Q1 2023 5% Quarterly Categories: Activate, Offers & Suggestions (Freedom/Flex, Discover, Dividend, Cash+ & More)

It’s now possible to activate all 5% category credit cards for the first quarter of 2023, 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, 2022. 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, Target, Fitness

Activation Link / FAQ / Sample Stores & Exclusions / Our original post

With your Freedom and Freedom Flex cards, earn 5% back this quarter on up to $1,500 in spend at grocery stores, at Target, and for fitness clubs and gym memberships.

• Grocery Stores (excluding Walmart) – sample list of grocery stores can be found here, it includes all of the major grocery chains and should work at smaller grocers stores too.
  • Grocery Stores are always a favorite category. Many major Grocery Stores also carry a wide variety of gift cards such as Visa or Amazon gift cards, making it easy to max out that way.
  • Some Walmarts (maybe the Walmart Neighborhood stores) might code as Grocery as well (despite the stated exclusion).
• Target – includes Target stores and Target.com
  • A lot of people will prefer 5x Ultimate Rewards points instead of getting 5% off with REDcard.
• Fitness Clubs & Gym Memberships – sample list of grocery stores can be found here

Tip: Click this link (login required) to check how far you are along the $1,500.

Discover – Grocery, Drugstores, Streaming

Activation Link / Our original post

With your Discover card, earn 5% back this quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases at Grocery Stores, Drugstores, and on select Streaming services.

• Grocery Stores
  • Grocery Store purchases include those made at supermarkets, meat lockers, bakeries, smaller grocery stores, and grocery delivery services. All purchases made at Walmart, Target, convenience stores, wholesale clubs, discount stores, and supercenters are not eligible.
• Drug Stores
  • Drugstore purchases include those made at stand-alone drug stores, pharmacies, pharmacies located inside of retail stores, and from online pharmacies.
• Select Streaming Services
  • Examples of Select Streaming Service purchases include Amazon Music, Amazon Prime Video, AMC+, Apple Music, Apple TV, Audible, DirecTV Stream, FUBO, Google Play, HBO Max, iHeartRadio, MLB.TV, Pandora, Paramount Plus, Peacock, Showtime, SiriusXM, Sling TV, Spotify, Starz, Vudu, YouTube Music, YouTube Premium, YouTube TV. Other popular streaming services may be included. If your subscription is bundled with another product or service, billed by a third party (such as a digital platform, a cable or satellite provider, telecommunications, internet provider or a car manufacturer), the purchase may not be eligible in this category. Add-ons associated with Select Streaming Services may not qualify for this promotion if they are not listed, billed in a bundle, separately or through a third party. Listed merchants are in no way sponsoring or affiliated with this program.

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, earn 5% back this quarter at Amazon and on 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. Thus, 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.

• Amazon.com – useful, though less-so for someone who already has a 5% Amazon credit card
• Select Streaming Services – includes Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, Apple Music, CBS All Access, Disney+, AT&T TV NOW, ESPN+, fuboTV, HBO Max, NBA League Pass, Netflix, Pandora, Showtime, Sling TV, Spotify, Starz, SiriusXM, Vudu, YouTube Red, YouTube TV, and Tidal

A lot of people already maxed out their Dividend cards for the year with $6,000 in purchases during Q2 at the Grocery or Drugstore category.

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 Cash Rewards

Our Original Post

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 (default)
• Online Shopping
• 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

ABOC – Discontinued

Since August 27, 2021, the ABOC Platinum rewards card has moved to a new rewards provider and no longer offers the quarterly 5x categories.

Nusenda FCU – Grocery, Gas

Landing Page | Our Original Post

• Earn 5% this quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases on Groceries and Gas.

This is on top of the regular 1% for a total earn of 6% back.

Affinity FCU – ADD ME

Landing Page | Our Original Post

• Earn 5% this quarter on purchases on up to $3,500 in purchases at ADD ME.

The 5x is on top of regular earn for a total of 6x or 7x, depending on the card.

Abound CU – Health, Fitness, Shoes

Landing page | Our Original Post

• Abound Credit Union Visa Platinum card offers 5% on up to $2,000 on Health & Fitness purchases.
• That includes: Clubs/Membership, Miscellaneous Food Stores, Sporting Good Stores, Shoe Stores and Sports Apparel/Riding Apparel.

Langley FCU – Grocery, Drugstore, Fitness

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: Drugstores, Fitness Clubs, Groceries.

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:

1. Travel
2. Restaurants
3. Utilities [water, cell, electric, etc.]
4. In-Store Wholesale Purchases [Costco, Sam’s Club, etc.]
5. Department Stores
6. Hardware & Home Improvement Stores
7. Charitable Organizations
8. Pharmacies & Drug Stores
9. Amazon.com

Safe Credit Union [CA] – Wholesale, Clothing, Charity, Utility, Tax, Gym

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:

• Charity, Wholesale Clubs, Utility Companies, Gyms & Health Clubs, Tax Prep Services, Clothing Stores