Chase 5x Bonus Categories

As usual, the bonus earnings rates only apply to the first $1,500 in spending in those categories. If you max out your bonus category spending for the quarter, you’ll earn 7,500 Chase Ultimate Rewards® points.

While 7,500 Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) points are worth $75 in cash, you can get way more value by transferring those points to any of the following cards:

Chase Sapphire Preferred – #1 travel card for beginners
Chase Sapphire Reserve – great for frequent travelers
Chase Ink Business Preferred – highest Chase sign-up bonus for business customers

Once your points have been transferred to one of the above cards, the value of those points are amplified even more! If you transfer the points to Chase’s travel partners like United Airlines, Southwest or Hyatt, you can get so much more value than the original $75. For example, 7,500 Chase UR points could be enough for a one-way flight to lots of great destinations!

For more information on Chase’s flexible points program, check out The Complete Guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Key Things to Remember

You need to activate the 5x earnings rate by September 14, 2024
The promotion runs from July 1, 2024 to September 30, 2024
The promotion is valid on purchases made at gas stations, EV charging stations, select live entertainment and movie theaters
The bonus earnings rate only applies to the first $1,500 in spending across all categories, after which the earnings rate is 1x

Note: As usual, there are various inclusions and exclusions for each category. What qualifies as “select live entertainment” will be the biggest question for most people. Merchants who sell tickets for live in-person entertainment such as major professional sporting events, concerts, theatrical productions, museums, and amusement parks are included. Some examples of merchants that are excluded from this category are bowling alleys, horse racing tracks, casinos, and dance clubs. It’s always best to check the Chase Merchant List to confirm everything that’s included and excluded in each category.

How to Activate

Unfortunately Chase doesn’t automatically enroll you into the bonus category earning promotion each quarter. To activate, go to the Chase Activation website and enter your last name, zip code and the last four digits of your credit card.

Alternatively you can log into your Chase account and activate from there. Chase sprinkles links in lots of different places on their website, making it very easy to activate. In just a few minutes, I found a few different places to activate my cards for the upcoming quarter.

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

You can also request to receive a reminder email from Chase prior to each quarter. Upon receipt of the email each quarter, you can activate via an easy 1-click activation button.

Discover 5% Bonus Categories

Discover also limits the bonus earnings to the first $1,500 in spending in those categories. However, unlike Chase, there’s no option to earn points instead of cash. So maxing out your bonus category spending for the quarter will earn you $75.

That money can be redeemed as a statement credit, a direct deposit to a checking account or used to purchase 3rd party gift cards. Gift cards are often available with 5% to 20% added value, depending on the merchant.

You can also donate your cash back to charity or to pay for purchases on Amazon.com or with PayPal.

Key Things to Remember

The promotion runs from July 1, 2024 (or the date on which you activate the 5%, whichever is later) through September 30, 2024
The promotion is valid on purchases made at Walmart and grocery stores
The 5% earnings rate only applies to the first $1,500 in spending across all categories, after which the earnings rate is 1%

Note: As usual, there are inclusions and exclusions to be aware of in each category. Grocery Store purchases include those made at supermarkets, bakeries and grocery delivery services. Purchases made from Target, convenience stores, wholesale clubs, and discount stores are not eligible. Walmart purchases include those made online, through the Walmart app, and in stores. If you’re unsure what may be included or excluded, visit the Discover Cashback Calendar page to confirm.

How to Activate

You won’t earn the 5% cash back bonus unless you activate this feature on your card each quarter. To do so, go to the Discover Online account page and click on “Log In to Activate.”

Discover also automatically emails you about 15 days prior to the start of the next quarter with a reminder. Upon receipt of the email, you can activate via an easy 1-click activation button.

Bottom Line

I find Chase’s third quarter bonus categories quite disappointing. Discover, on the other hand, should be pretty lucrative for most cardholders.

Chase’s third quarter categories are essentially the same as last year, with the addition of movie theaters. My main complaint is the lack of one really profitable category. Instead the categories are more niche — appealing to some, but probably not most.

If you drive a lot, the gas stations or EV charging categories could be useful. And on the surface, the live entertainment and movie theater categories could also be handy. People do tend to enjoy more live entertainment during the summer months, but it still feels hard to maximize the bonus points. How many sporting events and concerts do people realistically attend? Regardless of the merits of this quarter’s bonus categories, you should always activate the bonus to earn as many points as possible.

On the flip side, Discover’s categories are way more exciting and easier to max out. Combining Walmart and grocery store purchases fits perfectly into the spending habits of many Americans. If you find it difficult to earn the maximum cash back, however, remember that gift cards purchased at Walmart and grocery stores count towards the bonus earnings.

Happy spending and more importantly, happy bonus earning!

Q3 2024 Rotating Bonus Categories for Chase and Discover

Chase 5x Bonus Categories

Key Things to Remember