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, spend tracker links, and strategies to help increase spend within these categories.
Dates: October 1st – December 31, 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 – Chase Travel, Department Store, Old Navy, (Paypal)
- 2 Discover – Drugstores, Amazon
- 3 Citi Dividend – Restaurants, Citi Travel
- 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
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 Chase Travel, Department Stores, and Old Navy.
- Department Stores – some mention the option of buying gift cards for places like Amazon or Starbucks from Department Stores. We’ll have to wait to see if we get a better list of eligible Department Stores from Chase.
- Chase Travel – on the Freedom Flex card this should amount to 9x total points since the card always earns 5x and the extra 4x bonus will bring it up to 9x.
- Old Navy
There is a bonus category for December 2025 only; this category combines for the $1,500 limit, but will only work in December:
- Paypal – this is always an easy category with holiday shopping and the like. You can also pay federal taxes with Paypal, make charity donations, shop on Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and so many more. It’s also possible to use Paypal in many physical stores with a QR code.
Most people will just wait for December and max this out with the Paypal category. Personally, I’ll probably do a $1,500 federal tax payment via Paypal on my Freedom card and another one on my Freedom Flex card. Using ACI Payments you should be able to process this payment for just 1.85% fee (pay1040 might charge more at 2.89%). Or I’ll use it for year-end charity donations.
Tip: Click this link (login required) to check how far you are along the $1,500.
Discover – Drugstores, Amazon
Activation Link / Our original post
With your Discover card, activate to earn 5% back this quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases at Drugstores and Amazon.
- Drugstores – can be used to purchase gift cards at drugstores as well.
- Amazon – those who have the 5% Prime Visa card won’t find this category useful. It could still be useful in conjunction with a Discover – Shop With Points deal since the balance typically goes onto the Discover card, so definitely worth activating.
Tip: Login, then click this link to see you how far along the $1,500 you are.
Citi Dividend – Restaurants, Citi Travel
Landing Page | Our Original Post
With your Dividend card, activate to earn 5% back this quarter at Restaurants and Citi Travel. 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.
- Restaurants – always a nice category
- Citi Travel
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 – Shopping, Restaurants
Landing Page | Our Original Post | 2025 Post
- Earn 5% this quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases for Online Shopping, Retail Shopping, and Restaurants.
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:
- ADD ME
In addition, it seems you’ll also get 5% on the following two categories (I suppose unlimited):
- ADD ME
