Chase’s Pay Yourself Back: What you need to know
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“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
BLUEPRINT
Published 5:05 a.m. UTC Jan. 2, 2024
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Select Chase credit cards include a rewards redemption feature called Pay Yourself Back. If you have an eligible Chase credit card, this credit card perk lets you use your Chase points to reimburse yourself for qualifying purchases in select categories.
The Chase Pay Yourself Back® feature offers an alternate way to redeem credit card rewards. You may want to use this feature if you have an eligible Chase credit card in your wallet. Discover how this redemption option works in our detailed Chase Pay Yourself Back guide.
What is Chase Pay Yourself Back?
Chase Pay Yourself Back is a rewards redemption tool. With Pay Yourself Back, you can redeem your points for qualifying purchases made with an eligible Chase credit card. While you’re able to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards® points for statement credits and cash back, the Pay Yourself Back feature typically lets you do so at a better value for your points.
Chase introduced this feature in early 2020 as another option for points redemption on a handful of travel cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. With travel at a standstill, cardholders could use Pay Yourself Back to redeem points at elevated values for purchases like dining and groceries. Although the redemption options and values for Pay Yourself Back options have changed since it was first introduced, the issuer has rolled out the program to many of its cards and in several different categories.
Two important things to know about the program: The eligible redemption types will vary from card to card and may change at any time. Additionally, it’s worth noting that only qualifying purchases made within 90 days in eligible categories qualify for Pay Yourself Back redemptions.
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How Chase Pay Yourself Back works
If you have an eligible Chase credit card, you can redeem points for purchases in select categories as a statement credit. Purchases must have been made within 90 days to qualify for this redemption. To use Chase’s Pay Yourself Back, you’ll first need to log in to your Chase credit card account through the Chase website or mobile app.
Follow these steps to pay yourself back for eligible purchases:
- Navigate to the Chase Travel℠ portal.
- Click on “Pay Yourself Back.”
- You’ll be shown a list of eligible purchases that can be redeemed for a statement credit in exchange for points.
- Click the checkmark next to any eligible purchases you want to redeem.
- Click the “Continue” button.
- You’ll be shown a breakdown of the total transaction amounts and points redeemed.
- When ready to finalize the redemption, click the “Redeem” button.
Eligible Chase credit cards
Only some cards have this redemption option. If you have one of the following Chase credit cards in your wallet, you’re eligible to use Chase Pay Yourself Back. We’ve outlined qualifying credit cards, eligible purchase categories and category end dates below (most are no longer available):
- Chase Freedom Flex® * The information for the Chase Freedom Flex® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. : Points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed for select charity donations through Dec. 31, 2023.
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed for select charity donations through Dec. 31, 2023.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed for select charity donations through Dec. 31, 2023.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Redeem at 1.50 cents per point for select charity donations through Dec. 31, 2023.
- Aeroplan® Credit Card * The information for the Aeroplan® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. : Redeem an unlimited number of points at 1.25 cents per point for eligible travel purchases through June 30, 2024.
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: Points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed for select charity donations through Dec. 31, 2023.
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card * The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. : Points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed for select charity donations through Dec. 31, 2023.
- Ink Business Premier® Credit Card * The information for the Ink Business Premier® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. : Points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed for select charity donations through Dec. 31, 2023.
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: Points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed for select charity donations through Dec. 31, 2023.
United credit cards with an annual fee: You can redeem for cardholder annual fee reimbursement. At this time, there is no set Chase Pay Yourself Back end date and point values vary by card.
Southwest credit cards: All Southwest credit cards are eligible to use Chase Pay Yourself Back to redeem towards the cardholder annual fee or towards eligible purchases as a statement credit.
Eligible purchases
Not every purchase with an eligible Chase credit card qualifies for Pay Yourself Back redemptions. Additionally, not every purchase category is available for all cards. You can verify qualifying purchase categories for your card by logging into the Chase Travel portal.
The following purchase categories may qualify depending on your card type:
- Cardholder annual fees.
- Eligible charities.
- Eligible travel purchases.
- Gas stations.
- Grocery stores.
The following charities qualify:
- American Red Cross.
- Equal Justice Initiative.
- Feeding America.
- GLSEN.
- Habitat for Humanity.
- International Medical Corps.
- International Rescue Committee.
- Leadership Conference Education Fund.
- NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.
- National Urban League.
- Out & Equal Workplace Advocates.
- SAGE.
- Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
- United Negro College Fund.
- UNICEF USA.
- United Way.
- World Central Kitchen.
For charities, it’s best to donate directly to the charity’s parent organization as transactions for local chapters may be ineligible for Chase Pay Yourself Back redemptions.
Final verdict
While Chase Pay Yourself Back is a temporary redemption feature, it’s a worthwhile benefit that can provide you with more ways to use your points. However, it’s worth considering whether other redemption options offer more value, depending on your card.
For example, with some premium travel rewards credit cards, you may get more value by redeeming your points by booking travel reservations through the Chase Travel portal or transferring your points to eligible travel partners.
If you have a credit card with Chase Pay Yourself Back capabilities and have been meaning to use it, consider taking advantage to redeem your points for better value than standard statement credits or cash back.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Chase has continued to extend Chase Pay Yourself Back, and it’s still a redemption option for some Chase credit cards. However, some redemption categories have expired or will expire soon. You can review eligible categories and expiration date details by logging into your Chase credit card account.
Chase has changed the Pay Yourself Back categories several times since the feature’s initial launch in May 2020. There is no set timeline for when categories might change and which card might have changes.
When using Chase Pay Yourself Back, you’ll typically get more value from your points. That’s because Pay Yourself Back redemptions offer an elevated rate compared to cash back or standard statement credit redemptions. However, the exact redemption rate varies depending on the card you have and the purchase category.
*The information for the Aeroplan® Credit Card, Chase Freedom Flex®, Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and Ink Business Premier® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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