Here are the Best Ways to Earn Credit Card Points Quickly

Do you want to know how to earn credit card points? Fortunately, it won’t be a challenge since most reward points come from daily spending. But there are ways to boost your potential to earn more points. 

The key is to use your credit card often to earn significant points. But your credit card spending should align with your spending habits and financial capacity so that you can pay them off in full and on time.

What are Credit Card Points? 

Credit card points are a type of reward that banks offer their customers. Aside from points, credit cardholders can also earn airline miles and cashback. 

With each type of credit card, you earn points at a set rate per peso you spend. Some credit card issuers have a fixed points system, while others double or triple your points for specific bonus categories. 

For example, travel credit cards offer more points when you make travel-related purchases such as airline tickets, tour packages, or hotel room bookings. 

How Do Credit Card Points Work? 

Use your credit card to pay for various purchases and transactions to start earning points. Earning rates for points differ per bank, but you can earn more points using a specific credit card in a particular category. 

Wondering what to do with credit card points? Once you accumulate enough points, you can redeem them for items like gift certificates, shopping credits, cashback, or annual fee waivers. 

How to Earn Credit Card Points Fast in the Philippines

Want to know the best way to earn credit card points? Aside from taking advantage of excellent credit card hacks, here’s how to earn more points on your credit card. 

✔️ Take Advantage of the Bonus Category Spending 

Earn double, triple, or even 5x rewards points when you use your qualified credit card on specific spending categories. For example, use your credit card for online or foreign currency spending if this particular category will give you more points. 

The same goes for your travel credit card. Use it to pay for travel expenses, so you can rack points faster. 

✔️ Get That Sign-Up Bonus

When you apply and get approved for a new credit card, you can get a sign-up bonus or a welcome gift, such as a significant amount of points, miles, cash, or physical gifts. 

To receive the bonus or gift, meet your credit card issuer’s spend requirement within the first few months of activating the card. 

✔️ Make Referrals

Some banks also give referral bonuses when their existing cardholders invite family or friends to apply for a credit card. You must send them the referral link to qualify for the referral bonus or points. The number of points you’ll get for a successful referral depends on your credit card issuer.

Check out some of the best rewards credit cards below:

Credit Card	Points Earn Rate
UnionBank Rewards Credit Card	1 point for every ₱35 spend 3x points for shopping and dining here and abroad
Metrobank Titanium Mastercard®	1 point for every ₱20 spend 2x rewards points for dining, online, or department store purchases
HSBC Red Mastercard	Up to 4x bonus points for every ₱20 spend on dining and online transactions, shopping, and overseas spending 1 rewards point for every ₱20 spend
Security Bank Gold Mastercard	1 point for every ₱20 spend
BPI Blue Mastercard	1 BPI Point for every ₱35 spend
BPI Platinum Rewards Mastercard	2 BPI Points for every ₱30 local spend and ₱20 foreign currency spend online or abroad

 

Find more details and credit card options below:

💳 How to Earn Credit Card Points in UnionBank 

Earn points with purchases made using your UnionBank credit card. Depending on your UnionBank credit card, you can collect points for every ₱25 to ₱200 qualified spend.

Here are some of the best rewards credit cards from UnionBank:

UnionBank Rewards Credit Card

• 1 point for every ₱35 spend
• 3x points for shopping and dining here and abroad

UnionBank Cebu Pacific Gold

• 1 Go Rewards Point for every ₱200 spend
• 1 Go Rewards Point for every ₱100 spend in Cebu Pacific 

UnionBank Gold Visa

• 1 point for every ₱35 spend
• Non-expiring points

UnionBank Miles+ Platinum Visa

• 1 point for every ₱25 spend
• 1.5 points for all travel-related spend

UnionBank PlayEveryday

• Refer a friend or family member to get 300 points
• Deposit at least ₱10,000 to your debit account to earn 100 points

💳 How to Earn Credit Card Points in Metrobank 

Metrobank offers different credit cards that let you earn rewards points on your purchases. Earn points faster when you use qualified Metrobank credit cards on specific categories.

Metrobank Titanium Mastercard^®

• 1 point for every ₱20 spend
• 2x rewards points for dining, online, or department store purchases

Metrobank Platinum Mastercard^®

• 1 point for every ₱20 spend
• Free 310,000 reward points (for first-time Metrobank cardholders who apply until February 29, 2024 and meet a minimum spend of ₱70,000 within 60 days from the card approval date)

Metrobank World Mastercard^®

• 1 point for every ₱20 spend
• 2 points for every ₱20 international spend
• Free 300,000 rewards points (for first-time Metrobank cardholders who apply until February 29, 2024 and meet a minimum spend of ₱90,000 within 60 days from the card approval date)

Metrobank Rewards Plus Visa

• 1 point for every  ₱20 spend
• 2x rewards points on gadget and electronics purchases, delivery services, and online spend

💳 How to Earn Credit Card Points in HSBC 

Earn shopping points or air miles with every purchase you make with your HSBC credit card. Through the HSBC Accelerated Rewards program,^[1] shop at any online or shopping merchant to earn bonus points faster. If you have the following HSBC credit cards, here’s how to get reward points. 

HSBC Red Mastercard

• Up to 4x bonus points for every ₱20 spend on dining and online transactions, shopping, and overseas spending
• 1 rewards point for every ₱20 spend

HSBC Premier Mastercard

• 4 bonus points for every ₱20 spent on overseas purchases
• 3x bonus points on local shopping or dining

💳 How to Earn Credit Card Points in Security Bank 

To earn points on your Security Bank credit card, use it to pay for groceries and other lifestyle purchases. Accumulate reward points with Security Bank’s reward credit cards, such as Classic, Gold, Platinum, and World Mastercard. 

Security Bank Gold Mastercard

• 1 point for every ₱20 spend 
• Non-expiring points

Security Bank Platinum Mastercard

• 2 points for every ₱20 spend
• Points convertible to air miles and other exclusive rewards

Security Bank World Mastercard

• 3 points for every ₱20 spend 
• 1 million rewards points when you redeem any reward from July 1 to August 31, 2023^[2]

Security Bank Classic Mastercard

• 1 point for every ₱20 spend 
• Non-expiring points

💳 How to Earn Credit Card Points in BPI 

Whenever you use your BPI credit card, you earn BPI Points, which you can use to redeem air miles, gift certificates, or shopping credits.

Here are some of the best rewards credit cards from BPI and the corresponding points you can earn per qualified spend: 

BPI Edge Mastercard

• 1 BPI Point for every ₱35 spend
• Points convertible to exciting rewards and freebies

BPI Blue Mastercard

• 1 BPI Point for every ₱35 spend
• Exclusive deals all year round

BPI Gold Mastercard

• 1 BPI Point for every ₱35 spend
• Points redeemable for shopping credits, gift vouchers, air miles, and more

BPI Visa Signature 

• 2 BPI Points for every ₱20 spend 
• Points redeemable for miles, shopping credits or gift certificates from premium merchants

BPI Platinum Rewards Mastercard

• 2 BPI Points for every ₱30 local spend
• 2 BPI Points for every ₱20 foreign online or overseas transactions 

💳 How to Earn Credit Card Points in RCBC 

Want to know how to earn points with your RCBC credit card? First, get an RCBC credit card suited to your needs and lifestyle. If you make a lot of essential or lifestyle purchases, there are different options that you can choose from. 

For instance, there’s an RCBC credit card that lets you earn double rewards points on two or three of your preferred categories. 

Here are some RCBC credit cards and their corresponding credit card points earn rate:  

RCBC Gold Mastercard

• 1 rewards point for every ₱36 spend 
• Points redeemable for air miles and other rewards

RCBC Visa Infinite

• 5 rewards points for every ₱30 spend online or overseas in-store
• 1 rewards point for every ₱30 spend 

RCBC Flex Visa

• 2x rewards points on two preferred categories
• 2 rewards points for every ₱50 spend 

RCBC AirAsia Credit Card

• 2 AirAsia BIG points for every ₱25 AirAsia spend
• 1 AirAsia BIG point for every ₱28 domestic retail spend
• 1 AirAsia BIG point for every ₱22 international retail spend
• Free 8,000 AirAsia BIG points when you spend ₱20,000 within 60 days of issuance

RCBC Visa Platinum

• Preferred Airmiles for as low as ₱25 overseas spend or ₱48 local spend
• 1 Preferred Airmile = 1 point with AirAsia Rewards, GetGo Points, Asia Miles, or Mabuhay Miles

Related reading: 

• Credit Card Dos and Don’ts: What Should You Do and Not Do With Your Card?
• No Overspending and Late Payments: How to Manage Multiple Credit Cards

How to Earn Credit Card Points: FAQs

1. When do credit card points expire?

Fortunately, most credit card providers in the Philippines don't enforce expiration dates on their rewards programs. However, banks such as HSBC 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 standing. Generally, this 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

2. Can I lose my earned points?

Yes, the bank may forfeit your accumulated 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

Keep your account in good standing so your hard-earned credit card rewards points won't go to waste.

Read more: Ask Moneymax: What is Credit Card Delinquency and How to Avoid It?

3. My credit card points are about to expire. What should I do?

Redeem your points immediately before they become invalid. Most banks now allow rewards redemption online. Go to your issuer's website, find its credit card rewards page, and complete the online form.

Related: Say Goodbye to Late Payments with These Credit Card Payment Methods

Final Thoughts

The process of how to earn credit card points fast will depend on your credit card’s earning structure and point value. So be strategic. Be smart with your everyday spending—don’t use up your credit card limit and don’t spend beyond your means. 

Understand fully how your credit card’s reward program works. The better you understand how to get rewards points on your credit card, the more you can maximize your credit card usage and expand your rewards-earning potential.

Overwhelmed by the many credit card choices out there? Compare credit cards via Moneymax to find the best rewards credit card. It’s easy and free! 

Sources:

• ^[1] HSBC Accelerated Rewards 
• ^[2] Security Bank 1 Million Rewards Points Promo