Credit Card Points Expiring Soon: I Redeemed $70 Worth Just in Time

A few days ago I got a text from my bank saying some of my credit card points would expire at month-end. I logged into the app and discovered I had over 80,000 points—worth roughly $70 in phone credit.

If I hadn’t seen that text, $70 would have vanished into thin air.

I researched various banks’ point systems and found there’s quite a bit of nuance here.

First, expiration policies. Some banks offer permanent points—like China Merchants Bank. Others have 2 or 3-year validity, like ICBC and CCB. Some use rolling expiration by billing cycle, which is particularly sneaky. Mine uses rolling expiration; old points automatically expire if unused.

Second, redemption rates. The same 10,000 points might get you $10 in phone credit, but only $5 worth of merchandise, or varying airline miles. For someone like me who rarely travels, phone credit is most practical.

Then there’s timing. Some banks run redemption promotions at month-end, quarter-end, or year-end where the same points get you more value. I caught a “bonus 10% points redemption” event—80,000 points got me $77 in credit, $7 more than usual.

I browsed other options too: annual video subscriptions, coffee vouchers, supermarket gift cards, even airline miles. If you travel frequently, miles might be better value. If you’re a coffee lover, Starbucks cards work well.

The key is choosing based on your actual needs. Don’t swap for “good value” items you don’t need. I once redeemed a juicer that gathered dust after two uses—that’s real waste.

I recommend checking your credit card points right now to see if any are expiring soon. You worked hard for that money; points are earned through spending. Letting them expire is truly a shame.