Why the top of the yr is ideal to open a premium card

There are lots of causes the top of the yr is a good time to open a brand new premium rewards bank card. And it is not simply because these playing cards provide perks that may aid you make the very best of normally hectic vacation journey. Some additionally present assertion credit that reset on the finish of the calendar yr, whereas others provide limited-time bonuses or promotions for vacation purchases or journey.

Moreover, elevated spending across the holidays — for presents, holidays and even vacation dinners and decorations — may also help you meet the spending necessities for an enormous welcome bonus.

Listed here are a number of causes you would possibly wish to open a brand new premium card earlier than the top of the yr — and the way to maximize the cardboard’s advantages in the event you do.

Associated: The very best premium bank cards: A side-by-side comparability

Double-dip on end-of-year spending credit

Many premium bank cards have perks that reset every calendar yr. In the event you open a brand new bank card in November or December, you would possibly be capable to double-dip on financial savings inside a brief interval by making the most of your card’s advantages on the finish of 2025 after which once more at first of 2026. Examples embrace:

• As much as $100 in annual assertion credit towards Saks Fifth Avenue purchases with American Categorical Platinum Card®. (This perk requires advance enrollment and offers as much as $50 in credit per half-year.)
• As much as $150 in assertion credit on U.S. purchases made immediately with Dell and an extra as much as $1,000 in assertion credit after spending $5,000 or extra every calendar yr with The Enterprise Platinum Card® from American Categorical (enrollment is required upfront).

Associated: Don’t let credit go to waste: Your end-of-year bank card guidelines

Another examples of annual journey credit you would possibly be capable to double-dip with utilizing this technique embrace:

These credit assist offset the Platinum and Enterprise Platinum’s excessive $895 annual charge (see charges and costs for Platinum and Enterprise Platinum).

Associated: Amex Platinum and Amex Enterprise Platinum buying credit reset quickly — why you must use them now

Leverage alternatives to make use of your factors and miles

Whether or not it’s the welcome bonus or the earnings out of your on a regular basis spending, there’s by no means been a greater time to make use of your hard-earned rewards for a visit of a lifetime.

An instance that simply involves thoughts is utilizing Atmos Rewards factors to guide short-haul flights on American Airways. These flights could possibly be costly in the event you have been to pay money in the course of the holidays, and utilizing your Atmos Rewards factors to offset the price of your loved ones get-together can liberate a number of hundred {dollars} out of your end-of-year finances.

For some redemption inspiration, try the next:

Furthermore, you’ll be capable to use factors out of your new card to cowl your family members’ journey into subsequent yr. Journey isn’t low cost, and offsetting these bills with factors and miles is a good purpose so as to add a premium bank card to your pockets.

Reward perks to others for the vacations

Premium bank cards provide priceless advantages you possibly can present to others. Take into account these when deciding on presents for family and friends in the course of the holidays.

For instance, you can also make qualifying purchases from Saks Fifth Avenue along with your Amex Platinum Card or from Dell utilizing your Amex Enterprise Platinum Card. Because you obtain assertion credit for qualifying purchases (after enrolling for the profit), these presents could don’t have any out-of-pocket prices to you.

You may additionally present lounge entry to a traveler in your life. This might come from including a liked one to your Amex Platinum Card or Citi® / AAdvantage® Government World Elite Mastercard® (see charges and costs), for instance. Simply do not forget that you’re answerable for all spending by approved customers in your account, so set expectations and spending limits earlier than you add them to your account.

Observe that almost all loyalty applications allow you to guide journey for others along with your factors or miles. In the event you’re on the lookout for a present for somebody who has every part, reserving them a flight or lodge keep along with your rewards might give them the journey of a lifetime whereas additionally saving you cash.

For extra concepts, see our information to bank card perks you possibly can present for the vacations.

Associated: Bank cards with the best worth for approved customers

Earn a beneficiant welcome provide

Let’s finish with what could be the largest purpose to use for a bank card: welcome presents. The flexibility to earn a windfall of factors or miles rapidly is all the time interesting, and your vacation buying may also help you meet the spending necessities for these bonuses.

The Capital One Enterprise X Enterprise has a welcome provide that earns as much as 400,000 bonus miles. Earn 200,000 miles after you spend $30,000 within the first three months from account opening, and an extra 200,000 miles after spending $150,000 within the first six months of account opening. Primarily based on TPG’s December 2025 valuations, this provide is value as much as $7,400.

There’s additionally the present provide on the aforementioned Amex Enterprise Platinum: Earn 200,000 bonus factors after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases inside the first three months of card membership.

Primarily based on our December 2025 valuations, that welcome provide is value $4,000, however it may be value much more in the event you redeem your factors for business-class airfare or last-minute journeys.

These welcome presents and extra will aid you begin the brand new yr on the precise monetary foot.

Backside line

The tip of the yr is a good time to think about including a premium bank card to your pockets. Between the elevated bonuses we coated above and the power to double-dip on spending credit, you would deal with your self this vacation season by making use of for a premium bank card and reaping its many advantages. And in the event you’re actually within the vacation spirit, you possibly can share a few of these advantages with vacationers in your buying record.

For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum Card, click on right here.

For charges and costs of the Amex Enterprise Platinum Card, click on right here.