{"id":227157,"date":"2025-10-29T18:30:17","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T18:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=227157\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T14:26:43","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:26:43","slug":"southwest-debit-card","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/news\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-debit-card\/","title":{"rendered":"Earn Statement Credits, Companion Pass-Qualifying Points, and More With the New Southwest Debit Card"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Travel rewards credit cards are a dime a dozen. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/southwest-credit-card\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Southwest Airlines alone offers five<\/a>, each with its own perks. Rewards <em>debit<\/em> cards, on the other hand, are much harder to come by. But now Southwest Airlines has one of its own, and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.southwestairlinesinvestorrelations.com\/news-events\/press-releases\/detail\/1904\/swipe-earn-and-fly-with-southwest-airlines-new-rapid-rewards-debit-card\" rel=\"noopener\">it\u2019s open for applications<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s everything you need to know about the Southwest Rapid Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Debit Card, including its benefits, fees, and how to apply.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Southwest_Launches_a_New_Rapid_Rewards_Debit_Card\">Southwest Launches a New Rapid Rewards Debit Card<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>After teasing the card a few months ago, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Debit Card is finally here and open for applications. And this card has more to offer than you might expect.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_233003\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/404\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-233003 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/WN-Debit.png\" alt=\"Southwest Airlines debit card landing page.\" width=\"750\" height=\"404\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/WN-Debit.png 2040w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/WN-Debit-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/WN-Debit-1024x551.png 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/WN-Debit-768x413.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/WN-Debit-1536x827.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Southwest Airlines<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3><span id=\"Sign-up_bonus\">Sign-up bonus<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.southwestdebit.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Southwest Rapid Rewards Debit Card<\/a> looks a lot like a credit card, and part of that is because it comes with a sign-up bonus. But unlike Southwest\u2019s credit cards, this bonus is easier to earn.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll receive a one-time bonus of 2,500 Rapid Rewards points when you meet the following requirements within 90 days of opening your account:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Establish and receive at least two direct deposits, recurring monthly or more frequently, <strong>and<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Make at least $100 in qualifying purchases using your card within 90 days of account opening.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Qualifying purchases include all regular purchases made with the card. Transactions that do not count include ATM withdrawals, purchases with cash back, cash-equivalent or peer-to-peer payment app transactions, lottery tickets, casino gaming, disputed or unauthorized charges, returns or refunds, and any fees (including monthly fees).<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Benefits\">Benefits<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>On top of the sign-up bonus, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Debit Card also comes with several perks. These include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Annual spend bonus:<\/strong> Earn up to 7,500 bonus points each year on your anniversary, based on your annual net purchases.\n<ul>\n<li>2,500 bonus points: Spend $5,000.00 to $9,999.99<\/li>\n<li>5,000 bonus points: Spend $10,000.00 to $14,999.99<\/li>\n<li>7,500 bonus points: Spend $15,000.00+<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Yearly 20% promotion code:<\/strong> Receive a 20% off promotion code every January to save on Southwest flights. The code is valid for one year and does not apply to Basic fares.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Annual $35 statement credit:<\/strong> Get a $35 statement credit each year when you use your Southwest Rapid Rewards Debit Card for Southwest Airlines purchases. This excludes Upgraded Boarding and inflight purchases.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Yearly Companion Pass point bonus:<\/strong> Receive 7,500 Companion Pass qualifying points in your Rapid Rewards account each calendar year. Note that this bonus stacks with the 10,000-point bonus Southwest credit cardholders receive.<\/li>\n<li><strong>All points count toward Companion Pass:<\/strong> All points earned with your Rapid Rewards Debit Card count toward <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/how-to-earn-southwest-companion-pass\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Companion Pass<\/a> qualification, including sign-up and annual spend bonuses.<\/li>\n<li><strong>No fees at two million ATMs worldwide:<\/strong> You will not pay ATM surcharges at any of the ATMs in the Cirrus network.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In addition, Sunrise Banks issues the card, and funds are FDIC-insured up to $250,000. This is the standard coverage limit per account.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Earning_rates\">Earning rates<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Southwest Rapid Rewards Debit Card is a decent option if you want to earn <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/airlines\/southwest-rapid-rewards\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Rapid Rewards<\/a> points without using a credit card. You can earn unlimited points at the following rates:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Earn 1 point per $1 spent on eligible Southwest Airlines purchases and qualifying dining and subscription purchases, including cable, internet, phone, streaming services, utilities, and insurance premiums.<\/li>\n<li>Earn 1 point per $2 spent on other qualifying everyday purchases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All points earned with your Rapid Rewards Debit Card count toward Companion Pass qualification, including the sign-up and annual spend bonuses.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_178415\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/480\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-178415 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Southwest-Airlines-Wing-Featured-Lukas-Souza-Unsplash.png\" alt=\"Southwest Airlines winglet photo taken inflight.\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Southwest-Airlines-Wing-Featured-Lukas-Souza-Unsplash.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Southwest-Airlines-Wing-Featured-Lukas-Souza-Unsplash-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Southwest-Airlines-Wing-Featured-Lukas-Souza-Unsplash-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Southwest-Airlines-Wing-Featured-Lukas-Souza-Unsplash-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Lukas Souza\/Unsplash<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3><span id=\"Monthly_fee_and_how_to_waive_it\">Monthly fee (and how to waive it)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Southwest Rapid Rewards Debit Card may look and feel like a credit card, but it\u2019s not. However, that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s free to carry. This card comes with a $6.99 monthly fee, which adds up to $83.88 per year.<\/p>\n<p>You can waive the monthly fee by maintaining a minimum average monthly balance of $2,500 in your account.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"How_to_Apply_for_the_Southwest_Debit_Card\">How to Apply for the Southwest Debit Card<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Southwest Rapid Rewards Debit Card is now open for applications at <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.southwestdebit.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">southwestdebit.com<\/a>. Unlike a credit card, there\u2019s no credit check required when you apply, so you won\u2019t see a hard inquiry on your credit report. However, all accounts are subject to approval, so approval is not guaranteed.<\/p>\n<p>If you decide to apply, the process is quick and straightforward. You\u2019ll just need to enter your email address, provide your personal information, and create your account credentials.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Our_Take\">Our Take<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Southwest Rapid Rewards Debit Card is a surprisingly impressive product. It offers a solid mix of short- and long-term benefits for Southwest flyers of all types in exchange for a reasonable monthly fee. And you can even avoid that fee entirely by keeping a sufficient average monthly balance.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a solid option if you don\u2019t qualify for a traditional credit card, want to enjoy Southwest perks for a fee that's lower than the airline's most affordable credit card, or simply just prefer to avoid another hard pull on your credit report.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ftoc\"><div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_light_blue no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Page Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#Southwest_Launches_a_New_Rapid_Rewards_Debit_Card\">Southwest Launches a New Rapid Rewards Debit Card<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Sign-up_bonus\">Sign-up bonus<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Benefits\">Benefits<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Earning_rates\">Earning rates<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Monthly_fee_and_how_to_waive_it\">Monthly fee (and how to waive it)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#How_to_Apply_for_the_Southwest_Debit_Card\">How to Apply for the Southwest Debit Card<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Our_Take\">Our Take<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After months of teasing a rewards-earning debit card, Southwest&#8217;s brand new Rapid Rewards\u00ae Debit Card is open for applications! Here&#8217;s everything you need to know about its benefits (of which there are several), fees, and how to apply.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":97,"featured_media":217051,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[12069],"tags":[12621,12757],"coauthors":[36469,36432],"class_list":["post-227157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-earning-strategy","tag-southwest-rapid-rewards"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227157","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/97"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=227157"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227157\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":239028,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227157\/revisions\/239028"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/217051"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=227157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=227157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=227157"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=227157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}