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Lenders offer big credit card bonuses and rewards to 'get a piece' of spending explosion

Vaccinated and flush with cash, many Americans are ready to spend to make up for lost time. And credit card companies are dangling big-time sign-up bonuses and rewards to seize that pent-up demand.

“We’re going to see an extremely competitive time in the coming six months to a year as people get back to spending on credit cards,” Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree, told Yahoo Money. “There's been this discussion of a giant explosion of spending after the pandemic and reopening, and lenders want to get a piece of that.”

Last week, Chase upped its sign-on bonus to 100,000 points on its Sapphire Preferred card, after increasing incentives last month for its co-branded cards with Southwest and IHG. This week, Wells Fargo introduced a new card with unlimited 2% cash rewards and no annual fee — plus a small bonus — while Citi on Thursday came out with a new no-fee card of its own with 5% cash back on up to $500 a month in spending. Both American Express and Capital One have also bumped up their rewards or bonuses recently.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 13: People wear face masks inside of a shopping mall in Manhattan on May 13, 2021 in New York City. The CDC announced that people who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 do not need to wear masks or practice social distancing indoors or outdoors any longer with the exception of exception of special circumstances. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
People wear face masks inside of a shopping mall in Manhattan on May 13, 2021 in New York City. The CDC announced that people who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 do not need to wear masks or practice social distancing indoors or outdoors any longer with the exception of exception of special circumstances. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Spencer Platt via Getty Images)

The rewards arms race comes as vaccinations ramp up, the economy reopens, and many Americans are well-positioned to spend.

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The savings rate during the pandemic has been historically high, with government support and limited spending options bolstering Americans’ coffers. At the same time, consumers have paid down their credit card debt in record fashion, improving their balance sheet. Household wealth has also hit a new high.

“A lot of people are in way better financial shape today than they expected to be a year ago and people may have more cash in their pockets,” Schulz said. “They may feel more secure about their jobs and that gives them the confidence to spend and that gives lenders the confidence to lend more.”

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Last year, credit card companies didn’t know how to react to the unprecedented economic landscape that saw 20.5 million jobs lost in April 2020 alone.

Many issuers slashed credit lines or closed card accounts altogether to reduce their exposure to defaults. They originated 25% fewer accounts versus 2019, while the credit limits of those new accounts were 37% lower year-over-year, according to Equifax.

“Credit card issuers were very cautious in 2020. We didn’t see many newsworthy card launches,” said Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at CreditCards.com, in an email. “As we approach the midpoint of 2021, we’re seeing more signs of recovery, including heightened marketing spending, increased consumer card usage, and elevated sign-up bonuses.”

Redondo Beach, CA - May 14: People walked and shopped along S. Catalina Avenue in the Riviera Village shopping area of Redondo Beach, CA, a day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) loosened guidelines for vaccinated people, with masks no longer being necessary when outdoors or in most indoor situations, Friday, May 14, 2021. The new guidelines state that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Borrowers still should remain savvy and understand what is required to get these sign-up incentives. Typically, a card holder must spend a minimum amount in a specific timeframe to get awarded the bonus, and these thresholds can vary widely from card to card.

Spending to just get a bonus is one good way to start digging back into credit card debt, an outcome that Schulz expects to happen as the year and spending enthusiasm wear on. In fact, four in 10 U.S. adults said that they're willing to take on debt to “treat themselves,” according to a recent CreditCards.com poll.

“People will go overboard and credit card debt will definitely rise,” Schulz said, “in part because that's what Americans do.”

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Janna is an editor for Yahoo Money and Cashay. Follow her on Twitter @JannaHerron.

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