Do Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Expire? (2026 Policy)

No, Chase Ultimate Rewards points do not expire.

As long as your credit card account remains open and in good standing, your points will never expire, regardless of whether you use them or not.

However, there is one major trap: If you close your account, you lose your points immediately.

Unlike airline miles, which live in a separate loyalty account, Chase points are attached directly to your credit card. If you cancel a specific card without moving the points first, they vanish instantly and cannot be reinstated.

This guide explains how to keep your points safe, especially if you are planning to cancel or downgrade a card to avoid an annual fee.

The Golden Rule: Keep One Card Open

To keep your entire balance of Chase points active, you simply need to hold one active card that earns Ultimate Rewards.

Eligible cards include:

  • Premium Cards: Chase Sapphire Preferred®, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Ink Business Preferred®.
  • No-Annual-Fee Cards: Chase Freedom Flex℠, Chase Freedom Unlimited®, Ink Business Cash®, Ink Business Unlimited®.

The Strategy: You do not need to keep an expensive annual-fee card to keep your points safe. If you want to cancel your Sapphire Reserve ($550/year), you can move your points to a free Freedom Unlimited card. They will remain safe there indefinitely.

The Danger Zone: Closing or Cancelling a Card

This is where most people lose their points.

If you call Chase to cancel a card, the agent might warn you that your points will be forfeited, but they aren't required to. Once the account is closed, the points are gone.

How to Save Your Points (Step-by-Step)

Before you cancel any Chase card, you must use the "Combine Points" feature to move your balance to another card.

  1. Log in to the Chase Ultimate Rewards dashboard.
  2. Select the card you plan to cancel.
  3. Click on the menu and select "Combine Points."
  4. Move all points from the card you are cancelling to another active Chase card you own (e.g., move from Sapphire Preferred to Freedom Flex).
  5. Confirm the transfer. The points are now safe on the second card.
  6. Now you can safely cancel the first card.

Warning: If you do not have another Chase card, you must redeem your points (for cash back, travel, or transfer partners) before you cancel.

Other Ways You Could Lose Points

While expiration isn't based on time, Chase reserves the right to confiscate points in specific negative scenarios.

1. Account Shutdown (The "Bust-Out")

If Chase shuts down your account for risky behavior, you will forfeit all points immediately. Risky behavior includes:

  • "Cycling" your credit limit (spending $10k on a $5k limit by paying it off multiple times a month).
  • Manufacturing spending (buying thousands of dollars in money orders).
  • Referral fraud.

2. Missed Payments

If your account becomes delinquent (usually 60+ days late) or goes into default, Chase may freeze or confiscate your points balance.

3. Death or Divorce

  • Divorce: In a divorce, Chase can transfer points to a spouse/partner as part of a legal settlement, but you generally need to call customer service with documentation.
  • Death: If a cardholder passes away, their points do not expire immediately. A beneficiary or spouse can call Chase to request a transfer of the points to their own account. Note: You must do this before the executor closes the deceased's credit card account.

Summary Checklist: Before You Cancel

If you are thinking about closing a Chase card, follow this 3-step safety check:

  • Do you have another Chase card?
    • YES: Use the "Combine Points" tool to move all points to the card you are keeping.
    • NO: You must redeem your points now. Transfer them to an airline (like United or Hyatt) or cash them out.
  • Are you downgrading instead?
    • If you downgrade (product change) from a Sapphire Preferred to a Freedom Unlimited, your points automatically transfer to the new card. You do not lose them.
  • Verify the Balance: Check that the balance on the card you are cancelling is "0" before making the call.

Disclaimer: Program terms are subject to change. Always refer to the official Chase Rewards Agreement for the most accurate information.