account. A product change can still count as having held the new card for future bonus rules.
Anyone considering an upgrade or downgrade to chase a welcome bonus.
Who it applies to
Anyone considering an upgrade or downgrade to chase a welcome bonus.
How to count
- Want a bonus on a new product? Apply for it as a new account, subject to that card's own eligibility rules.
- A product change keeps the account's age and history; it does not reset bonus clocks.
- Citi guideline: wait 12 months after opening before a product change, with no-fee options like Double Cash, Custom Cash, and Rewards+.
- Amex caution: upgrading to a card counts as having held it and can block lower-tier family bonuses later.
FAQ
Does downgrading reset my bonus eligibility clock?
No. A product change neither pays a bonus nor restarts any bonus clock; the original bonus history still counts.
Can a product change help me avoid an annual fee and keep the bonus option open?
Downgrading to a no-fee card keeps the account open and avoids the fee, but it does not create bonus eligibility on the new product; a future new application for that product is still judged on having held it.
Sources
- The Points Page — Chase Sapphire eligibility (product changes earn no bonus)
- Miles — Application rules (Citi product changes pay no bonus)
- Travel Summary — Citi product changes after 12 months
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