Chase adds new welcome bonus restrictions to its no-annual-fee business cards

Chase has quietly tightened the rules for earning welcome bonuses on two of its most popular business credit cards with no annual fee. This shift mirrors the issuer’s more restrictive approach across its broader portfolio, including the Sapphire family of cards in June.What’s changing?Effective immediately, Chase has added cross-card eligibility language to the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (see rates and fees) and the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (see rates and fees).In practical terms, you can no longer earn the welcome bonus on one card if you’ve ever had the other. Here’s how it now works:If you previously had the Ink Business Cash, you’re not eligible for the welcome bonus on the Ink Business Unlimited.If you previously had the Ink Business Unlimited, you’re not eligible for the welcome bonus on the Ink Business Cash.ROCKAA/GETTY IMAGESChase added the following clause in the terms and conditions for both cards:”The new cardmember bonus may not be available to you if you have ever had this card or any other Chase for Business card without an annual fee. We may also consider factors pertinent to your business in determining your bonus eligibility.”This new wording creates a “family rule” for Chase’s no-annual-fee business products, bringing them more in line with the issuer’s recent limits on Sapphire-branded cards and echoing the card family restrictions increasingly used by American Express.What does this mean for business owners?You can still apply for — or product change to — either Ink Business card, even if you’re not eligible for the welcome bonus. However, many small businesses have historically opened both cards to maximize their rewards strategy. That’s because the cards earn:Ink Business Cash: Up to 5% back in select business categoriesInk Business Unlimited: Uncapped 1.5% back on every purchaseNeither card charges an annual fee, and when paired with a premium card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees), the cash-back rewards convert into fully transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Losing the ability to earn both bonuses makes that strategy slightly less appealing for newcomers.Bottom lineChase has spent this year tightening bonus eligibility, most notably by restricting bonuses for its Sapphire cards five months ago. With these Ink-family restrictions, it appears the issuer is continuing its effort to limit duplicate sign-ups while nudging applicants to commit to a single product within each card family. We wouldn’t be surprised to see this roll out to other Chase card families in the future.Related: Your guide to the Chase Ink Business credit cardsEditorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.