Do my rewards points expire when my credit card does?

If you’ve built up a decent amount of credit card rewards points, you’ll want to make sure you get to use them. Each credit card offers a different rewards system - with some cards allowing you to automatically earn Qantas Points, while other companies have their own points systems where you can earn points and later convert them into rewards - such as frequent flyer points.

But if your credit card expires, what does that mean for your hard-earned points?

Your credit card’s expiry date tells you when your physical card is about to expire, not your credit account, so as long as your rewards credit card account is open and active with your banking institution, your rewards points should be safe.

Can I lose my rewards points?

With some rewards programs, points do have expiry dates, so even if your card hasn't expired, you should check the policies of your credit provider to be sure that your points are safe long-term.

Some credit card companies also have caps on how many reward points you can earn within a certain time period. Make sure you double-check your card’s policy if you’re concerned that your dollars could be spent unrewarded.

Also, if you do decide to close your credit card account completely, or it gets closed due to inactivity, your points may still live on. Rewards points are sometimes available for a short amount of time after your account is deactivated, so check first before assuming that they are gone for good.

If you are interested in getting a new credit card that earns you rewards points, there are some options for you to check out below.