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The Chase Freedom® has announced its bonus categories for the third quarter of 2019, and they may just be the excuse you need to take that summer road trip.
From July 1 through Sept. 30, the card will feature both an old and a new 5% cash-back category:
Gas stations.
Select streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Sling, Vudu, FuboTV, Apple Music, SiriusXM, Pandora and Spotify.
Chase Freedom® cardholders can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in these categories combined. (To be eligible for the higher rewards rate, cardholders must log in to their account and activate these categories.) All other purchases earn 1%.
Chase Freedom® and Chase Freedom Flex℠ bonus rewards categories for 2021 | |
|---|---|
Q1 (Jan. 1-March 31) | • Wholesale clubs. • Select streaming services. • Internet, cable and phone services. |
Q2 (April 1-June 30) | • Gas stations. • Home improvement stores. |
Q3 (July 1–Sept. 30) | • Grocery stores. • Select streaming services. |
Q4 (Oct. 1–Dec. 31) | • Walmart. • PayPal. |
The gas station category is a familiar one to Chase Freedom® cardholders. In fact, it was featured as a 5% bonus category on the card in the first quarter of 2019 as well.
The streaming service category, however, is a first-timer on the Chase Freedom® calendar. With this move, Chase follows other credit card issuers that have added streaming services as a bonus rewards category.
“We’re always looking for ways to help cardmembers effortlessly maximize their spending,” BJ Mahoney, general manager of Chase Freedom, said in a news release. "We've brought back a cardmember favorite and introduced a new category so they can earn while enjoying their summer activities — from road trips to movie marathons.”
The streaming service category offers a way to earn some value on those purchases you might already make each month, but unless you're a super-user with multiple account subscriptions, it may not add up to much — especially since the 5% rate is in effect for just three months.
For this reason, owners of gas guzzlers and summer road travelers stand to benefit the most from the new categories.
