2024.9 Update: 2024 Q4 (Oct., Nov., Dec.) 5% categories are released! Now it’s the time to activate them.
A number of credit cards offer 5% cashback in categories that rotate every quarter (three months). If you are a Chase Freedom Flex (CFF) (Or Old Chase Freedom), Discover It, Citi Dividend, or US Bank Cash Plus cardholder, use the links provided below to activate your bonus categories indicated below:
Contents
1. Chase Freedom Flex (CFF) and Old Chase Freedom: PayPal, etc.
The Chase Freedom has a quarterly cap of $1,500 in spend on 5x categories per account.
2. Discover it: Amazon and Target
The Discover it has a quarterly cap of $1,500 in spend on 5% categories. The categories used be made available at the beginning of each calendar year, while they are now published every quarter like Freedom since 2023. Remember that all new Discover it cardholders will earn double cash back earned in the first 12 months of card membership, including on cash back earned in bonus categories, making quarterly category spend worth 10% back in the first year!
3. Citi Dividend: Restaurants and Citi Travel
The Citi Dividend earns 5% cash back on a cumulative total of $6,000 in spend per year rather than on $1,500 spend per quarter. The Citi Dividend is no longer available for signups. Unfortunately, as of September 2019 Citi has also removed the ability to product change to the Dividend, however old accounts have not been closed by the bank.
4. US Bank Cash Plus
The US Bank Cash+ card allows you to earn 5% cash back in two categories of your choice every quarter, up to $2,000 in combined spend. It also allows you to choose a 2% cash back category every quarter. The image below shows which categories are available for 5% (top) and 2% (bottom) cash back. Note that you need to activate the 5% category every quarter (unlike BoA Cash Rewards which you still earn 3% for the previously chosen category if you forget to choose categories later on).
Appendix: Historical 5% Categories by Year
Click the card name to expand: