What happens to my points if I switch payment processors?
In most loyalty programs, you forfeit them — balances are typically tied to the provider relationship and zero out when it ends. In a portable program, nothing happens: points never expire and remain the merchant’s property even if their payment provider changes, because the balance is held at the platform level, above any single provider.
Which kind you’re in is written in your program terms — and worth checking before a switch, not after.
How do I check my program’s policy?
Three things in the terms tell you everything:
- The expiration clause — any program that expires points will also forfeit them on departure.
- The sponsor — if the program is legally sponsored by your processor (not an independent platform), the balance likely dies with the relationship.
- The funding — pre-funded programs (a reserve backing every point) can afford portability; future-budget programs can’t.
Should a rewards balance stop me from switching?
It shouldn’t have to — that’s the test of an honest program. Rewards you can lose for switching aren’t rewards, they’re a leash. A program built on portability retains you with the next reward you’re earning toward, not with the threat of losing the last one.
If you’re choosing a new provider anyway, ask whether they offer a portable rewards program on your volume — it’s the rare switching decision where you can gain a balance instead of losing one.