Every quarter the 5% cash back credit cards rotate cash back categories. You can see the current quarter 5% Rotating Cash Rewards Credit Cards.

This is the historical record of the cash back we cover each quarter.

Historical Quarterly 5% Rotating Cash Rewards Credit Cards

It’s our quarterly check-in to reevaluate the cards we are carrying to take advantage of the best quarterly cash rewards credit card bonuses. Every quarter we reevaluate the cash back cards to make sure we get the highest cash back on each purchase including the credit cards that offer cash back on a rotating quarterly schedule.

As you switch out your cards, don’t forget to follow up on all your rewards and make sure you are earning the right cash back and maximizing all of your purchases.

Maximize your cash rewards for 2nd quarter 2017 to make sure you have the right cards, you are signed up for the 5% promotions and you know where to use them.

Quarterly 5% Cash Rewards Credit Cards

Discover it. The quarterly 5% cash back for Discover categories are:

The 1st quarter 2018 Discover it 5% categories are:

Wholesale Clubs
Gas Stations

2017 Discover Rewards Calendar

1st Quarter	2nd Quarter	3rd Quarter	4th Quarter
Gas Stations Ground Transportation Wholesale Clubs	Home Improvement Wholesale Clubs	Restaurants	Amazon.com & More

Discover 5% cash back is on up to $1,500 in purchases. Here’s the place to activate your Discover rewards. See the entire Discover Rewards Calendar.

Don’t forget to look up the end date for your double cash back if you are a new cardholder or signed up last year! During the double your 5% cash back becomes 10% cash back. Here’s more information on the Discover it 10% Double Cashback.

Chase Freedom. The quarterly 5% cash back for Chase Freedom categories are:

The 1st quarter 2018 Chase Freedom 5% categories are:

Gas Stations
Internet, Cable and Phone
Chase Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, or Android Pay Purchases

2017 Chase Freedom Rewards Calendar

1st Quarter	2nd Quarter	3rd Quarter	4th Quarter
Gas Stations Local Commuter Transportation	Grocery Stores (Excluding Target and Walmart) Drugstores	Restaurants Movie Theaters	Holiday Shopping

Chase Freedom 5% cash back is on up to $1,500 in purchases. Here’s the place to activate your quarterly Chase Freedom rewards. See the entire Chase Freedom Rewards Calendar. Also see the Best Way to Maximize Chase Ultimate Rewards Points.

Citi Dividend. The quarterly Citi Dividend 5% categories are:

Citi Dividend. Citi 5% cash back this quarter also focuses on gas stations. The 1st quarter 2018 Citi Dividend 5% categories are:

Gas Stations
Car Rentals

2017 Citi Rewards Calendar

1st Quarter	2nd Quarter	3rd Quarter	4th Quarter
Home Depot Home Furnishing Stores	Drug Stores Fitness Clubs	Hilton Airlines	Best Buy Department Stores

Citi 5% cash back is on up to $300 cash back per calendar year ($6,000 in purchases). Here’s the place to activate your 2nd quarter Citi Dividend rewards. See the entire 2017 Citi Dividend Rewards Calendar.

US Bank Cash +. Don’t forget you need to pick your 5% categories each quarter for the US Bank Cash + card. Here are some of the 5% cash back choices:

• Gym & Fitness Centers
• Cell Phone
• Various Stores (Bookstores, Clothing, Department, Sporting Goods, Electronics, Furniture and More)

You need to select your categories five days before the end of the current quarter. US Bank 5% cash back is earned on your first $2,000 in combined net purchases (purchases minus returns or credits) in your chosen 5% categories. Here’s the place to activate your 2nd quarter Cash Plus rewards.

No Sign Up Needed

And as always, here are the easier cash back categories, since you don’t need to sign up:

Category	Card	Cash Back
Grocery Stores*	Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express American Express Old Blue Cash Card	6% cash back (up to $6,000 per year) 5%
Gas	American Express Old Blue Cash Card New Costco Anywhere Card Amex Business Gold Rewards	5% 4% 3%
Restaurants	Citi Thank You Premier Card Citi Prestige	2 points per $1 2 points per $1
Target	Target credit card	5% discount
Amazon	Amazon Visa	5% cash back
Wireless	SimplyCash Business Card from American Express	5% cash back
Office Supplies	SimplyCash Business Card from American Express	5% cash back
Internet and Cable	Chase Ink Plus	5x rewards points
Costco	Fidelity Credit Card New Costco Anywhere Visa BankAmericard Cash Rewards Capital One Venture	2% cash back 2% cash back 2% cash back 2% cash back
Travel	Citi Prestige Barclaycard Arrival Chase Sapphire Reserve	Various
Charitable Donations	US Bank FlexPerks Card	3x points
Choose Your Own Categories	SimplyCash American Express	3%
Everything Else	New USAA Limitless Cash Back Card Fidelity Credit Card Citi Double Cash Barclaycard Arrival	2.5% 2% 2% 2.1%

*I left the categories on the grid for those currently in rotation. Readers requested that I leave them on as a backup for which card to use once they’ve exhausted their rotating rewards.

How to Get Your 5% Cash Back

Here’s my checklist for rotating cash back programs:

1. Sign up for all of the new quarterly cash back programs, even if you don’t know if you’ll use that card. To sign up, just log in to your account online and select the 2nd quarter 2017 5% cash back information. In order to earn the 5%, you have to enroll in each program quarterly.
2. Write which categories to use each card for using a marker on the front of the card. It works really well to keep the cards straight!
3. To keep the list of cards straight, I also began printing out a quick cheat sheet to slip in each of our wallets.

Sign Up Bonuses

All of the links for current sign up bonuses are now listed in our credit card directory.

Are you using different cards for any of these categories?

If you're looking for a new credit card, be sure to check out our credit card directory!

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