Chase Sapphire Reserve Business Card Launching Summer 2025 – What We Know (And What We Fear)
After months of industry speculation, Chase has officially confirmed it will launch two cards this summer: a refreshed personal Chase Sapphire Reserve and an all-new business version of the Sapphire Reserve.
While I don’t know the exact details yet, a number of credible rumors, leaked documents, and industry analysis have painted a picture of what we can expect, and I have to tell you, I’m not exactly thrilled.
In this post:
The Intel: What I Can Say For Sure
This is what Chase posted on Instagram
Combined with a high-profile marketing campaign featuring supermodel Claudia Schiffer and a redesigned card, Chase seems to be aiming for a strategic shift that would put it in competition directly with the Amex Business Platinum and Capital One Venture X Business.
Both the revamped personal Sapphire Reserve and the entirely new Sapphire Reserve Business card are slated for release "this summer." With summer officially starting June 20, 2025, I think we may be seeing a launch between late June and July.
The reasoning behind this is simple. The Ink lineup covers basic business needs, but lacks a truly premium, Sapphire‑level product. Chase needs a heavy‑hitter for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small businesses where Amex and Capital One have previously had free reign. Chase is just following the industry trend.
Rumored Specifications & Features
While Chase has been tight-lipped on specifics, here’s what I can speculate from all the rumours I’ve seen floating around.
Sky-High Annual Fee: Both the refreshed personal Sapphire Reserve and the new business version will be carrying a staggering $795 annual fee (up from $550 for the personal card).
Increased Bonuses on Portal/Select Travel: Expect boosted earnings for bookings via Chase Travel: 8x points on flights (up from 5x) and 8x points on hotels and car rentals (down from 10x). Direct bookings with airlines and hotels could see 4x points (potentially up from 3x for flights, a new category for direct hotels).
Dining Stays Strong: I expect that the 3x points on dining (including delivery/takeout) will remain a cornerstone benefit.
The Potential Dealbreaker: The beloved, flexible 3x points on all other travel purchases (like taxis, tolls, ferries, cruise lines, tour operators). We can’t have everything.
To justify the fee hike, we can expect Chase to load both cards with new semi-annual and monthly credits, copying the Amex Platinum model. Here are the key highlights:
$500 annual credit for luxury hotels via Chase's "The Edit" ($250 semi-annually).
$300 DoorDash Credit: $25 monthly credits plus a complimentary DashPass membership.
$250 Apple Services Credit: Towards Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions.
$120 Lyft Credit: $10 monthly credit (potentially via 5% back or direct credit).
$120 Peloton Credit: $10 monthly credit (likely via statement credit or digital wallet benefit).
Existing Credits Expected to Remain: $300 Annual Travel Credit, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit ($120 every 4 years), Priority Pass Select lounge access (including Chase Sapphire Lounges).
And here are some advantages specific to the Business Card.
5/24 Rule Bypass: Crucially, applications for Chase business cards generally do not count against your 5/24 status (Chase's rule denying applicants with 5+ new personal cards in the last 24 months)..
Sign-Up Bonus: There’s also speculation about a 100,000 to 150,000 Ultimate Rewards points after meeting a significant minimum spend requirement (e.g., $15,000 in 3 months).
There’s also the elite status tiers, which would unlock after spending a staggering $75k. It’s important to note again that these are all speculations. Nothing I’ve mentioned in this section is confirmed.
My Thoughts:
I have to say, this isn’t exactly the change I was hoping for.
The biggest downgrade is the devaluation of flexible travel earnings. Losing the broad 3x on "other travel" means if you’re someone who uses alternative forms of travel (cruises, tolls, local transit, tours), there really would be no point on this card for you.
Another problem is copying the Amex Platinum Coupon Book. It's a pain to manage all these credits and expiration dates you might not even end up using and Amex has already faced criticism for this. Why they thought this was a good idea is beyond me.
The spend based elite tiers make it out of reach for many small businesses, and on top of that there's the annual fee and AU fee. Is it justified?
The Bottom Line
This is Chase's most significant move in the premium card space since the original Reserve debuted in 2016.
For the people interested, especially the business professional or entrepreneurs, I’d say hold your judgement until we get the full details. The rumours about the 100k+ bonus, transferable points, and lounge access are compelling, but the hefty fee and the potential gutting of flexible travel earnings, and an Amex-style coupon book mean a fundamental shift that might alienate others.
Chase seems willing to risk alienating some existing loyalists who valued simplicity and broad travel bonuses to chase a more "elite" customer base. The question is, is it worth it?
