Up to $1,225 in gift cards on offers you were taking anyway
After four on-time payments you become eligible for rewards on qualifying partner offers. This is the smallest part of what we do, and the part with the most conditions attached — so here it is stated plainly rather than in a footnote.
What each category is actually worth
Rewards are calculated as 1% of the partner facility, capped per category. The caps below are maximums, and each category can be claimed once only.
| Category | Maximum reward | What triggers it |
|---|---|---|
| Personal loan | $500 | Opening a qualifying personal loan through a partner link |
| Student loan or refinance | $250 | Opening or refinancing a qualifying student loan |
| Auto refinance | $150 | Refinancing an existing auto loan with a partner |
| Credit card | $75 | Opening a qualifying card, per card |
| Referral | $30 each | A friend opening an account, unlimited |
Caps reflect published programme terms as of August 2026 and are subject to change. Reaching the $1,225 aggregate requires claiming several categories, which most members do not.
Why we treat this as the least important feature
A rewards programme is easy to advertise and hard to deliver. These are the conditions that sit between the headline and an actual gift card.
$1,225 requires activating four separate partner categories. Most members activate one or none. Judge the product on the tradeline, not on this number.
Rewards arrive as retailer gift cards. If liquid value matters to you, count this as worth less than its face amount.
Opening a partner loan or card usually triggers an inquiry and lowers your average account age. Never open credit for a gift card.
How we would use it. If you were already going to refinance an auto loan or take a personal loan, activating it through the programme is free money. If you were not, the reward is not a reason to start. We would rather you ignored this feature entirely than let it push you into borrowing.
Every condition, in plain English
These conditions are the ones that determine whether a reward actually arrives.
- Eligibility to earn
- A minimum of four on-time payments on your Installment Credit Builder, in good standing.
- How a claim is triggered
- Activating a qualifying partner offer through the link provided in your account, and opening that account within 15 days.
- Per-category limit
- Each category can be claimed once. Referrals are unlimited at $30 each.
- Aggregate maximum
- $1,225 per member across all reward categories, excluding referrals.
- Form of payment
- Gift cards from participating retailers. Not cash, and not applied against your balance.
- Timing
- Typically issued within 90 days of the qualifying activity being confirmed by the partner.
- If the partner account closes early
- The partner may reverse confirmation, in which case the reward is withdrawn or not issued.
- Effect on your credit
- Partner applications generally involve a hard inquiry and a new account, both of which affect your file. This is a genuine cost of claiming.
- Programme changes
- Partners, caps and categories change. Current terms are published at licenses and disclosures.
Credit Rewards — the questions we get asked
Start with the tradeline, not the gift cards
Four on-time payments unlock rewards eligibility. Choose the product for the credit history it builds — treat anything else as a bonus.
Check your eligibility