It’s now possible to activate all 5% category credit cards for the second 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: April 1st – June 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
Chase Freedom – Amazon, Streaming
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 at Amazon and on Select Streaming Services.
- Amazon – Some people will find this useful. You can also buy third-party gift cards on Amazon (affiliate link), such as Visa, Best Buy, Starbucks, Lowe’s, Safeway and dozens more. (Even someone with a large Amazon gift card balance might find this Chase Freedom category useful for Amazon or third-party gift cards purchases since gift card bought on Amazon can not be paid for with an Amazon balance.)
- Select Streaming Services – we’ll add more details on what’s counted for this category when they become available. While this is, theoretically, a somewhat useful category, most people will find it a pain to switch their payment method for the small gain. (It might be possible to load up your Apple or Google Play balances with this category; let us know if you see anything like this work.)
Tip: Click this link (login required) to check how far you are along the $1,500.
Discover – Grocery, Wholesale Clubs
Activation Link / Our original post
With your Discover card, activate to earn 5% back this quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases at Restaurants, Home Improvement Stores, and Select Streaming Services.
- Grocery Store – Grocery is always a useful category. Purchases include those made at supermarkets, meat lockers, bakeries, smaller grocery stores, and grocery delivery services. You can also buy gift cards at various grocery stores to use at other third-party retailers like Starbucks or Best Buy. Purchases made from Walmart or Target are not eligible. Purchases from convenience stores and discount stores may not qualify.
- Wholesale Clubs – 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.
Tip: Login, then click this link to see you how far along the $1,500 you are.
Citi Dividend – Grocery, Citi Travel
Landing Page (link needed) | Our Original Post
With your Dividend card, activate to earn 5% back this quarter at Restaurants and on 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.
- Grocery – Grocery is always a useful category. You can also buy gift cards at various grocery stores to use at other third-party retailers like Starbucks or Best Buy.
- Citi Travel – Excludes air travel purchases. Eligible transactions include hotel, car rental, and attractions only and must be booked through the Citi Travel site at CitiTravel.com or by calling 1-833-737-1288 (TTY:711). Citi Travel is powered by Rocket Travel by Agoda.
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 – Home & Gardening
Landing Page | Our Original Post | 2025 Post
- Earn 5% this quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases on Home Furnishings, Home Improvement, and Gardening.
This is on top of the regular 1% for a total earn of 6% back. (apparently no longer the case)
Langley FCU – Walmart/Target, Grocery, Department
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: Target & Walmart, Groceries, Department Stores.
Vantage West [AZ] – Select your Category
Landing Page | Our Original Post
Safe Credit Union [CA] – ADD ME
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:
- ADD ME
nothing useful this quarter oh well