Chase Freedom Flex Cardholders Can Earn 5% in Their Top Spend Category Through 2021

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Don't miss out on earning additional cash back rewards this quarter.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ card is a cash back card with no annual fee. Cardholders can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in spending in categories you activate that change each quarter. The current categories for this card are Walmart and PayPal.

But cardholders can also earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in spending for their top eligible spending category during the last quarter of the year. Find out more about this exciting news.

Earn extra cash back through the end of 2021

From Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2021, Chase Freedom Flex℠ cardholders can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in spending at Walmart and PayPal. This card requires users to activate the rotating categories each quarter to earn cash back. For the current quarter, cardholders must activate by Dec. 14, 2021.

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Chase has an additional cash back offer for Chase Freedom Flex℠ cardmembers this quarter. Those who activate the fourth-quarter cash back categories will also earn 5% total cash back on up to $1,500 in the category where they spend the most from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31.

These are the eligible categories:

  • Travel (includes transit)
  • Dining
  • Home improvement stores
  • Grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target)
  • Drug stores
  • Gas stations
  • Some live entertainment
  • Some streaming services
  • Fitness clubs

Here's what else to know about the offer

You only need to activate your quarterly categories to qualify for the top spend bonus cash back offer.

The 5% cash back is calculated this way: 4% additional cash back, on top of the card's usual 1% cash back on purchases.

If your top spending is a category that also earns bonus cash back rewards, there's a limit to the total percentage you can earn. For example: If your top spending is dining, you can earn up to 7% cash back. That adds up this way: 1% base earning for purchases + 2% earning on dining spending + 4 % bonus earning on top spending category.

Another example: If your top spending is travel purchased through the Chase Travel portal, you'll earn up to 9% cash back. That's 1% base earning for purchases + 4% bonus on travel booked through the Chase Travel portal + 4 % bonus earning on top spending category.

If you have the Chase Freedom Flex℠, don't forget to activate your quarterly categories, so you don't miss out on this extra cash back. Your total spending and earning will be calculated on Dec. 31, 2021. You should allow up to eight weeks for your bonus cash to post to your account.

Cash back credit cards offer simple ways to earn rewards

If you're not earning credit card rewards, you may want to start with a cash back card. If you already use credit cards regularly, you might as well get rewarded, and cash back cards offer an easy way to earn those rewards. Some cards offer a set percentage of cash back on all spending, while others have earning categories. While earning is often simple, there may be a cap on how much you can earn each quarter or year.

Most cash back cards allow you to redeem cash back for statement credit. Before you open a new card, check to see if there's an annual fee. The good news is that the majority of cash back cards don't charge a yearly fee. If you're interested in applying, take a look at the top cash back credit cards.

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