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If you wish to look up which category gets bonuses for your specif card, look at the table below.
Below are all of the categories bonuses related to credit card.
Category Bonus Index
- Stores: Bookstores, Department Stores, Drug Stores, Grocery Stores, Office Supply Stores
- Travel/Gas/Food: Car Rentals, Gas, Hotels, Restaurants, Travel/Airlines
- Other: Charities, Online Purchases, Phone, Cellular, Internet, Rotating Categories
Overview
One way to increase credit card rewards to to use the right cards for the right purposes. It’s possible to routinely earn 5X (e.g. 5 points per dollar) by using cards that offer the best bonuses for each type of spend. For example, some cards offer bonuses at grocery stores, some at office supply stores, some at gas stations, etc. Below is a roundup, by category, of the best credit card category bonuses. Since there are multiple fee-free cards that offer 2% returns for all spend, I’ve only included cards that offer better than 2% returns within categories.
For cards that earn points instead of cash back, I’ve listed the “X” which is the number of points per dollar earned in that category. For example, “5X” means that the card earns 5 points per dollar in the given category.
Transferable Points
Cards that earn points transferable to airline and hotel programs are called out with a short code next to the indicated bonus amount as follows:
DC = Diner’s Club
MR = Membership Rewards Points
TY = ThankYou Points
UR = Ultimate Rewards Points
Bookstores (including Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble)
Example Visa merchant codes: 5942 – BOOK STORES
Bookstores | |||
---|---|---|---|
Card | Category Bonus | Estimated Value | Spend limit for category bonus |
US Bank Cash+ (1) | 5% | 5% | $2000 per quarter |
SallieMae World MasterCard | 5% | 5% | $750 per month |
Barnes & Noble MasterCard | 5% (Barnes & Noble bookstores only) | 5% | |
Amazon Store Card | 5% (Amazon only) | 5% | Requires Amazon Prime membership. |
Chase Amazon.com Rewards | 3X (Amazon only) | 3% |
Car Rental
Example Visa merchant codes: Rental car companies each have their own individual merchant code, e.g. 3357 – HERTZ RENT-A-CAR
Car Rental | |||
---|---|---|---|
Card | Category Bonus | Estimated Value | Spend limit for category bonus |
US Bank Cash+ (1) | 5% | 5% | $2000 per quarter |
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card (4) | 3X UR | 4.5% | |
Citi ThankYou Premier | 3X TY | 3.75% | |
Citi Prestige | 3X TY | 3.75% | 3X only for car rentals booked through travel agency |
Citi CitiBusiness AAdvantage World MasterCard | 2X | 3.46% | |
Huntington Voice | 3X | 3% | $2K per quarter |
CNB Crystal Visa Infinite | 3X | 3% | |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (4) | 2X UR | 3% |
Charities
Example Visa merchant codes: 8398 – CHARITABLE/SOC SERVICE ORGS
Charities | |||
---|---|---|---|
Card | Category Bonus | Estimated Value | Spend limit for category bonus |
US Bank Cash+ (1) | 5% | 5% | $2000 per quarter |
US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards (2) | 3X | 3.96% |
Department Stores
Example Visa merchant code: DEPARTMENT STORES – 5912,5532,5311
Department Stores | |||
---|---|---|---|
Card | Category Bonus | Estimated Value | Spend limit for category bonus |
US Bank Cash+ (1) | 5% | 5% | $2000 per quarter |
Citi AT&T Access More | 3X TY | 3.75% | Only online retail purchases earn 3X |
Amex Blue Cash Preferred | 3% | 3% | |
Huntington Voice | 3X | 3% | $2K per quarter |
Drug Stores
Example Visa merchant code: 5912 – DRUG STORES
Drug Stores | |||
---|---|---|---|
Card | Category Bonus | Estimated Value | Spend limit for category bonus |
Wells Fargo Cash Back Card (8) | 5% | 5% | First 6 months |
Amex Blue Cash (old version) (5) | 1%, 5% | 1%, 5% | 1% for first $6500 annual spend, then 5% |
Diner’s Club Card Elite | 3X DC | 4.74% | |
Huntington Voice | 3X | 3% | $2K per quarter |
Gas
Example Visa merchant codes:
5541 – SERVICE STATIONS
5542 – AUTOMATED FUEL DISPENSERS (e.g. pay at the pump)
Gas | |||
---|---|---|---|
Card | Category Bonus | Estimated Value | Spend limit for category bonus |
Wells Fargo Cash Back Card(8) | 5% | 5% | First 6 months |
PenFed Platinum Cash Rewards Plus | 5% | 5% | 5% specific to gas purchases paid at pump |
Fort Knox Federal Credit Union Visa Platinum | 5% | 5% | |
SallieMae World MasterCard | 5% | 5% | $250 per month |
Amex Blue Cash (old version) | 1%, 5% | 1%, 5% | 1% for first $6500 spend, then 5% |
Sam’s Club MasterCard | 5% | 5% | $6K per year |
Diner’s Club Card Elite | 3X DC | 4.74% | |
Amex True Earnings Business Card from Costco | 4% | 4% | $7K per year |
Costco Anywhere Visa | 4% | 4% | $7K per year |
Citi ThankYou Premier | 3X TY | 3.75% | |
PenFed Platinum Cash Rewards | 3% | 3% | |
Chase AARP | 3% | 3% | |
Amex Blue Cash Preferred | 3% | 3% | |
Golden1 Platinum Rewards Visa | 3% | 3% | |
Bellco VISA Platinum Rewards | 3X | 3% | |
UMB Simply Rewards VISA | 3X | 3% | |
Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card | 3X | 3% | |
CNB Crystal Visa Infinite | 3X | 3% | |
Amex SimplyCash Plus (6) | 3% | 3% | $50K per year |
Santander Bravo | 3% | 3% | $5K per quarter |
Huntington Voice | 3% | 3% | $2K per quarter |
BOA Cash Rewards for Business | 3% | 3% | $250K per year |
BOA Americard Cash Rewards (7) | 3% | 3% | $1500 per quarter |
Amex EveryDay Preferred (9) | 2X to 3X MR | 2% to 3% | |
US Bank FlexPerks Gold Amex | 2X | 2.64% | |
US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards (2) | 2X | 2.64% | |
Chase Ink Bold, Ink Plus | 2X UR | 3% | $50K per year |
Chase Ink Classic, Ink Cash(4) | 2X UR | 3% | $25K per year |
Chase MileagePlus Explorer for Business | 2X | 2.64% | |
Paypal Extas MasterCard, EBay MasterCard | 3X | 2.5% | |
Amex Hilton HHonors Surpass | 6X | 2.7% | |
Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express | 2X MR | 2% | |
Amex Business Gold Rewards | 2X MR | 2% |
Grocery Stores
Example Visa merchant code: 5411 – GROCERY STORES/SUPERMARKETS
Grocery Stores | |||
---|---|---|---|
Card | Category Bonus | Estimated Value | Spend limit for category bonus |
Amex Blue Cash Preferred | 6% | 6% | $6K per year |
Amex EveryDay Preferred (9) | 3X to 4.5X MR | 3% to 4.5% | $6K per year |
Wells Fargo Cash Back Card(8) | 5% | 5% | First 6 months |
SallieMae World MasterCard | 5% | 5% | $250 per month |
Amex Blue Cash (old version) (5) | 1%, 5% | 1%, 5% | 1% for first $6500 spend, then 5% |
Diner’s Club Card Elite | 3X DC | 4.74% | |
CNB Crystal Visa Infinite | 3X | 3% | |
US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards (2) | 2X | 2.64% | |
Golden1 Platinum Rewards Visa | 3% | 3% | |
Bellco VISA Platinum Rewards | 3X | 3% | |
UMB Simply Rewards VISA | 3X | 3% | |
Santander Bravo | 3X | 3% | $5K per quarter |
Huntington Voice | 3X | 3% | $2K per quarter |
Amex Blue Cash Everyday | 3% | 3% | $6K per year |
Consumers Credit Union Visa Signature Cash Rebate | 3% | 3% | $6K per year beginning Jan 1 2016 |
Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express | 2X MR | 2% | |
Amex Hilton HHonors Surpass | 6X | 2.7% |
Hotels
Hotels | |||
---|---|---|---|
Card | Category Bonus | Estimated Value | Spend limit for category bonus |
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card (4) | 3X UR | 4.5% | |
Citi Prestige | 3X TY | 3.75% | |
Citi ThankYou Premier | 3X TY | 3.75% | |
Citi AT&T Access More | 3X TY | 3.75% | Online travel purchases only |
Amex SimplyCash Plus (6) | 3% | 3% | $50K per year |
Huntington Voice | 3X | 3% | $2K per quarter |
CNB Crystal Visa Infinite | 3X | 3% | |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (3) | 2X UR | 3% | |
Chase Ink Bold, Ink Plus | 2X UR | 3% | $50K per year |
Office Supply Stores
Example Visa merchant codes: OFFICE SUPPLIES / STATIONERY – 5943, 5111
Office Supply Stores | |||
---|---|---|---|
Card | Category Bonus | Estimated Value | Spend limit for category bonus |
Chase Ink Plus | 5X UR | 7.5% | $50K per year |
Chase Ink Cash (4) | 5X UR | 7.5% | $25K per year |
Amex Simply Cash Plus (6) | 5% | 5% | $50K per year |
Discover Business Card | 5% | 5% | $2K per year |
Citi CitiBusiness AAdvantage World MasterCard | 2X | 3.46% | |
BOA Cash Rewards for Business | 3% | 3% | $250K per year |
Huntington Voice | 3X | 3% | $2K per quarter |
Lowe’s Business Rewards | 3X | 3% | |
Chase MileagePlus Explorer for Business | 2X | 2.64% |
Online Shopping
Example Visa merchant codes: Not relevant to this category
Online Shopping / Portal Purchases | |||
---|---|---|---|
Card | Category Bonus | Estimated Value | Spend limit for category bonus |
uPromise World MasterCard | 5% via uPromise portal | 5% | |
Amazon Store Card | 5% (Amazon purchases only) | 5% | Requires Amazon Prime membership. |
Citi AT&T Access More | 3X TY | 3.75% | 3X for all online retail purchases (will stack with portal rewards) |
Ebates Cash Back Visa | 3% via Ebates portal | 3% |
Phone, cellular, internet
Example Visa merchant codes: 4814 – TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES
Phone, Cellular, Internet | |||
---|---|---|---|
Card | Category Bonus | Estimated Value | Spend limit for category bonus |
Chase Ink Bold, Ink Plus | 5X UR | 7.5% | $50K per year |
Chase Ink Classic, Ink Cash(4) | 5X UR | 7.5% | $25K per year |
Amex SimplyCash (6) | 5% | 5% | $50K per year |
Citi CitiBusiness AAdvantage World MasterCard | 2X | 3.46% | |
US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards (2) | 2X | 2.64% | |
Lowe’s Business Rewards | 3X | 3%? | |
Chase MileagePlus Explorer for Business | 2X | 2.64% |
Restaurants
Example Visa merchant codes: RESTAURANTS / BARS – 5812, 5814
Restaurants | |||
---|---|---|---|
Card | Category Bonus | Estimated Value | Spend limit for category bonus |
US Bank Cash+ (1) | 5% | 5% fast food only | $2000 per quarter |
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card (4) | 3X UR | 4.5% | |
US Bank FlexPerks Gold Amex | 3X | 3.96% | |
Costco Anywhere Visa | 3% | 3% | |
US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards AMEX (2) | 2X | 2.64% | |
Chase AARP | 3% | 3% | |
Sam’s Club MasterCard | 3% | 3% | |
Golden1 Platinum Rewards Visa | 3% | 3% | |
UMB Simply Rewards VISA | 3X | 3% | |
Lowe’s Business Rewards | 3X | 3% | |
CNB Crystal Visa Infinite | 3X | 3% | |
Amex SimplyCash Plus (6) | 3% | 3% | $50K per year |
Santander Bravo | 3X | 3% | $5K per quarter |
Huntington Voice | 3X | 3% | $2K per quarter |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (3) | 2X UR | 3% | |
Chase Sapphire (4) | 2X UR | 3% | |
Chase Ink Cash (4) | 2X UR | 3% | $25K per year |
Chase MileagePlus Explorer for Business | 2X | 2.64% | |
Paypal Extas MasterCard | 3X | 2.5% | |
EBay MasterCard | 3X | 2.5% | |
Citi Prestige | 2X TY | 2.5% | |
Citi ThankYou Premier | 2X TY | 2.5% | |
Citi ThankYou Preferred | 2X TY | 2.5% | |
Amex Hilton HHonors Surpass | 6X | 2.7% | |
Barclaycard Arrival | 2X | 2.2% |
Rotating Categories
Example Visa merchant codes: Varies
Rotating Categories | |||
---|---|---|---|
Card | Category Bonus | Estimated Value | Spend limit for category bonus |
Chase Freedom (4) | 5X UR | 7.5% | $1500 per quarter |
Discover It | 5% | 5% | $1500 per quarter |
Citi Dividend Platinum Select | 5% | 5% | $6K per year |
Travel / Airlines
Example Visa merchant codes: 4511 – AIRLINES, AIR CARRIERS, 4722 – TRAVEL AGENCIES
Travel / Airlines | |||
---|---|---|---|
Card | Category Bonus | Estimated Value | Spend limit for category bonus |
Amex Platinum (Personal Cards Only) | 5X | 5% | 5X only when booked directly with airline |
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card (4) | 3X UR | 4.5% | |
PenFed Premium Travel Rewards | 5X | 4.25% | |
Citi Prestige | 3X TY | 3.75% | 3X for airlines, hotels, and travel agencies |
Citi ThankYou Premier | 3X TY | 3.75% | 3X for all travel |
Citi AT&T Access More | 3X TY | 3.75% | 3X for online travel purchases only |
Costco Anywhere Visa | 3% | 3% | |
Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express | 3X MR | 3% | 3X only when booked directly w/ airline |
Amex Business Gold Rewards | 3X MR | 3% | 3X only when booked directly w/ airline |
TD First Class Visa Signature | 3X | 3% | |
CNB Crystal Visa Infinite | 3X | 3% | |
US Bank FlexPerks Gold Amex | 2X | 2.64% | Airlines |
US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards (2) | 2X | 2.64% | Airlines |
AAA Member Rewards | 3X | 3% | |
Union Bank Graphite Amex | 3% | 3% | |
Sam’s Club MasterCard | 3% | 3% | |
Amex SimplyCash Plus (6) | 3% | 3% | $50K per year |
Huntington Voice | 3X | 3% | $2K per quarter |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (3) | 2X UR | 3% | |
Barclaycard Arrival | 2X | 2.2% |