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chase freedom categories

Wow: Earn up to 9% Back (or 9x Points) with Chase Freedom Flex

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The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is hands down one of our favorite cash back credit cards. It's got no annual fee, you can earn 5% back (or 5x Chase points per dollar) on rotating quarterly bonus categories, and it's the perfect complement to either the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. And a recent move by Chase just made it even better.

For the fourth quarter of 2021 (through Dec. 31), you'll earn 5% back (or 5x) Chase points on up to $1,500 spent on both Walmart and Paypal purchases. But thanks to this new promotion, you'll earn an additional 4% cash back (4x Ultimate Rewards points) on your top spending category among the following options:

  • Travel, including transit
  • Dining
  • Home improvement stores
  • Grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart)
  • Drugstores
  • Gas stations
  • Live entertainment
  • Select streaming services
  • Fitness clubs

Although PayPal isn't explicitly listed, you can use Paypal to pay for eligible transactions in any of the above categories … and it will pass the merchant code back to Chase. That stacks to give you a whopping 9% bonus – or 9x Chase points. Here's an example.

Let's say you cover a grocery store purchase using PayPal. That would trigger the 5% quarterly bonus for PayPal – and also count towards the additional 4% back (4x Ultimate Rewards points). It adds up to a total of 9% back (or 9x Ultimate Rewards points) through the end of the year!

Assuming you were able to max out the $1,500 of spending on PayPal, you would earn $135 cashback or 13,500 Chase Ultimate Rewards points. That's a heck of a deal for a card with no annual fee.

 

chase freedom flex card art

 

Click Here to learn more about the Chase Freedom Flex Card.  (for full disclosure, this is our personal referral link).

 

How to Enroll in the Q4 Chase Freedom Flex Promotion

As long as you enroll in the fourth quarter 5% back bonus categories, you'll automatically be enrolled in the top spending category promotion.

Simply head to your Chase account to activate the offer if you haven't already.

However, while regular Freedom cardholders (not available for new applications) are still eligible for the quarterly 5% rotating categories, you must hold the new Chase Freedom Flex for this additional 4% back offer. 

 

chase freedom flex q4 promotion

 

Full Chase Freedom Flex Card Benefits

  • Sign Up Bonus: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 in the first three months of card membership. The $200 can be converted to 20,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points if you carry either the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
  • Earn 5% cashback on rotating quarterly categories on up to $1,500 of spending which could include: Grocery stores, gym memberships, streaming services, gas stations, etc. The categories for Q4 of 2021 are Walmart and Paypal transactions. These bonuses will start on October 1.
  • Earn 5% cashback on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
  • Earn 5% cashback on Lyft rides through March 2025.
  • Earn 3% cashback on dining, including takeout and delivery services.
  • Earn 3% cashback at drugstores.

 

Chase Freedom Flex card art

 

Click Here to learn more about the Chase Freedom Flex Card.  (for full disclosure, this is our personal referral link).

 

Our Analysis

This is a fantastic deal if you've got the Chase Freedom Flex Card in your wallet – especially as we head into the holiday shopping season. Even if you don't plan on using PayPal, there are a few other ways you can max out the 9% back (or 9x Chase points) through the end of the year.

First, considering the Chase Freedom Flex earns 5% back on travel bookings through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, you could earn 9% back if travel was your top spending category this quarter. That would of course require you to book your travel through the Chase travel portal.

 

Chase Freedom Flex

 

Related Reading: How Two Chase Credit Cards Can Quickly Earn You 140K+ Points

 

Bottom Line

Through the end of the year, Chase is offering an additional 4% back on your top spending categories in a handful of select areas to Freedom Flex cardholders. Combine this with the categories you can already earn 5% back in, and you can earn up to 9% cash back (or 9x Ultimate Rewards points).

To enroll, simply head to your Chase account and make sure you are enrolled in the 5% back rotating categories for the fourth quarter of 2021. Once you do, you'll be automatically enrolled in the 4% back promotion.

 

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

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