Chase Will Offer 5% Cash Back Starting October 1
Freedom cardholders can earn elevated rewards on grocery, dining, and charity purchases through the end of the year.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Couponing
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Starting October 1, 2026, Chase will offer 5% cash back on grocery store, dining, and American Red Cross transactions for Freedom and Freedom Flex cardholders. This promotional reward rate will remain in effect through December 31, 2026.
Why it matters
The reward program is structured to provide financial incentives during the peak holiday season by targeting common household expenses and charitable giving. By grouping these specific categories, the bank aims to align cardholder benefits with seasonal spending habits.
The 5% bonus is capped at $1,500 in total quarterly purchases across the eligible categories. Note that grocery purchases at Walmart and Target are explicitly excluded from this rate.
The players
Chase
This is a major American financial services holding company that issues a variety of consumer credit cards.
American Red Cross
This is a humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and education inside the United States.
The details
Cardholders are required to activate the offer by December 14 to participate in the program. Beyond this promotion, Freedom Flex cards maintain a year-round 3% return on dining and drugstore purchases, while all other spending defaults to 1% cash back.
Timeline
The 5% reward period begins on October 1, 2026.
Cardholders must activate the offer by December 14, 2026.
The 5% reward period ends on December 31, 2026.
Culture Shift
This promotion follows the industry-standard pattern of using rotating quarterly rewards to encourage consistent credit card utilization. It reflects the broader trend of financial institutions tailoring reward programs to mirror seasonal consumer peaks like the end-of-year holidays.
To maximize these rewards, users should ensure their primary grocery spending occurs at non-supercenter retailers, as Walmart and Target are excluded. Users must also remember to manually activate the offer via their account portal before the mid-December deadline.
The takeaway
Strategically timing your holiday shopping can significantly amplify your cash back returns when combined with high-frequency spending categories. Always review the exclusion list for any promotional offer to ensure your planned purchases qualify for the elevated rates.
Further reading
Learn more about maximizing credit card rewards in the Couponing section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MyChesCo.
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Do you plan to change your holiday spending habits to maximize credit card reward offers?
