Citi is no longer accepting applications for the Citi Custom Cash® Card product as of May 28, 2026.
Chase officially announced its Q2 2026 cash back categories for the Chase Freedom Flex® and Chase Freedom® (no longer accepting new applicants).
Cardholders can activate these bonus cash back categories up until June 14, 2026, and earn 5% back on up to $1,500 in quarterly spending (then 1%).
Below, CNBC Select shares the cash back calendar for Q1 and Q2 of 2026, plus a look back at 2025 categories. We also offer tips on how to use a 5% cash back card to your advantage.
The Chase Freedom Flex® is an excellent cash-back card for maximizing your spending in a variety of categories.
- Long intro APR for purchases and balance transfers
- Rewarding quarterly bonus categories
- No annual fee
- Bonus categories are capped each quarter
- Has a foreign transaction fee
Rewards
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate (then 1%)
- 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠
- 3% on drugstore purchases and on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Chase Freedom cash back calendar for 2026
Chase has announced its 5% cash back categories for the second quarter of 2026, and the activation window is officially open. As long as you activate by June 14, 2026, though, you can earn 5% back on up to $1,500 in combined bonus category spending for the quarter (then 1%).
- Q1 - January to March: Norwegian Cruise Line®; dining; American Heart Association®
- Q2 - April to June: Amazon; Chase Travel℠; Feeding America®
Note, bonus rewards earned within the Chase Travel℠ category will stack on top of the Freedom Flex's standard 5% cash back rate on Chase Travel℠ purchases. That's effectively 10% back for the quarter.
Chase Freedom cash back calendar for 2025
Though we don't yet know the full state of Chase Freedom cash back categories for 2026, reviewing 2025's lineup could provide insight into potential categories:
- Q1 - January to March: Grocery stores; fitness clubs and gym memberships; hair, nails and spa services; Norwegian Cruise Lines
- Q2 - April to June: Amazon purchases; select streaming services
- Q3 - July to September: Instacart; gas stations; EV charging; select live entertainment
- Q4 - October to December: Chase Travel℠; department stores; Old Navy; PayPal
Pro tip: Pair your Freedom card with a Chase bank account
Chase Total Checking®
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
N/A
Minimum balance to open
$0
Monthly service fee
$12 ($15, effective August 24, 2025) or $0 with one of the following, each monthly statement period: Electronic deposits made into this account totaling $500 or more, such as payments from payroll providers or government benefit providers, by using (i) the ACH network, (ii) the Real Time Payment or FedNowSM network, (iii) third party services that facilitate payments to your debit card using the Visa® or Mastercard® network, OR a balance at the beginning of each day of $1,500 or more in this account, OR an average beginning day balance of $5,000 or more in any combination of this account and linked qualifying Chase checking, savings, and other balances.
Free ATM network
With over 4,700 branches, Chase has the largest branch network in the U.S. plus access to more than 15,000 ATMs.
ATM fee reimbursement
None
Overdraft fee
$34
Mobile check deposit
Yes
Terms apply.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
Information about Chase Total Checking® has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
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How 5% cash back credit cards work
To earn 5% cash back, you must activate your Chase Freedom card's bonus categories each quarter. Once you activate, you can start earning 5% cash back. Chase lets you save activation reminders to your calendar and set up email alerts. You can also activate the bonus categories by clicking here and entering your last name, the last four digits of your card number and your ZIP code.
If you want to participate in the rotating 5% categories that Chase offers, you'll need to apply for the Chase Freedom Flex, as the Chase Freedom® is no longer available for new applications. The Freedom Flex ranks as one of the best cash back cards with no annual fee and earns cardholders 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and drugstores and 1% on all other purchases.
Pro tip: Although marketed as a cash back card, the Chase Freedom Flex technically earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points that you can redeem for cash back. If you own another card that earns transferable Ultimate Rewards® points, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees), you can pool and transfer your points to Chase airline and hotel partners.
Is Chase's 5% cash back unlimited?
There are limits to how much spending qualifies for 5% cash back each quarter. After you spend a combined $1,500 in the bonus categories, the cash back rate drops to 1%. This maximum spending requirement resets every quarter.
All other purchases made outside the bonus categories automatically earn 1% cash back. If you're looking to maximize the points you earn, we suggest using an alternative cash back or rewards credit card for spending outside the bonus categories.
Other 5% cash back cards to consider
The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is a no-annual-fee rewards card that earns 5% cash back on a number of categories per quarter — and you get to pick your own categories.
You can select two categories out of the 12 available options and earn 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases. You can also pick one of three categories (grocery stores, gas stations or restaurants) and earn an unlimited 2% cash back. The card earns 1% back on all other eligible purchases.
- Rewarding and versatile quarterly bonus categories
- Generous intro-APR offer
- Quarterly limits on the card's top bonus spending categories
- No statement credit offers or other ongoing benefits outside of the cash rewards
Citi also offers a 5% cash back card, the Citi Custom Cash® Card, but it doesn't require you to activate bonus categories each quarter. Custom Cash cardholders earn 5% cash back on purchases in their top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent (then 1%). This card doubles as a top balance transfer credit card thanks to its 18-month 0% intro APR on balance transfers from the date of account opening (17.49% - 27.49% variable APR thereafter).
The Citi Custom Cash® Card is an especially simple and rewarding cash back card because you'll automatically earn bonus rewards where you spend the most.
- Offers a long intro APR on balance transfers
- Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
- No annual fee
- Bonus cash back categories are capped
- Charges a foreign transaction fee
Rewards
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter
- Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026
Balance transfer fee
5% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum)
Foreign transaction fee
3%
FAQs
When does Chase announce the Freedom bonus categories?
Chase announces its rotating 5% bonus categories one at a time, shortly before the new quarter begins.
How much can I earn with the Freedom bonus categories?
The Chase Freedom 5% cash back bonus is limited to $1,500 in combined spending per quarter, meaning you can earn up to $75 in cash back quarterly — and up to $300 annually.
Does the Chase Freedom Unlimited® have a 5% cash back category?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees) does not offer rotating 5% cash back categories but earns an unlimited 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel. It also earns 3% back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.
What is the Chase 5/24 rule?
The Chase 5/24 rule is an unofficial policy that makes it harder to get approved for a Chase credit card. If you've opened five or more personal credit cards from any card issuer within the past 24 months, you may not be approved for a new Chase credit card.
Do Chase cash back rewards expire?
No, any cash back rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards® points you earn do not expire as long as you keep your credit card account open and in good standing.
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At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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The Chase Freedom® is not currently available to new cardholders. Please visit our list of the best cash back cards for alternative options.
Information about the Chase Freedom®, U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card and Chase Total Checking® has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
