Chase Announces 5% Bonus Categories for Q4 2022: PayPal, Walmart
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With the busy holiday shopping season around the corner, Chase has once again announced PayPal and Walmart as its 5% bonus categories for the fourth quarter of 2022.
From Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2022, holders of the Chase Freedom Flex℠ or the legacy Chase Freedom® credit card can earn 5% back on up to $1,500 in combined spending through the two merchants. (All other non-bonus-category spending earns 1% back.)
To be eligible, cardholders must activate the bonus categories online by Dec. 14, 2022.
Cash back rewards in Chase’s 5% bonus categories can be earned retroactively. That means even if you wait until Dec. 14 to activate, you’ll still earn 5% back on all Walmart and PayPal purchases made throughout the quarter.
What to know about Chase’s Q4 bonus categories
Clearly popular with holiday shoppers, this marks the third year running that Chase has featured PayPal and Walmart as Q4 bonus categories. Here's a look at the full 2022 calendar:
Chase Freedom® and Chase Freedom Flex℠ bonus rewards categories for 2023 | |
|---|---|
Q1 (Jan. 1-March 31) |
|
Q2 (April 1-June 30) |
|
Q3 (July 1-Sept. 30) | TBD (In 2022: Gas stations; car rentals; movie theaters; select live entertainment). |
Q4 (Oct. 1-Dec. 31) | TBD (In 2022: PayPal; Walmart). |
Rising inflation and concerns over financial health may lead shoppers to curtail their holiday spending. Even so, with the broad variety of household essential purchases available through PayPal and Walmart, shoppers may reach the spending limit of $1,500 combined — or $75 in total rewards for the quarter — more easily than with other quarterly categories.
Online purchases at Walmart.com also qualify, but Chase notes that customers can’t double-dip: Purchases made using PayPal on Walmart.com will earn a total of 5% cash back.
Details: Chase Freedom Flex℠
Annual fee: $0.
APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 19.74%-28.49% Variable APR.
Sign-up bonus: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
In addition to the quarterly calendar of rotating 5% bonus categories, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers a number of additional year-round rewards. These include:
5% back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
3% back on dining, including takeout and delivery services.
3% back on drugstore purchases.
For all cardholders, through March 31, 2025, 5% back on qualifying Lyft services purchased through the Lyft app.
1% on all other purchases.
While the Chase Freedom® card is no longer available to new applicants, existing users are still eligible to earn the 5% back in bonus categories after activation.
Information related to the Chase Freedom® has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
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