James Bronzz, WalletHub Analyst
@jbronz
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ bonus categories are the types of purchases on which cardholders earn 5% cash back, up to $1,500 spent each quarter, instead of the regular 1% cash back rate. It is possible to earn as much as $300 in rewards per year by spending up to $6,000 in the Chase Freedom Flex℠ bonus categories. Spending that much on other types of purchases would get you just $60. The 5% cash back categories change each quarter.
Chase Freedom Flex℠ bonus categories can be purchases at specific retailers or a particular type of merchant. There can be more than one bonus category per quarter, too. The Chase Freedom Flex℠ bonus categories for January – March 2023 are Grocery Stores (excluding Walmart), Target, and fitness clubs & gym memberships. No further categories have been announced yet, but you can check Chase’s calendar for updates.
The downside to Chase Freedom Flex℠’s bonus categories is that you have to activate the new ones every quarter. The good news is it’s pretty easy to do. You can activate your Chase Freedom Flex℠ card’s bonus categories online, by email, by phone or at any Chase Bank location. Plus, cardholders with Chase checking accounts can activate through an ATM. As long as you activate by the end of the quarter, you’ll get 5% back for all qualifying purchases retroactively. The categories can have exclusions. For example, 5% back on gas station purchases doesn’t apply to places that don’t specialize in fueling cars, like a boat marina. Plus, earning rewards will depend on how a merchant is categorized, which isn’t under Chase’s control.

Chase Freedom Flex℠
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