It is now possible to activate all 5% category credit cards for the second quarter of 2026, including 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, spending tracker links, and strategies to help increase spending within these categories.
Dates: April 1 – June 30, 2026. In-store purchases can usually be made until the last minute while online purchases should be given a buffer zone as the fee is usually posted on the date of delivery.
Chase Freedom – Amazon, Chase Travel, Feeding America
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 spending at Amazon, Chase Travel and Feeding America.
- Amazon – can be a solid return for someone who doesn’t have the 5% Amazon card or who values Ultimate Rewards a lot. It includes Whole foods as well. Personally, I can buy $1500 Amazon Gift Cards OR recharge to load my Amazon balance. You can also buy many third-party Amazon gift cards for places like Apple, Uber, Visa, Lowe’s, Chipotle, Southwest and more. (our affiliate link is here) (Note: you can’t buy third-party gift cards with your Amazon balance, so you’ll want to buy them directly with the Freedom card.)
- The Amazon.com category includes purchases made on Amazon.com (including digital downloads, Amazon.com gift cards, Amazon Fresh orders, Amazon Prime subscriptions and items sold by third-party merchants through the Amazon.com marketplace) and Whole Foods Market (including the physical Whole Foods Market, and the website accessible at www.wholefoodsmarket).
- Chase Travel – this would end up like 9x on the Freedom Flex Card as that card always earns 4x bonus on Chase Travel.
- Feeding America
counsel: Click this connection (login required) to check how far you are along the $1500.
Discover – Restaurants, Home Improvement
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 and home improvement stores.
- Purchases at the restaurant: This includes shopping at or with full-service restaurants, coffee shops, cafeterias, fast food places, and caterers. Note, bakeries and restaurants located within or connected to another business may not qualify.
- Shopping at the home improvement store: Earn on online and in-store purchases at home improvement retailers, building supply stores, home furnishing stores, home appliance stores, and flooring stores. Lawn, nursery and garden stores also count toward category earnings.
Tip: Sign in, then click this connection to see how far you are along the $1500.
Citi Dividend – Food, Citi Travel
Landing page | Our original post
With your Dividend Card, activate to earn 5% back this quarter on Amazon and select streaming services. The Citi is different from other cards in that you have an annual cap of $6,000 instead of a quarterly cap of $1,500. You can get 5% back on up to $6,000 this quarter, you can keep the entire amount for another quarter, or you can use a portion up to each quarter.
- Grocery stores – always a welcome category
- Citi Travel
US Bank Cash+/Elan – Choose your categories
Activation link | List of dealers | Our original post
US Bank Cash+ and Elan Max offer 5% cash back in two categories, up to $2,000 total per quarter.
Here the current options are:
- TV, internet and streaming services
- Home services
- Select clothing stores
- Mobile phone providers
- Electronic Stores
- Gym/Fitness
- Fast food
- Land Transport
- Sporting goods
- Supermarkets
- Furniture stores
- CINEMA
Tip: Log in here, then scroll down and click on the red “View Cash History +” button.
US Bank Shopper – Choose your categories
US Bank Shopper Cashback comes with a $95 annual fee and offers 6% cash back on the first $1,500 in eligible combined purchases each quarter with two retailers of your choice. Options include Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, Target and many more. You must register quarterly for two retailers.
Personalized Bank of America Cash Rewards
The Cash Rewards Card from Bank of America offers 3% back on a select category, up to $2,500 per quarter. If you don’t select anything, it defaults to gas. Once you’ve selected a category for a quarter, it remains your category in the future unless you change it. Each calendar month you can change it if you want, but you are 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 plans
- Food
- Travel
- drugstore
- Home Improvement/Furnishing
This category is especially profitable for those who have Preferred Rewards Status with Bank of America, which can get you 5.25% back in one of these categories at the highest 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 is combined with the category selection limit. After spending $2,500, you’ll earn 1% back on everything.
Other cards with 5% category.
Nusenda FCU – Wholesale, Discount, Home & More
Landing page & PDF| Our original post | 2025 Post
- Earn 5% this quarter, up to $1,875 in shopping, for hardware, furniture and home furnishings stores, various specialty home furnishing stores, upholstery and furniture repair, furniture refinishing, equipment rental and leasing services, tool rental, furniture rental, and equipment repair, flower shops Nursery and flower stocks, nurseries, lawn and garden stores, home improvement, home supply depots, hardware stores lumber and building materials stores, glass, paint and wallpaper stores, hardware stores, flooring, drapery, upholstery and glazing stores, bathroom and window warehouses, fire and window warehouses Hardware stores, cars, home appliances (Mastercard valid), Wholesale Clubs, Discount Store.
Langley FCU – Various
Landing page | Our original post
- Langley Federal Credit Union offers 5% back each MONTH in a select category, up to $100 total ($2,000 spend).
- Category options at the time of this writing: Automotive Services, Dining, and Amazon. (via email: Automotive services include charging, gas, and automotive maintenance)
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, service and office supply stores, department stores, clothing and sporting goods stores, electronics, computer and camera stores, discount stores and warehouses, auto parts and service stores.
Secure Credit Union (CA) – Miscellaneous
Landing page | Our original post
The Safe Credit Union Cash Rewards Visa Card offers 5% this quarter on your choice of one category each quarter, now limited to $1,500 in spending each quarter. This quarter is the category one of these three:
- Wholesale Clubs, Hardware Stores, Pet Grooming.
Redstone FCU (TN, AL) – Food, Travel, Amazon and more
Landing page | Our original post
- Redstone Visa offers 5% in a category of your choice: travel, Amazon, restaurants, home improvement and more options.
- $1,500 per quarter.
- For Q1 2026, the default category is restaurants if you do not select. After that there is no category unless you select it.
