It’s now possible to activate all 5% category credit cards for the first 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: January 1st – March 31, 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 – Grocery, Fitness, Gym, Spa
Activation Link / FAQ / Sample Stores & Exclusions / Our original post
With the Freedom and Freedom Flex cards, activate to earn 5% back this quarter on up to $1,500 in spend at Grocery Stores, Fitness Club & Gym Memberships, Self-Care & Spa Services.
Grocery Stores – This is always a favorite since we all shop for groceries. Plus, you can max this out by purchasing gift cards to other retailers.
The terms exclude Walmart and Target, though I believe in the past readers have said that these sometimes do get classified as a grocery store.
Merchants in this category include supermarkets, merchants that offer a full-service grocery line of merchandise including a deli and bakery, as well as smaller grocery stores.
Some merchants that sell grocery items are not included in this category; for example, larger stores that sell a wide variety of goods and groceries, such as warehouse clubs, discount stores and some smaller merchants such as drugstores, and merchants that specialize in only a few grocery items.
Purchases made at gas stations from merchants who also operate grocery stores are not included in this category.
Delivery service merchants will be included if they classify as a grocery store merchant.
Fitness Club & Gym Memberships
Merchants in this category include health clubs, exercise, or athletic facilities requiring membership and offering access to services related to physical fitness, such as fitness clubs, fitness centers, fitness studios, gyms, aerobics, cardio fitness and other services such as yoga and cross fit training.
Merchants that specialize in offering personalized or therapeutic services such as massage therapy, dietary and weight management counseling and personal training are not included in this category.
In addition, some merchants that sell a wide variety of general goods, which may include fitness or athletic apparel, sporting goods, dietary food, health food or similar supplements are not included in this category.
Also, certain lodging, hotel, motel, resort and central reservation services offering access to third party facilities that include fitness clubs or gyms are not included in this category unless they classify as a fitness
club or gym membership merchant.
Self-Care & Spa Services
This category includes self-care and spa services, such as massages, spa treatments, manicures, tanning, and barber and salon services, purchased at merchant locations that specialize in providing these services.
Self-Care and spa services are typically provided by licensed professionals, however, services provided by medical professionals will not qualify.
Purchases of self-care and spa services at merchants that classify their location in another category, for example spa services purchased in a hotel, will not be included unless the merchant classifies the
transactions in this category.
Purchases of related products and services, for example hair and skincare products purchased at a salon or an overnight stay at a spa, will also not be included unless the merchant classifies the transactions in this category.
Tip: Click this link (login required) to check how far you are along the $1,500.
Discover – Restaurants, Drugstores
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.
Restaurants – always a useful category
Drugstores – many pharmacies sell gift cards for a wide variety of retailers which is an option for maxing this out
Activate to earn 5% Cashback Bonus at Restaurants and Drug Stores from 1/1/24 (or the date which you activate 5%, whichever is later) through 3/31/24, on up to $1,500 in purchases. Restaurant purchases include those made at merchants classified as full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, fast-food locations, and restaurant delivery services. Drug Store purchases include those made at stand-alone drug stores, pharmacies, online pharmacies, and some pharmacies located inside of retail stores.
Tip: Login, then click this link to see you how far along the $1,500 you are.
Citi Dividend – Amazon, Streaming
Landing Page | Our Original Post
With your Dividend card, activate to earn 5% back this quarter on Amazon and select streaming services. 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.
Amazon
Select Streaming Services – Includes the following cable, satellite, and streaming providers: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Disney+, DirecTV Stream, ESPN+, fuboTV, HBO Max, NBA League Pass, Netflix, Pandora, Paramount+, Showtime, Sling TV, Spotify, Starz, SiriusXM, Vudu, YouTube Red, YouTube TV, and Tidal.
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 – ADD ME
Landing Page | Our Original Post
Earn 5% this quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases on ADD ME
This is on top of the regular 1% for a total earn of 6% back. (apparently no longer the case?)
Abound CU – ADD ME
Landing page | Our Original Post
Abound Credit Union Visa Platinum card offers 5% on up to $2,000 on ADD ME purchases.
Langley FCU – Grocery, Wholesale & More
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: Streaming Services, Internet, Cable, Groceries & Wholesale Clubs, Department Stores
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:
ADD ME