The Acronym Glossary

An informal guideline that Chase tends to deny applicants with more than one personal card application in the last 30 days. It is not a published rule, so reports vary.

Citi's velocity rule: only one card application every 8 days. Pairs with the 2/65 rule, two applications per 65 days, for personal cards.

Citi's limit of one business card application every 65 days. Their personal-card cousin is 2/65.

United's top published elite tier. Above it sits the invite-only Global Services, the status United never explains and everyone wants.

Bank of America's published limit: 2 new BofA cards per 2 months, 3 per 12 months, 4 per 24 months. One of the few issuer rules stated outright.

Amex's application velocity rule: no more than two card approvals in a rolling 30 day window. Hitting it is an automatic pop-up rejection, not a hard denial.

An Amex rule limiting approvals to two credit cards within any 90 day window. Charge cards are generally not counted against it.

Shorthand for issuers that deny applicants with 3 or more new cards across all banks in the last 12 months. US Bank and Barclays are the usual suspects.

Chase's rule denying most applications if you have opened five or more personal cards across all issuers in the past 24 months. It is the single biggest sequencing constraint for new churners.

An informal threshold reported for Barclays, which often denies applicants with six or more new accounts in 24 months. It is not officially published and enforcement is inconsistent.

The tax form banks issue for interest income, including most bank account sign-up bonuses. Expect one if a bank bonus pays out 10 dollars or more in a calendar year.

Depending on context: the airline, its AAdvantage program, or the loyalty currency. The only major US airline program reachable from Citi ThankYou points.

The average age of every account on your credit report, open and closed. New cards lower it, which is the main scoring cost of churning. Closed accounts keep aging for up to 10 years.

The yearly fee an issuer charges to keep a card open. Many cards waive it the first year as part of a welcome offer.

Opening several cards in one day so the hard pulls hit before any new account reports. A classic 2010s tactic, largely killed by modern velocity rules like 5/24.

The largest welcome bonus a card has ever offered. Waiting for an ATH offer is a common strategy before applying.

Someone added to another person's credit card account with their own card. AU accounts can appear on the AU's credit report and may count toward Chase 5/24.

A credit optimization tactic where every card reports a zero balance except one card reporting a small balance. It often produces a short-term FICO score bump before a major application.

JetBlue's two-character airline code, used as forum shorthand. Its TrueBlue points are fixed-value against cash fares.

The American Express Blue Business Plus, a no annual fee business card earning 2x Membership Rewards on the first 50,000 dollars of spend per year. A common long-term keeper card.

Also written BofA. Known for the 2/3/4 rule and Preferred Rewards, which boosts card earning up to 75% for clients holding $100k+ in BofA or Merrill accounts.

Moving debt from one credit card to another, usually to take advantage of a 0 percent promotional APR. Most transfers carry a 3 to 5 percent fee.

Forum shorthand for Capital One. Famous for pulling all three credit bureaus on application and for keeping authorized users free on the Venture X.

Withdrawing cash against a credit card's limit. Cash advances earn no rewards, accrue interest immediately, and carry fees, so churners generally avoid anything coded as a CA.

Rewards paid as money rather than points or miles. Simple, never devalues, and the right answer for anyone who does not want to learn transfer partners.

The product this entire site exists for. On forums, usually inside phrases like CC debt or CC churning.

A bank deposit locked for a fixed term at a fixed rate. Relevant here mainly when banks pay sign-up bonuses on them or when comparing against HYSA yields.

Chase's no-fee rotating 5% card. Its points become fully transferable Ultimate Rewards when you also hold a Sapphire or Ink Preferred.

The federal agency that regulates consumer financial products. Filing a CFPB complaint is a common escalation path when an issuer will not resolve a dispute.

Chase's no-fee 1.5x-on-everything card, the default swipe in a Chase setup. Like the Flex, it upgrades to full transferable UR alongside a premium card.

A consumer reporting agency banks use to screen checking and savings account applicants. Too many recent account openings on your ChexSystems report can lead to bank bonus denials.

The no-fee Ink earning 5x at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone service. A staple of the Ink strategy.

The $95 Ink with 3x on travel, shipping, advertising and internet, and the card that unlocks transfers for the whole Ink family.

The no-fee 1.5x-everything business Ink. Historically the engine of the now-dead Ink train.

The maximum balance an issuer allows on a card. Total exposure across cards with one issuer can affect future approvals.

A request to raise a card's credit limit. Some issuers process CLIs with a soft pull and others with a hard pull, so check data points first.

The Southwest Companion Pass, which lets a designated companion fly with you for just taxes and fees on every Southwest flight. Earned by accumulating 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year, often via card bonuses.

The value you get when redeeming airline miles: cash price divided by miles required. The mile-side twin of CPP.

The universal yardstick for redemption value: what the booking would have cost in cash, divided by the points used. Beat the program's baseline valuation and you won.

The bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, plus specialty agencies like ChexSystems and Early Warning Services on the bank side.

Chase's mid-tier travel card earning Ultimate Rewards with a 95 dollar annual fee. A common first premium travel card.

Chase's premium travel card earning Ultimate Rewards with a high annual fee offset by travel credits. Sapphire cards share a one bonus per 48 months restriction.

The 3 digit code on the back of a card, 4 digits on the front for Amex. Proves physical possession for online purchases.

The business credit bureau behind the DUNS number and PAYDEX score. Matters when building business credit beyond personal-guarantee cards.

The trap where a foreign terminal offers to charge you in dollars instead of local currency, at a markup. Always decline and pay in local currency on a no-FTF card.

An electronic deposit of payroll or government funds, usually required to earn a bank account bonus. Some ACH transfers from other banks code as DD, but results vary by bank.

Delta's airline code. SkyMiles has no award chart and a reputation for quiet devaluations, hence the forum nickname SkyPesos.

The reference site for bank bonuses and card data points, powered by reader reports. If a bonus exists, DoC has a page on it.

A firsthand report of how an issuer or bank handled a specific situation. Communities aggregate DPs to map unpublished rules.

The business tax ID. Sole proprietors can apply for business cards with just an SSN, but an EIN keeps business credit cleanly separated.

The chip-card standard that replaced magnetic stripes. The 2015 US liability shift pushed fraud costs onto whoever lacked chip support.

The three major consumer credit bureaus. Issuers pull different bureaus by state and product, which matters when you are spacing out hard inquiries.

A fee some banks charge for closing an account within a set window, often 90 to 180 days after opening. Always check the ETF clause before closing an account you opened for a bonus.

A bank-owned consumer reporting agency, similar to ChexSystems, used to screen new account applicants. Heavy bank account churning can generate EWS records that cause denials.

A slang term for non-FICO credit scores, such as the VantageScore shown by many free monitoring services. Lenders mostly use FICO, so a FAKO score can differ from what an issuer sees.

The credit scoring model most lenders actually use for approval decisions. It comes in multiple versions and varies by bureau.

A hotel free night award, often included in a card's welcome bonus or anniversary benefits. Usually capped at a points value tier.

A certificate redeemable for one hotel night up to a stated points cap, such as a Marriott 35k certificate. FNCs expire, so track the dates.

Amex's account freeze while they verify income and ability to pay, sometimes requesting IRS transcripts via Form 4506-T. Triggered by heavy spending relative to stated income.

A surcharge, typically around 3 percent, on purchases made outside the US. Most travel cards waive it.

A prepaid store or network card. Buying GCs is a common way to hit spend requirements or earn category bonuses, though issuers may exclude them from rewards.

A US Customs trusted traveler program providing expedited entry into the US, which includes TSA PreCheck. Many premium cards reimburse the application fee.

United's systemwide upgrade instrument issued to top elites. Other airlines have equivalents, collectively called SWUs or upgrade certs.

A credit inquiry that appears on your report and can ding your score a few points. Card applications almost always trigger one.

The practice of ending a call and redialing to reach a different representative when the first one says no. Outcomes often depend on which agent you get.

An online savings account paying several percent while branch banks pay nearly nothing. Same FDIC insurance, radically different yield. Rates tracked on our Banking page.

A pre-screened mail or email offer inviting you to apply. Sometimes carries elevated bonuses; always check it against the public offer before using it.

The tax ID for people not eligible for an SSN. Many issuers accept ITINs on applications, which is how newcomers to the US start building credit.

The ID number issued with TSA PreCheck or Global Entry that you add to airline reservations to get PreCheck screening. Without it on the booking, you will not get the expedited lane.

American Airlines' elite qualification currency. LPs are earned from flying, credit card spend, and partner activity, and your annual total determines AAdvantage status.

An elevated welcome bonus with an expiration date. Our all-time-high tracking exists to tell you whether an LTO is actually worth jumping on.

A now-dead technique from the Sapphire era for getting approved for both the CSP and CSR within days and collecting both bonuses. Chase closed the loophole, so treat MDD references as historical.

A prepaid payment instrument often bought with debit cards in manufactured spending cycles to liquidate gift cards. Caution: heavy MO activity is a classic shutdown and account closure trigger at banks and issuers.

Delta's elite qualification currency, earned through spend on Delta flights and on Delta Amex cards. Your MQD total determines Medallion status tier.

American Express's transferable points currency. Points transfer to a roster of airline and hotel partners.

Generating credit card spend without real consumption, for example buying gift cards and liquidating them, to earn rewards or hit bonus thresholds. Caution: issuers monitor for MS and it can lead to clawed-back points or shutdowns.

The spending you must complete to earn a welcome bonus, e.g. $6,000 in 3 months. Plan it before applying; an unmet MSR is the most expensive mistake in the hobby.

Cards that cost nothing to keep forever. The backbone of a healthy profile: they age your accounts and hold credit limits while premium cards rotate.

An Amex offer that omits the usual once-per-lifetime bonus restriction, letting past cardholders earn the bonus again. NLL offers are usually targeted links.

How charge cards and some premium cards work: no published limit, with capacity that flexes based on payment history and spending patterns.

Cruise-line spending money attached to a booking. The cruise world's statement credit, and a common perk when booking through premium card travel programs.

Spending more than a bank account's balance, triggering fees or declined transactions. Some bank bonuses require opting out of overdraft programs.

Long-running points and aviation blog known for premium cabin reviews and program news. One of the sources our update tracker follows.

Shorthand for the two people in a household churning together, usually spouses. Two-player mode doubles bonuses through referrals and staggered applications.

Converting an existing card to a different card in the same issuer family without a new application or hard pull. PCs preserve account age but do not earn welcome bonuses.

The clause making you personally liable for a business card's debt. Nearly every small-business card has one; true no-PG corporate cards require real company financials.

Paying the entire statement balance every month. The single rule that makes every card on this site profitable and every APR irrelevant.

An airport lounge access network bundled with many premium travel cards. Card-issued memberships vary in guest and restaurant credit benefits.

United's elite qualification currency, earned from ticket spend and from spend on United cobranded cards. PQP plus flight count or PQP alone determines Premier status.

A Chase feature letting you redeem Ultimate Rewards against eligible past purchases at a set rate. Eligible categories and rates rotate.

Community nickname for issuer departments that investigate gaming of rewards programs. RAT actions include bonus clawbacks and account shutdowns.

A multi-stop award itinerary circling the globe, the classic showcase for programs with generous stopover rules like Aeroplan and ANA.

Federal law capping rates for active-duty military, applied generously by Amex and Chase as full annual fee waivers. The reason military churners hold fee-free Platinums and Reserves.

The message center inside online banking. The preferred low-friction channel for retention offers, fee disputes and bonus-posting questions.

A credit inquiry that does not affect your score and is invisible to other lenders. Prequalification checks and many CLI requests use soft pulls.

The identifier US credit reporting hangs on. Guard it and freeze your bureaus; a freeze is free and blocks most fraudulent applications cold.

The welcome bonus earned for meeting a card's initial spend requirement. SUBs are the core engine of churning value.

Any account line on a credit report. Buying authorized-user tradelines to inflate scores is the gray market we cover only as a warning in the Advanced library.

The biggest mainstream points media site. Useful valuations and news, heavy affiliate incentives; read rankings there with that in mind.

Citi's transferable points currency. Full transfer partner access depends on which Citi cards you hold.

United's airline code. MileagePlus is the most accessible Star Alliance currency for US travelers, fed 1:1 by Chase and Bilt.

Chase's transferable points currency. Points pool across Chase cards and transfer 1:1 to airline and hotel partners.

The data-dense card site famous for offer history charts, the inspiration for the historical charts on every card page here.

A temporary card number tied to your real account, offered by Capital One Eno, Citi and Privacy.com among others. Limits damage from merchant breaches and zombie subscriptions.

A prepaid Visa-network gift card, the most common instrument in manufactured spending because it can sometimes be liquidated like a debit card. Liquidation methods change frequently.

A credit scoring model developed by the three bureaus, commonly shown by free credit monitoring apps. Most card issuers make decisions on FICO instead.

Mastercard's top consumer tier, carrying network-level perks like cell phone protection on top of whatever the issuing bank offers.

Southwest's airline code. Rapid Rewards points are fixed-value, and the Companion Pass, two-for-one flying for up to two years, is the program's crown jewel.

Hyatt's loyalty program, the last major hotel chain with a published award chart and the highest-value hotel point we track.

Industry single letters for cabins: Y economy, W premium economy, J business, F first. Award search tools and forums use them constantly.

A flag that a reported deal or data point does not work for everyone. Targeted offers and inconsistent enforcement make YMMV one of the most used terms in the hobby.