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Rumor: Chase Freedom Bonus Categories – January to June 2017

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    We MAY know the upcoming Chase Freedom bonus categories for the first half of 2017!

    Via Reddit, you can expect to earn 5X Chase Ultimate Rewards points (5% cash back) with your Chase Freedom when you spend on gas stations and commuter passes from January to March 2017.  And grocery stores and drug stores from April to June 2017.

    This is NOT confirmed.  But a Reddit user says that’s what they were told by a Chase representative.

    Your Chase Freedom MAY Earn 5X Points on Commuter Passes, Like Subways and Buses

    I’ll tell you what we know!

    You MAY Earn 5X Chase Ultimate Rewards Points in These Categories

    Link:   Chase Freedom

    Link:   Activate Chase Freedom Bonus Categories

    Chase Freedom cardholders MAY earn 5X Chase Ultimate Rewards points (5% cash back) on up to $1,500 in combined spending each quarter when they activate the bonus in the following categories next year:

    1.   Gas Stations and Commuter Passes (January to March 2017)

    These are great categories to earn extra Chase Ultimate Rewards points!  Because most folks spend money either fueling up their car or getting around on public transportation.

    Gas stations usually sell much more than just gas.  Some offer groceries, fast food, toiletries, etc!  And commuter passes include transportation like buses, trains, and subways.

    2.   Grocery Stores and Drug Stores (April to June 2017)

    Most of us spend a lot of money at the grocery store anyway.  So we won’t have to go out of our way to earn extra Chase Ultimate Rewards points!

    If you spend the maximum of $1,500 each quarter in bonus categories, you’ll earn 7,500 Chase Ultimate Rewards points.  That’s worth $75 in cash back!

    But Chase Ultimate Rewards points are even more valuable if you have cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Chase Ink Business Preferred.  That’s because you can transfer them to lots of great airline and hotel partners!

    If You Have Certain Credit Cards, You Can Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to 12 Travel Partners

    Similar Categories, Similar Earnings With Discover it® Cash Back

    While these future Chase Freedom categories are a only a rumor, there’s a good chance they are true.

    The Chase Freedom and Discover it® Cash Back both earn 5% back on rotating category bonuses each quarter.  And their rotating bonus categories are often very similar.  For example, this quarter:

    And from January to March, the Discover it Cash Back category bonuses are gas stations, ground transportation, and wholesale clubs.  So this could indicate that the Chase Freedom will have comparable categories.

    Note:   If you’re a new cardmember, Discover will match the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first 12 billing cycles.  So instead of earning 5% on rotating categories, you’ll earn 10%!

    I reached out to Chase representatives to see if they could confirm these categories, but each one said they wouldn’t know anything until mid-month.  So remember to check the Chase Freedom bonus category calendar around December 15, 2016, for more information.  And activate the bonus!

    Bottom Line

    Reddit reports a rumor that the Chase Freedom categories for the first half of 2017 will be:

    While these categories aren’t anything new, they are terrific opportunities to earn lots of Chase Ultimate Rewards points on purchases most folks make anyway!

    I’ll let you know when there’s official news!

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