Why and How to Merge Your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points into One Account

Chase's Ultimate Rewards program offers exceptional value, consistently ranking high in TPG's monthly valuations, with a value of 2.05 cents per point as of August 2024.

A standout feature of the Ultimate Rewards program is its flexibility, allowing you to easily transfer points between your Chase credit cards and explore various redemption options.

Want an easy way to manage all your transferable Chase points in one location? Download the free TPG app!

This program is considered one of the most user-friendly transferable points programs. By merging Ultimate Rewards points into a single account, you can boost the value of some cards by up to 50%.

With attractive offers across the Chase product line, now is an excellent time to learn how to maximize your Chase points effectively.

Here’s a guide on transferring Ultimate Rewards points between accounts and when it might be beneficial to do so.

Introduction to the Chase Ultimate Rewards program

Before we begin, here’s a rundown of the primary cards that are part of the Ultimate Rewards program:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Chase Freedom (no longer accepting new applications)
• Chase Freedom Flex®
• Chase Freedom Unlimited®
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
• Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

(Please note that the Ink Business Premier® Credit Card is also from Chase, but its rewards cannot be combined with other cards and are only available as cash back.)

The information regarding the Chase Freedom credit card has been independently gathered by Dinogo. The card information presented here has not been reviewed or supplied by the card issuer.

Astute readers may observe that five cash-back cards are featured in this list (the three Freedom products along with the Ink Cash and Ink Unlimited). While these cards primarily earn cash-back rewards, they still qualify under the Ultimate Rewards program. Their value significantly increases when paired with either the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred, or Ink Business Preferred.

This is because you can merge the rewards accumulated from all your Ultimate Rewards cards into a single account. Consequently, if you have a Sapphire Reserve, Sapphire Preferred, or Ink Business Preferred, you can convert all rewards from these cash-back cards into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points.

This showcases the enduring strength of my favorite set of credit cards, which I refer to as the "ideal Chase quartet," comprising the following:

However, you’re not restricted to combining points within your own accounts. You can also share them with a household member.

When it comes to merging Ultimate Rewards points, there are two main types of transfers you can perform:

1. Transfer points between two accounts where you are the primary cardholder
2. Transfer points between an account where you are the primary cardholder and another account held by someone else

Let’s take a detailed look at each of these situations step by step.

Setting Up Your Ultimate Rewards Account

If you already have a Chase account and have applied for a new Ultimate Rewards card, it should automatically show up shortly after your approval. To verify, log in to your account and select "Account Activity." Scroll down to find the new card.

Keep in mind that you can link other (non-Ultimate Rewards) accounts to the same Chase username. I have several different accounts under one online profile, which simplifies managing all my cards.

Combining Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

After setting up your online account, the process for both types of transfers begins similarly. First, log in to the Chase account from which you wish to transfer points—whether it's yours or a household member's. Select an Ultimate Rewards card from the homepage, then click "Redeem" next to your rewards balance.

This action will open the Ultimate Rewards portal. At the top, click on "Rewards details" to find the option to "Combine points."

This is where the process varies based on whether you're merging points from two of your accounts or transferring points to someone else. The simpler scenario involves combining points from two accounts where you are the primary cardholder for both.

How to Transfer Chase Points Between Your Cards

After selecting the "Combine points" option, choose the account from which you want to transfer points and the account where you want them deposited. In this screenshot, I'm moving points from my Chase Freedom Flex to my Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Next, click "Continue" at the bottom of the page.

On the following page, you will need to enter the exact number of points you wish to transfer. Unlike transferring Ultimate Rewards points to travel partners, you aren't restricted to multiples of 1,000 points—you can transfer any amount between your accounts.

When you're ready, click "Review" at the bottom of the screen.

Check the details (including the terms and conditions at the bottom), then click "Submit" when you’re ready to initiate the transfer.

The following page will confirm that your transfer was successful.

Your updated balance should also appear at the top of the page, as these transfers are processed instantly.

How to Transfer Chase Points to Another Person

In addition to merging your points into one account, you can also transfer points to (or from) someone else’s account using this feature.

However, before proceeding, make sure to review the terms and conditions for combining Ultimate Rewards points (emphasis mine):

You can transfer your points, but only to another Chase card with Ultimate Rewards that belongs to you or a member of your household. If we suspect fraudulent activity related to your credit card or Ultimate Rewards, or if you've misused these points (such as buying or selling points, transferring them to an ineligible party, or opening credit accounts solely to generate rewards), we may temporarily restrict your ability to earn or use points. In such cases, your credit card account may be closed.

When transferring points between your own accounts, you are clearly following the terms. However, when sending points to someone else's Ultimate Rewards accounts, they must be a member of your household (or an owner of a business with Chase Ink cards).

Currently, the first time you wish to transfer points to another person's account, you need to call the number on the back of your card. Inform the representative that you want to combine your points with a household member. They will ask for the card number of your household member before you can initiate the transfer.

After the call, your household member's account should appear as an eligible option for point transfers online. Therefore, you only need to call once—unless you or your household member decide to remove the account.

Once you've added a household member's account, the process is the same as previously described. You'll select the number of points to transfer, review the details, and then submit the transfer request.

When to consider transferring Ultimate Rewards points between accounts

Now that you know how to consolidate Ultimate Rewards points into one account, you may be curious about when it’s beneficial to do so. Here are three scenarios where combining Ultimate Rewards points makes sense.

Turning cash-back rewards into Ultimate Rewards points

As mentioned previously, cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited are more than just cash-back options. If you also hold a premium card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred, you can transform your cash-back rewards into Ultimate Rewards points. These points provide at least a 25% higher value when redeemed for travel directly, and you can also transfer them to partners such as Hyatt and United for even greater benefits.

For instance, if you have both the Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Freedom Unlimited, the Freedom Unlimited provides bonus categories that the Sapphire Preferred does not offer.

• 3% back on drugstore purchases
• 1.5% back on all other purchases

However, those cash-back rewards can be converted into full Ultimate Rewards points if you hold the Sapphire Preferred. This translates to earning 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on dining and drugstore purchases, plus 1.5 points on all other expenses. This is a better deal than using the Sapphire Preferred, which offers just 1 point per dollar.

The redemption options make this even more appealing. With a cash-back card like the Freedom Unlimited, your rewards typically hold a value of just 1 cent each (though Chase sometimes offers promotions for gift cards or Apple products). In contrast, with the Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred, your points are worth 1.25 cents when redeemed through Chase Travel℠, and this increases to 1.5 cents with the Sapphire Reserve.

If you're seeking even greater value, combining your rewards with either Sapphire Card allows you to transfer points to various travel partners within the program. If you redeem them according to TPG's latest valuations, your potential value increases significantly.

This is a fantastic option if your partner or spouse only has cash-back cards that come with no annual fee — which is the situation in my family. My wife uses an Ink Cash and Freedom Unlimited, and we often transfer her rewards into my Chase Sapphire Reserve account. This allows me to utilize those points for more valuable redemptions than she could achieve on her own.

Enhancing accounts for a specific redemption

Another reason to merge points is when you have a specific redemption goal in mind. You can secure some impressive awards with Ultimate Rewards points, but you might lack enough points in your account for your desired redemption. If a household member has extra points, they can transfer those to you via Ultimate Rewards, enabling you to book the redemption you want.

When considering card cancellation

A final reason for combining points is if you're looking to cancel a card. For instance, if you possess the Chase Sapphire Preferred and wish to switch to the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you cannot hold both simultaneously. While it might be more practical to downgrade to a card like Freedom Unlimited, you may opt to cancel instead.

Before proceeding, make sure to transfer your rewards to another account of yours (or to a designated household member). This way, you can ensure your rewards remain safe.

In summary

The Ultimate Rewards program is exceptionally valuable, largely due to the flexibility of the points you accumulate. You can transfer them to various travel partners, but you can also combine points across different accounts or transfer points to a designated household member.

If you've recently enrolled in a new Ultimate Rewards-earning card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, I hope this article has provided you with valuable insights on how to maximize the value of your points even more.