It’s now possible to activate all 5% category credit cards for the fourth quarter of 2024, 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: October 1st – December 31, 2024. 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 – Paypal, Pet, McDonald’s
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 Paypal, McDonald’s, Pet Shops and Vet Services, Select Charities.
- PayPal – Super useful category. Remember that you can use Paypal to pay taxes; give charity; pay at millions of businesses like Walmart.com, Bestbuy.com etc; and even possibly pay in-store at some locations. It should also be possible to send money to a friend using the Family & Friends option for a 2.9% fee. (It’s been mentioned the possibility of using Paypal at CVS stores to get 7x on the Freedom Flex card since that card also earns 2x extra points at Drugstores. Just note that this is not working for Visa gift cards.)
- McDonald’s – this should be 7x on the Freedom Flex card since that card always gets 2x bonus points at Restaurants.
- Pet Shops and Vet Services
- Select Charities – Direct donations to the following charities are eligible: American Red Cross, Equal Justice Initiatives, Feeding America, Habitat for Humanity, International Medical Corps, International Rescue Committee, Leadership Conference Education Fund, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, National Urban League, Thurgood, Marshall College Fund, United Negro College Fund, UNICEF USA, United Way, World Central Kitchen, GLSEN, Out and Equal and Sage.
Tip: Click this link (login required) to check how far you are along the $1,500.
Discover – Amazon, Target
Activation Link / Our original post
With your Discover card, activate to earn 5% back this quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases at Amazon.com and Target.
- Target and Target.com – not very useful for those who have REDcard which always earns 5%. Could be useful for buying Target gift cards since those do not earn 5% on the REDcard, but will earn 5% with Discover in Q4. Target usually runs a 10% off deal on their gift cards during the Q4 holiday season.
- Amazon.com – also not too useful for those with the Amazon Prime 5% card
Activate to earn 5% Cashback Bonus at Amazon.com and Target from 10/1/24 (or the date on which you activate 5%, whichever is later) through 12/31/24, on up to $1,500 in purchases. Amazon.com purchases include those made through the Amazon.com checkout, like digital downloads, Amazon Fresh orders, Amazon Local Deals, Amazon Prime subscriptions, and items sold by third party merchants through Amazon.com’s marketplace. This also includes purchases in-store at Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh. Purchases made online and in-store with Whole Foods Market are not included in the promotion. Amazon, the Amazon.com logo, the smile logo, and all related marks are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Target purchases include those made in-store at Target, Target.com, or through the Target app. Purchases from individual merchants and stand-alone stores within physical Target locations may not be eligible for this promotion. Purchases made online or through the Target app from Target affiliates, individual merchants, or stand-alone stores may not be eligible for this promotion, including, but not limited to, targetoptical.com and targetphoto.com. Target and the Bullseye Design are registered trademarks of Target Brands, Inc. Listed merchants are in no way sponsoring or affiliated with this program.
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 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.
- Restaurants – always a useful category
- Citi Travel – hotels, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked through the Citi Travel site at CitiTravel.com or by calling 1-833-737-1288
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 – Retail, Restaurants
Landing Page | Our Original Post
- Earn 5% this quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases on Retail Stores, Online Retail Purchases, Restaurants
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
the 5% program is ending on October 1st.
Landing Page | Our Original Post
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 categories are:
- Fast food, movie theaters, ride share, electronics stores, and cruise & steamship lines
Anybody know if the Amazon 5% cashback from Discover would include a purchase from a non-US Amazon site?
5% PROGRAM DETAILS (For Discover it® and Discover® More® cardmembers only):
Applies to all categories: Purchases must be made with merchants in the U.S.
So I would think no based on this.
Ah, thank you.
US Bank is removing restaurants from the 2% category on the Cash Plus. Probably inconsequential to almost every one.
Are you talking about this?
The following rewards program updates will take effect April 14, 2025.
Updated rewards earning 2% cash back on your choice of everyday category (like Gas Stations and EV Charging Stations or Grocery Stores).^…
^ Excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs.
…
All other benefits remain unchanged.
Q1 2025 Discover 5% is Home Improvement Stores, and Select Streaming Services
Looks like the 10% off Target gift cards deal will run December 4-5 for those that are waiting on that for the Discover card. https://www.target.com/circle/o/target-circle/-/352520
Thanks! I had been waiting and was starting to lose hope. Will probably use CFF via Paypal.
If my Chase card has an offer for 10% back at Ralphs, does paying with PayPal QR code in-store at Ralphs (or Kroger etc) trigger that offer?
Has anyone tried loading their PayPal balance w/a chase card? Cash Advance Fees? 5% awarded?
Paying with Amazon In-Store Code at Whole Foods didn’t trigger the 5% with Discover. It coded as grocery store.
I went to CVS earlier today and attempted to purchase an SS card using my PP QR. The $5.95 fee was charged immediately. The cashier didn’t understand what happened. Of course this didn’t surprise me due to the experience of you people.
I then had the cashier void out the transaction and left. This was a reliable CVS that had worked in the past so it does seem sadly like the deal is completely “dead”.
My Rakuten CVS offer was not triggered by this so it’s possible that it only works when the actual card is used.
Anyway, do any of you have any ideas how to use up the PP offer besides paying Estimated Taxes? Any other stores that you know of that accept PP QR and sell Visa gc?
How about Walmart? Have any of you tried to pay with PP there at CS or by using a cashier?
I think Walgreens & Rite Aid accept payment via PayPal QR, but I haven’t tried them recently.
I went to WG earlier today and showed them the QR code. The man refused to even try as he said that only a physical credit card is allowed. I asked him if this is a WG policy or their own store’s policy. He didn’t know so I might try another 1 or 2 WGs when I have a chance.
The last time I was in RA they only carried either $100 or $200 as the max Visa gc amount. So it’s not even worth bothering for that amount. Have you seen higher amounts?
When was the last time you had success at WG?
It’s been almost a year since I bought a GC at Walgreens or Rite Aid. And I don’t remember if I used PayPal QR at either one. You’re probably right that Rite Aid doesn’t have higher amounts.
I went to a different WG and the worker was also very clear that they only allow a physical card to pay.
However, unlike the 1st guy, he mentioned that the reason was because of possible fraud.
I then volunteered to show my ID if he would try to use the QR code. He gladly agreed. He tried it twice and both times “not a valid entry” showed up on his screen. So either this never worked at WG or it stopped working at some point.
I’ve never seen VGC in RA higher than $200 and the fee was $6.95 for the $200 one. This is for multiple stores in multiple states. However, the last time I was in a RA was around 9 months ago.
Home Depot accepts PP.
The last time that I was there, they either didn’t have any Visa gc or the limit was $100. Have you seen $500 Visa gc lately?
Does it work in store?
I’m coming up blank for Discover and Chase Freedoms this quarter. I see the original post mentioned sending money to P2 might work. I might try that in small amounts at first but even that I will wait till towards the end of December as there could be organic holiday spend possible through Paypal before then. The send money is also very risky option based on the comments in the linked post as it may generate 1099 for P2.
Very negative cashback experience buying from the Logitech site. Despite coding as “COMPUTER SOFTWARE STORES” on my Elan Max Cash, it didn’t count in the 5% Electronics Stores category. Even worse, Paypal had a 2% back offer for Logitech, but all Paypal payments to Logitech list “Digital River” as the recipient, which failed to trigger the Paypal offer.
Should have used my Citi DC + 3% Citi Offer instead. 🙁
can you pin this post series under knowledge base or daily deal?