Credit Card Rewards: When Do Points Expire?
Published: December 5, 2018 | Updated: September 23, 2020 | Posted by: Venus Zoleta | Credit Card
Already racked up a year’s worth of credit card rewards points?
You’re probably wondering whether you should redeem them now or later. The right timing for redemption depends on your credit card provider’s rewards program.
For most rewards credit cards in the Philippines, points have no expiry and are valid as long as you meet certain conditions. So yes, you can hold on a little longer to those precious points if you want to.
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When Do Credit Card Rewards Points Expire?
Before you redeem your credit card points, it’s important to know if your card qualifies for rewards, if your points are valid for redemption, and when they expire.
Fortunately, most credit card providers in the Philippines don’t have an expiration date on their rewards programs. Only HSBC credit cards have a two or three-year expiry on rewards points.
With non-expiring rewards, you can redeem points anytime as long as your credit card account is in good credit standing.
Generally, good credit standing means the following:
- No violation of the credit card terms and conditions
- Paying credit card bills on time and in full, or at least the minimum amount due
- Active and valid credit card account
- Staying below credit card limit
Credit Card Rewards Validity
Here’s a table that shows the details of rewards validity per credit card issuer.
| Credit Card Providers | Eligible Cards for Rewards Points Program | Credit Card Rewards Expiration |
| AUB |
| None, as long as the account is in good credit standing |
| BDO |
| None, as long as the account is in good credit standing |
| BPI |
| None, as long as the account is in good credit standing |
| China Bank |
| None, as long as the account is in good credit standing (Rewards points used to expire every year prior to 2017) |
| Citibank | None, as long as the account is in good credit standing | |
| EastWest Bank |
| None, as long as the account is in good credit standing |
| HSBC |
|
|
| Maybank | All Maybank credit cards | None, as long as the account is in good credit standing |
| Metrobank | All Metrobank credit cards, except for Dollar Mastercard, M Lite Mastercard, and M Free Mastercard | None, as long as the account is in good credit standing |
| PNB |
| None, as long as the account is in good credit standing |
| RCBC | All RCBC Bankard credit cards, except for myDream JCB, corporate cards, and some other co-branded cards | None, as long as the account is in good credit standing |
| Security Bank |
| None, as long as the account is in good credit standing |
| UnionBank | All UnionBank credit cards, including co-branded cards | None, as long as the account is in good credit standing |
Will I Lose My Earned Points?
Yes, losing points may happen even if credit card rewards don’t expire. Banks forfeit points under any of the following circumstances:
- Inactive, delinquent, suspended, blocked, or canceled credit card account
- Defaulting on credit card payments (at least 90 days overdue)
- Breaking any rule in the credit card terms and conditions
- Exceeding credit card limit
- Fraud and abuse in earning rewards points
- Lost card
- Conversion to another credit card type (as in the case with Citibank credit cards)
So that your hard-earned credit card rewards points won’t go to waste, keep your account in good standing.
My Credit Card Rewards Points are About to Expire. What Should I Do?
Redeem your points immediately before they become invalid!
Banks like BDO and UnionBank allow redemption online. Simply go to your issuer’s website, find its credit card rewards page, and fill out an online form.
BPI and other banks that don’t have an online facility for credit card points redemption. They require cardholders to email their request or call the customer service hotline.
Processing of points redemption usually takes from one to three weeks from the request date.
Final Thoughts
Got more questions about your credit card rewards? Banks have separate terms and conditions for their rewards points program and promos—be sure to check them out on your card provider’s website. You may also contact your bank’s customer care hotline to know more about earning and redeeming rewards points with your credit card.
Venus is an experienced personal finance writer with a background in digital marketing, public relations, and journalism. She’s into stock, VUL, and mutual fund investing. Follow Venus on LinkedIn.
