Chase has announced the second quarter of its 5% Cash Back Calendar. Eligible Chase credit cardholders can earn 5% back on purchases in these new categories starting April 1 through June 30, 2021. What are the new categories, and should you consider getting an eligible Chase Freedom card? Here are all the details.
New 5% Cash Back Categories Announced by Chase
Two Chase credit cards earn 5% cash back on rotating categories. Those cards are the Chase Freedom (no longer accepting new applicants) and the Chase Freedom Flex World Elite Mastercard. These 5% back categories change each quarter, with the second quarter of 2021 beginning April 1.
The new 5% cash back categories for Q2 2021 are:
- Gas stations
- Home improvement stores
These two categories offer significant value for Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cardholders. Gas station purchases in particular offer exceptional value – as fuel is something many Americans need for their daily commute, errands, and leisure plans.
Official Terms and Conditions
Chase outlines specific rules and regulations regarding eligible purchases. Eligible cardholders must enroll their card before earning 5% back. They can activate the categories online at chase.com/freedomflex. The last day for Q2 registration is June 14, 2021.
Keep in mind that the 5% cash back applies to the first $1,500 in purchases in the quarter. Once a cardholder spends over $1,500 in those eligible categories, they will earn 1% cash back on all purchases until the third quarter begins on July 1, 2021 for a different set of categories.
Chase 5% Cash Back Categories Calendar for 2021
Here is the full Chase Cash Back Calendar for 2021 to date (including official terms and conditions):
Wholesale clubs, select streaming services, and phone, internet, & cable service providers.
Applies to the first $1,500 in purchases at standalone wholesale clubs, such as Costco, Sam’s Club, or BJ’s, or select streaming services (including Pandora, Netflix, Hulu, Sling, Vudu, Spotify, Apple Music, and more), internet, cable, and phone services.
Official terms: Merchants who accept Visa/Mastercard credit cards are assigned a merchant code, which is determined by the merchant or its processor in accordance with Visa/Mastercard procedures based on the kinds of products and services they primarily sell. We group similar merchant codes into categories for purposes of making rewards offers to you. Please note: We make every effort to include all relevant merchant codes in our rewards categories. However, even though a merchant or some of the items that it sells may appear to fit within a rewards category, the merchant may not have a merchant code in that category. When this occurs, purchases with that merchant won’t qualify for rewards offers on purchases in that category. Purchases submitted by you, an authorized user, or the merchant through third-party payment accounts, mobile or wireless card readers, online or mobile digital wallets, or similar technology will not qualify in a rewards category if the technology is not set up to process the purchase in that rewards category.
Gas stations and home improvement store purchases
Applies to the first $1,500 in purchases at eligible gas stations and home improvement stores.
Official terms: Merchants who accept Visa/Mastercard credit cards are assigned a merchant code, which is determined by the merchant or its processor in accordance with Visa/Mastercard procedures based on the kinds of products and services they primarily sell. We group similar merchant codes into categories for purposes of making rewards offers to you. Please note: We make every effort to include all relevant merchant codes in our rewards categories. However, even though a merchant or some of the items that it sells may appear to fit within a rewards category, the merchant may not have a merchant code in that category. When this occurs, purchases with that merchant won’t qualify for rewards offers on purchases in that category. Purchases submitted by you, an authorized user, or the merchant through third-party payment accounts, mobile or wireless card readers, online or mobile digital wallets, or similar technology will not qualify in a rewards category if the technology is not set up to process the purchase in that rewards category.
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Chase Freedom Flex Vs. Discover It
The 5% back on gas station purchases places the Freedom Flex in direct competition with the Discover It Cash Back. That card also earns 5% back on rotating categories. The Discover Q2 2021 calendar also includes gas stations, as well as wholesale clubs and streaming services.
Unlike Chase, however, Discover tends to keep its Cashback Calendar static, meaning few changes from year-to-year. Additionally, Discover reveals its entire calendar in advance, making it easy for cardholders to plan their spending to maximize cash back.
Related Article: Chase, Discover, & ABOC 2021 5% Cash Back Calendars
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