It’s now possible to activate all 5% category credit cards for the first quarter of 2026, 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, spend tracker links, and strategies to help increase spend within these categories.
Dates: January 1st – March 31, 2026. 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
Chase Freedom – Dining (5x-7x), Norwegian, Heart Charity
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 Dining, Norwegian Cruise Line, and American Heart Association.
- Dining – always a popular category for in-restaurant dining and should work for online services like DoorDash and UberEATS. A few notes:
- The Freedom Flex card earns 3x on Dining year-round, and so during Q1 2026 it would earn 7x on the Dining category (1x base + 2x bonus dining + 4x bonus quarterly category).
- Another interesting idea is buying gift card on DoorDash which have always been coding as Dining and should work for the 5x/7x. Also might be possible to top up your UberEATS balance and then use that for Uber rides, let us know if you try. There are also excellent discounted gift cards available for DashPass members as well.
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- American Heart Association
Tip: Click this link (login required) to check how far you are along the $1,500.
Included: This category’s merchants’ primary business is sit-down or eat-in dining, including fast food restaurants and fine dining establishments. Delivery and takeout services will be included if they classify as a restaurant merchant. Excluded: Merchants that sell food and drinks located within facilities such as sports stadiums, hotels and casinos, theme parks, grocery and department stores will not be included in this category unless the merchant has set up such purchases to be classified in a restaurant category. Bakeries, caterers, meal kit delivery services, and gift card merchants are not included in the category.
Discover – Grocery, Wholesale, Streaming
Activation Link / Our original post
With your Discover card, activate to earn 5% back this quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases at Grocery Stores, Wholesale Clubs, and select Streaming services.
- Grocery stores – always a useful one. You can also buy gift cards at grocery stores for other places like Amazon or Visa or Walmart.
- Wholesale clubs – also useful. And you can buy gift cards at wholesale clubs as well. If you buy a gift card to Sam’s Club, you can then use it at Walmart or at Walmart/Sam’s gas stations. (Won’t work for Costco since they don’t accept Discover cards in-store or online.)
- Select streaming services – includes Netflix, Apple TV, Spotify and more.
Tip: Login, then click this link to see you how far along the $1,500 you are.
Grocery Store purchases include those made at supermarkets, meat lockers, bakeries, smaller grocery stores, and grocery delivery services. All purchases made from Walmart or Target are not eligible. Purchases from convenience stores and discount stores may not qualify.
Check with your Wholesale Clubs to make sure your Discover Card is accepted. Purchases of affiliated Wholesale Club services, such as delivery services, travel, and cell phone purchases, may not be eligible in this category. Individual merchants and stand-alone stores within physical Wholesale Club locations, or online, may not be eligible in this category.
Examples of Select Streaming Service purchases include Amazon Music, Amazon Prime Video, AMC+, Apple Music, Apple TV, Audible, DirecTV Stream, Fandango at Home, Google Play Music and Video, Max, iHeartRadio, MLB.TV, Netflix, Pandora, Paramount Plus, Peacock, SiriusXM, Sling TV, Spotify, Starz, YouTube Music, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV. Other popular streaming services may be included. If your subscription is bundled with another product or service or 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, billed separately, or billed through a third party. Listed merchants are in no way sponsoring or affiliated with this program.
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, you can save the entire amount for a different quarter, or you can use part up each quarter.
- Amazon
- Select streaming services
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 -ADD ME
Landing Page | Our Original Post | 2025 Post
- Earn 5% this quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases for ADD ME
This is on top of the regular 1% for a total earn of 6% back.
Langley FCU – Various
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: Automotive Services, Dining, and Amazon. (via email: Automotive Services includes charging, gas, and automotive maintenance)
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:
- Mobile & Electronic Stores, Fast Food, Home Supply Stores
In addition, it seems you’ll also get 5% on the following two categories (I suppose unlimited):
- Wholesale clubs and Travel Agencies
Redstone FCU (TN,AL) – Dining, Travel, Amazon & More
Landing page | Our original Post
- Redstone Visa is switching to 5% cashback on a category of your choice: travel, Amazon, restaurants, home improvement, and more options.
- $1,500 cap per quarter.
- For Q1 2026, the default category is restaurants if you don’t choose. After that there is no category if you don’t select it.
