Chase Freedom 4th Quarter Bonus Categories

As the second quarter comes to a close it is time to start looking forward to the 5% / 5x reset for the Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cards. You will soon have a new chance to rack up 7,500 Ultimate Rewards points. The Chase Freedom 4th quarter bonus categories are here, let's take a look.

Bonus Categories For 4th Quarter 2023

The categories for this upcoming quarter are as follows (5x earning on your first $1,500 in spend from all 3 combined):

• PayPal
• Wholesale Clubs
  • Chase lists the following exclusions: Gas, fuel, wholesale specialty service purchases such as travel, insurance, cell phone and home improvement will not qualify in this category.
• Select Charities
  • Chase provides the following list of charities, which does not appear to be exclusive:
    • American Red Cross
    • Equal Justice Initiatives
    • Feeding America
    • Habitat for Humanity
    • International Medical Corps
    • International Rescue Committee
    • Leadership Conference Education Fund
    • NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
    • National Urban League
    • Thurgood Marshall College Fund
    • United Negro College Fund
    • UNICEF USA
    • United Way
    • World Central Kitchen
    • GLSEN
    • Out and Equal
    • Sage
  • Chase also states that local chapters may not be eligible due to transaction processing procedures.

The activation link is live. While you do not need to activate it before October 1, you might as well do so.

My Plans For This Quarter

PayPal should be the easiest method for most folks here since so many online merchants accept PayPal. Chase does state that person-to-person transactions may be prohibited or not eligible for 5%, so I wouldn't count on that. Best to stick with actual purchases.

Wholesale clubs can also be easy for those who spend a lot at these clubs. For those who shop at Costco, keep in mind that the Freedom Flex will not help you there because Costco does not accept Mastercards, and the Freedom Flex is a Mastercard and not a Visa. You can still shop online with a Mastercard, though. The Freedom card is a Visa and therefore is accepted at Costco.

Select charities is a welcome addition, which Chase has not done before. This should also should not be difficult to max out. Q4 seems particularly appropriate since so many people tend to make their charitable donations towards the end of the year. If you plan to donate to a charity not listed above, consider doing a test donation in a smaller amount to confirm that the donation codes as 5x.

Chase Freedom 4th Quarter Bonus Categories: ToP Thoughts

This quarter has something for everyone and should not be hard to max out, especially with holiday shopping. Hopefully our tips above gave you some ideas that may work.

Happy 5x'ing!