It’s now possible to activate all 5% category credit cards for the third quarter of 2025, 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: July 1st – Septmeber 30, 2025. Store purchases can usually be done until the last minute while online purchases should be given a buffer zone since the charge typically posts on the shipping date.
Contents
- 1 Chase Freedom – Gas/EV, Instacart, Select Entertainment
- 2 Discover – Gas/EV, Public Transit, Utilities
- 3 Citi Dividend – Gas, Home Improvement
- 4 U.S. Bank Cash+/Elan – Select your Categories
- 5 U.S. Bank Shopper – Select your Categories
- 6 Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards
- 7 Other Cards with 5% Category
Chase Freedom – Gas/EV, Instacart, Select Entertainment
Activation Link / FAQ / 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 on Gas Stations, EV Charging, Select Live Entertainment, and Instacart.
- Gas/EV – Always a nice category, though somewhat limited for many people. There are some gas station stores and convenience stores which code as ‘Gas’ and may even carry Visa gift cards or third party gift cards.
- Select Live Entertainment
- Instacart – this should be a useful category. Some people spend a lot on Instacart and it isn’t always easy to know which credit card category will get a bonus. This should be an easy, clean way of getting 5x on all Instacart orders (and presumably on Costco same-day which is processed via Instacart).
Tip: Click this link (login required) to check how far you are along the $1,500.
Discover – Gas/EV, Public Transit, Utilities
Activation Link / Our original post
With your Discover card, activate to earn 5% back this quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases at Gas Stations, EV charging, Public Transit, and Utilities.
- Gas/EV – Always a nice category, though somewhat limited for many people. There are some gas station stores and convenience stores which code as ‘Gas’ and may even carry Visa gift cards or third party gift cards.
- Public Transit – Public Transit purchases include local commuter passenger bus, rail, and ferry services. Taxi, rideshare services-including shared bikes and scooters-long-range passenger landrail, and water transportation services are not included.
- Utilities – This is a nice one: Utilities purchases include purchases for residential electricity, natural gas, and water service. Utilities purchases also include purchases made over the phone or online for internet, cable, satellite TV, and mobile and landline phone service. Purchases at retail stores for internet, cable, satellite, and mobile and landline phone service do not qualify. Purchases made through third parties, such as through a landlord, property management company, or homeowners association, may not qualify.
Tip: Login, then click this link to see you how far along the $1,500 you are.
Citi Dividend – Gas, Home Improvement
Landing Page | Our Original Post
With your Dividend card, activate to earn 5% back this quarter on Gas Stations and Home Improvement Stores. 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, you can save the entire amount for a different quarter, or you can use part up each quarter.
- Gas – Same as Chase and Discover, though EV is not included with Citi.
- Home Improvement Stores – Useful for summer renovations. Home Improvement stores also often sell gift cards as well.
U.S. 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.
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.
U.S. Bank Shopper – Select your Categories
The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards comes with a $95 annual fee and offers 6% cashback on your first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases each quarter with two retailers you choose. Options include Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, Target, and many more. You must enroll each quarter for two retailers.
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 – Gas, Education
Landing Page | Our Original Post | 2025 Post
- Earn 5% this quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases on Gas and on Education Expenses.
This is on top of the regular 1% for a total earn of 6% back. (apparently no longer the case)
Langley FCU – Grocery, Amazon, Dining
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: Amazon, Dining, Grocery
Huntington Business Voice – Select 4% Category
Huntington Voice Business credit card you choose one of ten categories where you’ll earn 4% cash back—on the first $7,000 you spend per quarter.
- Category options: Grocery Stores, Gas Stations, Restaurants, Travel and Entertainment, Home Improvement Stores, Utilities and Office Supply Stores, Department, Apparel, and Sporting Goods Stores, Electronic, Computer, and Camera Stores, Discount and Warehouse Stores, Auto Parts and Services Stores.
Safe Credit Union [CA] – Various
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 category is one of these three:
- Book Stores
- Department Stores & Discount Stores
- Concerts, Movies, Theatres
In addition, it seems you’ll also get 5% on the following two categories (I suppose unlimited):
- Hotels
- Theme Parks
Well- every gas station 7-11 Inused to buy gift cards from now only accepts cash. Damn.
Seattle area.
Chase would not provide the 5 UR points for my recent Costco by Instacart purchase. I wrote to complain but Chase refused to budge saying : “ However, we reviewed the account and found that your Costco by Instacart transaction was not eligible for the quarterly bonus points as per the terms only purchases made directly through Instacart are included. ”. Anyone have a difficult experience or better luck? Thanks
Sorry for typo —different not difficult experience
Costco via Instacart always counted as warehouse for me for Chase. Worked great when the PYB categories were warehouse buy sucks when you’re trying to use as Instacart.
Nusenda added airfare and hotels as categories for Q3 2025
Verizon Physical Gift Cards count towards Discover’s Utility Category
That’s interesting. Have you tried it with a Cash+ with the “Utility” category chosen also?
Sorry I don’t have that card
If I use Discover in PayPal, does anyone know if PayPal passes the correct merchant code to Discover? Specifically I’m asking about utilities. This used to work for the old PayPal Key but I’m not sure about PayPal itself. Thanks.
does Instacart gift card trigger 5%? hoping to use the Ink Unlimited/Cash $20 monthly credit alongside Freedom’s 5%.
Gas quarters are such shit. Who the fuck spends $1,500 on gas in a quarter unless you’re driving for your job or some shit (in which case employer is likely paying it).
you need to learn the ins and outs of this forum. Then your attitude will be” hey I missed out”
Pretty much all convenience stores code as gas, even if they don’t have pumps.
The trick is finding the convenience store that will see VGC (or any GC for that matter) on credit.
“see” = “sell”?
Anyone tried paying yearly MintMobile bill with Discover? Did it track as 5%?
Would the Discover category Public Transit that includes rideshare include charges from UberEats app?
Rideshare is not included.
For the third quarter of 2025, the Chase Freedom card offers 5% cash back on select live entertainment purchases and gas stations/EV charging. This includes ticketed events like concerts, festivals, sporting events, museums, and more.
Select Live Entertainment Details:
Great for football season as those tickets can get pricey.