This Quarter's Bonus Categories (2021)

Credit Card Reference

Here is a list of the current (and often upcoming) categories for the different "rotating category" cards, as well information for activating your bonus categories on "pick your own category" cards.

For information and tips about using these cards to optimize the rewards you earn on your spending, make sure to look at our Advanced Bonus Category Optimization guide.

Jump to

"Rotating category" cards
Picking your category on "Pick your category" cards

Freedom Flex Card Guide	Wholesale Clubs, Internet, cable, and phone services, Select streaming services. Many people will want to continue to pay their mobile bill with a card that provides free cell protection. If you switch any subscription services to your Freedom Flex, make sure to switch back at the end of the quarter, and consider paying for at least April's bill a little early. All the warehouse clubs sell a variety of 3rd party gift cards and you can buy the club's own gift cards to use later in the year. Unlike the older Freedom Card, the Freedom Flex is a Mastercard and can't be used in-store at Costco, but it can be used on Costco online. If you want to shop in-store, you could use the Freedom Flex to buy a Costco gift card online and then use that in the store. You can activate retroactively until mid-March. Activation Website
Discover it Card Guide	Grocery stores, Walgreens and CVS. These should be relatively easy categories. You can always stock up on extra items towards the end of the quarter or purchase gift cards. Groceries bought at Walmart and Target don't count, with the exception of Walmart pickup and delivery purchases. You'll only earn bonus rewards on purchases that are made after you activate each quarter. Activation Website Discover has already announced their complete 2021 schedule: Apr -Jun: Gas stations, wholesale clubs, and select streaming services. Jul - Sep: Restaurants and PayPal. Oct - Dec: Amazon, Target.com, and Walmart.com.
Nusenda Reward Card Guide	Groceries, Gas. These are both easy categories to use, however there is a good chance that you are already have other cards that earn good bonus rewards for these categories. Nusenda has had the same schedule every year: Apr - Jun: Movies, Restaurants, Home Improvements. Jul - Sep: Gas, Education. Oct - Dec: Restaurants, Hotels, Airfare.
ABOC Platinum Rewards Card Webpage	Groceries, Fitness Clubs, Hospitals, Pharmacies. If you use for your Fitness Club, make sure to switch back at the end of the quarter and consider prepaying at least April's bill. Groceries are an easy category, but there is a good chance you already have another card that earns good grocery rewards. Hopefully, you won't have a chance to use the Hospital Category. Once you set up your card, you are automatically enrolled for every quarter's bonus categories. Category Details ABOC has already released their complete 2021 schedule: Apr - Jun: Home Improvement, Gardening, Amazon.com and major Online Retailers. Jul - Sep: Travel. Oct - Dec: Groceries, Food Delivery Services, Liquor Stores, Amazon.com.

Picking your category on "Pick your category" cards

U.S. Bank Cash+ Guide	The U.S. Bank Cash Plus Card is the "standard" rotating category card. It has been around for the longest, is available throughout the whole country, and unlike the other cards, it allows you to choose two categories, instead of one. It earns 5% cash back, capped to $2,000 of bonus category spending each quarter. Inconveniently, U.S. Bank forces you to re-select your categories every quarter and you won't earn bonus rewards on those categories until you do so. No annual fee.
BOA Cash Rewards Guide	If you can keep $100,000 of investment or retirement money at Merrill Lynch, the Bank of America Cash Rewards Card is another good option. Normally, it earns 3% on your choice of categories. But, if you have a total of $100,000 or more in combined assets at Merrill Lynch and Bank of America, you'll receive "Platinum Honors" status in their Preferred Rewards program and get a 75% bonus on your credit card reward points. This increases the effective reward rate to 5.25%. The Cash Rewards Card has a higher quarterly limit ($2,500 of spending) and is the only "pick your own category card" that lets you change your category every month, instead of every quarter. But many people just keep it locked to "online shopping" to earn bonus points on everything they buy online. No annual fee.
VantageWest Connect Credit Card Guide	The Vantage West Connect Card is available to people who live in certain parts of Arizona. It earns 5% in a single category of your choice but is capped at only $1,500 of spending each quarter. No annual fee.
Huntington Voice Credit Card Guide	The Huntington Voice Cards are lower value options and require you to live near a branch. The personal version earns 3% in one category (up to $2,000 per quarter) and the business version earns 4% in one category (on up to $7,000 per quarter). But you can only apply in one of their branches located in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. No annual fee.
Synovus Travel Rewards Card Webpage	The Synovus cards are similar to the Huntington Voice cards, but for people in the Southeast. Cards are only available in branches located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Depending on the card, you'll earn 3x points or 3% cash back and rewards are capped at $3,000 per quarter. The cashback and point-based reward versions have no annual fees. The Synovus Travel version has a $50 annual fee, but gives you a 20% rebate on travel purchase with points (3.6% cash-back rate), and earns 5x points (6% cash-back rate) on travel purchases as well. No annual fee.