Best 5%+ Cash Back Credit Cards: IV Quarter 2018 Categories

With so many types of reward programs being offered among credit cards, it can be hard to pick and choose which rewards you might prefer. There are, however, great cash back rewards offerings out there, some as high as 5%. But most of them are tricky and offer rotating categories in order to receive the 5% or higher rate.

For this particular post, we have provided you a list of the credit cards that will earn you 5% or more in cash back. The 5% spending for this Quarter is from October 1st – December 31st, 2018. You can do your store purchases until the last minute., but always do your online purchases by a day or two.

You can now activate/enroll your 5% credit cards for the fourth quarter of 2018 on Chase Freedom, Discover IT, Citi Dividend, and US Bank Cash+. You will find the activation link for each card with my recommendations to help increase spend on these categories.

Chase Freedom – Wholesale Clubs, Department Stores & Chase Pay

The Chase Freedom FlexSM offers a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR. You'll earn: • Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! • 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more • 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service • Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases You cash back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open and there is no minimum to redeem for cash back. This card has no annual fee. Learn More About This Card

Earn 5% back for up to $1,500 maximum at gas stations, Wholesale Clubs, Department Stores & Chase Pay during the months of October, November, December. Activation Link

• Chase Pay –  Use Chase Pay at select merchants online and in-store. Simply link Chase Pay & Samsung Pay together so you can use Samsung Pay everywhere.
• Department Stores –  Examples include Sears, Macy’s, Kohl’s, Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, and Neiman Marcus. However, discount stores or super-centers such as Target, Costco, BJ’s, or Sam’s Club are NOT included.
• Wholesale Clubs – Examples are Costco, Sam’s Club, BJ’s

If you have access to Samsung Pay, I imagine this is easy to max out via Chase Pay for regular purchases or by purchasing gift cards at Wholesale Clubs.

Tip: Click this link (login required) to check how far you are along the $1,500.

Discover – Amazon.com & Wholesaleclubs

Probably the easiest method to max out via Amazon spending, however there are cards earn 5% cash back at Amazon year round. Activation Link

• Amazon.com purchases include those made through the Amazon.com checkout, including digital downloads, Amazon.com gift cards, Amazon Fresh orders, Amazon Local Deals, Amazon Prime subscriptions and items sold by third party merchants through Amazon.com’s marketplace.
• Wholesale Clubs includes include Costco, Sam’s Club, BJ’s

Tip: Login, then click this link to see you how far along the $1,500 you are.

Don’t have the card, use our Discover It Referral Link to earn $50 bonus after first purchase.

Citi Dividend – Best Buy & Department Stores

Instead of quarterly maximum spending, Citi lets you have a $6,000 annual cap. Hence, you can get 5% back on up to $6,000 in this quarter, , or you can use part up each quarter. Activation Link.

• Department stores.
• Best buy stores can be useful for regular purchases and also for resellers, they also sell a number of third party gift cards.

Cash+ – Select your Categories

U.S. Bank Cash+ offers 5% cash back in two categories, up to $2,000 combined total per quarter. I recommend to prepaying your gas and electric to get the most out of this card. Activation Link.

• Home utilites
• Select clothing stores
• Cell phones
• Electronic Stores
• Car rentals
• Gyms/Fitness
• Fast food
• Ground Transportation
• Sporting goods
• Department Stores
• Furniture Stores
• Movie theaters

Tip: Login here, then scroll down and click on the Red “View Your Cash+ History” button.

With the American Express Blue Business CashTM Card: Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months. 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% - 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99% Plus, earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement. From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power§.Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to American Express and other factors. This card comes with no annual fee (See Rates & Fees). Terms apply. Learn More About This Card

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It(R) to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors. Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 18.24% - 29.24%. You'll earn • 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). • 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). • 1% Cash Back on other purchases. • $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. The card does come with a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. (See Rates & Fees) Terms Apply. Learn More About This Card

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card offers $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening. You'll earn: • 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year • 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year • 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn. This card comes with no annual fee. You'll be able to take advantage of employee cards at no additional cost. Learn More About This Card Here

Let us know if we are missing any cards in the comments section. Keep in mind that you can earn at a higher rate by employing some basic manufactured spending strategies such as purchasing prepaid Visa, MasterCard or AmEx gift cards through cash back portal or special promotion.