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Chase Announces 5% Bonus Categories for 4th Quarter of 2023
Chase has announced the slate of bonus categories for those with the legacy Freedom card as well as the currently available Freedom Flex card. Card holders can earn up to 5% back on bonus categories in the fourth quarter of 2023.
About the bonus categories:
As Chase has revealed, from October 1st through December 31st, customers with the Freedom or Freedom Flex card will be able to earn up to 5% back in three categories.
First, cardholders can earn up to 5% back when they use their card and checkout with PayPal. As Chase notes, PayPal is supported by “tens of millions” of online retailers. However, peer-to-peer payments made using PayPal are not eligible for the 5% bonus. Additionally, payments made with PayPal will earn a total of 5% back regardless of purchase category.
Next, customers will also earn up to 5% back on purchases at wholesale clubs. Regarding restrictions, fuel and wholesale specialty service purchases such as travel, insurance, and others will not qualify for this category. Additionally, Chase points out that Costco only accepts Visa in-store whereas the Freedom Flex is a Mastercard.
Lastly, select charity donations will also be eligible for up to 5% back. This list includes:
- 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
- Sage
In this case, Chase warns that, in order to ensure that the 5% is properly earned, cardholders should donate directly to the charity’s parent organization. Due to processing procedures, donations made to local chapters may not be eligible for the bonus.
Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Flex customers will need to activate this bonus offer before December 14th to be eligible. Additionally, the 5% earnings are capped at a total of $1,500 in combined bonus category spending for the quarter. This means that cardholders can earn up to $75 back from this offer. Any category purchases over the cap will earn 1% back.
My thoughts:
Just as I gave Discover the “win” in Q3 thanks to its mobile wallets category, I have to give the 5% bonus category edge to Chase this time around. For me, a form of payment that is so ubiquitous is easily going to top nearly any spending category or retailer-specific option. Plus, with warehouse clubs being one of my few recurring expense categories not covered by an enhanced rewards tier on any of my credit cards, I always appreciate it when it comes up as part of these rotating bonuses (as it did with Discover in the second quarter of this year).
All in all, whether Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cardholders are shopping for holiday gifts and decor or supporting their favorite charities during the giving season, these 5% bonus categories are a great pick to round out 2023.
Note: Click here for the current Chase Freedom Bonuses.
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