Earn up to $500 a year when you refer a friend to these cards

One of the benefits of using credit cards is that you can profit from them. In addition to a welcome offer, limited-time promotions and regular rewards that accumulate when you make purchases with a card, you may also have the opportunity to earn a referral bonus. If so, and depending on the program, you can earn as much as $500 in a year when the people you suggest the card to successfully open the account.

Currently, the credit card issuers below offer referral programs.The programs vary, but in all cases you will receive a bonus of cash, miles, points or a statement credit after the person you refer to a credit card applies for the account and is approved.

Ready to add to your rewards bank by suggesting a card to your friends? Here are the credit issuers that offer this type of valuable incentive.

American Express

Depending on which American Express card you have, you can refer a friend and be awarded some extra Membership Rewards points. To find out which cards are currently eligible for the referral bonus, log into your American Express account and go to the Refer a Friend page to see the most updated list. Most are reward-heavy cards such as The Platinum Card® from American Express. The per card referral bonuses range from 10,000 to 20,000 points, maxing out at between 55,000 and 80,000 points per year.

After logging into your account and going to the referral page, you’ll see which cards are available and how much the bonus will be for each one. When you select the account you want to suggest, you’ll get a link to share. When your friend is approved, you’ll get the points.

Capital One

Capital One’s refer-a-friend program bonus differs by card. For example, a card with a miles-based rewards program, like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card will give you the bonus in miles, while a cash-back card, like the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card will give you the referral bonus in cash.

To find out which cards are eligible for the referral program, sign in to your account then look for the Refer a Friend page to see which are on the list, and get your personal referral link. The bonus depends on the card, and is limited to either $500 in cash or 50,000 miles each year. There are no specific limits for the number of times you refer someone, but when you hit the cap, you’ll no longer get the bonus.

Once you have the link, you can share it with friends and if they are approved, you’ll find the bonus in your rewards balance. Note that Capital One only offers this program to cardholders with good credit, so if you have had payment problems you may not be eligible.

Chase

Chase also has an excellent referral program. You will earn cash, points or miles depending on the card that you refer and that your friend takes action to open. You can see how much the bonus will be by checking the Refer-A-Friend page after you log into your account.

For example, right now you can earn up to $100 for a successful application for the Chase Freedom Unlimited, with a maximum number of five referrals per year. That means you can walk away with a total annual bonus of $500. And for each successful application for any United MileagePlus® Card, you’ll earn 10,000 bonus miles, topping out at 100,000 miles per year. Just complete the form on the page, and you’ll be routed to the offers. When you’ve selected one, you’ll be supplied with the link to send. You’ll receive your rewards bonus after the successful approval.

Discover

Discover also has a referral program, and a large number of its cards are included, such as Discover it® Cash Back, Discover it® Student chrome and Discover it® Miles. The bonus ranges from $50 to $100 for each person who opens the account, up to a maximum annual amount that’s stated in the individual offer.

For you to be eligible, your account must be in good standing and you had to have opted in to receive Discover’s marketing communications. You’ll get the link after logging into your account and going to the Refer A Friend page. You won’t be notified if and when the person you referred was approved, so keep an eye on your account. The bonus will appear as a statement credit within one to two billing periods.

Bottom line

If you want to make some extra cash or add to your rewards balance for travel or products, a refer a friend program can be in your best interest. These programs are often updated, so make sure you keep an eye on what your credit card issuer is currently offering.

You may also be doing your friends a favor by suggesting an account that may be perfect for them — and one that they can also use to turn a profit. After all, who couldn’t use another $500 or the equivalent to spend?