Current 5% Bonus Categories
With many credit cards in your wallet, keeping track of the best earning rates for each category is vital. Besides limited time spending promotions, earning 5% with a credit card is usually as good as it gets. There are several credit cards out there that offer 5% on quarterly rotating categories, or monthly.
Some of the most popular credit cards that have this feature include Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom (no longer available), Discover it, and and Citi Dividend (no longer available). But there are a few more cards as well.
So let’s take a look at the current 5% bonus categories for Q1 2024, plus details on how each card’s earning is structured.
5% Bonus Categories Q1 2024
Here are the categories where you can earn 5% with each one of these cards.
-
Chase Freedom & Freedom Flex
- Grocery Stores (excluding Walmart & Target)
- Fitness Clubs & Gym Memberships
- Self-Care & Spa Services.
-
Discover It
- Drugstores
- Restaurants
-
Citi Dividend
- Amazon
- Select Streaming Services (Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Disney+, DirecTV Stream, ESPN+, fuboTV, HBO Max, NBA League Pass, Netflix, Pandora, Paramount+, Showtime, Sling TV, Spotify, Starz, SiriusXM, Vudu, YouTube Red, YouTube TV, and Tidal.)
-
Citi Custom Cash
This card earns 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent. Eligible categories include:
- Restaurants.
- Gas stations.
- Grocery stores.
- Select travel.
- Select transit.
- Select streaming services.
- Drugstores.
- Home improvement stores.
- Fitness clubs.
- Live entertainment.
-
US Bank Cash+
This card lets you choose 2 of the following categories:
- 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.
-
Vantage West Visa Card
This card lets you choose 1 of the following 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.
- (affiliate link).
The ABOC Platinum card no longer offers 5% categories.
How 5% Categories Work
Here are the details about the earning structure of each of the cards listed above. Plus you can find the activation link when applicable.
| Card | How 5x Works | Activate | |
| Chase Freedom Flex | 5X Ultimate Rewards points on $1,500 per quarter | Activate | LEARN MORE |
| 5X Ultimate Rewards points on $1,500 per quarter | Activate | No longer available | |
| 5% cashback on $1,500 per quarter | Activate | LEARN MORE | |
| Citi Custom Cash | 5% cashback on top spending category each statement period, up to $500 per month | N/A | LEARN MORE |
| Citi Dividend | 5% on up to $6,000 spend for the whole year, can be earned in any quarter | N/A | No longer available |
| US Bank Cash+ | 5% cashback on $2,000 per quarter | Activate | LEARN MORE |
| Vantage West Card | 5% on $1,500 per quarter | N/A | LEARN MORE |
Maximize Your Rewards
This quarter, Chase Freedom Cards have the best categories in my opinion. Grocery stores is always a popular option as most people need to shop for groceries. You can also find lots of gift cards at many supermarket chains, so you won’t have any issues maximizing the spending. You will also earn 5% back at gyms and fitness clubs, as well as spas. If you have more than one Chase Freedom, you can earn 5% on up to $3,000 or $4,500 in spending for example, if you have two or three Freedom cards.
Discover this quarter gives you 5% cash back at drugstores and restaurants. Drugstores usually sell lots of gift cards, so that could be a good option to maximize your spending. If you dine out often, the the restaurant category can also be useful.
Citi Dividend has Amazon this quarter, which is also a popular category for those who don’t have an Amazon credit card.
Then we have the US Bank Cash+ card and Vantage West Visa Card that let you choose two and one category respectively from a list of options. This gives you flexibility to choose a category that works best for you. Citi Custom Cash also has more categories available for 5% cash back on up to $500 spending each billing cycle.
Guru’s Wrap-up
Some good bonus categories are included in the current quarter, such Grocery Stores, Amazon, Drugstores and more. Let me know what cards you have and how you plan on tackling this quarter’s 5% categories.
If you don’t have these credit cards, there are also some good welcome bonuses available. You can get $200 and 5% on groceries for one year when you apply for the Chase Freedom Flex card. U.S. Bank Cash+ is offering a $200 bonus when you spend $500 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days. Citi Custom Cash offers $200 in the form of 20,000 bonus ThankYou points when you spend $1,500 within 6 months. Discover it currently has an increased $100 bonus and double cash back for the first year. Chase Freedom and Citi Dividend are no longer available for applications.
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