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. 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.
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, Streaming, Home Depot/Lowe’s
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: Sporting Goods, Wholesale, or Gas/EV.
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
Rats. It won’t let me activate the 5% for my FU card, which is the only one I’m carry on the road at the moment.
By “FU” are you referring to the CFU? If so, that card doesn’t have access to 5% categories. If not, what does “FU” stand for (in this case)?
So annoying that so many issuers picking gas/EV for this quarter.
For some of us gas is a great category. 7/11 near me sells VGCs with only $4.95 activation fee. Easy liquidation to MOs. I have 2 chase freedoms and 2 discover cards. Very little effort to net 15,000 UR and $75.
You meant to write that it is “[v]ery little effort to net 15,000 UR and $150“. 😉
No, I did not. There are costs to buying VGCs and MOs. Net is just over $75.
I did notice that you wrote “net” in your initial comment but I thought that you had used the word incorrectly. I stand corrected!
My 7/11’s require cash for VGC’s.
I know I am lucky. I think I live in the best area of the country for MS. Things are continually tighter, but still good options.
Where do you live?
Most by me do also but you have to work hard to find the needle in the haystack. 😉
I haven’t seen a gas station allow the purchase of gc’s with a credit card in years.
You need to find one where you uncle-daddy’s daughter’s sister-cousin works.
There are no 7-Elevens near you?
*There are no 7-Elevens near you where stern looking Indians don’t scold you for trying to buy GCs with credit cards?
*FTFY, lol
Can confirm, I tried 4-5 of them around a 20mile radius. None of them accept card for GC. I feel it is hardcoded in the register too.
It is most definitely not a corporate hard-coding policy. Cashiers at my local 7/11 do not bat an eye.
Agreed. One of our cards gives us 5% all the time, so this category is a bust for us.
I think the “guiding hand of the economy” is trying to nudge US to travel during the Summer, right when stuff is popping off with Iran.
fantastic double whammy on petroleum products.
At least the Chase can now be used at Costco gas.
how so?
The old Chase cards were VISA. The newer ones are Mastercard.
Costco accepts Visa, I have Chase Freedom Visa. I guess some people have Chase MC.
Does the Huntington business card report to your personal credit report? Cant find any DPs.
It does not.
Since the Discover card Utilities category would be for purchases made online, I wonder if Mobile phone auto bill monthly charges count as being online.
Any recent/June data points with Discover Utilities category on Pay1040 or ACI towards estimated taxes? Thanks to whoever can share their data points
Is Langley where the categories change each month or are the categories set for each quarter but you can change it once a month? Thank you !
They offer a different set each month, and you have to activate one of them.
what about the citi custom cash?
That one is monthly and is automatic on your top category, not sure if it’s worth mentioning in this list
Ugh the dreaded quarter where every issuer picks the same category.