What are the Chase Freedom Flex department stores?

Cardholders can use Chase Freedom Flex at any grocery store with the merchant category code for supermarkets and earn 5% cash back on the first $1,500 spent, when the bonus category for that quarter is groceries. That is because Freedom Flex card offers 5% cash back on the first $1,500 spent in combined purchases in specified bonus categories each quarter, and grocery stores may be included from time to time. Otherwise, you’ll earn 1% cash back.… read full answer

The Chase Freedom Flex grocery store category includes major supermarket chains, smaller stores that mainly sell groceries, online grocers, and delivery services.

Superstores such as Walmart and Target, discount stores like Dollar General and Dollar Tree, and warehouse clubs like Sam’s Club and Costco do not qualify as grocery stores for Chase Freedom Flex. Grocery purchases at retailers like drugstores and gas stations are also excluded.

The Chase Freedom 5% bonus categories are Grocery Stores (excluding Target® and Walmart®) and eBay from January through March 2022. The Chase Freedom calendar for the rest of the year has not been released yet.

Just bear in mind that the bonus categories on Chase Freedom’s calendar don’t always repeat year over year. It’s also important to note that any purchases in these categories above the $1,500 limit will give 1% cash back. The same 1% rate goes for all purchases outside of the Chase Freedom bonus categories.… read full answer

Here’s the Chase Freedom Calendar for 2022:

• Q1 2022: Grocery Stores (excluding Target® and Walmart®) and eBay
• Q2 2022: To be announced
• Q3 2022: To be announced
• Q4 2022: To be announced

In order to earn 5% cash back in the Chase Freedom bonus categories each quarter, you will need to “activate” the category. The deadline to activate is typically halfway through the final month of the quarter. Luckily, as long as you activate before the deadline, all purchases in the bonus categories during the quarter will get 5% cash back, even if you made them before you activated. You can activate through your online account, through the Chase Ultimate Rewards website, by visiting a Chase branch, by calling the number on the back of your card or at an ATM.

It’s important to note that the Chase Freedom card is no longer available to new cardholders, having been replaced by the Chase Freedom Flex℠ card. However, existing Chase Freedom cardholders can continue using their cards, and both Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Flex have the same bonus categories.

Walmart is not considered a grocery store for credit cards. Major credit card networks assign a specific merchant category code (MCC) to purchases made at traditional grocery stores. This code doesn’t include “big-box” retailers like Walmart or Target because they sell a lot more than groceries. But Walmart Neighborhood Markets are considered grocery stores for credit cards since they sell groceries exclusively.… read full answer

If you want to earn bonus rewards on groceries purchased at Walmart, consider the Walmart Store Card. It offers 3% cash back on walmart.com purchases, including grocery pickup. The card also gives 2% cash back on Walmart and Murphy USA gas purchases. All in-store purchases, including groceries, yield 1% cash back.