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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Katie Genter is a digital nomad who has traveled full time since June 2017. She writes and edits stories about points and miles, and loyalty programs, often letting her personal experiences color these stories.
May 27, 2026 • 7 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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Quick summary
Downgrading a travel rewards card allows you to switch to another card from the same issuer with a lower or no annual fee, rather than canceling or paying the current fee.
This process typically preserves your account history and credit limit, which can help maintain your credit score.
Most issuers require you to wait at least one year after opening a card before downgrading, though policies and available options vary.
Downgrading may impact your eligibility for future welcome bonuses, especially if issuers have rules based on card family or prior card ownership.
What to consider
Downgrade eligibility and options often depend on how long the account has been open and may be limited to the same card family.
Some issuers restrict earning future welcome bonuses if you currently hold or have previously held a higher-tier card in the same family.
Available downgrade paths can change over time and may differ by account, so contacting customer service is recommended.
What you'll miss from the article
Detailed issuer-by-issuer rules, timing tips and nuanced advice for maximizing value when considering a downgrade.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
If the annual fee just came due for one of your travel rewards cards, you may find it difficult to justify the expense if you’re not getting enough value in return. If you can’t maximize the card’s benefits, earning rates or redemption opportunities, there may be an option besides paying the annual fee, canceling your card or calling to see if you can snag a retention offer. That option is to downgrade your card.
As a result of provisions of the Credit CARD Act of 2009, you’ll generally need to wait until you’ve had your card for a year before you can downgrade it. However, some issuers have different policies, and there are also some other aspects to consider.
Here's when you can downgrade your credit card account for most major card issuers — and when it might be a good option.
What does it mean to downgrade a card?
Downgrading your card means switching to another credit card offered by the same issuer with a lower annual fee (or none at all). Because you usually aren’t opening a new account, there typically won't be a new inquiry on your credit report, and your online login information should stay the same.
You’ll receive a new physical card in the mail that may have a new card number, but your account history, credit limit and other major factors that affect your credit score shouldn’t change.
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You can save on annual fees by downgrading your premium cards. However, some issuers base your eligibility for welcome bonuses on which credit cards you’ve had open, not just which cards you’ve earned a bonus on. So be wary that downgrading a card might prevent you from earning a valuable future bonus.
Most issuers only allow you to upgrade or downgrade within a single family of cards. However, issuers may not offer the same downgrade options to all cardholders, and some of your cards may not have any downgrade options. Finally, while issuers may offer bonus points when you upgrade to a new credit card product, it’s unusual for an issuer to provide bonus points to downgrade.
American Express doesn’t publicly state a required waiting period before downgrading a card. However, it’s generally best to wait at least one year, as American Express has historically included language in its card offers warning that customers who cancel or downgrade cards within the first year could lose rewards or even have their accounts closed.
American Express Centurion Lounge in Seattle. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Amex also generally doesn’t allow product changes between personal and business cards, and you typically have to stay within the same card family (such as Delta SkyMiles, Hilton Honors or Marriott Bonvoy). To determine your options and request a downgrade, call the number on the back of your card or log in to your online account and chat with an Amex representative.
American Express has a “one bonus per lifetime” rule. But this rule can be worse than it sounds, as Amex also has some "family" rules that can prohibit you from earning a welcome offer on a card if you hold or have held a higher-tier card in the same family. Hence, it may make sense to downgrade to a card if you wouldn't be eligible to earn a welcome offer on it anyway.
Chase may allow you to downgrade your card to another card within the same family if the account you want to downgrade has been open for at least one year. Call the number on the back of your credit card to learn your options or request a downgrade.
WYATT SMITH/THE POINTS GUY
Due to Chase’s 5/24 rule, many cardholders prefer to downgrade Chase cards instead of canceling them. But there are other reasons to downgrade a Chase card.
Citi generally requires you to wait at least 12 months after opening an account before downgrading or product changing your card.
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Unlike many issuers, Citi has historically allowed some product changes outside a card’s original family. However, available downgrade options can vary over time and differ from one account to another. Specifically, some recent reports suggest that cross-family conversions may not be available for Citi / AAdvantage and ThankYou Rewards points-earning cards.
To determine your current options, call the number on the back of your card and ask a Citi representative about eligible product changes.
Capital One doesn’t appear to have a hard-and-fast rule about how long your account must be open before you can downgrade a card. However, it’s generally best to wait at least one year before requesting a product change.
Capital One’s downgrade and upgrade options are often account-specific, so call the number on the back of your card or check your online account to see what offers are available.
WYATT SMITH/THE POINTS GUY
You generally can’t earn a new welcome bonus on most Capital One cards if you’ve earned a bonus on that card within the last 48 months. Capital One sometimes extends this restriction to other cards within the same card family. So, downgrading your card may let you reduce the annual fees you’re paying until you become eligible for a new welcome bonus.
Other issuers may allow you to downgrade your card, although some smaller issuers may not offer product changes. A good rule of thumb is to wait until your annual fee posts and then call the number on the back of your card to ask about your downgrade options.
If you’re not getting your money’s worth from one of the rewards cards in your wallet, downgrading to a no-annual-fee card can be an excellent way to keep your card’s credit line open while avoiding the annual fee. When in doubt, call the customer service line on the back of your card to learn about your options.
