Q3 2020 5% Quarterly Categories: Activate, Offers & Suggestions (Freedom, Discover, Dividend, Cash+ & more)

It’s now possible to activate/enroll all 5% category credit cards for the third quarter of 2020, including the Chase Freedom, Discover IT, Citi Dividend, and US Bank Cash+ and a few more. 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 – September 30th, 2020. Store purchases can usually be done until the last minute. Online purchases should be given a buffer zone of a day or two.

Chase Freedom – Amazon.com, Whole Foods

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

Earn 5% back this quarter at Amazon.com and Whole Foods, up to $1,500 maximum.

• Amazon.com – A lot of people get 5% back on all Amazon and Whole Foods purchases with one of the Amazon credit cards (if you are also a Prime member). These 5x Ultimate Rewards will be more valuable for most people. For example, if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve card too, you can cash these out at a 7.5% value, which is a nice little bump. Even more useful for those without the Amazon credit card.
• Whole Foods – You can likely buy various gift cards and Visa gift cards at Whole Foods to easily max out this category.

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

Chase Sapphire – Gas, Streaming, Instacart

Our original post

As a one-time thing, Chase added categories to the Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Preferred cards for July 1 through September 30, 2020.

• Gas Stations – 5x/3x on Sapphire Reserve/Preferred. Limit $1,500 which is combined for the entire 3 month period.
• Select Streaming Services – 10x/5x on Sapphire Reserve/Preferred. Limit $1,500 which is combined for the entire 3 month period. (Only subscriptions paid for or purchases made with the following select merchants will qualify for this offer: Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Netflix, Sling, Vudu, Fubo TV, Apple Music, SiriusXM, Pandora, Spotify, YouTube TV.)
• Instacart Grocery Delivery and Pickup – 5x/3x on Sapphire Reserve/Preferred. Limit $3,000 which is combined for the entire 3 month period. (Full details on Instacart benefits can be found in our original post.)

Discover – Restaurants, Paypal

Activation Link / Our original post

Earn 5% back this quarter at Paypal and Restaurants, up to $1,500 maximum.

• Paypal – This is a really useful category as online purchases aren’t usually bonused (other than with Citi ATT card), and many of us spend a lot online. “PayPal qualifying purchases are those made through the PayPal wallet online, when you send money to Friends and Family via PayPal using your Discover Card, and point-of-sale transactions using PayPal Here. Payments made through the Xoom transfer service are not eligible for 5%.”
  • You can also pay your taxes with Paypal for a service fee of less than 2% and net the 3%+ profit, details here.
  • Tons of retailers accept Paypal at checkout, even large ones like Walmart.com and Bestbuy.com.
  • You can also send money to friends and swallow the 2.9% + $.30 fee, and still net around 2% ($30) that way.
• Restaurants – “Restaurant purchases include only those made at merchants classified as full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias and fast food locations.” Should include even international restaurants, far as I can tell (?).

Citi Dividend – Home Improvement, Streaming Services

Landing Page | Our Original Post

Earn 5% back at Home Improvement Stores and Streaming Services this quarter. Citi is different than the other cards in that you have a $6,000 annual cap rather than a $1,500 quarterly cap. So 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.

• Home Improvement Stores – Should include things like Home Depot and Lowe’s. You can also buy gift cards at Home Depot and Lowe’s for places like Amazon and more. I believe online purchases have worked for me in the past with similar Citi Dividend categories. “Home Improvement stores includes home supply warehouse stores, lumber and building materials stores, paint and wallpaper stores, wallpaper stores, hardware stores, nurseries – lawn and garden supply stores, glass stores, and paints, varnishes, and supplies stores. You will not earn extra cash back at florists’ supply stores, nursery stock and flower stores.”
• Select Streaming Services – “Select Streaming Services includes the cable, satellite, and streaming providers listed below: Amazon Prime Video, CBS All Access, fuboTV, Netflix, Pandora ,Showtime, Sling TV, Spotify, Starz, Vudu, YouTube Premium, YouTube TV”

A lot of people already maxed out 2020 on supermarkets in Q1 and drugstores in Q2.

 

US Bank Cash+ – Select your Categories

Activation link | Our Original Post

U.S. Bank Cash+ offers 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 – Travel

Registration Link | Our Original Post

• Earn 5x points on Travel (qualifying airline, cruise, car rental, hotel, travel agency purchases, gas, tolls, and ride share), up to $1,500 in purchases. Offer activation required.

Nusenda FCU – Gas, Education

Landing Page | Our Original Post

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

Affinity FCU – Home Furnishings

Landing Page | Our Original Post

• Earn 5% this quarter on purchases on Clothing and Home Furnishings.

The 5x is on top of regular earn for a total of 6x or 7x, depending on the card. There also does not appear to be any limit.

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:

• Travel
• Restaurants
• Utilities [water, cell, electric, etc.]
• In-Store Wholesale Purchases [Costco, Sam’s Club, etc.]
• Department Stores
• Hardware & Home Improvement Stores
• Charitable Organizations
• Pharmacies & Drug Stores
• Amazon.com