Q2 2024 5% Quarterly Categories: Activate, Offers & Suggestions (Freedom/Flex, Discover, Dividend, Cash+ & More)
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It’s now possible to activate all 5% category credit cards for the second quarter of 2024, including the Chase Freedom, Chase Freedom Flex, Discover IT, Citi Dividend, US Bank Cash+ and some smaller cards. In this post we’ll provide the activation link for each card and links to track your spend, along with strategies to help increase spend in these categories.
Dates: April 1st – June 30, 2024. Store purchases can usually be done until the last minute while online purchases should be given a buffer zone of a day or two.
Chase Freedom – Restaurants, Hotels, Amazon, Whole Foods
Activation Link / FAQ / Sample Stores & Exclusions / Our original post
With the Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cards, activate to earn 5% back this quarter on up to $1,500 in spend at Restaurants, Hotels, Amazon, and Whole Foods.
- Restaurants – Restaurants is always a useful category. Those who have the Freedom flex card always earn 3x on Restaurants; this quarter you’ll earn 7x (1x base point + 2x Flex bonus + 4x quarterly category bonus).
- Hotels – Nice for spring/summer travel. Hotels stays booked through Chase Travel always earn 5x on the Freedom Flex card and so it will now earn 9x for hotel stays booked via Chase Travel (1x base point + 4x Chase Travel bonus + 4x quarterly category bonus).
- Amazon – Some people will value 5x Ultimate Rewards even more than 5% back which Prime members get on their Amazon Prime Visa card. You can reload your Amazon balance with $1,500 and spend it down even after the quarter is over or buy third party gift cards on Amazon. (these are affiliate links)
- Whole Foods – Grocery store deals are always nice. You can usually buy third party gift cards at Whole Foods stores as well.
Tip: Click this link (login required) to check how far you are along the $1,500.
Discover – Gas, Home, Transit
Activation Link / Our original post
With your Discover card, activate to earn 5% back this quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases at Restaurants and Drugstores.
- Gas and EV charging – Useful for gas and also for buying gift cards inside some gas stations and similar convenience stores
- Home Improvement stores – useful category for spring home improvements
- Public Transit
Activate to earn 5% Cashback Bonus at Gas Stations & Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, Home Improvement Stores, and Public Transit from 4/1/24 (or the date on which you activate 5%, whichever is later) through 6/30/24, on up to $1,500 in purchases. Gas Station & EV Charging Station purchases include those made at merchants classified as places that sell automotive gasoline that can be bought at the pump or inside the station, and public electric vehicle charging stations. Gas Stations and EV Charging Stations affiliated with supermarkets, supercenters, and wholesale clubs may not be eligible. Certain parking garages where public electric vehicle charging is offered or included may not be eligible. Home Improvement Store purchases include online and in store purchases at home improvement retail stores, building supply stores (e.g. lumber, paint, and hardware stores), lawn, nursery, and garden supply stores. Purchases made through third parties such as contractors may not qualify. Purchases from home furnishing, home appliance, plumbing, heating supply, and floor covering stores are not included. Public Transit purchases include local commuter passenger bus, rail, and ferry services. Taxi, rideshare services, long-range passenger land, rail, and water transportation services are not included.
Tip: Login, then click this link to see you how far along the $1,500 you are.
Citi Dividend – Grocery, Drugstores
Landing Page | Our Original Post
With your Dividend card, activate to earn 5% back this quarter on Grocery stores and Drugstores. Citi is different than the other cards in that you have a $6,000 annual cap rather than a $1,500 quarterly cap. You can get 5% back on up to $6,000 in this quarter or you can save the entire amount for a different quarter, or you can use part up each quarter.
- Grocery Stores
- Drugstores
Both of these are popular categories for regular spend and for the ability to purchase third-party gift cards to use elsewhere.
US Bank Cash+/Elan – Select your Categories
Activation link | Merchant List | Our Original Post
U.S. Bank Cash+ and Elan Max offer 5% cash back in two categories, up to $2,000 combined total per quarter. Keep in mind that Car Rentals was recently replaced with TV, Internet, and Streaming Services.
Here are the current options:
- TV, Internet, and Streaming Services
- Home utilities
- Select clothing stores
- Cell phone providers
- Electronic Stores
- Gyms/Fitness
- Fast food
- Ground Transportation
- Sporting goods
- Department Stores
- Furniture Stores
- Movie theaters
Tip: Login here, then scroll down and click on the red “View Your Cash+ History” button.
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards
The Cash Rewards card from Bank of America offers 3% back on one selected category, up to $2,500 per quarter. If you don’t select anything it defaults to gas. Once you selected a category for one quarter, that remains your category in the future unless you change it. Each calendar month you can change it if you’d like, but you’re always limited to $2,500 for the entire quarter.
- Gas and EV charging stations (default category)
- Online Shopping; this category also includes cable, streaming, internet, and phone plan
- Dining
- Travel
- Drug Stores
- Home Improvement/Furnishings
This category is especially lucrative for those who have Preferred Rewards status with Bank of America which can get you 5.25% back on one of these categories at the higher relationship level.
Lots of useful categories here. Important note: the Cash Rewards card also offers 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs up to $2,500 per quarter, and that $2,500 limit combines with the Category Selection limit. After spending $2,500, you’ll earn 1% back on everything.
Other Cards with 5% Category
Nusenda FCU – Home & Garden
Landing Page | Our Original Post
- Earn 5% this quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases on Furnishings, Home Improvements, and Gardening.
This is on top of the regular 1% for a total earn of 6% back. (apparently no longer the case?)
Langley FCU – Grocery, Drugstore, Home
Landing Page | Our Original Post
- Langley Federal Credit Union offers 5% back each month in one selected category, on up to $100 cash back total ($2,000 spend).
- The category options at time of this writing: Groceries, Drugstores, Home Improvements.
Vantage West [AZ] – Select your Category
Landing Page | Our Original Post
Get 5x points on the category of your choice, up to $1,500 per quarter. Eligible categories:
- Travel
- Restaurants
- Utilities [water, cell, electric, etc.]
- In-Store Wholesale Purchases [Costco, Sam’s Club, etc.]
- Department Stores
- Hardware & Home Improvement Stores
- Charitable Organizations
- Pharmacies & Drug Stores
- Amazon.com
Safe Credit Union [CA] – ADD ME
Landing Page | Our Original Post
Safe Credit Union Cash Rewards Visa card offers 5% this quarter on your choice of one category each quarter (with no apparent limit). This quarter the categories are:
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